Conde Nast takes Post Office customer title brief

by Daniel Farey-Jones, Brand Republic 31-Oct-05, 14:00

LONDON – The Post Office has chosen glossy publisher Conde Nast to create its new customer magazine, which will have a circulation of 3m and is aimed at the 28m people who visit one of its 16,000 branches each week.

Conde Nast's contract division won through to a shortlist of three, after a total number of 30 proposals were received by the Post Office.

The project will be managed by the Post Office's customer research team, which has commissioned a pilot issue.

The as-yet-untitled magazine will serve to showcase the Post Office's range of products. The Post Office has been diversifying into financial, travel, communications and retail products, and recently launched a phone service and a credit card.

The magazine will contain lifestyle features relating to people's everyday needs and also a product and services directory. The 68-page pilot issue will be in the A5 handbag-sized format and will be available in selected Post Office branches.

After Sky Magazine, it will have the second biggest circulation among customer titles, ahead of 2.6m-circulation Asda the Magazine and 1.8m-circulation Boots Health & Beauty.

Conde Nast's contract division produces magazines and catalogues for Harrods, House of Fraser and Littlewoods, while the main consumer division is the home of Vogue and Glamour.

Clare Dove, publisher for the division, said: "The Post Office operates the UK's largest retail network so it's exciting to be working together on such an important and far-reaching project."

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