NatMags readies shopping glossy

The National Magazine Company (NatMags) is launching a shopping magazine titled shop! next month. The handbagsizes glossy will hit the shelves on August 8 and will be sold with the September issue of Company.

The second issue of the magazine will follow in spring next year, with a view to launching shop! as a regular monthly from the autumn.

Publisher Justine Southall says: “There is no magazine out there for women that provides the breadth of content that shop! will. With 100 pages, 88 of which are editorial, the advertising-editorial ratio is enormous. We have consciously up-paged the editorial content, while providing the most comprehensive guide to the high street.”

Three years ago, rival Dennis Publishing launched PS, a shopping title that folded almost a year after its launch because of poor circulation. Paragon Publishing’s Shop @Home, another monthly shopping magazine, was shut down in 2001.

Last week NatMags announced the closure of its home interests title Your Home, following a decline in advertising revenues and copy sales (MW last week). The title was acquired when the company bought German publisher Gruner & Jahr three years ago, along with women’s weekly Best and the monthly title Prima (MW July 20, 2000).