Another year in the books. They seem to go much faster these days. Maybe it’s just something that seemingly happens when you get closer to the end than the beginning. Heck, it seems like only yesterday we were putting the wraps on our Surfaces ’08 issue.

Back then, 11 months ago, I had no idea what the year would bring, both for the industry and FCNews. Now I reflect on the year that was with mixed emotions. It’s distressing to see so many people struggle, and that’s at every level. Manufacturers had to work harder to grab share in a declining market. Distributors faced margin pressures. Retailers had to do much more to get the business that was still out there. Consumers saw exorbitant energy costs that did not abate until the second half, just in time to watch their 401(k)s evaporate.

You feel helpless when you read about the manufacturer off double digits or hear about the retailer who did not see a customer for three days. That’s because as trade magazine editors and publishers, we view our roles as service providers: a seamless conduit of information from supplier to seller while filling our pages with words that will help the latter make money.

In that spirit I reflect on 2008 with pride in the way FCNews fulfilled this mission. How do we know? More retailers are requesting this magazine than ever, and more manufacturers are giving us the greater share of their advertising budgets. Almost every day we get requests for the hardwood and laminate selling guides we published in the last 16 months, not to mention October’s Green Guide which is flying off our shelves. We must be doing something right.

I think that “something right” is offering more value to our readers and advertisers than any industry trade journal. Despite the challenging economic climate, we have remained consistent—consistent in size and page count— while increasing our frequency beyond 26 times through special, value-add publications. For comparison purposes, this industry’s only other high-frequency magazine significantly cut its trim size at the beginning of 2008, cut an issue in November unannounced and is down in page count. In fact, through the first 11 months of the year, despite the smaller size, 10 issues contained no more than 20 pages. Less is less.

With that said, here is our promise to our readers: No issue of FCNews will ever contain fewer than 24 pages; our trim size will allow for more information on each page than any other industry magazine, and while the competition drops three issues from 2008’s calendar, FCNews’ 26 issues will be enhanced by guides, custom pieces and a special quarterly project about which you’ll be hearing more in the coming weeks.

Our goal is to be the industry’s most consistent resource, the magazine you can count on to be there to help in good times and bad without any slashing.

From all of us at FCNews, happy holidays to you and yours.