The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

FIVE years ago, Nu Woman magazine started out as an out of pocket operation with only one photographer and two writers, including Erica Meus-Saunders, the founder, publisher and editor-in-chief. Two weeks ago, the magazine celebrated its five year journey with a birthday splash.

From its humble beginnings, the magazine has blossomed into a forum where women from the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean can share their culture and lifestyle.

“Initially I had saved a few thousand dollars. I invested in a publishing programme, InDesign, which I was still learning and bought myself a Mac Pro laptop, a digital camera, and tape recorder, which I used in interviews. This was my initial investment. I must say that the equipment part of it was a breeze. I did not anticipate the amount of time or labour that I would invest. It became a kind of obsession,” said Erica.

“I remember the very first issue, we covered Trinidad Carnival and some local events. My girlfriend Phillippa Moss was our very first cover model photographed by Dwayne Delancy. We worked hard on that issue and I was just learning InDesign. The layout was really off and I wanted to bury myself. But, I shook myself off and improved on the next issue.

She took a leap of faith to start the publication, preferring to swing and potentially miss for a chance to score a home run.

“When I first began Nu Woman magazine I just wanted to see where it would lead. I had a general idea about how I wanted to see it develop. After the second year in circulation I got more specific ideas and more specific targets. I became more focused on Bahamian events and then included more Caribbean features,” she said.

“What I have learned in maintaining a product that you create is that you truly have to be obsessed with it in order for it to succeed. I can honestly say that I live and breathe Nu Woman everyday,” she told Tribune Woman.

In celebrating the magazine’s anniversary, Erica reflected on the simple things that the Nu Woman team counts as achievements.

“I used to think of achievement in terms of a final product, or destination, now I see it as individual successes. Five years in circulation is a big deal. Our first three-cover issue is a big deal. Our Nu Face Model Search for the past two years has been a big deal. Covering events such as the Miss Universe in 2009 is a big deal. Having a total stranger approach me on the street and talking to me about Nu Woman is a big deal. Every step we take forward is a big deal,” Erica told Tribune Woman.

“In 2009 the Miss Universe pageant was hosted here, Nu Woman covered the entire event. Dwayne Delancy, Phillipha Michel and myself had a grand ole time, as we had press passes to all events, and my good friend Ester Swan from the Miss Universe Organisation, and Carl Altoff kept us abreast of all activities. I got to meet ‘The Donald’,” said Erica.

She hopes the next big move for Nu Woman will be to secure distribution outside of the Caribbean. Erica has her eyes set on Toronto, Canada and the US market.

“I want to see continual growth in our readership,” said Erica. Online sales and social media promotion have been a “tremendous” asset in this regards.

The publication’s most recent accomplishment is Nu Woman TV, a reality series that compliments the magazine. It begins airing in November on CaribVision and locally. The first episode, Trinidad Carnival was recorded in February with photographer/videographer Barry Williams, Theodora Cartwright (co-host) and Erica Meus -Saunders.

“With Nu Woman TV we want to cover events at home and around the Caribbean,” said Erica.

Erica said as time changes, so too will Nu Woman Magazine. “I think we are exactly where we need to be at this point in time, with an awesome team of people.”