Magazines

The magazine industry is undergoing a seismic shift. It's about time. Publishers have enjoyed the spoils of success for long enough.

We need to become hungry again. 

When the magazine pioneers discovered the desire for their publications they went to extraordinary lengths to meet it. They created a system that allowed anyone, anywhere in the country to get hold of a copy of their magazine or newspaper - on the same day, in the same hour. They employed legions of delivery men, armies of paper boys and they created a whole new business: the newsagent. 

That same system has existed, unchanged, for over 100 years.

Meanwhile the magazine and retail markets have changed beyond recognition. Supermarkets and multiples now play the tune - they decide on which magazines they stock (the big, vanilla ones) how much they charge for the privilege of being stocked (a lot) and when they pay the publisher (not anytime soon). We, as publishers, work on sale or return but we never get any returns.

What was once a miracle of logistics is now a barrier to innovation.

David Parker - Publishing Director

David will be responsible for audience generation, with an initial focus on circulation and subscriptions, alongside general financial management. 

David Parker is highly successful publisher with a track record of revitalising brands and working every avenue and margin in the business. He currently publishes three of the largest magazine brands in the UK: Country Living, Prima and House Beautiful, alongside AllAboutYou.com a website with over 1million unique users every month.

Under David’s tenure, Country Living’s profits grew by 23% last year through expansion in print, digital, events and TV. In 2011 he took over Prima with a brief to revitalise the brand. In 2012/13 he has consistently grown the circulation and doubled Prima’s profits over the last twelve months.