Modern Ferret: The Company ...

Ralph, Marshmallow & Sabrina

Keep up with the latest Modern Ferret goings-on by reading The Modern Ferret Blogs

Background

After owning ferrets for several years and having difficulty finding adequate information about them, Mary and Eric Shefferman enlisted the help of their three (at the time) ferrets: Sabrina, Ralph, and Marshmallow. Together they decided to create a publication that would provide the latest information about ferrets while at the same time providing a level of “coffee-table” legitimacy that was sorely lacking. Dogs, cats, fish, birds, and even reptiles had their own magazines, but ferrets were conspicuously absent. Ferret newsletters had been around for years, but they lacked the gloss and punch of a magazine.

The name Modern Ferret captured perfectly what the Sheffermans wanted to do — give the ferret the credit and respect it deserves for rising to its current level of popularity as a companion animal. Modern Ferret would have the visual appeal ferret owners could use to demonstrate that they were part of a growing population seeking a fun, playful companion that’s full of personality. Ferrets would be portrayed in the spirit of their own personalities — fun, enthusiastic, and playful. Modern Ferret would not take a dry, textbook approach; instead, it would take a lively look at the joys and concerns of ferret ownership. It would address everything for the ferret owner, from teaching tricks to medical alerts.

Mary’s experience in publishing combined with Eric’s computer experience enabled them to start out right away using the latest desktop publishing technology to produce a professional caliber magazine with a staff of only two people. Doing everything themselves, from soliciting articles to stuffing envelopes, they threw themselves into the project.

Modern Ferret preliminary design work and marketing began in the summer of 1994. The first issue made its debut in February 1995. Since that time, Modern Ferret has received favorable reviews from The New York Times, Inside Media, Pet Age, USA Today, and the Alternative Press Review. Modern Ferret was chosen as one of the 50 Most Notable Launches of 1995 by Samir Husni’s Guide to New Consumer Magazines. The magazine was chosen by min magazine as one of the 12 Best Magazines in the Magazine Industry along with titles such as The New Yorker, The Economist, Teen People, and Elle Décor. Modern Ferret was featured on CNN for its coverage of “The Ferret of the Century.”

The Staff

Mary Shefferman was a managing editor for a medical education project house before starting up Modern Ferret. She has more than 17 years experience in various aspects of publishing and editing, and has been writing for more than 24 years. Mary is the author of the book The Ferret: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet published by Howell Book House, The Wit and Wisdom of the Modern Ferrets: A Ferret's Perspective on Ferret Care, and 500 Things My Ferret Told Me. She's written numerous articles on ferret care.

Eric Shefferman has worked in the comic book publishing and computer programming industries. His photography has appeared in Modern Ferret, Time Out: New York, the 2003 Ferret Faces Calendar, and in Ferrets: A Complete Pet Owner's Manual by E. Lynn "Fox" Morton, among other places. He is a self-taught juggler and a master popcorn popper.

Modern Ferret's staff has grown from the original three to an all-time high of nine. Currently, there are two: Trixie and Gabrielle spend much of their time as ambassadors, giving demonstrations at pet stores, pet shows, and on television. They also provide inspiration for much of the magazine’s content.

The Ferrets

• Sabrina (1992 - 2000): Columnist (Sabrina Says:)
• Ralph (1993 - 1998): Columnist (Ralph's Reviews)
• Marshmallow (1994 - 2000): Columnist (Marshmallow Explains It All)
• Knuks (1994 - 2001): Columnist (Knuks Makes Mischief)
• Trixie: Columnist (Trixie's Tips)
• Bosco da Gama (1996 - 2000): Columnist (Boscodagama.com - Your Ferret on the Web)
• Balthazar (1997 - 2002): Model, Best TV Ferret
• Cauliflower (1997 - 2002): Model, Columnist (Cauliflower's Quips)
• Koosh (1998 - 2003): Model (Koosh and the Gang reviews)
• Gabrielle: Columnist (Dear Gabby)

Our Mailing Address

You can send correspondence or orders to:

Modern Ferret
P.O. Box 65
Smithtown, N.Y. 11787

Shipping/Handling Policy

All pricing on the web site includes shipping costs (where applicable) for shipping within the US. There are no additional shipping charges unless you require some form of special handling.

Foreign Orders (outside the United States)

We are no longer shipping orders outside the United States.