So just write WIN FREE SEX across the front page of each issue and you’ll sell loads more copies!!

Can I please put in a request for a fashion section on the new site!!! Or one where we can talk about other hobbies without getting a ban 🙂

HELLO!

So just write WIN FREE SEX across the front page of each issue and you’ll loads more copies!!

Surely just offering free sex, rather than a slim chance of winning it, would sell more copies?

We aren’t pulling out of high street retailers completely but we will be scaling back availability in shops other than bike shops where we will be increasing availability

Bold move.

I’m sure I’m not alone here, but I rarely go to a bike shop but I visit WH Smith regularly to buy magazines.

I appreciate the benefits the new setup could bring to bike shops, but it’s s bold move for ST. I do hope it works for you though.

v. interesting.
from my perspective, and I’m sure that this is shared by many others, I don’t really care when my magazine drops through the letterbox as long as it does, or if it reaches the shops before it reaches me. I read it when I have the time/ inclination. maybe those who are really bothered about getting it ASAP could pay an extra sub, to get it sent direct rather than through RM Presstream.

Perhaps they can offer up forumites, first up Jamie, followed by yeti, elfin, tj etc etc

I’m sure I’m not alone here, but I rarely go to a bike shop but I visit WH Smith regularly to buy magazines

You are certainly not alone but fewer people like you are actually buying mags in shops now.

You will still be able to buy Singletrack in WHS. In fact later in the second half of the year we will be looking at possible introduction of Singletrack in WHS supplied airports. That’s hugely expensive but it’s possible that the new format will work very well there.

Oh and HELLO! Wrecker. Have you clicked the ‘subscribe’ button on the menu?

😯

I don’t really care when my magazine drops through the letterbox as long as it does, or if it reaches the shops before it reaches me. I read it when I have the time/ inclination.

+1

Will it have email notification of replies to posts back again? I miss those days.

so very wasteful if so many mags go to recycling, without being sold or read.

Surely they’ll have been read, WHsmiths is just like a library isn’t it? Actually with all the council cutbacks WHS is our library.

Interesting stuff on the economics of shelf space/mag sales, I tell you humans are freaking weirdos

Oh and HELLO! Wrecker. Have you clicked the ‘subscribe’ button on the menu?

Notice anything different about me?

Cant help but wonder if you get a ban for being a premier member called rick.

Mark, are you still going to be sticking to 8 mags a year with the move?

Will you expand the editorial team, or buy more stuff in?

Very interesting the comments from Mark, as a paper magazine subscriber I never realised how the mags were sold via the shops and the wastage.

I think that the changes sound like they are needed and are a good idea and best of luck to all at ST, still the best magazine by far.

(still only ever got one discount card when i first subsrcibed 3 years ago, never received one since..)

Yay Wrecker! Welcome to the club 🙂

Vinnyeh, we will still be 8 issues a year. Quality not quantity. Editorially we’ve already added Jenn to our team and we will hopefully have another designer on board in the next few months too. Editorial budget is being increased so long as the economics work. ie.. waste reduction plans need to generate the money that we will invest back into the content.

In short we intend to make the distribution and presentation of everything we do much more efficient and economic. The savings that will bring will be ploughed back into the content.

But when you come back to the site and browse to find your threads…. STW gets ad impressions 😉

The members card revamp has already started. Originally the system was geared around providing a single card at the start of a subscription that simply remained valid for as long as your subscription existed.

We’ve now invested in some proper high quality plastic credit card style members cards that expire and are replaced annually. The cost difference is minimal since we’ve invested in a lot of cards at once.

Many recent subscribers and renewers will have already had theirs. It will be a gradual process to roll out to everyone as the card generation is now tied into the renewal date of your subscription. everyone should have their new cards by the end of the year.

Thanks Mark!
It’s about time really, I feel dreadful putting all those mags in the recycling. The ipad allows me to read mags so easily and the archive was very attractive too.
Not a criticism, but could we have more articles not based around todmorden please?

Yeah lets have articles based arounds Nice or Cannes or paris 😀
Nae only joking nothign to see or ride down here 😀

Maybe we could have some pre/during/post-ride food reviews? I’ve heard the bacon quiche at the cafe in Peaslake, Surrey is to die for. I’d like an independent opinion though

So it’s going up in weight… I look forward to more these:

😉

everyone should have their new cards by the end of the year.

That quick eh? 😉

Could I just politely request that the original paper version of the mag does not disappear?

I like to put my feet up on the sofa, enjoy the fabulous photography with a turn of every page, whilst slurping my non-niche coffee. 🙂

Viewing on some bit of plastic just wouldn’t be the same. 😉

Could I just politely request that the original paper version of the mag does not disappear?

You’ve not been reading the thread now, have you? 😉

I’m looking in my crystal ball. 😉

Members cards eh! As one of your original 200 or so ‘can we do this, yes we can’ subscribers… 8) I can say that the cards have been a bit hit and miss, the most current one I have ‘expires Jul 2009’, since when I’ve been relying on my inherent charm and a bit of eyelash batting to get my discounts where offered. 😉

Cant help but wonder if you get a ban for being a premier member

Thinking I might change my name to Enis Gobbler by deed poll before 15th March now for some strange reason!

Anyway, approvals all round from me on the planned changes to the mag, and it’s distribution. Less waste is always a good thing, as is more benefits to being a subscriber IMO. Just got to remember to change my subs address now as I moved the other week!

I’ve always bought my copies from WhirlingHorseShoes and have hated the way they treat Mag producers.
I did a piece of work for someone a while back which looked into distribution outlets and WobblyHairyShoulders was by quite a margin the worst company to deal with.
So…So I’m of the opinion that Mark (and team) are deffo going in the right direction, though you do seem to be stepping on Privateer’s ring binders a little with the changes, but, bbbbbut that’s ok. Coffee table designer reading is what it’s all about these days.

I’ll still buy it, buy it on content mind as I’ve always done.

How much is the new issue going to cost, over the counter.

Any simple way I can register for digital? Really simple.
I have a tab open on the subscribe now but I can’t be bothered to fill up all the useless stuff about the address and so. I am in France so bit of non interest to you. I just want to put my CC details and get on with it.
Any chances of that to append? That would be awesome.

Any simple way I can register for digital? Really simple.
I have a tab open on the subscribe now but I can’t be bothered to fill up all the useless stuff about the address and so. I am in France so bit of non interest to you. I just want to put my CC details and get on with it.
Any chances of that to append? That would be awesome.

Ironically, you could probably have typed it all in two or three times in the time it took you to type all that…

yeah true but it’s just the principle. I want my logging to be registered as premier digital user. If I want a physical mag I would happily complete the fields. But I don’t. I just want to click on a button, tick the I agree box and zou premier here I come.

I would imaging the CC companies would insist that a vendor get an address for an online purchase anyway? I could be wrong though

Thanks for all that Mark, interesting reading, especially as one of the initial subscribers on the 5 for the price of 4 offer.

Might be worth putting some of this on your blog as some people might not read your insights on his thread. I nearly ignored the thread for one.

Good luck with it all – particularly reducing waste. I hate that!

juan – what cheeseytoes said – it’s required by the CC companies for customer not present transactions to help avoid fraud.

I’m assuming this is the first time Juan has tried to buy something on the internet.

No other explanation for it.

None.

Do they even have the internet in France?

Do they even have the internet in France?

They have to import it from Belgium.

juan – what cheeseytoes said – it’s required by the CC companies for customer not present transactions to help avoid fraud.

Not 100% correct, it :”helps” rather than is required. And they only check the digits in the address.