ADVERTISEMENT



Good's Incredible Shrinking Magazine

Recession issue cuts trim size 80 percent, folio by 108 pages.


Dylan Stableford By Dylan Stableford
03/12/2009 -09:58 AM







Here’s one way to use the recession to your relative advantage.

Good—the for-profit magazine with a non-profit ethos—has published a “recession” issue that is 80 percent smaller than its other issues.

The 5-by-7 inch April issue (regular size: 8-3/8"x10-7/8") is just 8 pages, compared to its usual folio of 116 pages, and carries just one ad—a “coupon” created by Aveda just for the magazine.

This is a magazine that is known for doing things a little differently—like allowing subscribers to “name their own price” for a subscription to the magazine, and donates 100 percent of its subscription revenue to non-profits. Since launching two years ago, Good has donated more than $850,000.

Casey Caplowe, Good’s co-founder and creative director, said the magazine saved roughly 75 percent on production costs for the recession issue.

Good for them.

[image via Consumerist]

RELATED LINKS





Dylan Stableford By Dylan Stableford --

Post Comment / Discuss This Blog - Info/Rules

Bravo
Submitted by Michael Turro on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 11:43.

It's so refreshing when folks in the magazine industry actually do some innovating, take some risks, and make a statement. Well done GOOD... as usual you have given me some hope.
I can't believe you fell for it!
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 19:17.

How does an 8-page pamphlet get the credit for being innovative? They are at death's door! Giving away $850,000 in subscriber fees was a fantastic publicity stunt. But that means they opted to be exclusively ad-supported, which is a totally dead business model. Look for Good to go belly up before the year is through.
Hardly seems worth it...
Submitted by Jazz Martin on Tue, 03/17/2009 - 11:32.

So they cut out roughly 90.5% of their pages, and 62% of their actual square inches (if my calculations are correct) and still payed 25% of their production cost? This hardly seems worth the money, but I dig the statement it makes! I might have to subscribe to Good before it tanks.

RECENTLY in Design and Production dots icon

MOST READ on FOLIOdots icon

FOLIO: Alerts & Newslettersdots icon

Sign up for our news alerts, special offers & feature updates:



FOLIO: Alerts
Breaking news & industry updates

FOLIO: Publishing Technology
The Latest on Trends, Issues & Products (2x Monthly)

FOLIO: Special Promos
Special offers & announcements from Partners, Sponsors & Red 7 Media

FOLIO: Update
Webinar, content & service feature updates



CONNECT WITH FOLIO: NOW
   


CAREER CENTER dots icon

Latest Featured Jobs