Building community — one story at a time.
Jamie Seals, owner of Sophie's Gasthaus in New Braunfels, Texas, and general manager Erin Matthews spent a year and a half restoring the 1905 property into an art-filled boutique hotel and event venue. Fresh off a full rebrand, they share why they chose NBTX City Lifestyle.
Sophie's Gasthaus is a boutique hotel and event venue in New Braunfels, Texas, in a house built in 1905. After a year and a half of restoration and a full rebrand, owner Jamie Seals and general manager Erin Matthews had to decide where to tell people about it. They chose NBTX City Lifestyle, published by Rachel Schaffner, for a reason most advertisers do not put into words: the magazine is selective about who is in it, and readers can tell. Here is their story.
Watch Jamie and Erin tell it on YouTube
The restoration took about a year and a half. "We just tried to make the house feel as authentic to what it was originally," and then they filled it with art from West Chelsea Contemporary, a gallery in downtown Austin. The word the two of them land on is experience. "So it's a real experience." "It's an experience. I think that's a great word for Sophie's."
With the house finished, Sophie's changed its logo and made what they call a whole push. "We were just trying to figure out where our place in New Braunfels was. What kind of client were we trying to get to come in? We just wanted people to remember that we were here."
Erin had been getting City Lifestyle magazines at home for years before Sophie's ever bought an ad. "I always felt like it was kind of like the cream of the crop, so to speak. You know, she could have 10 pool companies in that magazine if she wanted, but she doesn't. So you know you're getting a quality referral when you're looking at that magazine."
That is what settled it. "I had showed my sister, then I said, 'This is where I want to be advertising.' This looks like the people we're wanting to attract."
Rachel came out to meet them. "We just loved what she had to say about how much passion she puts into the magazine, in choosing the images and everything," Erin said. "I remember Jamie said, 'It's just so pretty.' And Rachel was just genuinely so happy to hear that."
Sophie's has only started on what the partnership includes. "There's so much that's offered that I don't think that we've even touched yet." On Rachel, the two of them finish the thought together. "She has a big heart. You can see it, you know it, you can just feel it." "I feel like she's a great partner. We're blessed to be a part of it."
In the New Braunfels area, start with Rachel Schaffner at NBTX City Lifestyle. Anywhere else, find your local magazine and reach the publisher directly, or see what a City Lifestyle partnership includes at accelerate.citylifestyle.com. For how print, digital and social placements work, read How to Advertise in City Lifestyle Magazine.
Learn more about Sophie's Gasthaus at sophiesgasthaus.com. Watch more client stories on the City Lifestyle YouTube channel, including Alta Honors on Eden Prairie Lifestyle.
