Stylist to launch e-magazine as it celebrates 500th issue

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Mar 13, 2020

Stylist magazine is again venturing into the world of digital publications to celebrate its 500th issue.

The Stylist Group’s star brand has an e-magazine in the works to supplement its physical edition, which is distributed for free every week across London, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Birmingham.

Speaking with The Drum, Ella Dolphin, chief executive of Stylist Group, said that the digital magazine will help reach new customers who are currently unable to get their hands on the print version.

“Stylist.co.uk now reaches 2.5m people every month and they often want the magazine, so we are publishing a digital version for all those who aren’t able to pick up a physical copy,” she said.

The e-magazine will be accessible through Apple News, Readly and the Stylist app every Wednesday, with the company expecting a “significant” increase in readership in the “tens of thousands”.

This is not the first time Stylist has had a digital edition. But in 2016 the publication decided to close its tablet version after just two years following the closure of Apple Newsstand. The digital edition averaged about 28,000 readers per issue.

According to the publisher, the process of reintroducing a digital brand has been a long time coming, and it’s a happy coincidence that it culminates as the coronavirus threatens to hurt traffic in high footfall areas.

“The technology has improved, Apple News + is a great partner and we have had overwhelming demand building over the last 12 months for a digital version because most people who want it can’t get their hands on the print edition. I’m sure changes to working habits will encourage more digital downloads,” Ella Dolphin said.