Sherry Jackson, RCI Corporate Communications
As temperatures moderate and fall and winter activities in the desert kick into full gear, here at Robson Publishing, we’re focused on pulling together the annual Source Book for Sun Lakes residents. We thought we’d take a minute to not only remind residents of this valuable resource that will be hand-delivered to everyone in January, but also what goes into putting the book together and why it’s useful.
We sat down with Linda Robson, editor of Robson Publishing, for more insight…
First, what exactly is the Source Book?
The Source Book is a complete directory for Sun Lakes residents that includes homeowner telephone listings, business directory and a resource guide. It has community-specific information on clubs and activities, city and state agencies, maps and more.
How is it different from other directories that get distributed?
Robson built Sun Lakes, and we are very much connected to the community. We’ve been publishing monthly community newspapers for a long time (more than 40 years) and have gotten to know what information Sun Lakes residents are looking for. Other directories aren’t as comprehensive as ours, especially the homeowner listings, which provide listings by state and street in addition to the alphabetical listing. Other directories also don’t contain the community-specific information that the Source Book provides, as well as resources in Sun Lakes, the valley and across the state.
Why does Robson publish the Source Book?
It was a natural extension of the community newspapers we publish. Along the way, we’ve collected a vast amount of resources and information and wanted to share it with residents. This is a comprehensive, one-stop directory for Sun Lakes residents.
How many residents does the Source Book go to?
The Source Book is hand-delivered to every resident in Sun Lakes.
How long does it take to publish the Source Book?
It takes us a good six to seven months for each directory we publish. For Sun Lakes, our process begins in May when we remind new and existing advertisers of upcoming deadlines. In August, we reach out to homeowners for updated directory information. Production activities begin in October and November, and we try to get the Source Book to the printer in December so the directories can be distributed in January.
How many advertisers are in the Source Book?
We have more than 195 advertisers with a wide variety of local area businesses. According to Lynda and Ken Ratliff, owners of K&R Refrigeration, “In small, tight-knit communities such as Sun Lakes and SunBird, we have found advertising in the community Source Books is both beneficial and a necessity to the health of our business. Our clients reach for their community phonebook because they know we are listed along with other companies in their neighborhood. If they have lost our number or can’t remember our name, they are able to pick up their source book and find our ad.”
What is the biggest benefit to homeowners from the Source Book?
It goes back to having one comprehensive reference guide for all things community-related. Want to call a neighbor but don’t know their phone number? Use the Source Book. Looking for a new club to join and want to see your options? Consult the Source Book. Tired of going to the same restaurants and want something different? Use the Source Book.
What if I can’t locate my Source Book? Can I pick up an extra copy?
Absolutely. We are conveniently located in Sun Lakes. Stop by our office anytime during business hours and pick up another copy. We are located at 9532 East Riggs Road.