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Viking Express starts free magazine exchange

Viking Express Gas and Convenience Store co-owners Mason Hollinger (left) and Rob Hollinger bookened the magazine exchange rack the store now features. People can trade a magazine they own for one on the rack free of charge, or pay a nominal fee without a trade, with that money being donated to a community organization.
Viking Express Gas and Convenience Store co-owners Mason Hollinger (left) and Rob Hollinger bookened the magazine exchange rack the store now features. People can trade a magazine they own for one on the rack free of charge, or pay a nominal fee without a trade, with that money being donated to a community organization. Photo by Scott Trauner.

Viking Express Gas and Convenience Store has started a free magazine exchange in the front of its store at 2090 N. Jefferson St., Huntington.

Viking Express co-owner Rob Hollinger notes the concept is simple: anyone who brings in a magazine can pick out one already on the exchange rack for free.

Someone who does not want to exchange a magazine but would like one from the rack can purchase one for a nominal fee—with that money being contributed to a community organization, Hollinger says.

“Right now its Viking athletics,” Hollinger says. “Just because we’re right here up front and it’s a natural thing. And the staff and the kids support us, so it’s a good trade.”

Hollinger says the idea came to him when he was wondering what to do with a stack of magazines he had at home. Rather than just recycle the magazine as material, he thought recycling the magazines for other’s reading enjoyment could be done first. The magazines could then be recycled as material after that.

Hollinger notes that Viking Express will take donations of magazines from other businesses, and will leave the mailing labels on so those businesses might get some marketing value out of the donation as well.

“We’re just trying to be business-friendly. I like to partner with other businesses here,” Hollinger says.