Glossy magazine Isle, which promotes all things Thanet across entertainment and hospitality, is on the sale market.
The magazine first launched in 2005 and was previously published by Kent On Sunday until being taken on as an independent venture 10 years ago.
Magazine founder and editor Kiki Case said: “In 2005 when I first arrived here, there was no way of finding out what was going on in Thanet, with information all in one place.
“David {ex-husband} and I created a Time Out type magazine and this coincided with the council looking for a destination magazine.”
Kent On Sunday then got onboard, marking the involvement of Simon Abra who was a freelance sales rep for the company.
After KoS was bought out by Archant the magazine became neglected, so Kiki and Simon acquired it in 2014 and became the forerunners of independent local publications in Thanet.
Ad sales boss Simon said: “We set about getting our own designers and building up a network of contributors.”
Kiki added: “We totally redesigned the product; we wanted control over the whole look that we were presenting to Thanet.”
During the past decade Isle has been rooted in promoting the attractions, restaurants, businesses and people across Thanet.
Kiki and Simon have increased pages from an average 80 to 148 and doubled advertising revenue. It has a print run of 17,500.
Simon, who has spent a whopping 50 years in ad sales, said: “I was born in Ramsgate and have seen the highs and lows in Thanet. I’m passionate about all the good things happening in the area and Isle was an opportunity to share that.”
But now the pair say it is time for them to retire from the venture and they hope to find someone new to take it to the next level.
Kiki said: “It has been a tough decision, and one that Simon and I have, in all honesty, been thinking about for a while. We have found it tough to detach, it has been such a big part of our lives and identity.
“But, 20 years on, we think it is finally time for us to hang up our hats. One of the hardest things for us is to imagine Thanet without Isle Magazine, and so we’ve decided to put it on the market.
“We think it could be of interest to an existing publishing company or to creative individuals, who live here or are planning to relocate and are looking for a successful local business to take over.
“What we want is to find someone who is passionate about the area who can carry on with the design quality and original content, someone who will take it on and develop it with other opportunities for the print magazine and website.”
The magazine has a loyal readership, committed businesses and advertisers, a good social media presence and respectable turnover.
It is published once per year – pre-covid this was twice per year- and has around 300 outlets.
Find out more at https://www.rightbiz.co.uk/buy_business/for_sale/618484_kent.html
I didn’t even know about this magazine, but it looks good.
does it include things like all the crime in thanet ? and the general state of the place or does it sugar coat everything like some of the people on here ?
No need, RW. We can leave that to you!
Isle has always been wonderful. Thanet may have some issues, but there is so much here to celebrate and Isle magazine has always done that beautifully
An enjoyable, good-looking magazine. Hope a new owner appears.