[garry]

In my view a load of c**p, last year got 6 issues all great this new one complete rubbish. If i want to read about playstations or xbox i would buy xbox mag or mens health for the gym not a window cleaning mag.
sorry philip hanson but i think you made a complete balls up with this new mag

[windows_chepstow]

No, I liked it.  It also gave me something to read while waiting for a thunderstorm to pass.

I think the first issues were interesting, but dry, but this one's more entertaining; yet still informative.  I suppose it's a case of not being able to please all of the people all of the time.

It's still very anti-ladder though.  Why can't the magazine take the point of view of rules are rules, but in the real world window cleaners will use ladders and continue to use ladders, no matter what the rules are? 

Obviously, it would be daft to suggest that the magazine should encourage window cleaners to break the law, but I think ardent ladder users will be put off purchasing the magazine.  On the other hand, at least the editor has the courage to state how the WAHD affects window cleaners, without 'fannying about' the subject.

I'd also like more content, whether it's window cleaning, or just 'blokish' related, but that will probably evolve with time.

In all, I'd give it an 8 out of 10, and with time hopefully that'll get better.  Remember, it's still early days. 

I'll continue to subscribe.

Cheers for a good read, Philip.

PS.

My only real critisizm is that that lady who introduces each portion of the mag should be in a swim suit; rather than being covered in all those clothes!

[S.A.J]

I agree what a load of rubbish nothing really new in there at all.

Why have half the mag full of non window cleaning stuff and the articals on window cleaning issues are really naf!!

I liked the old format and will not be re-subscribing!!

Stuart
SAJ Window Cleaners

[windows_chepstow]

Do you remember the soft porn magazine called Mayfair?

I've never purchased one, in fact I've probably not seen one since I was about 13 years old when I found my older-brother's stash of magazines; honest!

Anyway, this mag was a best-seller in it's day, yet still contained articles about cars, smoking, shaving, etc; it wasn't all soft porn.

Even daily newspapers run serial books and have many non-news related items in them.

It's obviously a winning formula.

[Sarah Sarill]

Oh dear - where do I start.    and I suspect you know this is coming Philip.

IMO   IMO  IMO  IMO  IMO  IMO  IMO  IMO 

My biggest criticism of the new look mag is that it’s targeted SOLEY at men and subsequently off putting to us female readers.

Of what relevance is the scantily clad woman, provocatively holding the blade to the w/c  cleaning industry – tentative to say the least.  IMO the front page design is very reminiscent of a top shelf read.  The totally unnecessary use of the female and her props continues – may I draw you to page 38 – what is the reason, why use this sexual pose and the prop to picturise a report of the benefits of alcohol.  :

Its simple – the mag is targeted at men and that’s what you hope will sell it in the future.  How many female w/c, wives, girlfriends have you now offended and alienated Philip? 

Secondly, where are the pages entitled ‘Ladies stuff’ and pages of unrelated w/c articles on shoes, handbags and female gyms?

Having had, extensive years in advertising and marketing I thought the image needed updating and had you not decided to use the ‘sexy female’ hook, would have complimented you on the design upgrade.

I for one won’t be renewing my subscription as I found it full of non-relevant articles, which is not what I want out of a professional window cleaning magazine.  I would not be happy if I were Ionics either - 6 of their promoted roadshow dates have already gone - that 37% of the advertised venues. 

Of course, my opinion is biased and I don’t expect most men to agree but it’s certainly dropped down in my estimation of a high level, professional window cleaners reference Magazine.


Sarah   

(Now huddled in the corner awaiting the fallout) 

[Toff]

I think its great maybe a bit more dirty women pics,  jokes, maybe  T.V page. It as to evolve and change with the industry and a mix of fun and more window cleaning issuses.It can always change again,

[windows_chepstow]

Sarah,

How many female window cleaners are there in the UK?  Not many I'd guess.

Apart from Wor Lass, whose a part-timer now I've went WFP (20 hours per week; tops); I only know one other (personally) and she's a part-timer too!

Neither of these female WC would buy the magazine, since they both window clean purely to escape the normal low paid jobs women do when they have young children.  Remember, I'm not sexist in the least; honestly, and if anyone disputes this, I have some strong views on the subject.

It's us blokes who're sad enough to enjoy such a magazine; I doubt any window cleaning magazine would appeal to the brighter gender.

I'm guessing that if this magazine is to survive and prosper, it needs to apeal to the broader audience.

[Sarah Sarill]

Tosh,

I agree it has to change to survive but IMO its gone in the wrong direction.

My GUESS is that for every male w/c there is a  female working behind the scenes, and in many cases, doing the paperwork, schedulling the work, ordering parts, sourcing suppliers, paying bills and actually w/c.

There are more than just a few on this forum who have their partners working with them at some point.

Believe me, I am no prude or sexist in any way shape or form but I cannot believe that  Philip needs to go down this tacky route to keep the Mag alive.  He has obviously taken advice (I assume after some Market research) and hope he has not made a grave mistake.  So far on this thread there are 3 against and 2 for - if this is a reflection on other subscribers then he will have done.

Maybe Gary could change this into a poll so people who dont want to publically voice their opinion could vote in private 

My point is, that he did not need to use this image to sell the magazines content.  or maybe I'm wrong.  Only time will tell.

Maybe he will include photos of a hunky, half dressed  w/c displaying his tools next month.

LOL

Sarah

[JohnL]

Tosh, I know 3 lady WCers in my area and as you know its very rural round here. I've only spoken to one of them and that was today and she had only vaguely heard of WFP but wasnt realy interested in it anyway.

