Our Diamond Edition
They say ‘time flies when you’re enjoying yourself’ – well six years and 60 issues of Live Preston & Fylde are testimony to that old saying, writes Tedd Walmsley
Looking back and reflecting we have seen many highs and the odd low moment on our magazine journey. Launching in the midst of a recession and in an area less familiar to us, both commercially and geographically, were certainly both a logistical and financial headache. Trying to map and determine who should receive their hand delivered copies took longer than we would have liked.
Two years in and we complicated life further by introducing the affluent FY8 postcode into our model and widening the reach for our advertisers.
Each area from Fulwood to Freckleton, Longton to Lytham and Garstang to Great Eccleston and everywhere in between now has its own refined mapping system and its own dedicated delivery team. This unique hand delivered method for distribution is the key to the commercial success of the business. It is by no means perfect and constantly evolving with new homes being built and the demand for the product on the increase.
We print and deliver to 18,000 homes and businesses 10 times every year and are also in the process of agreeing an established and consistent pick up point list soon to be found on our website www.live-magazines.co.uk.
I’d like to take the opportunity in this article to thank our estate agent clients for their input into the mapping and of course the friendly team of deliverers out in rain, hail, snow and occasional sunshine, who take so much pride in the accuracy of our targeted distribution.
Talking of our advertisers, many have worked with us over a long period of time – each issue has over 100 clients and thanks again to each and every one of them for their continued support. We will never get complacent and work tirelessly to deliver the results for them to make advertising a self-fulfilling prophecy, as I like to say – advertising with us works!
The content is also vitally important to the success of the magazine. Local, relevant and always interesting, our editor Tracy Hargreaves and her team plan and interview, then create great editorial. Testimony to this is the great feedback and communications from both readers and advertisers alike. With the sad demise of many local newspapers and magazines from a circulation perspective we take our position very seriously and adopt a ‘can do’ attitude to support events and charities and try to fill some of the gaps left by these ailing titles. We would welcome any ideas you may have to enhance the magazine – new topics or individual successes that are local, relevant and positive – please get in touch.
Our small full time team are also the key to our initial survival and now our continued success – dedicated, flexible and passionate people who make all the difference to any small organisation – a big heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them for their loyalty and love for the magazines. They are supported admirably by many freelance journalists, photographers and students each playing their own part in our products.
So with this diamond issue to celebrate another milestone, my thoughts turn to the future and what it might have in store. We aim to grow and build the magazine in term of size, maintain its relevance and evolve its distribution. We hope you continue to enjoy the fruits of our labour and we have an exciting competition on this page for you to win your own diamond necklace courtesy of our partners Leonard Dews.
Please feel free to get in touch anytime to discuss any aspect of our magazine – we’d love to hear from you.
