BY DON B. JAMISON DBJ Contributing Writer

When Janie and Jerry Hendrick heard opportunity knock in 1990, they opened the door to a business that has doors opening all over the Delta. Publishers of two popular real estate guides, the Hendricks have founded a successful small business that can be operated out of their home while providing a valuable service to real estate agents and prospective home-buyers alike.
“Jerry was involved with a business that produced real estate guides,” explains Janie Hendrick, general manager of the company. “When that company decided to leave this area, we just picked it up and have been publishing the guides for ten years.”
The publications she produces are the Greenville Real Estate Magazine and the Grenada, Winona, Charleston Real Estate Magazine. All of these titles are issued monthly and distributed all over the Delta.
“For the Greenville Real Estate Magazine, we represent about nine agents, and distribute the magazines not only through those agencies, but also 58 locations around the area,” says Hendrick. Coverage for the Grenada Real Estate Magazine is similarly comprehensive, with 14 agents represented and over 30 additional distribution points.
One of the biggest motivations for Hendrick is the nature of the business. “While things around here can get really hectic, this business allows me to stay home to be with my son Tyler,” says Hendrick.
Being a small business, Hendrick can get to know each of her clients and their needs. “We visit each of the agencies we represent once a month to service their account. We pick up new copy, get addresses to photograph, and touch base with them to make sure what we do meets their expectations,” says Hendrick. While a personal touch is a valued business characteristic, technology streamlines some operations. “We fax our clients their copy for proofing. They return that by fax with any changes or corrections. We do our flats on the computer, and then e-mail the issue to the printer,” explains Hendrick. “We used to do our layouts with actual paper and real cutting and pasting. But the newer computer programs make that part much easier.”
Each month Hendrick Publishing produces 12,000 issues featuring homes on the market in the Delta. When the Hendricks place the issues at the distribution point, they can see visible results of their work—from the photographs they have taken, to the editing, to the layouts they have designed, to the physical delivery.
“It does get a little crazy sometimes,” admits Hendrick. “Especially on deadline day—but in the end we do a valuable service for real estate agents and home buyers. And it’s nice this is a business that I can operate at home. Right now that fits my priorities real well.” DBJ