Celebrating Our 100th Issue

It seemed fitting with this being our magazines 100th issue to sit down with the man behind the title to discuss the past, present and future of Live Preston & Flyde. Our new editor Helen Sanderson chats to Tedd Walmsey, the magazines managing director

“Live Preston & Fylde is the second title in the Live Magazines portfolio and is two years younger than its sister title Live Ribble Valley which was launched in September 2008. Our success is down to three key elements: our advertisers, our distribution model and the team that brings the magazine to life every seven weeks”, explains Tedd.

Since the launch of Preston & Fylde in July 2010, 18,000 magazines have been distributed for each issue. They are hand-delivered to carefully selected households and businesses, across the whole region, from Garstang in the north, to Much Hoole in the south and across to Lytham and Wrea Green.

The magazine has always been distributed free, with an option to subscribe for a small annual fee, which is taken up by a handful of people. Tedd said: “We are incredibly lucky with our advertisers. We actually have a small cohort of them who have been with us since the very first issue and have advertised in every single one of the 100 issues. Since then the pagination of the magazine has gone up and the number of regular advertisers has grown. With each issue we attract more and more advertisers, what we find is that they get such positive responses from their commercial edits that they return regularly. I really can’t thank our advertiser’s enough for their continued support. It’s then our job as the production team to ensure that we produce a quality, relevant magazine that’s distributed to the right households, to maximise their ROI with every single issue.”

The production team for both the Ribble Valley and the Preston issue is headed up by Kate Hyde, she is supported by a key team who are amongst the best in the business with vast experience. Our accounts manager Jane Hughes has been with the Preston magazine since the very first issue and her tenacity ensures that the ad space is sold. Then a host of talented freelancers, from photographers to writers, bring the pages to life.

“Over the 100 issues we have had four editors, starting with Peter Holland followed by Mary-Lee Slade and then Tracy Hargreaves. Our new editor, Helen Sanderson, has been a contributor to the magazine since the early days. As a seasoned reporter and a local lass, I know she will bring a new lease of life to our publication”, said Tedd.

Live Preston & Fylde is the city edition of the Live magazines and has an edgier feel to its older sister Live Ribble Valley which is edited by Jan Woolley. Side by side the magazines have a familiar look and often share stories which would appeal to both readers.

Tedd said: “My favourite magazines in our archives are the ones that people still talk about. The modern day ‘witch’ photographed on a Harley Davison was one of our most controversial front covers, but I loved it. Our last issue, number 99, which came out in May was the first with Helen at the helm. She created a ‘Preston take’ on the popular Banksy image of Hope. It was a fantastic cover and I can’t wait to see what else she has up her sleeve for the magazine.”

The Live publications resisted the pressure to go digital for a very long time. They do now have an online edition of both of the magazines but it’s testimony to the quality of the product that they are still a tangible publication that you can hold in your hands and thumb through the pages. It’s a delight to see the magazine left on coffee tables to be revisited time and time again.

Tedd added: “I am very proud of the success we have had as a magazine. Our 100th issue comes after a very difficult time for each and every one of us. To still be here is an achievement in itself. The plans for the immediate future are to get back to our pre-Covid levels. I look forward to supporting the team to build on the success of the past issues under the guidance of our new editor.”

What are you views of the Live Preston Magazine? We would love to hear from you to find out how we can improve and make it more relevant to you our readers.

Please email our editor Helen Sanderson at: helen.sanderson@live-magazines.co.uk or contact Tedd direct at: tedd.walmsley@live-magzines.co.uk

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