magCulture & Coronavirus
It’s clear the Coronavirus pandemic will continue to disrupt what was normal life in ways we can’t predict. As we’ve come to terms with this rapidly changing context we’ve realised the need to survive as a business has to be balanced with the health of our team, suppliers and customers.
We’re aware that the magCulture Shop poses a particular problem. We rely on visitors from London, the UK and across the entire world. So this is what we’re doing, as of today, Monday 16 March. Updated 29 March.
The Shop – update
The Shop will remain open to customers who want to pick up the latest issues of their favourite mags. The studio, office and online sales are run from the same address so our team are here. We have no symptoms of Coronavirus, are following hand-washing advice and keeping our shop surfaces clean. We hope you will feel comfortable and come shopping!
29 March: While our Clerkenwell Shop is no longer open to browsing customers, online sales continue and we have now added an option to pay online collect your order from the shop. Collection times: 10am–2:30pm, weekdays only.
Online Shop – update
But we appreciate that for some customers a shopping trip is off the agenda. So we’re offering free UK shipping (Royal Mail 1st Class) on all online orders for the rest of March. No code needed – just order and select UK Royal Mail 1st Class.
Unfortunately we’ve had to end this discount as a few buyers discovered a way to exploit it and leave us losing money on each order.
Our Events
Last week we postponed our New York conference and all immediate London plans. We hope to reschedule The Flatplan masterclass as soon as we’re able to, and return to regular Shop events before announcing revised NY dates. But for now, nothing.
The Journal
We will continue posting news and reviews here on the Journal; we’ll probably have more time than usual for this – keep reading!
The Podcast
An ideal way to fill your day! The monthly Podcast will continue, we already have the next one planned for next week.
We’re proudly independent here at magCulture, but we also recognise we’re part of a broader ecosystem of other small, independent businesses including publishers, distributors and customers. Ourselves, the magazines we sell and everyone in the industry are threatened by a drop in sales as the Coronavirus pandemic sees more people working from home and observing self-isolation advice. But will there ever be a better time to enjoy your favourite magazines and discover new ones?
We hope you will support us, our friends at other magazine shops across the world, the magazine publishers and everyone involved in independent publishing. Keep on reading!
Jeremy and the magCulture team