We received ten copies of Melbourne Renovator Decorator & Builder yesterday with a note saying they are free to us and that we should sell them for $1.00 each.
This is a yellow pages like publication for decorators, renovators and builders.
While it’s an interesting distribution model, the hand written note and packaging of the copies feels unprofessional. I am not sure how many newsagents will respond by putting the title on the shelves.
For us, the 100% GP is only interesting if we sell at least four copies a week given the cost of shopping centre retail space. One option we have is to set our own price.
We’re going to think about this title before we put it on the shelves. While it has many flaws, there is an established magazine distribution system in place for good reason.
I’d be interested in hearing from other publishers about this model – free magazines to newsagents – as a means of getting space on our shelves.
We received free copies of Issue 1 of Inside History and gave it a go. As a newsagent, I think it’s a good incentive for us to give launch issues a go. Yeah, the delivery might need some work, but you can’t knock a publisher for giving it a go.