Classic Style Magazine

What's up with the Classic Style magazine??? It dawned on me that the last edition I have is Fall 2007???

jeboat:eusa_doh: :eusa_doh: :eusa_doh:

Merged. (this would have been an easy search-and-learn.)

I think everyone should bear in mind that it takes a lot more than just our subscription fees to publish Classic Style (or any other magazine). If it were that simple, our costs would be much higher and we would have the next issue by now. MK wants Classic Style to fly just as much as the rest of us, probably more so, and it sounds like he's doing all he can (with plenty of frustrations) to make it happen. Has anyone petitioned your hat vendors, flight jacket makers, clothing retailers, or cosmetics companies asking for them to support Classic Style? Perhaps if all of us make our voices heard, the magazine will get the support it needs. Patience and help will accomplish more than complaints.

Not a bad idea, Mike...

Mike K. said:

I think everyone should bear in mind that it takes a lot more than just our subscription fees to publish Classic Style (or any other magazine). If it were that simple, our costs would be much higher and we would have the next issue by now. MK wants Classic Style to fly just as much as the rest of us, probably more so, and it sounds like he's doing all he can (with plenty of frustrations) to make it happen. Has anyone petitioned your hat vendors, flight jacket makers, clothing retailers, or cosmetics companies asking for them to support Classic Style? Perhaps if all of us make our voices heard, the magazine will get the support it needs. Patience and help will accomplish more than complaints.

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Issue 5 contains an article I wrote on the A-2 jacket... A petition is not a bad idea at all...

Is the problem that advertisers have pulled out? Or is it something else, like too few subscribers to make it a viable on-going concern? I thought from earlier posts here or maybe elsewhere that there were advertisers who had prepaid several issues into the future that they were then saying weren't going to be produced. I'm sure I speak for everyone in hoping this is just a little bump in the road and production will resume shortly.

.

Mike in Seattle said:

Is the problem that advertisers have pulled out? Or is it something else, like too few subscribers to make it a viable on-going concern? I thought from earlier posts here or maybe elsewhere that there were advertisers who had prepaid several issues into the future that they were then saying weren't going to be produced. I'm sure I speak for everyone in hoping this is just a little bump in the road and production will resume shortly.

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Advertisers have not prepaid. We haven't really lost any advertisers after the first second issue. The problem is too few. We have been operating in the red. All magazines...and most new businesses.... start out in the red. That is to be expected. We just can't keep that up. If we were a large publishing company we could afford to loose money for years. I am a small fish in the publishing world and don’t have that luxury.

I will publish the fifth issue even though it will be a loss because:

1) It was 3/4 done before we went on hiatus. We have already done the lion share of the work.

2) It is the best issue to date.

3) I wouldn't be able to rest knowing that no one would see it.

So there will be another issue, but beyond that is up to the advertisers. This charity is too expensive for me. This is the last issue I will do in the red.

Mike K. is correct. Subscriptions are just a small part of a magazine’s revenue stream. The price of a subscription barely pays for the postage and the paper. Advertising dollars are what drive most magazines.

A few faithful companies have stood with us, but we haven’t had the response from most advertisers that we were counting on. There are a lot of fantastic small companies that produce much better products than the large corporations you see in the ads of our competitors. Yet, you never hear about them because they can't afford to be in the New York magazines.

We were excited to publish a magazine that presented style choices that you couldn't read about elsewhere. We provide those smaller companies a voice on the newsstand. Outside of Classic Style and websites like The Fedora Lounge and Ask Andy, they are anonymous. We figured they would be very happy to partner with us to promote the kind of style that classic men want. We see it as a win-win. Unfortunately some are letting their fate be decided by Madison Avenue.

These companies have been very happy to receive coverage....but most aren't willing to advertise. They like the free ride. The economy is rocky right now and they are very reluctant to include us in their budgets. Being prudent with dollars is wise. They just need to know how many people like yourselves value the magazine. It will make a real difference if people will share with companies what Classic Style means to them.

MK said:

I will publish the fifth issue even though it will be a loss because:

1) It was 3/4 done before we went on hiatus. We have already done the lion share of the work.

2) It is the best issue to date.

3) I wouldn't be able to rest knowing that no one would see it.

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Here, here!
:eusa_clap
I raise my glass to your indefatigable spirit!

MK said:

These companies have been very happy to receive coverage....but most aren't willing to advertise. They like the free ride. The economy is rocky right now and they are very reluctant to include us in their budgets. Being prudent with dollars is wise.

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I suppose everyone likes a free ride. Heck, I know I love having this Lounge available for free! But if the economy is keeping the ad dollars away and this turns out to be the last issue I hope it really means the last issue "for now." Perhaps a stronger economy will enable another go in the future.

Best of luck!

Tom

MK said:

and most new businesses.... start out in the red. That is to be expected. We just can't keep that up. If we were a large publishing company we could afford to loose money for years. I am a small fish in the publishing world and don’t have that luxury.

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Boy, I know what you mean. Just replace the word "Publishing" with "Retailing", and we'll be seeing eye to eye.
Good luck MK, I'm there with you buddy.
Marty Mathis

I think I'll go through the back issues and send a note to each company that advertised telling them how much I value Classic Style. Perhaps this little snowball will become an avalanche.

Tux Toledo said:

I think I'll go through the back issues and send a note to each company that advertised telling them how much I value Classic Style. Perhaps this little snowball will become an avalanche.

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I think this is a great idea.

MK, are there any companies that have not advertised with CS that we should send notes to?

.

KCE said:

I think this is a great idea.

MK, are there any companies that have not advertised with CS that we should send notes to?

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Actually, that would be far more effective than contacting our current advertisers. It would be best if you were to speak with companies who you do business with. If you buy from brand X and feel they should be represented in Classic Style, feel free to express that to them. I am grateful for whatever support you guys can give.

Thanks, Mike. I'll give that a try.

Sounds good. Certainly, there's an ad for D&N in there somewhere...

Will i sure look forward to that 5th issue and,hopefully,many more to come.
MK needs to be praised for his diligence in keeping CS and The Fedora Lounge up to date in these uncertain economic times. All too many businesses and web pages go down every day and yet we still have a delightful place to visit and contribute. Kudos to you and your staff MK.

Jim
Vancouver,Wa

Issue 5 on shelves now.

I picked up issue 5 at a Barnes and Noble in Huntsville, AL on Saturday evening. The issue has Harrison Ford on the cover. My wife and I both read it cover to cover. Very well done.

JPH712

Updating Addresses?

I subscribed to Classic Style after the first issue and have a simple question at this point: I've moved and I'm wondering if it is even worth updating my mailing address to receive any possible future issues? Worth the effort or waste of time?

.

It is worth the effort.

Address update...

Otium,

I just updated my address with the subscriptions dept at CS last week. I let them know in my e-mail that I knew the fate of the magazine is "up in the air" right now. I just wanted to make sure the correct info was in their system. The e-mail address is subscriptions@classicstylemag.com. This way I can get notified one way or the other. They were warm and friendly as always.