UK Magazines

[Anonymous]

Chris,

I supose what I mean to say is that whether you are a novice, keen amateur or professional, our magazine should hopefully have some appeal to each type in every issue.
Gill points out that the table saw has been done to death recently, which is a perfectly valid comment, but we have recently been asked by some posters on this site when we will be doing table saw XYZ, and what about the ZYX model?, so you can't keep everyone happy!
I suppose this is a perfect example of becoming more specialised, but based on a particular tool as opposed to a particular type of work. What pushes one readers buttons doesn't do it for others so while some are extremely happy, others walk away. In this case Gill has decided that tablesaw overkill is too much and may look elsewhere, where another reader wanting to buy one but needs a comparison may find it useful.
This is why it is difficult to achieve balanced success.
As for the Kity situation, I can only apologise.
We became aware of it only when the magazine was at the printers, so it was too late to ammend the issue.
We only found out accidentally, I saw the posting on the website and checked it out. Probably the reason why ours, and other magazines haven't reported it is because Kity haven't made it common knowledge.
Companies seem very keen to push product, but play in house problems close to their chests! In our situation, (and I assume the other mags) when you have a product in for testing you are in touch regularly checking details, but you may not have any contact for months after, so assume everything is hunky dory.
I spoke to them last week to see what the situation is and it appears the parent company is in receivership which meant that although the UK operation was thriving, the stock dried up.
As I understand it, there is hopes of a management or independent buy out, but this won't be decided until the end of February when a final decision on the European situation is made, and whether it is viable to take the debts on board. The UK Kity guys seem to be as pretty much in the dark as the rest of us.
It would be a shame if Kity do go under as the product is very good. I hope that whatever the outcome, the brand continues in some guise or other.
If not, I hope my 419 doesn't break down!!!

Andy

 

[Philly]

Andy,
To be fair, you guys do try to cover most bases-beginners, turners, cabinet-makers, power-toolers, hand-toolers, you name it. That means there is a little for a lot-if you are only interested in turning then GW might not be your first choice. But if you also dabble in the odd bookcase or are interested in powertool reviews then maybe GW is on the right tracks. If a magazine specialises in one subject then that limits its appeal, but at the same time the more "into" something you are, a specialist mag IS what you want.
And then there's the making a profit thing.....
So, to be fair, I don't envy your job, Andy. (Although your Cover Model side line must be making you a few bob! )
Warmest regards,
Philly
(who was hit with an ugly stick!)

 

[kityuser]

andy:

I agree with your post completely, but still find it worrying that several companies in yours (and other mags) still seem to be advertising kity stock!

I completely understand that the odd retailer may not be able to afford to change thier ad every month, but I`ve seen some ads change AND STILL ADVERTISE KITY STUFF!

hope kity does stay alive! I just got mine :x

from my point of view, there needs to be some changes in the mags available, i mean there are only so many articles you can read on "how to build a shed" :?

 

[Philly]

Just a thought,
Maybe the Yanks can jump in and save Kity like they did Record.
Oh, hang on-aren't Kity French? :twisted:
Sorry,
Philly
Proud to buy British (as long as it's imported from abroad!)

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Andy

Perhaps this is an opportunity for us to compile a list and then vote on the topics. This would, at least, give GWW a starter for ten when putting their magazine together.

What do you think?

Cheers
Neil

PS I'm still waiting for my cheque to cover the the last brilliant idea I gave you. Oh I forgot, you claimed it as your own. :wink:

 

[Chris Knight]

Andy,
Thanks for your response. I suppose what I am arguing for is exactly what you are NOT trying to achieve. My point is that one will always tend to rather bland and superficial coverage by trying to please such a large range of skills/interests whereas content which is determined by a narrower definition of one's market will have greater depth and appeal to the defined interest group.

I feel that in the UK we just don't have any woodworking magazine that elects to do it this way. It may well be commercial suicide, I am not qualified to judge - but it is certainly an untapped market.

 

[Pete W]

I've subscribed to Fine Woodworking for the past year ... only a couple of them have turned up without me having to email them first.

Dave

I've subscribed to FWW for the last year and copies have always arrived on schedule. They're always late compared to US availability but that's to be expected.

 

[Noel]

At least GWW does not use models (male and female) for their photo work. Unlike quite a few US WW magazines.

Rgds

Noel

PS Andy, I am correct? You don't use models, do you....

 

[Anonymous]

Well i've never been in 'Vogue'...... :shock:

 

[Alf]

FWW subscribing types; odd 'cos I thought they'd sorted out all their subscription problems. Certainly to date (touch wood, clasp four-leafed clover, avoid ladders/kicking black cats etc) all my issues have been delivered on time and within about a week to 10 days of publication in the States. I should get on to them and ask "how come?" if I was you. The next issue's out on the 24th, so set your calenders now...

