Case Study
Cleaning Up an Inherited Mess
New owners inherited a subscriber list in chaos - multiple systems, poor records, and almost half the subscribers receiving papers without paying. CJP consolidated everything into one system, cleaned up the ghost subscribers, and saved the paper $6,800 per year.
The Problem
When new owners took over The Blount Countian, they inherited more than a newspaper - they inherited a mess. Subscriber records were scattered across multiple systems, and years of poor record-keeping meant nobody knew who was actually paying.
The reality was worse than expected: almost half the mailing list consisted of “ghost subscribers” - local residents still receiving a weekly paper despite not having renewed in months or years.
The Solution
CJP imported all subscriber records - online and print - into a single unified management system, giving the new owners a clear picture for the first time.
We identified every ghost subscriber and set each one up with a short grace period subscription. During that window, they received a renewal letter, a postcard, and email notices asking them to renew. Those who didn’t respond were cut off over six months, giving legitimate subscribers every chance to stay while stopping the bleeding.
The Results
Once the cleanup was complete, The Blount Countian’s weekly mailing costs dropped by $132 per week - a savings of $6,800 per year, every year going forward.