I’ve been living in Muxton now for 8 years with my husband Nik and my two daughters, Daisy (7) and Poppy (4). I previously worked for Beacon Radio for over 6 years in Sales and prior to that in Marketing for Maxell and Tarmac. I decided after having my second daughter that I’d like to stay at home and run my own business so I could spend more time with my children, but finding a job to fit in with them was difficult. I started my first magazine (In & Around Muxton) in February 2005 and continued to expand with 4 more magazines to Priorslee, Shifnal, St Georges and Admaston/Bratton/Shawbirch between 2005-2007. The magazines merged together into one publication in January 2009 giving a total distribution of 11,400 – as the areas are all so close together it still remains a very LOCAL magazine and gives advertisers a wider circulation at more competitive rates.

Both local businesses and residents have found my magazine very useful, increasing sales and awareness for local businesses and giving residents a useful guide to their local businesses/services as well as offering them discounts and special offers where possible every month.

The majority of the businesses that are in my magazine are very local – I try to target only businesses within or near to the areas where the magazines are delivered to. If there is an unusual or specialist business I can not find in my own surrounding area then I try to locate the nearest one possible. You will see in the magazine that there are many different categories of businesses and services and once I have filled a particular category I don’t actively try to get another of the same type, so there is very little competition for the advertisers in the magazine and it give readers a varied choice of services. The aim of the magazines is to help local businesses grow and make local people aware of what is on their doorstep.

Each month there are a variety of different articles and editorials, a restaurant review, puzzles, community news and regular local features.

Benefits to advertisers

• Variety - My magazine has a wide category of businesses, giving readers a varied choice of businesses and services on their doorstep.
• It works - The magazine is very widely read and used by the residents of the area. Most advertisers appear month after month – because the magazine works and generates business for them.
• It is truly local - All advertisers operate in or close to the area. There is strong evidence that truly local services are preferred by the majority of the population.
• Longevity - It isn’t thrown away once it’s been read, people keep it as a reference for the whole month.
• Quality - The magazine has a very high standard of print and production. All artwork is professionally finished to ensure that you look your best and that your company is proud to be featured and associated with a high quality publication.
• Editorial opportunities - Local businesses have the opportunity to be featured with an editorial. This gives them a depth of coverage that is normally only available at huge expense in other publications

Distribution

The magazines are published and distributed monthly and are hand delivered by local residents, on or around the first weekend of the month.

The magazines are delivered to 1900 homes in Muxton, 350 in Lilleshall, 1750 homes in Priorslee, 2800 homes in Shifnal, 2700 homes in St Georges & Snedshill and 2000 homes in Admaston, Bratton & Shawbirch - a combined distribution of 11,400 homes.