History

In January 2003, Linda Reimer, president of Design Basics Inc., recognized a need to publish a magazine for women in the dreaming or planning stage of building a new home or remodeling their present home.

Because research shows 80% of homebuilding and remodeling decisions are made by women, she was amazed there wasn't a single women's magazine on the newsstand at the time with this focus.

It didn't take long for Linda's vision to become concrete. The first issue of Her Home magazine was launched in September of 2003. From the start, Linda's goal was to provide practical information and a wealth of ideas to help women make these major decisions.

Unlike home decoration magazines, Her Home magazine focuses on women's perspectives on design, construction and products for the home, and includes input from leading women homebuilders and industry experts.

Her Home magzine is written to give women the information and tools to make informed decisions when building a new home or remodeling their present home.

Utilizing smart, fresh layouts and plenty of beautiful photography, each article is written with practical, take-away value. There is a need for this type of women's magazine, and Her Home magazine will work hard to fill that need.

Description

Published quarterly, Her Home magazine covers the trends and issues that are shaping the world of homebuilding and home improvement projects. Readers know that in every issue they will find insightful writing, beautiful photography, solid reporting and the magazine's knack for knowing what's around the corner.

Our Team

Linda Reimer, Publisher and Editor
Joyce Vollmer Brown, Managing Editor
Paul Foresman, Business Development Director
Ruben Soto, Subscriptions and Circulation
Greg Dodge, Electronic Commerce Manager
Kevin Blair, Director of Marketing
Heather Guthrie, Graphic Artist Project Leader
Annette Guy, Graphic Artist
Beverly Nelligan, Graphic Artist
Jeff Dedlow, Graphic Artist

Linda's Bio

In 1991, Linda Reimer walked into one of the country's largest home plan design companies, Design Basics Inc., looking for a low-stress, part-time summer job. She was offered a position photocopying blueprints. Today, she runs the Omaha-based company, which employs 50 people.

Reimer spent the two-and-a-half decades before 1991 raising children and directing a preschool. She loved teaching young children and the preschool she directed was very popular. With her own children getting older, however, she was looking for something to fill up some time during the school's summer break.

The type of person who throws herself into whatever she does, Reimer was hooked by the end of the summer and continued working at the home plan design company part-time throughout the school year.

Reimer has always had a natural love for homebuilding. Her father built homes for 35 years; her mother drew many of his designs. Reimer also has a never-ending hunger to learn and grow—something Design Basics' owner, Dennis Brozak, noticed. In 1994 Brozak asked Reimer to accept a full-time position as Director of Human Resources. By 1996, after 13 years at the helm of his company, Brozak began handing day-to-day operations over to Reimer. In 1997 she was named President of the company.

Despite her rapid advancement, it wasn't all smooth sailing along the way. Because the majority of the firm's customers were builders, she had to prove herself in a male-dominated field. Reimer visited builders across the country, asking for their input and learning about their challenges and market trends.

Despite a fluctuating economy, the company has grown at a steady rate, according to Reimer. "Today, many of our clients are consumers. Design Basics' plans are marketed in 98% of the national home publications and in lumberyards and are featured in newspapers across the country every week. Our own publications are sold at Barnes & Noble and Borders. Maximizing opportunities on the Internet has allowed us to sell our plans throughout the world."

Onlookers say Reimer's management style is one of the keys to her success. She often creates positions based on individuals' strengths and interests rather than asking an employee to fit into a position. She encourages personal growth and responsibility; many departments within the firm are self-directed.

Looking back, Reimer is pleased with the turn her life has taken. "I thought nothing could beat raising children and being a teacher, knowing I was making a difference in children's lives. Today, I'm still trying to make a difference for my employees, our builders and thousands of homebuyers. So, in the second half of my life . . . I'm having the greatest time."

About The Publisher

Her Home magazine is published by Design Basics Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska. Established in 1983, Design Basics is one of the largest home plan design services in the nation. The company regularly publishes a number of publications that are mailed directly to homebuilders from coast to coast. In addition, Design Basics creates advertising and promotional materials as well as custom publishing projects for clients. Design Basics has published dozens of plan books, many of which are distributed through national bookstore chains. Producing this printed material is an award-winning marketing and publishing staff that includes researchers, writers, editors, graphic artists and list management personnel.

For more information about Design Basics, please download the "Design Basics Media Kit."