She Built a $90K/Month Publishers Review Business

Table of Contents

• Who is Victoria and how did she start?

• How did Victoria come up with the idea?

• Launching the Business

• Today and the Future

Who is Victoria and how did she start?

Victoria Sutherland launched Foreword Reviews in 1998 as a magazine providing long-form reviews of books from smaller, independent publishers. Initially targeting librarians and booksellers, the magazine has since grown to serve a broader audience, including avid readers seeking fresh and diverse content. Today, Foreword offers a print magazine, digital content, editing services, and an annual book awards program.

How did Victoria come up with the idea?

Victoria has always been passionate about books. As a child, she created her own and even brought them to her local library. After studying advertising and spending time in ad sales, Victoria attended a book industry convention that sparked her desire to enter the publishing world.

Realizing that indie publishers were being overlooked by major industry publications, she saw an opportunity to create something new. With encouragement from family and colleagues, Victoria took the leap and started Foreword Reviews with a mission to shine a spotlight on these underrepresented voices.

Launching the Business

Starting Foreword Reviews was no small feat. Victoria and her team left their jobs in March and aimed to launch the magazine by May, giving them just 75 days. They worked tirelessly to create a high-quality, visually appealing publication that would stand out. The first print run was 7,500 copies, and they hit the ground running, attending major industry events like BookExpo America to promote the magazine.

Victoria’s strategy focused on making connections with key players in the book industry, including wholesalers and databases, which helped syndicate Foreword’s reviews early on. This move solidified the business model and established Foreword as a trusted resource for indie press reviews.

Today and the Future

Today, Foreword Reviews is thriving, but the road to success wasn’t easy. It took ten years to reach profitability, and there were plenty of financial and operational challenges along the way. However, the company has weathered these storms and even found success during the COVID-19 pandemic by cutting costs and pivoting its business model.

With a strong digital presence and ongoing efforts to engage readers, Foreword Reviews is well-positioned for continued growth. Victoria remains passionate about supporting indie publishers and is constantly exploring new opportunities to expand the business.

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Cheers,

Matt