Amid the sadness of magazine closures, the challenges of COVID-19, and industry concern as companies merge or change hands, some magazines are thriving.
NextMedia titles such as the much-loved frankie and ABC Gardening Australia magazine have been enjoying a surge in sales during this period of home isolation.
Gardening Australia retail sales have been robust and steadily growing in recent years, but are up 19 per cent year on year.
“With people having to spend more time at home, they’re looking for ways to improve and enjoy what they have,” said NextMedia’s Carole Jones, GM of Consumer Publishing.
“They want achievable, home improvement projects, and to surround themselves with nice things to look at, make and grow. Our niche titles feed this demand, and the home, health and youth categories in particular, are seeing record sales.”
Jones said she expects that even those titles forced to take it quiet through this period will rebound.
“While a couple of titles are waiting for the events calendar to fill up again, with strong brands and business models they will survive,” she said.
Both Jones and Darren McNally, who heads up the business publishing division, are enthusiastic about the way NextMedia continues to operate with optimism and focus, albeit in a modified workplace.
“In our B2B division, we have seen dramatic changes where in-person networking and conferencing events have moved wholly online via a range of innovative platforms, to support and respond to shifting client requirements,” McNally said. “As client demands change, we refine and reinvent the initial product offerings, and continue to evolve.”
As the saying goes, crisis sparks opportunity, and NextMedia is making the most of its lean, nimble operating style to deliver great outcomes for its clients, and some of the country’s most successful magazines.
NextMedia is Australia’s largest special interest publisher across print magazines, websites, digital media, forums, social media, books and events. Titles include ABC Gardening Australia magazine, ABC Organic Gardener, Prevention Australia, frankie, Old Bike, MAD Magazine, Australian Healthy Food Guide, Australian Mountain Bike, Inside Sport, Science Illustrated, Art Almanac, Golf Australia, Tracks, Australian Muscle Car, TV Soap, iTnews, CRN and the youth titles K-Zone and Total Girl.