Cheers, Alf

 

[Anonymous]

This is quite an interesting topic - been following it since it started and finally have a moment to "chip in" my comments.

Since the debate is in part a comparison between the US magazines and the British ones, there's a clear difference - the US mags that I've come across include the generalist ones (Popular Woodworking, American Woodworker, Wood magazine, and so on) that compare in coverage and topics to our own general mags (GWW, The Woodworker and so on).

There are also more specialised American mags like Shop Notes for workshop projects, Workbench for home-improvement related woodwork, and FWW for the fine cabinet-maker and those that dream!

In the UK our specialised mags appear to be more tailored towards specific tools or skills - Woodcarving mag, Woodturning mag, Routing & The Router. I wonder if there's a good reason for the difference in the split?

I'm pleased we've got so many to choose from, but like the sentiment expressed by Chris, I wish there was a more up-market mag in the UK that served the same market as FWW, with a more serious editorial tone. I guess by making a stand for quality work and technique, FWW has established itself at the peak of the market. I'm not so sure it's possible to easily distinguish between the UK mags that are aiming for the generalist, and so that leaves folks like me leafing through each month for the odd gem, rather than subscribing with confidence that I'll get mainly stuff I'm interested in, rather than a mixed bag of articles that might be inspirational, or might leave me cold for two-three months in a row.

AG

P.S. Nobody said it was going to be easy Andy :wink:

 

[Gill]

Hi Andy

I'm sorry if you thought I was being stroppy about the latest issue of GWW. I wasn't. I really enjoyed reading it and I think it has something for everyone. In fact, if you'd read a thread about Christmas presents a short while ago you might have noticed that I'd been delighted to have my annual subscription renewed by Santa. I think the standard of GWW has improved considerably over the last year, and I'm prepared to put Santa's money where my mouth is .

My earlier post on this thread was an attempt at humour. Apparently it was misinterpreted by some and I apologise for not making it clearer (or funnier).

Incidentally, is GWW getting hairier? I'm sure I saw a photo of you sprouting something out of your pate and in some of the articles Phil Davy appears to have gone for the Cap'n Birdseye look. Or am I mistaken?

Yours

Gill

 

[Anonymous]

Gill,

I didn't take it as stroppiness, I thought it was a very valid comment!
As for the new improved hair regeneration, either our art editor has attacked me in Photoshop, i've had my head up a chimney, or more likely, it's a trick of the light!
Incidently, my head, a 20 watt bulb and ten mirrors are available for hire. I can put Jean Michel Jarre's Docklands laser light show to shame!

Andy

 

[Anonymous]

Afterglow

It's worth noting that the only UK mags in the market that generate any reasonable number of sales are the broad based ones like GW and WW. More specialised mags like Trad enjoy far less sales (round the 10-12k mark) while the real niche ones like Woodturner, Routing etc, sell far less (well under 10k) per month. Even F and CM, widely touted here as a 'serious' mag for experienced woodies appears only to sell about 10k. How some mags remain afloat on these sales figures is beyond me.

Pete

 

[Anonymous]

Pete,

Thanks for the reply - I did wonder what the sales figures were for the UK mags. I suppose it makes sense that the more specialised mags occupy a niche market in terms of sales, although I'm still intrigued by FWW's popularity. I can't remember the distribution figure for FWW, was it around the 350,000 mark? Do you know the figures for the US woodworking mags for some comparisons in their market too, by any chance?

Doing some quick searches and calculations, there are about 60 million people in the UK and GWW, our leading mag in terms of sales, manages around 30,000 (from memory), so about 0.05% of the population in the UK buys it.

In the US, the population is nearer 285 million, which means they're hitting 0.12% of the population, which is a far more significant ratio.

Of course, my figures are most likely wrong. But if they're right, I wonder what the reasons might be, and how a UK mag might look to extend its readership?

AG - subscriber to GWW, F&C, and FWW

 

[Anonymous]

Of course, my figures are most likely wrong. But if they're right, I wonder what the reasons might be, and how a UK mag might look to extend its readership?

Answers on a postcard please!!!

 

[Anonymous]

'Murricans have lots timber built houses, and everything is cheaper - including tools, and I think they have just more "practical" skills than people in the UK. I was discussing this exact thing with someone at work recently who is a sales guy to the US and he mentioned he sees the same mentality in scandanavian countries. They all have a workshop in the basement, hoever infreqeuntly it gets used.

J