Oyster Pointer

Current address: 739 Thimble Shoals Boulevard, Suite 704, Office 18, Newport News, VA 23606

Contact and title: Sylvia Weinstein, publisher and editor

Product or service: Free monthly publication for and about businesses in and around the Oyster Point area, including Oyster Point, Port Warwick and Tech Center

Year business was established: 1987

Reason for locating in Oyster Point: “After a 20-plus-year career in economic development handling public relations, in 1986 a partner and I started The Weinstein Agency, an advertising, marketing and public relations firm in Oyster Point. At the time, there were very few businesses established in the 700-acre tract of land owned by the City of Newport News. We foresaw the area’s future growth and everyone’s great interest in it, so an informational newsletter about the park and its future businesses would seem to satisfy this interest,” says Weinstein.

How long have you been with company? Since its inception.

Significant milestones: “What began as a letter-size quarterly has grown into a 28-plus page tabloid with a monthly distribution of 9,000 in almost 200 Peninsula locations,” says Weinstein. “We have been fortunate to receive recognition by Virginia Press Women, Southeastern Advertisers Publishers Association and Independent Free Papers of America for our features and advertisements since the beginning. We expanded our service area to include Port Warwick and Tech Center and feature environs outside Oyster Point: Beside the Point, featuring businesses that border the business park; Stretching the Point, featuring businesses in another area of the city; and Way Beyond the Point, featuring businesses further outside the park.”

Significant stories: “How we have changed over the years!” Weinstein says. “In the beginning, the paper was developed by hand-cutting, pasting and delivering the mechanical boards to our printer. Now, all stories and advertisements are digitally crafted and electronically transmitted to our Georgia-based printer. Our design team is based in North Carolina.”

She adds, “Our greatest challenge over the years has been the change in technology and communications that has facilitated our work and made it more fun. In overcoming this challenge, I have been dragged, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century!”

Weinstein works alongside husband, Bill Craft. Between them, they have seven daughters, 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. In her spare time, Sylvia enjoys spending time with family, reading, gardening and planning surprise birthday trips for Bill.

Why has your Oyster Point location been beneficial to your growth? “As companies located here and grew, so have we,” Weinstein says. “A warm and fuzzy about Oyster Pointer is the positive response we receive from readers and featured company executives who attribute our stories to increased business recognition.”

Plans for future growth: “We are expanding our social media presence and reaching out to companies that were featured many years ago for updates. We dream of 30 more years of continuous publication,” Weinstein says.

Closing comments: “We pride ourselves on being a good news newspaper,
featuring highlights about businesses,” says Weinstein. “I am delighted when a distribution point business asks for more copies of the Oyster Pointer. I love everything about my work, but most particularly, the 25 to 30 talented staff with whom I work, my friends and business associates. We are indebted to our loyal advertisers and readers who have provided us with 30 years of fun, friendships and features.”