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Outsource magazine becomes first in Outsourcing sector to achieve ABC audit

Outsource magazine, published by EMP Media, is delighted to announce it has become the first magazine in the outsourcing sector, serving professional outsourcing decision-makers, to successfully complete and achieve an ABC audit of its printed magazine distribution. The certificate is available to view here.

The value of achieving ABC audit is long and well established with those seeking to invest time and money in reaching their audience via publisher channels. Outsource is delighted to reaffirm the confidence shown in the magazine to its existing commercial partners and equally delighted to give new confidence to those considering partnership.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to achieved this distinction,” said Outsource editor Jamie Liddell. “We’ve invested a great deal of time and care into creating a powerful and relevant circulation amongst the professional outsourcing space’s movers and shakers; the ABC’s stamp of approval is the ultimate endorsement of our efforts, and yet another differentiator setting us apart from the crowd.”

“The entire team behind Outsource magazine have worked tirelessly to reinvent it into the beacon it has become” commented Al Tepper, Head of Digital & Marketing for EMP Media. “From the editorial values instilled by Jamie and his team, through the fantastic internal designs, our cherished and intellectually stimulating covers, to the circulation management and the cross-channel experiences online, via email and beyond, our goal has been to create a magazine that the readers don't just need to read, but want to read. We have achieved much but this ABC audit marks just one more stage in a long program of evolution and growth designed to continue delivering value to our readers and partners. You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

FACTFILE:

Outsource magazine has been an indispensable resource providing news, views, analysis and thought-leadership for the global outsourcing community since 2005. Building on the successful renewal of its position as the official quarterly magazine of the National Outsourcing Association, in 2010 Outsource magazine also recruited a new editor and proceeded to relaunch the publication across print, web, email and digital channels. The resulting publication sets new design, circulation and editorial standards for publishers engaging the outsourcing industry.

Outsource magazine enjoys a variety of other national and international print, online and event partnerships with major organisations and industry associations including HfS Research (their analyst partner), SSON, Gartner, UBM, Great Ideas of China, and more, giving superb reach into key established and emerging markets.

Through its flagship print title, its weekly OutsourceXpress email, its website with a daily piece from one of its 40+ thought-leading industry columnists, its social media engagement, including LinkedIn (User & Advisory / Vendors) and Twitter via @outsourcemag, Outsource delivers unrivalled content direct to the movers, shakers and decision-makers at the heart of the outsourcing space. Its in-depth coverage of important events and trends, interviews with both high-profile industry figures and unsung heroes, and commentary from the Outsource network worldwide gives the brand an unparalleled perspective on outsourcing across sectors, verticals and geographies.

In addition to the print and online offerings, Outsource has also pursued a best practice solution offering platform neutral access across Windows, iPhone, iPad and Android mobile devices. View the latest issue of Outsource in digital format

UK SME Online Retailers Experience Slowdown in Sales

But Actinic research reports ecommerce still better than High Street retail

The fifth quarterly UK online sales survey conducted by ecommerce specialist Actinic shows a continued slowdown in online retail growth for small to medium enterprises (SMEs).

The research reports both an average 7% increase in sales revenue as well as a 7% increase in the numbers of orders processed in the three months to 30 June 2011, when compared to the same quarter in 2010.

In contrast, in Q2 2010 growth was running at over double this rate (15%), and with the Q1 2011 figures showing an average 9% increase, the trend is downwards. However, these latest results still compare very favourably with high street retailers where June gave only 1.5% growth, which was better than expected.

The average order value has remained virtually unchanged at £72.08 for Q2 2011 compared to £72.16 for Q2 2010. The survey does highlight that there are still e-retailers experiencing strong growth. For example, many specialist web stores in the arts and crafts sector are thriving.

“Our Actinic ecommerce site www.knitwell.co.uk has been running for over 7 years and we are still experiencing strong growth with a 13% increase in revenue and 6% increase in order quantity for our Q2 2011 figures over the same time last year,” says owner Michael Calvert.

He adds, “The knitting marketing has seen a resurgence with celebrity endorsements from the likes of Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz, combined with more people wanting to take up a new, inexpensive, but rewarding pastime. The cold winter last year also helped, with scarves becoming fashionable again which attracted younger knitters.”

Monica Hardman, managing director of English Yarns comments: “In April our 2011 turnover for the year was down 23% compared with 2010. So we implemented a discount programme with coupon codes to increase traffic to our site and incentivise visitors to purchase, firstly to those in the UK and EU and then customers in the rest of the world. Within a month we were into positive figures again with an increase of 3% in May and 12% in June for the year to date.”

Nick Kington, managing director at Actinic Online comments, “These figures are not a big surprise. Consumer spending is clearly being hit hard and online retailers are not immune to tough times. However, some web merchants are thriving, highlighting that a combination of good merchandising, marketing and customer service can bring success even in the current climate.”

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