You could say that means if she saw the latest mag she may be even more put off if the posts on this thread are anything to go by!

JohnL

[WavieDavie]

It must be fairly difficult trying to fill pages every issue, there was a whole load of  "white space" and magazine sponsor's various ads to wade through before anyway. Maybe that's what's behind the "extra" content.

I was one of the first to congratulate Phil when he mentioned starting up the mag, but this does it no favours at all and I'm sure there will be more than me not renewing their subscriptions..

It's 4-2 Sarah!

[Sarah Sarill]

I agree Wavie  - its bl**dy hard filling a magazine, whatever its title and I dont wish failure on anyone.

There is a bigger picture though - get the content and balance of advertising/articles wrong and your on a slippery slope.

Get the image wrong and youv'e lost it immediately.

I know this all to well-  I was responsible for launching a Glossy Wedding Magazine many years ago which failed because it felt TOO modern and contemporary. 

Its all about the feel when people pick it up and IMHO this one does not feel like a credible window cleaning magazine.

Sarah

[windows_chepstow]

but this does it no favours

Davie,

What do you mean by 'this does it no favours' and the 'extra content'?  

Do you mean this magazine is the  political wing for the Ionics corporation, and this negates its value?  Obviously a new mag such as this needs funding from somewhere.

A little common-sense helps you sort the wheat from the chaff.

[D woods]

Hi Guys
It is never going to be easy producing a magazine for window cleaners
because the market is very small.

The vast majority of window cleaners are just not interested in reading
a magazine.    

[dai]

Out of interest, how many subsribers got all their 6 copies? I know I only got 4. Dai

[Chris A]

I received 4 copies last year. I subscribed to a window cleaning magazine to keep me informed on window cleaning issues not flying cars. By the way I have got some of them powerisers on page 47 and they are great, you can clear a transit with a bit of practise.

[windows_chepstow]

By the way I have got some of them powerisers on page 47 and they are great, you can clear a transit with a bit of practise.

I've asked for a set of those powerisers for my birthday.  They look fun!

[WavieDavie]

Davie,
What do you mean by 'this does it no favours' and the 'extra content'?
To be honest, with the first year's issues I felt somehow cheated when they arrived. I was always thinking there would be more in the next issue which I couldn't dig up for myself either from search-engines or from boards like this. To be blunt, some boards have been raided for magazine articles.
I would say that there must be a minimum page per issue and a certain amount of magazines must be printed each time or the printers won't even look at it. As I mentioned, there was already a fair bit of white space to fill things out ,and padding that out with the "lad's mag" extra content really detracts from what there is on the w/c side. No offence to the model, but PWC should have splashed out on someone a bit classier and also used a photographer with better lighting - her pictures seem not quite in focus.

Do you mean this magazine is the political wing for the Ionics corporation, and this negates its value?  Obviously a new mag such as this needs funding from somewhere.
Well, I'd signed up for a subscription before the funding issues came up. If I'd known that I'd be throwing my hard-earned at Ionics to pay to read all the adverts for them and the associated companies I'm sure I would have thought twice about it!
By the time you knock out these related ads, other ads, the non-w/c bits and the white space, there's not really all that much left to have a value to someone who thought they were buying a publication for window-cleaners, and who also uses the internet.

A little common-sense helps you sort the wheat from the chaff.
Which is probably why I felt cheated!

After all my negative comments, you can relate this upgrade to you and me putting up our prices - you know you're going to lose some, but that should be outweighed by the gains you'll make. I sincerely hope Phil will gain more than he loses.

[Majestic]

I dont like it, you have to go to page 9 before you find a window cleaning article , not including adverts.
For me I wanted to read about window cleaning issues, I dont mind all the adds, he has to help fund it . As for the model he would of been better using Texas girl ( where ever she is now )

[Chris A]

Tosh , Beware, try them on astro turf first and don't get too confident. It's a good idea to get some skateboard sort of pads for your elbows and knees, my mate broke both wrists trying to out run a dog chasing a ball, oh and a helmet, he also tried them in an underground car park and gashed his head on the sprinklers. Well worth the money though. Try wearing just one each and having a game of tick, it's even funnier when you've had a few beers.

[AuRavelling79]

My first reaction was one of embarrassment. It's a dumbed-down mag for a dumbed down "Sun-reader" male audience. But, hey! the Sun format sells papers.

So, in detail:-

The window cleaning stuff was good. But it was swamped by mindless drivel - I mean What's that "Bubble Over No.1" on page 10 all about? Blue Sky thinking - Pass by without blinking, more like!

Out of about 50 pages only pages 9, 11,12,13,half of 15,half of 16,17 one third of 19 and 20 were about window cleaning with a slight reference in the gym article on page 44. That's less than a fifth of the mag!

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a little non window cleaning content and I don't mind looking at pretty girls either - but one or two tasteful snippets/pictures as an extra to the main purpose of the mag would have been better.

(Sarah makes a good point - the ladies of the house do pick up this mag - especially this issue, and while I might have liked the small pic of the young lady on page 38, perhaps to even things up for the ladies they might have liked to see the window-cleaner guy from the coke ad of a few years back! )

Seriously tho' is it worth £4.50? - frankly no! I'll carry on coming here to catch up on all that is going on in window cleaning thanks. And if any of my customers have got the Sun or the Mail in their canteen when I'm cleaning the insides I can have a peek at them then!


It's gone the wrong way in my view.

I would rather have a quarterly mag that was just about window cleaning than a bi-monthly one containing stuff about window cleaning and irrelevant drivel.

Is it worth £4.50 to me? No.