Highbury Revamps Home Interest Titles

Magazine publisher, Highbury House Communications has relaunched all three of its home interest titles, with Real Homes, Inspirations and Home receiving a face lift in their April issues.

Commenting on the relaunch, Mark Simpson, Highbury House chief executive said: “We are currently No.3 in the home interest market and plan to become an even bigger player in this sector. Highbury has invested significant sums in these relaunches which include spend on editorial, packaging and promotions, and retail marketing.”

Sarah Bravo, editorial director added: “We are delighted with out new-look home interest portfolio. The magazines have never been stronger or more unique in their offerings. Each title has moved to a fresh new level that focuses totally on its reader – which is the key to a successful magazine.”

The recent ABC results for the last six months of 2004, showed that overall the home interest sector was declining in popularity, with circulation figures dropping for over half of magazines in the division (see ABC Results Jul-Dec 2004: Natmags Tops Home Interest Sector).

Highbury announced the revamp at the beginning of the year, hoping to boost their fortunes before launching subsequent magazines in the sector (see Highbury Revamps Home Interest Titles Ahead of Launches).

As part of the relaunch strategy, Real Homes will be produced in a more modern, compact format, with the cover price reducing to £2.50. Inspirations goes on sale on 1 March, followed by Home the next day and Real Homes the day after that.

The company’s Home magazine was recently seen in court after rival publisher IPC claimed it was too similar to its Ideal Home title. IPC had complained that the design of Home‘s front cover and certain internal features of the magazine were too similar to its title, and that its designs had been copied, infringing copyright laws. However, a High Court judge dismissed IPC’s complaint, accepting that Highbury had designed the magazine without infringing any of its rival’s rights (see Highbury Wins IPC Media Copyright Case).

Highbury House Communications: www.hhc.co.uk

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