"Hand-delivered To The Up-scale Neighborhoods Of Asheboro"

There's a new monthly magazine floating around Asheboro - published by Sherry and David Johnson (definitely no relation) of "Crown Harbor Marketing".  I've thumbed through a few of the more recent editions during my sporadic visits to Circa Gallery downtown (I've long done my small part to support local businesses and artists) - and lately, I've started finding them encased in a plastic bag in my driveway (on Dave's Mountain).

The magazine seems to me to be a rerun from the Steven Eblin school-of-marketing . . . meaning that some well-meaning/ambitious out-of-towners land in the area, and immediately (1) decide what needs to happen to turn the town into their kind of oasis, (2) start sucking up to "the right people", and (3) begin "celebrating the positive" in their own highly-stylized "up-beat" mouthpiece publication - designed to appeal to local egos (like those of assorted/featured healthcare professionals).  Apart from chuckling over a few of the articles with friends (we could literally hear the sucking noises emanating from the magazine's spine), I hadn't given it much attention.

But it stopped being amusing when one of my pals pointed out a blurb on the magazine's publishing page - something I had missed:

"Asheboro Magazine's printed distribution is 3000 copies.  It is hand-delivered to the upscale neighborhoods of Asheboro which is roughly 1,500 homes.  The other 1,5000 editions are distributed through high-end retails locations, the library, hotels and other high-traffic areas.  Additionally, Asheboro Magazine is available online in digital page-turner format where it is read by approximately 13,000+ (and growing) people."

Here is what caught my friend's eye (and was the real kicker for me):  If you're not "up-scale", you can PURCHASE the subscription that Asheboro's "high-enders" get for free for just $29.95.

Same old crap.  Different day month year decade.