Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbi Kickham.
Debbi is a former Editor of Robb Report Magazine – “The Millionaire’s Magazine” (www.robbreport.com) — and a current and veteran member of the Society of American Travel Writers, www.satw.org. A professional travel journalist for more than 25 years, Debbi has crisscrossed the globe – going everywhere from Boston to Bora Bora — writing travel articles for a wealth of magazines and newspapers that include The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, The National Post, The Vancouver Sun, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Glamour, Cigar Aficionado, InStyle Weddings, Bridal Guide (Contributing Editor to the Travel Section), Bellaonline (Hawaii and Spas Editor).
For The Bride, Destination I Do, Caviar Affair, WellesleyWeston, US Airways, Continental, Gatehouse Media, Porthole, Simply The Best, First for Women – including custom-published magazines for ITT Sheraton and the Ritz-Carlton. She was also the “Passionate Collector” columnist for the custom-published magazine, Sotheby’s Domain. Interestingly, she also spent two years as an amateur stand-up comedian, doing “open-mike” nights in the evening while she was an advertising copywriter by day.
Debbi says that her writing and speaking career began in 8th grade at St. Ann’s School in Devon, Conn., when she entered her school’s oratorical contest. First you had to write a speech, then become a finalist, and finally, present the speech, on stage, to the entire school. On the day that she learned about the contest, Debbi decided then and there that she would be going to win – and she did! Her speech about “Family Unity In Our Changing Times” was sponsored by the Modern Woodmen of America, and Debbi captured first prize back in 1969.
This success led her to a lifetime of writing and speaking engagements. At The Robb Report Magazine, Debbi was an Editor as well as the magazine’s on-air Corporate Media Spokesperson, making appearances on diverse TV media such as Live With Regis and Kathie Lee, and the CBS Morning News. She also created the magazine’s signature tagline at the time, “The Magazine For People With Million-Dollar Taste.” Her warm, bubbly personality and business savvy also led her to become the national on-air media spokesperson for other businesses, including AT&T, SureFit Slipcovers (exclusively on Home Shopping Network, HSN), and VELCRO USA.
The Globetrotter’s Get-Gorgeous Guide© is Debbi’s third book – and a bestseller. It achieved Number One on Amazon.com in the “Honeymoon Travel Guide” category, and has been featured in prestigious media including USA TODAY, The Boston Globe, Fitness Magazine, American Airlines Magazine, JustLuxe.com, Destination W Magazine, Destination I Do Magazine, Karry On Australia, Johnny Jet, Peter Greenberg Worldwide – and many, many more.
It is the ultimate “Tour of Beauty” and a goldmine of get-gorgeous information. www.GorgeousGlobetrotter.com. Debbi is always available for speaking engagements and is a frequent guest lecturer about her book, to business groups, women’s organizations, libraries, chambers of commerce, Rotary groups – and she has even lectured about her bestseller on cruise ships such as Silversea and Royal Caribbean.
Her first book, I Love Men in Tasseled Loafers: How To Judge Men By Their Shoes©, was published in 1988 by Quinlan Press. She singlehandedly marketed and promoted the book, including sending the book to the media in Allen-Edmonds shoe boxes, and press releases rolled up and tied with actual leather laces with tassels. Her second book, Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales Without Busting Your Budget©, was co-written with friend Nancy Michaels and published by Adams Media in 2000.
The book made The Boston Globe’s Bestseller List in just 11 days after publication and led Debbi to appearances on a wealth of media including CNN, National Public Radio, and articles about her in publications that include Entrepreneur and Investors Business Daily. Debbi has made hundreds of media appearances in her career, promoting her clients, and her books, and has also been the featured guest speaker at numerous in-person speaking engagements. She is also the former Editor-in-Chief of Mirror Magazine, Boston’s first magazine that was dedicated to beauty and well-being.
Debbi is the owner of Maxima Marketing in Westwood, Mass., (www.Marketingauthor.com), and provides marketing and public relations consulting to clients in all industries, especially the beauty industry. She works with plastic surgeons, cosmetic dentists, hair salons and skincare salons, masterminding strategies that include developing unusual story angles; creating marketing plans and signature taglines; writing press releases, ads and newsletters; copywriting; media placement, and product naming. She produces for clients what Maxima Marketing’s tagline promises: “Making You Memorable, Moving You Ahead.”
When Debbi is not traveling the globe, getting spa treatments, shopping for bargains, writing marketing proposals and travel articles, exercising, buying cosmetics, and finding the humor in everyday life, she is watching movies, reading voraciously, flirting with her handsome husband Bill, and studying Combat Sambo (Russian martial arts), where she is an orange belt.
What are Debbi’s must-haves when traveling?
A silk pillowcase and eye mask; Oscillococcinum, which is a homeopathic remedy for flu symptoms; Sunsweet 20-calorie cherry-essence dried plums; Kashi cereal, raisins and powdered milk for breakfast and snacks; a luxury bar of La Belle Vie Black Cherry Soap (www.tonsavon.com); a travel roll of duct tape; and Karin Herzog Swiss chocolate facial moisturizer. Oh yes – and what’s her favorite travel accessory? Her handsome husband Bill. You can email Debbi at dkk@marketingauthor.com.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The bad news about working for yourself is that you are in charge of everything — from going to the post office to making copies, to getting the work and marketing yourself, to actually doing the work. The good news? I can always nominate myself for Employee of the Month. All kidding aside, I would rather work 60 hours a week for myself, than 40 hours for someone else.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I personally handle all the content marketing and strategizing for my company, Maxima Marketing. If I had to use two words to describe myself, it is “idea factory.” I am a wealth of ideas, and I am lucky that I have been gifted with having “a way with words.” You name it, I can write it.
What were you like growing up?
I was always interested in marketing, public relations, and writing. I won first place in a writing/speech award in 8th grade and that set the stage for my career.
Contact Info:
- Address: 119 Fisher Street
- Website: www.MarketingAuthor.com, www.GorgeousGlobetrotter.com
- Phone: 617-610-2577
- Email: Debbikkickham@hotmail.com
- Facebook: Debbi KIckham
- Twitter: @SATWgal, @Marketingbabe
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
