In the bustling heart of Northern Wake County, CIRCA Magazine shines as a symbol of community spirit and local pride. Published by Kent Lower, CIRCA Magazine has evolved from its humble beginnings as a neighborhood magazine to become the premier lifestyle magazine of Northern Wake County and surrounding areas. Through a combination of engaging content, community involvement, and a deep-seated love for the region, CIRCA Magazine continues to thrive and make a significant impact on its readers and advertisers alike.
Lower’s journey with CIRCA Magazine began long before its inception. A North Carolina native, Lower moved to the Raleigh/Wake Forest area in 1988, attending Sanderson High School and later NC State, where she graduated with a degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. It was during her senior year at NC State that Lower’s publishing career took root, working as an intern for her parents' company, which published regional newspapers focused on computers and technology.
"Once I graduated from NC State, I joined the company full-time, primarily doing advertising sales," Lower recalls. "But I’ve always enjoyed proofreading and editing, and at the time, started teaching myself basic graphic design to help with ad design for clients. I quickly discovered that I really enjoyed that as well."
However, as the local computer market began to shift, so did the focus of Lower’s career. The transition from IT publications to lifestyle magazines came naturally, driven by Lower’s passion for creating a more engaging and visually appealing publication. The result was Heritage Magazine, which later morphed into CIRCA Magazine in January 2009. The rebranding to CIRCA Magazine was a strategic decision to reflect the magazine's broader focus beyond the Heritage Wake Forest community. "We wanted to ensure the reader knew it was a lifestyle magazine for the northern Wake County region, not just a specific community," Lower explains. The name "CIRCA" was chosen to tie into the rich history of the greater Wake Forest area, emphasizing the magazine’s connection to both past and present.
Lower’s dedication to the community is evident in every quarterly issue. Over the years, the publication has expanded its distribution to include North Raleigh, Rolesville, Youngsville, and Franklinton, while also embracing the digital age with an online edition and active social media presence. Despite the shift towards digital media, the physical magazine remains a beloved fixture in the community. "People still want to hold reading material in their hands, not distracted by all the 'digital noise,'" Lower says. "I still get excited, even 22 years later, when I see someone picking up a copy at the grocery store or local boutique, reading it while waiting for a table at a local restaurant, or when I get stopped on the street while I’m delivering and someone asks if they can have the latest copy, before I’ve even set them down."
One of the key factors behind the magazine’s success is Lower’s ability to build strong relationships with her writers, advertisers, and readers. "My writers and advertisers aren’t just business colleagues – they are friends," Lower says. This sense of community extends to the magazine’s role in supporting local businesses, providing them with a platform to reach and attract new customers. "I’ve been told by many of the advertisers that some new customers discovered them solely because of their presence in the magazine," Lower says. This mutual support has helped both the magazine and local businesses thrive, even through challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
As CIRCA Magazine continues to grow alongside the communities it serves, Lower remains committed to maintaining the high standards of quality and relevance that have become the magazine’s hallmark. She envisions further expansion in editorial content, advertising base, and distribution, ensuring that CIRCA remains a valuable resource for both long-time residents and newcomers.
For aspiring entrepreneurs and journalists looking to start their own publication, Lower offers sage advice: "Know your audience – in my case, the readers, the writers, the advertisers, and the general community. And also, be involved in your community. Get to know the people there, connect and partner with them. Help each other. We are all in it together."
“Through her dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to her community, Kent Lower has woven CIRCA Magazine into the fabric of Wake Forest life,” says Jason Cannon, President of The Wake Forest Business and Industry Partnership (WFBIP). Cannon, who has contributed articles to CIRCA, including "Riding the Rails" in the most recent issue celebrating the magazine's 22nd anniversary, adds, “She embodies the strength of local storytelling and its enduring impact on the community.”
