Harpers re-launched

Harpers, the leading magazine and website for the wine and spirit industry, has been redesigned and re-launched by new editor, Richard Siddle; who has also introduced a daily rolling news service on its re-named website, www.harpers.co.uk.

[ClickPress, Mon May 21 2007] Harpers Wine & Spirit has re-launched its entire publishing content with a new design and editorial strategy for the magazine and a daily rolling news service on its re-named website, www.harpers.co.uk.

Both the magazine and the website went live on May 18 following six months of research and development across all aspects of Harpers' publishing strategy, by publishers, Nexus Business Media.

The magazine's redesign and new editorial strategy has been put together within eight weeks by editor, Richard Siddle, who joined the title in March.

“Reader research was loud and clear. They wanted Harpers to help them get to grips with the business stories and issues affecting them that week. They wanted practical, easily digestible information as well as the in-depth analysis for which Harpers is famous. They also wanted a title that was standing up for and challenging the drinks industry,” said Siddle.

“The new Harpers is committed to finding the information, the analysis and the practical help and support our readers need to make the most of their businesses that week,” he added.

To help tackle these issues a new central section, The Week, has been introduced so that everyone at all levels of the industry can find out what is happening to who and why in the drinks industry for the week ahead. It includes a weekly statistics page with the key facts, trends and data, along with more opinion, guest columns, polls and surveys.

A dedicated business section has been introduced for the first time with weekly advice on management, staff, training and business issues.

Harpers’ new website, www.harpers.co.uk, is the latest online development in what is an aggressive on-going programme Nexus has planned for all its business titles. It has been launched this week, under the editorship of new web editor, Shirley Kumar, with a daily rolling news service. This follows the launch of Harpers Search earlier in the year, the first vertical search site in drinks media.


Allen Gibbons, General Manager of the Wines and Spirits Division at Nexus Business Media, added:
“We have assembled a dynamic editorial team, which includes James Aufenast as Deputy Editor, and Shirley Kumar as Web Editor, Stuart Peskett as News Editor and Rebecca Gibb (Circle of Wine Writer’s Young Wine Writer of the Year), who along with Richard have the talent and energy to make Harpers the must-read trade site and publication. We are also working with an Editorial Board drawn from across the industry; to ensure that we are reaching out to the trade at all levels.”

The Harpers print redesign was created and executed by design consultancy, Esterson Associates, who last year did the redesign for New Statesman. Previous trade media redesigns have included Caterer & Hotelkeeper and Media Week. Esterson Associates also worked with Richard Siddle on the re-launch of Travel Weekly in 2006.
Harpers Wine & Spirit’s circulation has also being nearly doubled to coincide with the re-launch with over 2,000 extra on-trade readers in pubs, bars and restaurants. The circulation is now 5000+. Harpers Wine & Spirit is the only weekly business drink title aimed at the wine and spirit sector and is one of the oldest trade publications, currently in its 129th year.

Ends.
Date: 21.02.07
Further information:
Harpers Wines & Spirit weekly: www.harpers.co.uk
Editorial, sales & marketing enquiries: Tel: 013322 660070
e-mail: richard.siddle@harpers.co.uk


Media enquiries:
David Lindsay & Yvonne May
Lindsay May PR & Marketing
11-15 Betterton Street, Covent Garden WC2H 9BP
Tel: 020 7470 8890
e-mail: david@lindsay-may.co.uk yvonne@lindsay-may.co.uk


Editor’s notes:
Nexus Business Media is a multi-media business information provider serving key market sectors from Defence and Communications to Travel and Horticulture. The Wine & Spirit division at business-to-business publishers Harpers and the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) was formed in September 2006 and is headed by Allen Gibbons, formerly of Diageo, the largest drinks company in the world