Consumer - market decline hits magazines

摘要

The spending slowdown has led to a loss of circulation for gardening titles. The news that Gardenlife magazine is to close shows that consumer gardening magazines sales are mirroring the industry's depression. Managing director of Seven Publishing, the magazine's producer, Seamus Geoghegan had high hopes when he launched Gardenlife at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2004.Little did he know that in May that year the decline in the garden market would begin. At first, poor weather hit the trade and it never recovered. Geoghegan says that in 2005, weak consumer confidence meant discretionary spend was down, which hit his projected circulation of 120,000. Even so, Gardenlife won the Garden Writers' Guild Magazine of the Year 2005. "How ironic is that?" says Geoghegan, who spent almost pound 2m on the glossy, which had 11 editorial staff and at least as many people in production and advertising.