Boxing monthly on the iPad

[Bennyblanco]

Is the way forward first issue free

The interview with Adam smith from sky in the December issue is really good aswell.

Any news on whether boxing news will be doing the same?

[johan88]

Great suggestion. Just downloaded it now, great way to keep up.

[alexpaterson]

Do you get it on the iPhone or just the pad?

[Bennyblanco]

Do you get it on the iPhone or just the pad?

There on both

[Glyn Leach]

Glad you like it! Must say, it's nice to think that people will be able to see the issue as I see it on the computer when I'm laying it out, it's so much brighter and more colourful - I always feel a bit gutted when the hard copy version arrives in the office, never looks as good as what I've been working on.

It might well be the way forward eventually. We've no plans to stop producing the printed version of Boxing Monthly, but - and I have to be careful what I say here - dealing with high street stockists is becoming more and more expensive to us by the year. In my opinion, because high street business is down in all areas, magazine stockists appear to be "taxing" the publishers, by more and more each year. BM's sales as a whole haven't dropped, but there is a transference away from the high street to supermarkets and small independent shops.

Unfortunately, the high street still makes up a large percentage of our sales, too large for us to be able to ditch it (which I, personally, would love to be able to do). Therefore, we are trying to think of ways to keep producing the mag without having this financial shackle around our neck, and the app is one of them. But long term, I can see it eventually becoming too expensive for us to keep producing the printed BM unless we can transfer enough shop sales to subscriptions, whereby we get to keep all the money without the aforementioned "taxing" weighing us down. Unfortunately, we're a long way from having the necessary amount of subscribers at the moment - unlike America, Britain does not have a subscription culture.

But if we can get enough subscribers, I see us eventually dropping out of the shops altogether and just dealing with the readers one-to-one, so to speak. Unlike BN or The Ring, we are a small, entirely independent publisher - we do not belong to a large company that can draw on revenue streams from other areas of the business if needs be. It's all about sales for us, and this "taxing" is eating away at our profit margin, which isn't massive anyway — we make enough to pay our wages and keep going, but there isn't a huge amount left after that. At the moment there's enough, but I don't think it will be that way forever - and forever might not be that far away in the current climate.

So yes, have a look at the app, buy a subscription, and stop putting money in the pockets of people who will gradually drive BM out of business!

[chinny]

I guess I never really thought of it that way Glyn. I shall buy a subscription then. Anyway, I resent having to say 'no' to massive slabs of Galaxy ever time I buy it in WHS, even when I say from the outset "Just the magazine please"

[Bennyblanco]

Glad you like it! Must say, it's nice to think that people will be able to see the issue as I see it on the computer when I'm laying it out, it's so much brighter and more colourful - I always feel a bit gutted when the hard copy version arrives in the office, never looks as good as what I've been working on.

It might well be the way forward eventually. We've no plans to stop producing the printed version of Boxing Monthly, but - and I have to be careful what I say here - dealing with high street stockists is becoming more and more expensive to us by the year. In my opinion, because high street business is down in all areas, magazine stockists appear to be "taxing" the publishers, by more and more each year. BM's sales as a whole haven't dropped, but there is a transference away from the high street to supermarkets and small independent shops.

Unfortunately, the high street still makes up a large percentage of our sales, too large for us to be able to ditch it (which I, personally, would love to be able to do). Therefore, we are trying to think of ways to keep producing the mag without having this financial shackle around our neck, and the app is one of them. But long term, I can see it eventually becoming too expensive for us to keep producing the printed BM unless we can transfer enough shop sales to subscriptions, whereby we get to keep all the money without the aforementioned "taxing" weighing us down. Unfortunately, we're a long way from having the necessary amount of subscribers at the moment - unlike America, Britain does not have a subscription culture.

But if we can get enough subscribers, I see us eventually dropping out of the shops altogether and just dealing with the readers one-to-one, so to speak. Unlike BN or The Ring, we are a small, entirely independent publisher - we do not belong to a large company that can draw on revenue streams from other areas of the business if needs be. It's all about sales for us, and this "taxing" is eating away at our profit margin, which isn't massive anyway — we make enough to pay our wages and keep going, but there isn't a huge amount left after that. At the moment there's enough, but I don't think it will be that way forever - and forever might not be that far away in the current climate.

So yes, have a look at the app, buy a subscription, and stop putting money in the pockets of people who will gradually drive BM out of business!

Fair play. I've got to say it does feel alot brighter and clearer than the mag ( for obvious reasons). The pictures are crystal clear. I always resent throwing away stacks of old boxing mags but this is ideal.

