Demise of More than Metropolitan Home

Hello. The design business is reeling from the end of Met Home....but the publishing world is reeling from greater pains than that. I have said TIME AND TIME again to magazine sales people - sell me packages - don't sell me a printed ad page! Today, I received this from Dwell's publisher. It says it all. Please pass it along - we need to support those who have supported us and the industry who feed us! Feed us - emotionally, passionately and financially!


After 35 years Hachette has closed Metropolitan Home in an effort to bolster its global franchise in the Elle brand (fashion and home). The New York Times reported that the reason was “the bad housing market and a lack of disposable income for redecorating.” I submit that the housing market certainly contributed to the situation, but the problem goes much deeper than that. Simply put, the foundation is crumbling. The underlying reason is a complete dependence on advertising revenue rather than a healthy balance with subscription revenue. Why aren’t publishers charging a fair price for their products anymore? It DOES cost money to produce a high-quality magazine. Some of us are and we wish everyone did! I am not interested in taking on the trade press in this letter, but it is high time for an investigative report that digs deep into the magazine publishing industry to root out the causes for this widespread malaise. The simple fact remains that if a title is RELEVANT and has an AUTHENTIC voice that resonates with a COMMUNITY it understands and charges a fair price, it will be a SUSTAINABLE brand. It sounds self-serving, but I know of several titles cross-category that live by this premise.Until the economy went south and the cost of goods for producing and distributing magazines went far north, the one-legged publishing model was still meandering along. Now we are all paying the price because we are losing titles that had an audience and dedicated editors who served them. So, who is to blame? The truth is we all had a hand in this one. Advertisers and agencies still want MORE readers for their money because they have not figured out how to be comfortable with engagement metrics and place value on the editorial voice. Publishers keep feeding that beast and driving circulation levels to unnatural heights that are only sustainable by giving away a significant percentage or charging a few cents for each subscription. It really isn’t any more complicated than that. To prove my point, just ask yourself how much you paid for your last subscription to your favorite magazine. If the answer is $20 or more, you may have that magazine for some years to come. If it’s less than that you may lose that one too!Metropolitan Home was a fine publication and everyone at Dwell is sorry that HFM did not give this magazine a fighting chance. By building out the brand for the community it served and charging that community a fair price for the voice it created so many years ago it might still be here. I contend that the housing market and the lack of disposable income for redecorating are the scapegoats, not the culprits.In this particular case, I do hope you will join me in the campaign to move the print model to healthy ground by advocating for healthy circulation practices, reasonable rate bases, projectable engagement research and above all, integrated media buys that give strong media brands the credit they deserve. As always, I look forward to your comments (and I read every one of them!)
Best,
Michela O’Connor AbramsPresidentDwell Mediamichela@dwell.comTwitter: @MichelaAbrams

Alessi 2009 Customer Appreciation Night

Alessi cordially invites you to an exclusive shopping event: Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009, 6-8pm

20% off entire stock

SoHo, NYC, 130 Greene Street @ Prince
Madison Ave, 30 East 60th Street @ Madison
Chicago, 611 N. State Street @ Ontario
San Francisco, 424 Sutter Street @ Powell

Light refreshments will be served

Clients.....

You know, I have some of the greatest clients in the whole world! This is one of my favs:

http://bigthink.com/albertoalessi/big-think-interview-with-alberto-alessi



I got to spend almost a week with Alberto in March in New York, at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and at Cranbrook. It was a sheer joy - brilliant and very funny!



Another client, Humanscale just won 6 awards in Canada - S I X! This client puts it's money where its mouth is and I for one am so proud to be part of http://www.humanscale.com/ and http://twitter.com/humanscale



Artemide is teaming up with Vitra (Artemide is MY client) for this: http://twitter.com/SurfaceMag


Just wanted to keep you ...er...posted!

Pictures - Maison & Objet and more....

Hi - spoke in Rimini (I told you that) and here's the pix of the convention center and the room I spoke in:

The convention center in Rimini is a wonderful example of sustainable design. Other convention centers should follow their lead.

Then onto Maison & Objet - the fair had steady traffic and from what I hear from EVERYONE at trade shows these days...people came to write orders - smaller, but steady stream. And, because their inventory is either depleted or old, they are eager for replenishing and for quick shipping. I know I'm biased, but also those who know me, honest...trade shows are growing in importance. With staff's smaller and time, dearer, trade shows allow for seeing tons of stuff in person without a million sales calls. And, negotations take less time when done in person and not email/email/email/text/text/email/call - you get the picture.

I have to say I normally rave over Maison's exhibits - this year was a bit light. And, they, like other shows have to accept some of the good, the bad and the ugly - you tell me:

Paolo Navone for Richard Ginor (The Good) - the others will remain nameless to protect the innocent or clueless . Also wonderful event at Merci in Paris - congrats to Paola - always great!

Back from Rimini, Crusinello and Paris!

Ah yes, back! Thought I would just give you a bit of a taste of RCP!
On my Food, Wine & Design: Rimini was the Miami Beach of Italy, truly. (Again, pix to follow). The food was not the caliber of "my" Italy, except for the breakfast in the Club Hotel - it was stupendous! And served outside! Nuff said. I stayed in Milan for one night and as always, can't be beat! Had lamp chops they flew in from New Zealand (New Zealand???), but as Le Meridien Gallia hotel food, it was wonderful. Lastly, Paris. Actually didn't have a bad meal! Palais Royale was probably the best. The decor was truly bordello French (in a good way) and from the fish to the chocolat (french) cake, it was fantastic. The wine, particularly, was the "house" white wine and oh, so good. I'm actually enroute to San Francisco and so pix will follow. Just wanted to bring you up to date. Lastly, Maison Objet was terrific. Traffic seemed good and all reported orders, smaller in size, but more people buying. Lack of Americans was evident. Talk soon.

I'm just a wanderer.....

Hi - I'm off to Italy (to speak) and Maison Objet in Paris (to see). I hope to have great images for my return.

Also - I never shared the good that was the Gourmet Housewares Show in San Francisco nor the New York International Gift Fair - and how well it performed for our clients.

Oh well, it's not "never gonna share".

So stay tuned.

And, I plan/promise/will try to deliver a weekly/monthly update to this blog. What about? My favorite Food, Wine & Design, which will explore the restaurants I get the pleasure to dine in from their food, wine and design standpoints. Also, My Design Love of the Moment, which could be a product, person or thing. And lastly, a design business tidbit.

So you can see - flux and flexibility is the word! Spread it!

Ahhhh.....Umbria

Hello! I thought it would be nice to show you some of Umbria - particularly as it pertains to design, food and architecture. Having spent two weeks in this mountainous, wonderful place - high in the hills of Montegiove (http://www.castellodimontegiove.com/) - YOU MUST!

This was our place - the olive mill belonging to the 13th Century Castello.

The land of Umbria is quite different than Tuscany - more mountains, less tourists! Tremendous sunsets!!!

Lots of highlights and great food - we went to a slow food restaurant in Montechello - Osteria La Porta - that was wonderful. Not to mention the wonderful restaurant at Badia a Coltibuono (http://www.badiaacoltibuono.com/).

There were so many highlights.....one being witness to the renovation happening to the Castello - and another - a Franciscan monestery now being run by 2 gay gentlemen - now that's what I call "liberation"!

There are so many photos (468) and lots of FLIP videos (72) - that I have no patience to do all at once. If you are interested, I'm happy to share some with you. All in all - it gives ones perspective on the rush, the tumble and what's really important. If I can keep this feeling for a time - I'm happy! You know....I think I will!