Taste of Asia Magazine Current Status

When you first plan a new venture you are burdened to a point by your own idealistic viewpoint, optimism, positive outlook - call it what you will, but the point is, you only see pluses. For the positive thinkers amongst us that is no bad thing, out of a PMA comes real results, but a little tempered realism doesn't go amiss. A reality check is essential if objectives are to be met.

Since launching the magazine the response has been incredible. The concept, the idealism etc has been welcomed by everyone and I am amazed at how far we have come in just a few short months. Our Pan Asian viewpoint is what has gained us most attention and I feel sure will prove to be our greatest strength. To get an idea of what I mean, please take a look at my temporary site at www.trevorkrueger.com and see what I have been up to in the NEWS section.

The material for the second issue of the magazine is all ready for processing and it should make our second appearance even more exciting than the first. Quality of content, contributors, subject matter are all better and evolving with time. However, we are overdue for release and the reason for that is simple to explain.

Firstly, we have been carefully listening to reactions and learning about what people want and expect to see in the magazine. Secondly, we have been waiting for some important doors to open that will help me to lay the best paths forward. We have had problems with advertising, our essential source of income, because agencies won't handle us until we've been publishing for a year and one agency even, amazingly, told us they would not give us any ads at all if we carried certain content. I will not go into detail but, rest assured, I will not be compromised on what I want to write about, so that advertising agency will have to be managed without. The purpose of our magazine is to inform and entertain, not to work within the paramaters of the advertising industry who would have us jump through hoops in order to satisfy the data required by the industry number crunchers. Our philosophy is and will remain simple, we want to construct a magazine that people enjoy reading and thus commands a large and loyal following. That way we can assure our advertsing clients that their ads will be seen by a valuable audience worthy of their spend. But, the first objective is to provide a "good read" if that earns us advertising - all well and good. I will not turn out dross or mass market guff just to get figures. I believe our readers are free thinkers with aspirations and money to spend - if and when they see something they want. It is inteligent people that I want to entertain first, so that is what I will focus my attention on. I hate and abhore conformity, it kills free thought and creativity. If I want to churn out stuff that has no other objective than to sell product - I'll get a job writing copy for the Argos catalogue!

Then we have to sort out distribution and a new designer as our first choice is no longer available. Not difficult... All in all circumstances change and the "mechanics" have to be managed that is all. But! The magazine itself has been a great hit and we will certainly be issuing the next edition very soon and for many years to come.

My apologies to anyone who is frustrated with the current delay or wondering what is going on. Rest assured I am frustrated too. There is no "problem" as such, beyond cash flow. I guess the simple truth is, if those keen to see us survive and prosper were to actually offer some financial support - issue 2 would have been out and available by now.

If you can offer any suggestions at any time or can help, please get in touch. I am never too busy to take assistance from any who wish to get involved.

Taste of Asia Magazine will be a major success, I promise that. Stick with us and support us where you can as there will come a day when we will be much stronger and may be able to help you too.

We need someone to sell our ads for us, if that person is you - please get in touch!

Trevor