Consumer gardening magazine figures to December 2009

The six monthly ABC audited figures to 31st December 2009 have just been released, and they do not make good reading...I would even go as far as to say that they are brutal: for some publishers, these numbers must represent what must be right on the edge of financial viability?

What is wrong...are these severe declines due to editors not catering properly for their readership, is it the severe recession or is it the Internet?

All three grow-your-own mags (Kitchen Garden, Grow Your Own and Grow It) appear to be non ABC registered...combine that with the cancellation of the Edible Garden Show...what does this tell us about the grow your own fad?

Let me know what you think.

These results are the average monthly sales for the year and are in no particular order:

Garden Answers: Bauer Consumer Media (prior to 2006 Emap)
Period End - Subscribers

31/12/2009 20,319
30/06/2009 23,360
31/12/2008 24,404
30/06/2008 28,018
31/12/2007 26,880
30/06/2007 36,549
31/12/2006 32,056
30/06/2006 45,052
31/12/2005 38,707
30/06/2005 55,454
31/12/2004 49,419
30/06/2004 74,303
31/12/2003 60,589
30/06/2003 87,034
31/12/2002 68,129
30/06/2002 98,142
31/12/2001 71,613
30/06/2001 107,668
31/12/2000 91,005
30/06/2000 140,867

Garden News: Bauer Consumer Media (prior to 2007 Emap)
Period End - Subscribers

31/12/2009 31,455
30/06/2009 35,538
31/12/2008 33,690
30/06/2008 36,248
31/12/2007 36,020
30/06/2007 44,047
31/12/2006 43,191
30/06/2006 49,629
31/12/2005 47,239
30/06/2005 54,457
31/12/2004 50,361
30/06/2004 55,799
31/12/2003 53,203
30/06/2003 57,036
31/12/2002 52,031
30/06/2002 58,929
31/12/2001 56,854
30/06/2001 62,133
31/12/2000 60,070
30/06/2000 69,480

BBC Gardeners' World: BBC Worldwide
Period End - Subscribers

31/12/2009 216,936
30/06/2009 266,179
31/12/2008 221,180
30/06/2008 303,623
31/12/2007 238,673
30/06/2007 303,448
31/12/2006 236,207
30/06/2006 300,418
31/12/2005 235,792
30/06/2005 326,622
31/12/2004 257,628
30/06/2004 360,342
31/12/2003 285,772
30/06/2003 360,236
31/12/2002 295,271
30/06/2002 350,064
31/12/2001 300,511
30/06/2001 370,171
31/12/2000 310,770
30/06/2000 382,816

BBC Gardeners' World Live: Haymarket Publishing
Period End - Subscribers

18/06/2006 113,102
19/06/2005 121,570
20/06/2004 124,156
15/06/2003 129,758
23/06/2002 130,020
17/06/2001 145,466

Amateur Gardening: IPC
Period End Subscribers

31/12/2009 35,954
30/06/2009 42,691
31/12/2008 41,102
30/06/2008 46,128
31/12/2007 43,884
30/06/2007 48,362
31/12/2006 45,146
30/06/2006 49,681
31/12/2005 45,872
30/06/2005 51,260
31/12/2004 49,763
30/06/2004 59,001
31/12/2003 56,827
30/06/2003 64,160
31/12/2002 56,225
30/06/2002 66,312
31/12/2001 55,454
30/06/2001 63,042
31/12/2000 55,417
30/06/2000 64,690

The English Garden - UK Edition: Archant Specialist
Period End - Subscribers

31/12/2009 32,182
31/12/2008 34,180
31/12/2007 34,814
30/06/2007 36,902
31/12/2006 33,031
30/06/2006 35,527
31/12/2005 32,752
30/06/2005 33,418
31/12/2004 35,651
30/06/2004 36,234
31/12/2003 32,228
30/06/2003 40,786
31/12/2002 36,754
30/06/2002 40,940
31/12/2001 36,279
30/06/2001 43,863
31/12/2000 36,726
30/06/2000 50,506

Gardens Monthly: MyHobbyStore Ltd (prior to 2006 Highbury Lifestyle)
Period End - Subscribers
Note - last figures were 2007.

31/12/2007 22,388
31/12/2006 26,017
30/06/2005 46,251
31/12/2004 32,978
30/06/2004 55,488

Source: ABC
Note to magazine editors - if you see any mistakes in my figures, please call or email me and I will correct them immediately.

Comments

[Martyn Cox]

The figures are indeed depressing, especially for those of us whose income comes partially from such titles. However, it is not entirely suprising. Over the past few years some publishers have adopted a merry-go-round policy when it comes to recruiting editors with a new face appearing at the helm every few years. One mag has even had four editors in the space of about three or four years. Like a good football team, you need consistency - changing the person at the top on a regular basis will never yield the results publishers want.

[simon foxley]

I was taliking to a friend on Tuesday who works for a glossy magazine publisher. They don't have any gardening publications in their stable but do have a lot of top titles. They have just got a new MD or CEO (I can't remember which) and the main thing he/she is going to do is to develop the internet side of the business.

[Philip Voice]

I'm a Pompey fan Martyn... we've had four editors, err I mean owners in 6 months :(

Simon - I think editors have to develop paper around their web to survive this. In the meantime, the internet is going to continue to disrupt printed media.

[Philip Voice]

It's not just gardening mags either...
http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/983441/MAGAZINE-ABCs-pain-established-lads-titles/