Magazine Costs, Distribution & Marketing

     Today I researched Magazine costs and I ended up finding this really nice chart (shown above) that shown the percentage that is spent on certain sections relating to magazines.

https://asleveltaketwo.wordpress.com/2015/03/14/a-history-of-magazines/


Magazine Distribution:

    


Magazine Marketing:

     Many magazines use social media to market so I believe it is an important way of marketing to the target audience. Facebook seems to be the most popular social media site to grab new readers attention.

Magazine Interview Answers

1. How did the business originate?

We found there was a void in the market place where there was a great divide between young apparel lines and much older apparel lines. We felt there needed to be an apparel line and store that offered an ageless flair. Even a take on the surfer now all grown up and wanting a cool, hip apparel line that is made from high end fabrics that stand the test of time.

2. What year did the boutique open?

2008

3. Do you have more boutiques in Florida or in other states?

Currently, this store is the only location. We have a second location coming to LBK coinciding with our second restaurant location (where Moore’s Stone Crab used to be – you can find several news articles that cover this).

4. How did you come up with the boutique's name?

The name Shore was created from the above need, water-centric, young and active. A throw back in time were life was a bit easier. Shore encapsulates all things good, vacation time, weekends, family, activity and serenity.

5. Why did you decide to have a teen boutique instead of having the traditional older demographic boutique?

Shore is not really a “teen boutique.” Our target demographic is 18-60 year old men and women with discretionary incomes, living an active, healthy lifestyle, looking for quality clothing, with a passionate for water (the beach, boating, etc.).

6. How do you survive in a city that predominantly targets older demographics?

Since our demographic is mainly an older audience, we very much enjoy servicing Sarasota.

7.  How does the boutique draw in teen customers?

We do tend to get quite a few teens in the store, mostly shopping with their parents. Instagram is the main marketing channel that attracks them I’m sure. My main guess is they come in with the target audience, their parents though.

8. Is the boutique popular with teens?

We do tend to see quite a few in the store shopping, but because they are not usually the ones purchasing the items, we don’t have much demographic data to say how popular exactly.

9. How do you advertise? Market?

Many, many ways:

-Email marketing (e-blasts/VIP club)

-Social media, i.e. Facebook, Instagram

-Digital advertising

-Placing ads in national and local magazines

-Working with the LBK and SRQ Chambers, St. Armands Association, Visit Sarasota Co., and other networking groups

-Fliers in guests bags as they purchase

-Word of mouth

10. What type of teen audience are you targeting?

Teens are a secondary audience for us, thus we aren’t using marketing dollars to target them

11. Does your boutique appeal only to teens?

No

12. How do you stay current with the latest fashion?

Constantly attending trade shows, following trends via magazines and New York Fashion Week, paying attention to the industry

13. What type of clothing brands does the boutique offer?

We offer MANY brands! Shore brand is our top seller (that is our private label). You can find the others on our website, but a few of the other top sellers are:

-Mara Hoffman

-Tart

-Blaque Label

Mens:

-Sol Angeles

-7 Diamonds

-Mavi

14. What type of price ranges are available in store?

It varies, you can check website to compare items specifically

15. Is the store profitable?

-Yes

Exciting News!

     I was able to contact Shore via email. They responded to the email I sent them and agreed to the interview! On December 9th I went in to conduct the interview. I plan on beginning the writing process for my article soon! Also, I am going to try and attempt to contact Influence Style either by email or telephone so I can have more boutiques to include in my magazine interview.

Update

     Lately I've been having trouble on how to approach the boutiques I want to interview. I still haven't been able to contact either of the two boutiques because of email, and time issues. My original approach was to contact both boutiques via email to make sure it was okay to have an interview. This has proven harder then originally thought because neither of the stores have an email to be contacted by. They do have a subscriber email and I have already subscribed to both boutique's emails but I haven't received an email from either boutique. I decided I should try and call them instead but the time issues are complicating me being able to contact them. So I'm attempting to think of other ideas to try and contact them or I have to make time so I can call and get an interview.

Magazine Interview Questions

1. How did the business originate?

2. What year did the boutique open?

3. Do you have more boutiques in Florida or in other states?

4. How did you come up with the boutique's name?

5. Why did you decide to have a teen boutique instead of having the traditional older demographic boutique?

6. How do you survive in a city that predominantly targets older demographics?

7.  How does the boutique draw in teen customers?

8. Is the boutique popular with teens?

9. How do you advertise? Market?

10. What type of teen audience are you targeting?

11. Does your boutique appeal only to teens?

12. How do you stay current with the latest fashion?

13. What type of clothing brands does the boutique offer?

14. What type of price ranges are available in store?

15. Is the store profitable?

Problems Encountered

     The store I was thinking about interviewing does not have a listed email on their website where they can be contacted. So I have decided to contact them by telephone as soon as possible so I can see if they have an email or to set up an interview in store. Whatever choice works I will also have to set up a day where I can go to the store and take pictures.

     The original format I wanted to have 6¾"x 9" is not offered in Microsoft Office Publisher 2013 the closest format is "6.9 x 9.3", this is the format that I have decided to choose since it is the closest one to the original format I wanted.

Possible Magazine Interviewers

Influence Style

• Address: 474 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236
• Phone:(941) 343-2315
• Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• http://www.influencestyle.com

Shore

• Address: 465 John Ringling Blvd #100, Sarasota, FL 34236
• Phone:(941) 388-3535
• Hours:  10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• http://shorebrand.com/

Magazine Format

Today I researched on format sizes for my magazine:

• The Teen Vogue format really stood out to me because its a lot smaller than the usual magazines it is 6¾"x9". It has a really unique cover size that makes me what to read it instead of the other magazines. 

