We have not sold a single copy of Groovy Grandmas since it launched six weeks ago. As I blogged at the time, we received 19 copies. We early returned the stock today. Besides being out of pocket for a time for the cost of the initial stock, we have to pay freight to send this now dead stock back. This is a considerable impost on small business newsagents.
While I understand that the publisher has risked tens of thousands of dollars, maybe more, in the launch of Groovy Grandmas, that is their choice. Newsagents have not been given a choice as to whether they want to invest in a new title. The distributor is not out of pocket in such a launch. Only the publisher, who had a choice, and newsagents, who had no say in whether to invest.
I haven’t sold one either and not through lack of trying. I’ve only had a few giggles at the name of it.
As I mentioned in an earlier blogstream a couple of days ago, I haven’t sold any and decided to early return the rest of the copies I have kept back.
Googling ‘groovy grandmas magazine’ reveals the first edition is annual but it plans to go quarterly from March. There’s also a mention that 30,000 copies of that first edition were printed and distributed throughout Australia.
What I would find a bit worrying if I were the publisher is the fact that the third and fourth ranked Google results are from this site about the fact it’s not selling.
Andrew, The dilemma is whether to post or not here because Google does pick the posts up. My frustration is that we become investors in these new titles without being asked. Our money is key to their funding model. We need to stop this.
Mark
Mark. Good point about Google. That’s always a problem when you choose to reveal your identity on a blog. I have the same issues too.
I totally understand your point. Maybe part of the research for new magazines should include discussions with people like yourself?
In the case of this magazine (and I have not seen it myself) it looks like a website brand that chose to go into print. That’s pretty different to the way the industry is heading.
All the Groovy Grandmas must live on the Sunshine Coast – we take the record getting rid of 3 out of 24!