Publisher, Coenie Schoeman comments: "The success of our other titles - finesse is currently at an ABC of over 87 500 and growing nicely at nearly 7% - caused me to look at the gap in the English-speaking women 30+ age group. As the first inspirational women's magazine seven years ago, finesse addressed the Afrikaans female market. With today's focus on a more introspective look at oneself, the time couldn't be better to launch a monthly magazine for the English women's market."
In a notoriously over-supplied space, Schoeman is convinced Me! will carve a comfortable niche for itself.
"Most current titles only address inspirational and aspirational issues in part," he says. "We have carefully watched the Oprah phenomenon - but her magazine is still very US-centric. We will produce a magazine that is fresh, bright, and have real life local stories from women who could be your friend, a mom at your kids' school, the women you work with. Our research shows there is an international trend towards a values-based lifestyle in magazine publishing and this is also true in the South African market as we saw with finesse. Me! is a publication aimed at women from all walks of life, with articles that are both inspirational and aspirational."
The pillars of the magazine are:
Real life.
Inspirational stories - submitted by readers, sharing a special moment in time that changed their lives for the better.
All about you - giving you inspiration for your life and how to live a happier, more fulfilling life.
Real world.
Relationships - keeping love alive, healthy relationships with family and friends.
Values - strong values and beliefs, the search for meaning in life.
Working life and money - being successful and fulfilled at work, managing your money.
Real women.
Looks - what to wear, style, beauty secrets and the latest.
Body - all you need to feel your best and stay on top form all year round.
"With finesse, the 7th largest women's magazine in terms of copy sales in South Africa, and having set the standard for this sector, we are ideally placed to yet again lead the way with a truly South African magazine that addresses today's issues for today's real women," says National Sales Manager of Carpe Diem, Jacky Worthington. "We are currently establishing our brands with marketers and advertisers as they recognize the value of our titles and the markets we have to offer. We expect Me! to steadily grow to be a market leader in the women's inspirational lifestyle sector, thereby adding to the value of the offering of titles from Carpe Diem."
Venessa Schoeman has been appointed as the Managing Editor for Me! and Carpe Diem will announce the Editor for Me! shortly, as well as sales deals across Me! and finesse.
The magazine will be released end of October 2005 and on sale in CNAs, Exclusive Books, and all major retail outlets.
