Magazines News South Africa

The man behind all that gadget news and stuff

With the launch by Johncom this month of the South African edition of one of the world's most popular gadget, gear and technology magazines, Bizcommunity.com thought it would be a good idea to talk to the editor, Toby Shapshak.
Toby Shapshak, editor of Stuff magazine
Toby Shapshak, editor of Stuff magazine

Biz: Well Toby, so what's the name of the mag you'll be editing?

Shapshak: Stuff.

Biz: Well stuff you too, no need to get nasty.

Shapshak: The magazine is called "Stuff".

Biz: Ohhhh, so, in a nutshell what's it all about?

Shapshak: Well, it's the largest gadget magazine in the UK, about 100 000 circulation and the sixth largest of all the men's titles.

Biz: What about the content ? You must know that I'm a geriatric gadget freak, so what's going to blow what hair I have left back ?

Shapshak: Well, I knew about the freak part but your love of gadgets is new to me. Anyway, there will be three sections – hot stuff, features and testing along with a buyer's guide. Content will be part global, part South African.

Biz: How often is it coming out and what's the cover price and how many are you printing ?

Shapshak: First issue will hit the streets mid-November and then bi-monthly until we get rolling. Cover price will be R24.95 and we'll print 20 000 an issue, with the launch issue at 25 000.

Biz: You got a website?

Shapshak: Dumb question to put to a tech journo but yes, it's www.stuff.tv.

Biz: Right now we get to the free publicity part – who do all the media buyers fall over themselves to contact about advertising?

Shapshak: Gareth Breet (.co.za) and Richard Chivers ().

Biz: You realise that was a completely shameless punt I just gave you?

Shapshak: All publicity is good publicity.

Biz: Whatever.

Shapshak: Have you drifted off or have you got any more questions?

Biz: What ? No, I just can't think of anything else – why don't we just go and have a drink...

Shapshak: Good idea... It's on me...

Biz: Good, I know this great bar in downtown New York...

About Chris Moerdyk

Apart from being a corporate marketing analyst, advisor and media commentator, Chris Moerdyk is a former chairman of Bizcommunity. He was head of strategic planning and public affairs for BMW South Africa and spent 16 years in the creative and client service departments of ad agencies, ending up as resident director of Lindsay Smithers-FCB in KwaZulu-Natal. Email Chris on moc.liamg@ckydreom and follow him on Twitter at @chrismoerdyk.
Let's do Biz