A good Michigan trip often begins with a story. A riverside downtown catches your eye. A lakeshore detour turns into an afternoon. Somewhere along the way, you need a place to eat, a shop worth stepping into, or a comfortable place to stay. Our first physical West Michigan edition is being built around those connections—and we’re inviting local businesses to be part of it.
The Great Lakes Gleaner is accepting advertising reservations for its planned 2027 West Michigan print edition. The proposal is a 12-page, full-color paper with 12 complete stories from our existing archive and a target print run of 30,000 copies. Free pickup is planned around Grand Rapids, Holland and Muskegon beginning in February 2027, with replenishment through the year. Printing and pickup locations are still being arranged; this is the sponsor preview, not an edition already in circulation.
Local stories, from the screen to the coffee table
This is an all-season West Michigan travel paper, designed to be browsed, kept and revisited. The preview carries full existing Gleaner articles, including our guide to downtown Grand Rapids, a visit to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, and stories about Holland’s heritage and lakeshore. Readers can move from a city break to a small-town stop without leaving the edition.
The paper also follows the West Michigan Pike, explores Grand Haven and Muskegon, and visits Saugatuck, Douglas, Spring Lake, Zeeland, Rockford and Allegan. Real photographs from the articles appear with credits. Original publication dates are retained in the preview, and seasonal details will be checked before printing. You can read the complete selection in the downloadable paper PDF.
A print advertising opportunity for West Michigan small businesses
If you are comparing local advertising in West Michigan, start with the context around the ad. This edition is intended for people browsing places to visit and things to do, including residents planning a day out and visitors considering their next stop. Restaurants, independent retailers, lodging businesses, galleries, attractions and outdoor recreation operators can connect their offer to that planning moment. A print placement is one part of a marketing plan; it does not come with a guaranteed number of readers, inquiries or sales.
Grand Rapids: restaurants, shops and experiences
For a Grand Rapids small business, a useful ad answers a visitor’s next question: where should we stop after exploring downtown or visiting a garden or museum? A restaurant could feature its location and a clear reason to visit. A shop could show the products that make it worth a detour. An experience provider could send readers to a booking page. Businesses in nearby communities such as Rockford can use the same approach: name the place, explain the experience and give readers a straightforward next step.
Holland, Zeeland, Saugatuck and Douglas: make the detour worthwhile
Holland advertising can speak to the person planning more than a single stop. Our Holland travel guide and surrounding stories give the edition a regional frame, making room for independent shops, cafés, galleries and places to stay. If your business serves visitors in Zeeland, Saugatuck or Douglas, show what someone can discover when they arrive. For an all-season paper, a durable message and a link to current hours are more useful than an offer that expires soon after pickup.
Muskegon, Grand Haven and Spring Lake: give readers a next stop
For Muskegon and Grand Haven businesses, the paper’s lakeshore coverage creates a natural setting for dining, lodging, shopping and recreation offers. A Spring Lake business can give readers a reason to extend their route. Describe the service clearly and make the destination easy to find, whether that means a street address, a phone number or a reservation link. These communities are part of the editorial coverage; the final pickup network will be confirmed separately.
West Michigan print advertising rates: from $600
The first-edition rate card offers four placement sizes, from a compact local business spot to the presenting sponsorship. These are one-time prices in U.S. dollars for one insertion in the planned edition, not monthly charges. Choose based on how much space your message needs and where you would like it to appear. The interactive paper shows the actual layout and current availability.
| Placement | Total price | 50% deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Eighth-page local business spot | $600 | $300 |
| Quarter page | $1,100 | $550 |
| Half page | $2,000 | $1,000 |
| Presenting sponsor: full back page + front recognition | $4,000 | $2,000 |
Each placement includes your supplied artwork or one simple layout with one correction round. Your ad can include a phone number or destination link, with an optional QR code. We will confirm final dimensions and send a proof for approval before printing. Buying an ad does not purchase editorial coverage, category exclusivity, digital reach or placement in future editions. Compare available spaces in the paper before reserving.
Make your local business ad useful enough to act on
Give the reader one clear reason to visit or contact you. Lead with a recognizable business name, a real photograph or strong visual, and a short explanation of what you offer. Add your town and the most useful contact detail. If you operate seasonally, say so and direct people to up-to-date hours. A compact ad should not have to carry your entire menu, catalog or service list.
A QR code or short web address can continue the conversation after the paper is put down. Send readers to a mobile-friendly page that matches the ad—your menu, booking form, shop information or service inquiry page. A dedicated link or offer code can help you distinguish responses from other marketing. Businesses that need a destination for that traffic can also explore the Gleaner’s website offering for Michigan small businesses; website services are separate from the print ad price.
How to reserve your Gleaner print ad
- Open the preview. Browse the paper and choose a highlighted ad space or a placement from the list.
- Enter your business details. Include your contact information and any notes about the message you want to advertise.
- Choose a 50% deposit or payment in full. Review the reservation terms, then continue to the existing secure Stripe checkout.
- Send artwork or design instructions. Email cadyarthur@gmail.com with your business name and reservation reference. Keep the private reservation link so you can check your status and pay a remaining balance.
Remaining balances are due January 8, 2027. A space is reserved after Stripe confirms payment; a temporary checkout hold is not a paid reservation. There is no subscription or automatic renewal. Before paying, read the complete print reservation terms, including the production conditions, artwork review and cancellation policy.
Questions from West Michigan advertisers
Where will the physical paper be available?
The plan is free pickup at local businesses and visitor spots in the Grand Rapids–Holland–Muskegon area, beginning in February 2027 and replenished through the year. The target is 30,000 printed copies. Pickup locations and final circulation are not yet confirmed, and copies printed should not be treated as a guaranteed reader count.
Can my business offer a pickup location?
We welcome inquiries from businesses interested in carrying the paper. Email cadyarthur@gmail.com with your business name, town, address and the space you could offer. We will discuss whether the location fits the distribution plan; sending an inquiry does not establish a confirmed pickup site.
Is the February 2027 print run guaranteed?
No. Production depends on sufficient collected advertising revenue, confirmed printing costs and pickup capacity. If the publisher cancels the edition, payments will be refunded. If timing changes materially, advertisers will be contacted to agree on the change or a refund before production.
Can I cancel or change my advertisement?
Contact us before January 8, 2027 to request cancellation and a refund. After that, changes or cancellations depend on production commitments and must be agreed in writing. Artwork and placements are subject to publisher review; an ad we cannot accept will be refunded. The linked reservation terms govern your purchase.
Further reading: explore the region
For current visitor information, consult these independent local tourism resources. They are not announced sponsors or confirmed distribution partners for this edition.
Experience Grand Rapids — local visitor information ↗Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau ↗Visit Muskegon — things to do and places to stay ↗