Would you buy a paper-based magazine dedicated to microbrand watches?

It would never work.

Even the more traditional watch mags rely on advertising and a healthy doses of "advertorials" to succeed.

The target market for a Micro-Mag is extremely small and this would never get off the ground.

Caveat: I get to be Editor in Chief.

Digital would always be easier to store and archive. I would like the option to get a physical copy if I wanted one though.

I used to subscribe to a couple watch magazines, like 15 years ago, and I’d read them cover to cover. I actually still have them all. I’d be interested in a magazine about micro brands.

Not really replying to the first comment but if it featured some well respected micro brands I think they’d be enough of a money stream to fund it. No, there’s not the Rolex, Omega, AP kind of money but there are so many good micro brands (Nomos, Yema, Farer, Baltic, Traska, Boldr, Christopher Ward, Ming, Kuoe, Orient just to name a few) that putting them all together would be enough, I would think.

I’d really just like to see those micro brands that have their own unique designs not the homage micros (i.e. Sugess, PD, San Martin).

As the resident micro fan, probably not. There are lots of great sites covering the topic and over the years it becomes hard to separate the content from the ads.

We are too small an audience to make such a magazine viable. But if it existed, I'd read it.

Won't work

I would absolutely be all in on this.

A paper magazine no…it took me years to transition to digital magazines etc…I can’t live without the two finger zoom now…I know sad

I have to agree that a physical paper probably wouldn't work, given advertising needs and microbrand budgets. Maybe someone could start a weekly article devoted to microbrands here on Watch Crunch, perhaps gathering and summarizing interesting news about microbrands (hint hint). 😉

Paper magazines are obsolete and digital advertising reaches more people. A lot of reviewers on Youtube will do it for a free watch and a few bucks

Christopher Ward has a magazine they send out for free... It features watches(mostly theirs), and other articles that might be of interest to watch people.

I'm guessing they worked it into the cost of doing business/marketing, and I doubt that you could make a commercially viable standalone version.

I'm in if it's on my tablet or phone... But yes we definitely want some microbrands reads!

Are there blogs that focus on microbrands only? I'm thinking something to counter paper magazines from Hodinkee, Revolution, Watch Time, Crown, and others. They all focus on big brands and expensive watches.

Never seen any watch magazines in any shops , but I live in a small town.

I'd be interested in a paper magazine about watches in general, but I've very little interest in microbrands (I'd buy the odd copy out of interest, but wouldn't purchase regularly, tho I would if not microbrands)

For me, everything has to be online. I won't buy newspaper or magazines of any kind.

Not buy, but would subscribe to a digital news letter about watches and micro brands

But paper, why? When digital is more environmental friendly, less costly for you and the consumer as no printing, manfacturing, supply chain, harder to expand beyond a regional geographical footprint???

Even the big tabloids now are virtually all digital. This is like asking would you buy VHS?

Would I buy it, YES, would it work, maybe.

@Amusa82 - OMG that's gold! Just like Magazine B: https://en.magazine-b.com/

Great idea!

@Chairman_Bored sad to say, I've done the two-finger zoom on plenty of paper :-(

I listed those according to many watch forums to include the micro brand competition in WC.

Did you know Samuel Adams is considered a microbrewery ?

@complication - "a money bonfire"? I'm going to start using that phrase at work! LOL!

Here's a super-niche paper/PDF magazine that kinda sparked the idea - it's focused on baristas and seems to be going strong after a few years: https://coffeepeople.org/

@siddharthb - maybe personal preference, but the Hodinkee magazine is well done and, sometimes, I just want to not look at a digital screen. Yes, it's still reading and disconnected from the world, but it seems a bit less damaging to my brain.

Never heard of that magazine, @StevieC54 but I'll give it a search. Thanks!

@Brietside LOL on VHS! I just wonder if some people would like the feeling/experience of a higher-end paper copy (like $10-15) vs. digital or cheaply printed glossy typical magazine paper. Yes, it's retro and expensive in today's digital world, but so are vinyl records and film cameras.

Thanks, everyone, for all of the feedback and votes. It's neck and neck! :-) Some of the ideas are INCREDIBLE! 🙏

Yes, I imagine most people would prefer a good quality copy, that is tangible in your hand.

But then how do you distribute and grow your readership? Do you have a big enough subscriber list, that you have in country partners for printing and distribution, how many orders do you have to run for that to commercialy viable for you and printers, then postage.

How often will you publish? With digital, it could be as soon as a new watch comes out, as you don't have to wait to complie enough to fill the next edition.

However that being said if you complie a list of the top 100 microbrand watchs, with good articles please let me know as I'll buy at copy (irrespective of format), the comments where only to try and help

Interesting. I took a look at the coffee magazine. To be honest, it's a bit rinky dink - but that's partly to do with my background, and my commentary here being related to more serious endeavours in comparison. I mean, it does three issues a year; people get $20 for a published artwork; no indication of circ figures, or what it costs to advertise. So less of a real publication and more like a fun hobby for some folks.

It reminds me of my podcast (not watch-related), where my co-host and I turn out a properly researched, professionally produced show, but have never monetised it, or seek to turn it into a business. It's just a hobby, and it actually costs us to put the thing out as we pay for a top-notch podcast provider each month. But that's still a lot easier than producing a print publication and distributing it far and wide. That's serious money, and if it's only at a hobby level, a lot of work for what would probably be - literally - no return.

CORRECTION: Here’s a picture of my last print issue. There were several virtual issues afterward. https://abouttimemagazine.com/isochron-media

The magazine is About Time (not Our...Glad I checked, it has been several years).

Ah, thanks @StevieC54! Looks like the last digital issue (and last blog post) was summer 2022. I'll reach out to them to see if they're still producing content.🙏

EDIT: here's why, from their insta 12 weeks ago:

Its official! We are now moving to @iwmagazine ! Go check us out over there for all future posts. Thank you for staying with us through it all❤