• According to online sources "the magazine has a unique cover size and more visibility on the front of a magazine selling shelf, and some flexibility getting into a digest size slot at checkout stands." 

Magazine list of to do's:

1. Find local teen boutique 
2. Ask if I can interview them 
3. Let them know its for school (AICE Media Studies)
4. They can have an advertisement in the school newspaper (ask for card or logo)
5. If YES ask to set up a date for the interview ... If NO look for a different boutique
6.  Let them know I will be using their answers for my magazine
7. Schedule a day for a photo session

* Keep interview focused on:
How does the boutique draw in teen customers?

How do they stay current with the latest fashion?

How do they survive in a city that predominantly targets older demographics?

Why did they decide to have a teen boutique instead of having the traditional older demographic boutique?

How do they advertise?

Magazine Layouts

Today I decided to research magazine layouts that I might be interested in having for my magazine.

This magazine layout grabbed my attention because of the bold letters and pictures provided, it is unique and different than most magazine I have seen.

This layout is very clean but still has details and features a picture as the whole 1st page. I like this layout the best so far because of the way it has simple details but is also still very intriguing and this makes me what to read it. 

This image is helpful because it explains what most popular fashion magazines tend to do that draws in their readers. It includes how they use the print, colors scheme, and pictures to grab their attention.

Magazine Subscriptions & Awards

Magazine Subscription

• weekly, monthly, seasonally
• Costs of regular newsstand $60 for 12 issues
• $30 with subscription
• 26 issues newsstand price $103-$130
• $40-$60 with subscription 
• Based on U.S Weekly & People Magazine

Magazine Awards

• Ellie Awards
• The New Yorker Cover of the Year: 2006 ,2007, and 2015 
• Cover of the Year 2015

• Digital Magazine Awards 2015
• Magazine of the Year 
• WIRED UK- Condé Nast Publications 

Judges' Comments: A simply outstanding digital magazine that consistently stands apart from all other competitors.

Final Decision

     I have decided on doing the magazine project because I have more ideas for the magazine than the film. I can offer the magazine project more time to work on it during my free time and when given the opportunity in class to work. The magazine project is better to do for someone who is working alone and who is usually busy with school work or extra curricular activities. I feel the magazine requires just the right amount of creativity that I can offer. The other plus on the magazine is I don't have to write a script, find actors, or direct. My magazine will most likely be on pop culture or maybe I'll decide to go a different route and create a completely new type of magazine. I believe my project will be a viable media product because it will be interesting and entertaining. I know most magazines are targeted at drawing in teens or young adults and I have the benefit of being one. I often times buy magazines so I know what type of things we like to see in magazines and what makes me want to buy a certain type of magazine. With all these ideas and clues of why teens purchase magazines I will be able to create a magazine that appeals to them. They will want to subscribe to my magazine so they won't miss a single edition. For marketing and advertising I was thinking of posters, signs, ads, and a magazine account on different social media platforms. Distribution will occur online on a website that I would create just for my magazine.

Film Project

     The second project offered in AICE Media Studies is the film project. The project must be 2 minutes long and show off the film techniques we have acquired during the school year. The problem with this film project is you have to make an opening scene that is only 2 minutes long that is impacting. I'm not sure I would be able to make an impacting opening scene in such a short amount of time. The film must also of course have a script and actors. Since I plan on working alone I would have to be the one to write the entire script, find the actors, and direct them as well. I am currently enrolled in 4 AICE classes leaving me with very little time to write the script, find the actors, and direct. This worries me I have never written a film script or directed before. Finding actors to be willing to be in my film and also having the same schedule as them to find the time to film would be difficult. The actual filming would pose a problem, getting all the actors together, and filming under good weather conditions would be possible problems. The only thing I would feel comfortable about the film project is using film techniques that we have learned in this class. In our notebooks we have lots of these terms defined and we have seen these techniques being used in the films we have watched in class. I'm still not sure of which project I should choose because both have their pros and cons.

1st Blog Post on Magazine Project

     For this class, AICE Media Studies, there are two projects to choose from one is creating a magazine the other is creating a film. The magazine project is an interesting and very creative project. The whole idea is to create and design a trendy magazine that is different than the magazines out there now. For this project I would have to write an article/interview, but I'm not sure of my writing abilities. My writing abilities aren't the worst but I feel they could be improved. As the interviewing goes I have done it before and know I can be a friendly interviewer while making people feel comfortable but I just get nervous about asking questions. The key I guess is just to try my best and be very prepared and practice, just know what I'm doing like the journalist in the films we have watched so far. Designing and creating a trendy magazine might pose a problem as well. Even though design might not be as big a problem as creating a different type of magazine. Design might be a strong suit in this case but I like to make sure I list all possible problems while making an important choice. I would like to create a new type of magazine but I want it to be interesting and entertaining as well. The most popular magazines are the gossip or entertainment magazines. I personally enjoy reading this types of magazines and I've noticed other people my age tend to gravitate towards this types of magazines too. So the problem is, how can I create a new magazine that is attractive to many different types of demographics but is still a fun, creative, entertaining magazine? The plus on this magazine project is I would have lots of creative ideas towards the design. I tend to like to design things and they usually turn out pretty well. Choosing fonts and colors that are bold and appeal to people could be the reason all different types of ages would reach for this magazine. Graphics and pictures always make a magazine better taking pictures and including them in my magazine would be an easy and fun thing to do. The graphics, colors, and fonts could make the magazine trendy and up to date making it an interesting and popular magazine to read. There are many negatives and positives to this magazine project but I'll have to keep an open mind about which project I would be the best at creating, with the skills and abilities I have.