Meet Claire Rogers, the director of Sun Media, the family publishing and media company that was launched in 2000.
A lot has changed over the last 18 years. They started off with a 50,000 circulation, the massive increase in population in the region has seen that circulation now grow to 67,500. SunLive was launched 10 years ago and is now the go-to site for breaking news in the region.
Claire loves the historic building at No.1 The Strand, built in 1883, where they operate from. Claire and her husband Brian purchased and restored it in 2009, taking it back to as close to original as possible, while creating a highly functional modern workplace.
Claire has always been involved in sales and marketing. She is involved in all aspects of her business. They now employ nearly 40 staff, which she says doesn’t contemplate that for too long.
Eighteen 18 years on and she still loves what she does. She gets huge satisfaction every week, seeing the power of promotion in The Weekend Sun, online with Sunlive and their monthly magazines and titles, benefitting local businesses. Also in terms of knowing the opportunities they offer community organisations to promote themselves to all their readers. Claire loves the feedback she receives from their advertisers, knowing they make a huge difference to their businesses and their lives. Of course then there are their readers too, without whom none of the above would work.
The deadline driven environment of the media suits Claire’s competitive nature. No two days are ever the same. She is equally at home in the corporate world as she is in her kayak.
She feels the region has so much to offer, and currently loves walking along the Tauranga waterfront over the Matapihi rail bridge with her coffee from Dry Dock! She also loves kayaking, boating, cooking, gardening and red wine.
Claire and Brian are fortunate to have their parents, children and grandchildren in the Bay and be actively involved in their lives.
The media industry is a fast-paced, rapidly-changing landscape! Claire’s finds the good thing about being a local media company is by keeping in touch with our community they know what people want, and can adjust their style and products to suit the needs and the changes.
She is constantly on the alert for opportunities to ensure growth and help promote our region locally, nationally and internationally. Next week Sun Media launch a new product that has been in development for the last year. Be sure to check out the Weekend Sun on November 2 to find out what it is.