[Glyn Leach]

I guess I never really thought of it that way Glyn. I shall buy a subscription then. Anyway, I resent having to say 'no' to massive slabs of Galaxy ever time I buy it in WHS, even when I say from the outset "Just the magazine please"

Cheers Chinny, that's the ticket mate! I think one of the football mags, maybe 442 (not sure) really copped the hump over this issue a few years ago, resented it to hell, and made a concerted effort to turn all their buyers into subscribers so they could get out of the shops altogether. And I can understand it. I'd rather do that than sell the mag to a major publishing house, with no feeling for the mag or the sport, in order to survive or just go out of business altogether. Obviously you sell less copies by going subscription only, but the money from the copies you do sell goes directly to you, so you can afford to sell less copies. And you don't have to deal with the "taxers" - and you know I want to use another description there!

When people look at the £3.80 the mag costs in the shops, they don't realise that the amount we receive is far less due to having to deal with a distribution company even before high street stores make their yearly demands. If we raise the price of BM (which we have no plans to do at the moment, fear not), it's just to keep things level, keep up with the demands of the companies we deal with. There's very little in it for us. I can honestly say I haven't given myself a pay rise in over 10 years, so effectively I'm earning less than I did due to inflation. That doesn't bother me because it's enough and I love what I do, I genuinely would do it for nothing if I could afford it. I'm not pleading poverty. But it tells you something about the way things are going for the small independent publishers these days. So we have to try and think outside the box more and more.

[Glyn Leach]

Do you have a limited amount of sign ins or ISP recognition? Reason for asking, what if someone purchased a sub to an online publication and then sold the log in details on for half price to a number of people. Are there provisions in place, E-books bar multiple log ins and whatnot so wondered what e-pubs can do to prevent abuse.

If I sent you my Jane's login and password you could use it (although I am not supposed to do that) but only if I were not logged in. When I had staff, I paid more and had multiple log-ins, I no longer have that. So I guess, in theory, I could've sold the log-ins on for half price or whatever, yes.

Ah. Glyn, gis us a log in code!

Only kidding, good luck with it

Ta Geedorah. But do you honestly think I know what it is!

[Glyn Leach]

You've done a canny launch. Set a trend by telling us all you're going under the knife accompanied only by your I-Pad, we all like you and want to show solidarity and rush out and buy I-Pads, you launch the mag on said I-Pad. We've been done up by marketing, subliminal advertising and emotional blackmail.

Damn! Tumbled! And I thought I'd got the Dana White mindgames down to a T. Suppose I've got to have a bloody operation now, just to save face

[SweetLikeSugar]

Now THAT's commitment to your job!

[Final round]

I didn't know you could digitally subscribe to the magazine.

[Glyn Leach]

I didn't know you could digitally subscribe to the magazine.

Only just started FR

[Final round]

I didn't know you could digitally subscribe to the magazine.

Only just started FR

Sounds great can you download the whole mag or do you have to be logged in to access it?

[chinny]

Cheers Chinny, that's the ticket mate!

Right, subs ordered. No more WHS for me. £44 a year though? From saving all those 'taxes' you mentioned I expected more than a free mug! Just kidding, well worth it.

[Glyn Leach]

Cheers Chinny, that's the ticket mate!

Right, subs ordered. No more WHS for me. £44 a year though? From saving all those 'taxes' you mentioned I expected more than a free mug! Just kidding, well worth it.

Lol. Thanks Chinny. Let me know how you get on with it, interested in any feedback. It will only ever be the mag in app form, there will be no extras as far as we plan, but that may change as time goes on.

[Deserter]

Glyn,

You're 100% right. I worked at one of the big national consumer magazine publishers and even there the squeeze was being felt in terms of the 'tax' from retailers and from the challenge of getting listings in the supermarkets, which are becoming ever more important in the distribution chain.
That's part of the reason why all major publishers, such as Natmags, the publishers of 4-4-2, have placed increased importance on subscription sales rather than news-stand.
Unfortunately I foresee a number of independent publications and publishers biting the dust in the coming years due to a combination of factors ranging from the increased costs of distribution through to the increased digital uptake. A great shame given we have the best magazine market in the world.
It's a slightly different sphere, but given your concerns, I'm sure you'll find this post by digital marketeer and author Seth Godin both relevant and thought-provoking:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog ... oject.html

[Glyn Leach]

Glyn,

You're 100% right. I worked at one of the big national consumer magazine publishers and even there the squeeze was being felt in terms of the 'tax' from retailers and from the challenge of getting listings in the supermarkets, which are becoming ever more important in the distribution chain.
That's part of the reason why all major publishers, such as Natmags, the publishers of 4-4-2, have placed increased importance on subscription sales rather than news-stand.
Unfortunately I foresee a number of independent publications and publishers biting the dust in the coming years due to a combination of factors ranging from the increased costs of distribution through to the increased digital uptake. A great shame given we have the best magazine market in the world.
It's a slightly different sphere, but given your concerns, I'm sure you'll find this post by digital marketeer and author Seth Godin both relevant and thought-provoking:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog ... oject.html

Thanks for that Deserter, it's certainly a problem. The impression I'm getting is that the big chains want to deal only with the four or five really major publishing houses and that the small publishers such as ourselves will be gradually squeezed out of business - there's only so long you can afford to meet the ever-rising payments they demand (for no extra service might I add, it's just to maintain your current position) every year. At some stage, push will come to shove, it has to.

