Complaint Review: RETAIL MERCHANDISER MAGAZINE - Chicago Illinois

This is how they operate...

THEM:  "I will let you know as soon as there is a journalist assigned to this project, and I will send you all of their contact info. I am hoping next week!"

ME:  "Is the article still going forward?"

THEM:  "I had a quick meeting with Daryle this morning after I received your email to see the progress on this. Surprisingly, none of the contacts you have provided have chose to get involved. This does not typically happen, and I’m sure one will still opt in to participate. I just wanted to chat with you and see if you are surprised at this as well, and to see if there are any other companies you would like us to try and reach out to. My publishing director looks to have at least one company get involved.

Typically, if this type of opportunity meets their marketing needs, they jump on board. Retail Merchandiser is the leading retail publication, and we will be distributing at MAGIC market week, so I’m sure there will be a company or two that finds this as a good fit. We are a closed publication, so this is the only way advertisers can get in front of our readership and with distribution at such a large show I’m sure one of the brands will want to participate.

Right now we are waiting to hear back from a few companies that are interested, and if there are any others you would like us to send an announcement to, please let me know."

ME:  "No this does not surprise me…as I mentioned I did not think that many (if any) would be interested in ad space.  Then you stated that the letter was really just to let them know that they were going to be mentioned.  Are you guys trying to write interesting articles or just sell ad space?"

THEM:  "First and foremost, editorial integrity is always the most important aspect of the magazine. There needs to be a good story before anything else. We work with some of the largest retailers and brands in North America, many smaller independents and celebrities. If this is something that we were just looking to sell ad space we would not be a folio award winning 53 year old pub.

With that being said, I do have a publisher that looks to pay for magazine production and distribution and this is the way that our magazine, as well as many others, such as Forbes, does that.

There have actually been a few companies that were interested in getting in front of our readership, but we were told that they were advised by Summit not to. I completely understand that you do not want them to feel obligated, but if getting in front of our readership meets their marketing needs and is beneficial for them, then that’s great.

I’m not sure where to go from here. We were excited about your story, and thought it was great for the e-commerce section, but also for distribution at WWDMAGIC show as many of the brands you work with will be attending. Obviously from an editorial standpoint I want to move forward with this, but as I said my publishing director does look for one company to get involved.

I know there are a few that have not yet responded, so I will keep you updated!"

Thanks,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

RETAIL MERCHANDISER

Direct- 978.299.XXXX

Cell- 978.818.XXXX

ME:  "This is what I am hearing from the people you are contacting…” the guy is calling me and telling me it is important to Steve.  I just want to make sure it is important to Steve and not some sales guy trying to make a sale.“

It is absolutely not important to Steve that our partners purchase ads in your magazine.  Please just drop the article and DO NOT contact any more of our partners.