Bourne Publishing Group
Encyclopedia
Bourne Publishing Group (BPG) is a small publishing group based in Stamford
, Lincolnshire
UK. Founded in 1989 as an independent private publisher formed primarily to publish a new launch, the Shooting Gazette, but with the long-term objective of adding other titles, which sat comfortably together.
BPG was started in offices in Bourne
, Lincolnshire
with three full time staff members and a part-time secretary. It was soon relocated to Stamford at the end of 1998 and there are now more than 35 employees and numerous regular freelancers.
and Your Dog
magazines were both added under license from EMAP
in 1999. The magazines were showing a slide in sales and ad revenues since successful launches, and EMAP
felt that they were not of a size (or indeed subject matter) that fitted in with their new strategies.
Your Cat was launched in 1994 whereupon it immediately became the top cat title and has held its position ever since. Every practical topic is covered with a down to earth approach to enable readers to learn how to keep their cats safe and healthy. Each month see contribution from top veterinary, behaviour and nutrition experts.
Other titles operating in this market are Cat World, a monthly publication, and Our Cats, a weekly title aimed at the showing side of cat ownership. 2004 marked the tenth anniversary of the Your Cat magazine, it has also seen off a new launch, Cats Today. Following a re-design late in 2005 it has witnessed positive results in terms of circulation that formed a secure foundation to continue the growth still occurring in present day.
audit periods.
In 2003, BPG finally purchased the titles from EMAP
making a long-term commitment to the titles and in doing so making an investment for the future of the company.
after an absence of four years following their closure of the title when their focus was turned exclusively to Your Horse. In its current format Horse & Pony is aimed at a young, female audience. As a youth equestrian
magazine, Horse & Pony sponsors the Pony Club
.
market and also includes game fishing
for the average shot who swops gun for rod out of season.
newspaper. As of January 2008, the company has invested heavily in online sites for its titles.
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
UK. Founded in 1989 as an independent private publisher formed primarily to publish a new launch, the Shooting Gazette, but with the long-term objective of adding other titles, which sat comfortably together.
BPG was started in offices in Bourne
Bourne, Lincolnshire
Bourne is a market town and civil parish on the western edge of the Fens, in the District of South Kesteven in southern Lincolnshire, England.-The town:...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
with three full time staff members and a part-time secretary. It was soon relocated to Stamford at the end of 1998 and there are now more than 35 employees and numerous regular freelancers.
Titles
Other titles were added along the way, including the CPSA’s PULL! magazine in 1990 and BASC’s Shooting & Conservation in 1992.Your Cat
Your CatCat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
and Your Dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
magazines were both added under license from EMAP
EMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
in 1999. The magazines were showing a slide in sales and ad revenues since successful launches, and EMAP
EMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
felt that they were not of a size (or indeed subject matter) that fitted in with their new strategies.
Your Cat was launched in 1994 whereupon it immediately became the top cat title and has held its position ever since. Every practical topic is covered with a down to earth approach to enable readers to learn how to keep their cats safe and healthy. Each month see contribution from top veterinary, behaviour and nutrition experts.
Other titles operating in this market are Cat World, a monthly publication, and Our Cats, a weekly title aimed at the showing side of cat ownership. 2004 marked the tenth anniversary of the Your Cat magazine, it has also seen off a new launch, Cats Today. Following a re-design late in 2005 it has witnessed positive results in terms of circulation that formed a secure foundation to continue the growth still occurring in present day.
Your Dog
Your Dog was launched in 1995, setting out to break new ground in the canine publishing market. It recognised that many people wanted a truly practical magazine, one that offered advice and help on every aspect of dog ownership. Combined with superb photography and high production values it has the aim of helping readers enjoy, care and understand their dog. Competitors in this market are Dogs Today, a monthly magazine and Our Dogs and Dogs World, two weekly papers aimed at the show circuit. More recently in March 2008, Dogs Monthly has been acquired by a new publisher and re-launched very much as a look alike to Your Dog. The title has continued to post circulation increases in the last three ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulations UK)ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulations UK)
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, ABC has two roles:* To manage and uphold standards which reflect media industry needs...
audit periods.
In 2003, BPG finally purchased the titles from EMAP
EMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
making a long-term commitment to the titles and in doing so making an investment for the future of the company.
Horse & Pony
Horse & Pony was re-launched in 2005 under a license agreement with EMAPEMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
after an absence of four years following their closure of the title when their focus was turned exclusively to Your Horse. In its current format Horse & Pony is aimed at a young, female audience. As a youth equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
magazine, Horse & Pony sponsors the Pony Club
Pony Club
Pony Club is an international youth organization devoted to the educating youths about horses and riding. Pony Club organizations exist in over 30 countries worldwide...
.
Fieldsports
Fieldsports is the most recent publication to be launched by BPG, initially as a quarterly bookazine retailed exclusively through WH Smith before widening out through the rest of the news trade estate. It is aimed at the top end of the game shootingShooting
Shooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
market and also includes game fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
for the average shot who swops gun for rod out of season.
The Scottish Sporting Gazette
The Scottish Sporting Gazette & International Traveller was acquired by BPG from John Ormiston in 1998. This is a ‘coffee table’ annual which concentrates itself on all things Scottish. It has proved a very successful acquisition and is now in its 28th year.Websites
BPG has grown in size although has remained a small specialist publisher, whose main emphasis revolves around creating superior niche titles with a small workforce. BPG has close ties with the surrounding communities and often appears in The Stamford MercuryStamford Mercury
The Stamford Mercury based in Stamford, Lincolnshire claims to be "Britain's oldest newspaper". Berrow's Worcester Journal and London Gazette also claim this honour...
newspaper. As of January 2008, the company has invested heavily in online sites for its titles.