[Deserter]

Glyn,

You're 100% right. I worked at one of the big national consumer magazine publishers and even there the squeeze was being felt in terms of the 'tax' from retailers and from the challenge of getting listings in the supermarkets, which are becoming ever more important in the distribution chain.
That's part of the reason why all major publishers, such as Natmags, the publishers of 4-4-2, have placed increased importance on subscription sales rather than news-stand.
Unfortunately I foresee a number of independent publications and publishers biting the dust in the coming years due to a combination of factors ranging from the increased costs of distribution through to the increased digital uptake. A great shame given we have the best magazine market in the world.
It's a slightly different sphere, but given your concerns, I'm sure you'll find this post by digital marketeer and author Seth Godin both relevant and thought-provoking:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog ... oject.html

Thanks for that Deserter, it's certainly a problem. The impression I'm getting is that the big chains want to deal only with the four or five really major publishing houses and that the small publishers such as ourselves will be gradually squeezed out of business - there's only so long you can afford to meet the ever-rising payments they demand (for no extra service might I add, it's just to maintain your current position) every year. At some stage, push will come to shove, it has to.

One of those rare occasions where I wish I could disagree, but I just can't.

[oliverfennell]

I'm not in the market for an iPad or other reader any time soon (much prefer the printed equivalent and remain a staunch supporter of print media), but perhaps one day it will be inevitable, especially if they become cheap enough. But it is potentially a very good idea for those of us who lives abroad but find mailed subscriptions too expensive.

[Glyn Leach]

I'm not in the market for an iPad or other reader any time soon (much prefer the printed equivalent and remain a staunch supporter of print media), but perhaps one day it will be inevitable, especially if they become cheap enough. But it is potentially a very good idea for those of us who lives abroad but find mailed subscriptions too expensive.

Definitely of benefit to overseas readers Oliver. We sell a few hard copies in America, for instance, but no matter what price we put on the cover, the individual stores tend to sticker whatever price they want over the top of it - completely legal with imported publications in America, apparently, the stores just take what they want. I've seen BM priced at close to 10 quid in America as much as 10 years ago. So there's potential for an entirely new readership, as well as the current overseas readers.

[oliverfennell]

I'm not in the market for an iPad or other reader any time soon (much prefer the printed equivalent and remain a staunch supporter of print media), but perhaps one day it will be inevitable, especially if they become cheap enough. But it is potentially a very good idea for those of us who lives abroad but find mailed subscriptions too expensive.

Definitely of benefit to overseas readers Oliver. We sell a few hard copies in America, for instance, but no matter what price we put on the cover, the individual stores tend to sticker whatever price they want over the top of it - completely legal with imported publications in America, apparently, the stores just take what they want. I've seen BM priced at close to 10 quid in America as much as 10 years ago. So there's potential for an entirely new readership, as well as the current overseas readers.

I don't know if you're the right person to ask, but is there any chance whatsoever of Asian distribution? The only boxing mag I can get here in Thailand is The Ring, which comes in at close to eight quid. Nevertheless I still buy it sometimes, but I'd much rather spend it on the superior BM. I'm sure I know the answer already, but worth an ask!

[oliverfennell]

I thought the overseas sub was closer to a hundred quid?

(Even so, obviously that's about the same as 12 x The Ring off the shelf, but I only get that sometimes)

[Glyn Leach]

I don't know if you're the right person to ask, but is there any chance whatsoever of Asian distribution? The only boxing mag I can get here in Thailand is The Ring, which comes in at close to eight quid. Nevertheless I still buy it sometimes, but I'd much rather spend it on the superior BM. I'm sure I know the answer already, but worth an ask!

I think you probably do Oliver! As far as Asia goes, BM is distributed in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, but no Thailand I'm afraid, sorry. As Macho correctly says, a subscription would be the way — we've got a fair few subscribers in Asia and Australia. 100 quid? I wish! Thailand comes under 'rest of the world', which is £57.

[Deserter]

Thailand comes under 'rest of the world', which is £57.

Is that a deliberate typo Glyn?