News Limited today announced that the June issue of Alpha magazine would be the last. The magazine has struggled since they disconnected it from News Ltd newspapers and changed the revenue model for retailers. That said, it is disappointing when any magazine closes.
The bad news in today’s announcement by News is that the company has licensed specialist titles (and associated websites) Modern Fishing, Modern Boating, Overlander 4WD, Truckin’ Life, Live To Ride, 2Wheels, Chopper, Tattoo and Scooter to Express Publications. I label this bad news because of Express bags much of what it distributes and sends old issues out with new, leaving newsagents to carry the cost of sending back the old stock so that it can be re-bagged and sent back out. Hopefully, Express will not condemn these titles to bagging.
Click here for the story in The Australian.
A new title which we recieved last friday from express publications StYLE YOUR HOME WITH KAREN CREITH which is by a local girl from Parkes was bagged.
Karen was initially informed it would not be but this was changed. Naturally the title has been a big seller in our newsagency selling over 120 copies on day of release. Karen informed me today that express are looking at the next issue not being bagged.
I told her not to hold her breath but to keep at them.
Greg
alpha was doomed when they stopped rewarding me for treating it as more that just a magazine, it lost it prime position in my newsagency, and i know sales went down because of this. but it was a principal thing for me, they thought they had a product that could continue to sell without the support of newsagency channels, guess who was right in the end.