Inside a supermarket, even newsstands must be profit centers. Right? Until now it seems that it was not the case at retailing giant Wal-Mart. So the chain has decided to clean the shelves from all non profitable magazines. And, unfortunately, it includes many motorcycle magazines that you will no more find during your next shopping trip for China imported home appliances or electronics. It seems that American Iron Magazine and RoadBike are safe and will keep their spot on the racks. But Wall-Mart will eliminate a very long list of some of your favorite magazines. It includes: American Rider, Iron Works, Street Chopper, Robb Report Motorcycling, Iron Horse, Hot Bike Baggers, Motorcycle Cruiser, Motorcycle Classics, Cycle World Specials, Ride, Ride Texas and others. It’s very bad news for those titles because Wal-Mart was one of their main points of distribution. And to make the matter worse, it happens just before the holidays…
12/12/07. Mark Barnett from Barnett Magazine, just informed me that his magazine made the cut and will remain on the shelves of Wal-Mart. Excellent.
Wow! very bad. I feel for all these magazines. Curious, does somebody has the circulation numbers of all the motorcycle titles.
Maybe WalMart makes room for chinese magazines about cheap motorcycle imports!
If you can’t no more find your mag, just subscribe.
It appears to be a form of corporate censorship and strongly points to why these publications should become e-magazines.
Wal-Mart strategized that they could take over business in many communities. They were correct and it was to the detriment of many small businesses and smaller communities.
In some areas, they are the only business available anymore.
My preferred magazine is Cyril’s and I get it delivered every day for free in my mailbox.
There was too many builders, too many manufacturers, too many magazines. Why Walmart would not try to be as profitable as possible, just keeping the best sellig mags?
Wal-Mart are Dictators. And too many people think they are so great. goldiron is right. There are plenty of stores as good or better. What is on sale at Wal-Mart this week will be on sale next week at one of your other stores. Profit is fine, but a good store will carry the other goods people demand. But one day Wal-Marts arrogance will bit them in the end.
There are good & bad custom motorcycles. Same for publications. Wal Mart is not in the business of helping magazines but of making money. I don’t like Walmart, but their decision is understandable.
Howcumthere ain’t no Wallyworld in New York, San Francisco, Seattle or Vancovers Chinatow? Cause every they won’tbuy chink shit.
Yet another reason not to shop at Wal-Mart.
Well said Chopper God. Don’t go to wal-mart. Buy your magazines at the local bookstore
WOW I didn’t realize walmart sold anything made in the U.S.
Consolidation is hitting everywhere. I’m surprised that it took this long for Walmart to get around to the motorcycle magazines.
As Gary Spencer said “too many builders, too many manufacturers, too many magazines.”
Not surprised that they cut out the lesser selling ones. But curious what mags they will continue to sell other than American Iron and Roadbike. And how much better do they sell verses the mags Walmart cut off?
RE:
“…a form of corporate censorship …”
Or no market for the product…???
“… “too many builders, too many manufacturers, too many magazines.”
Spot on Gary.
IMHO
-nicker-
Yep… Remember when we had Cycle World, Cycle Guide, and Cycle?
It’s just Darwin at work- Hot Bike Bagger? Please……
Barnett’s Magazine made the cut as well. We’ll remain in Walmart.
I like AIM & Barnett Magazine.
Since China has purchased WALMART in its entirety, supposedly, I guess a magazine delete IS NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL………….SAM WALDEN IS TURNING OVER IN HIS GRAVE.
GR
Greg asked for the circulation numbers of the various motorcycle magazines.
Here are the latest we have for the paid single copy sales of each magazinementioned in this blog entry.
Please note this is for ALL sales on the newsstand, not just for WalMart:
American Iron Magazine 74,338
RoadBike 24,692
Barnetts projected under 10,000 (Mark, care to share your number of copies sold on the newsstand?)
American Rider 13,106
Iron Works 23,516
Street Chopper 16,331
Robb Report Motorcycling 14,525
Iron Horse projected under 5,000
Hot Bike Baggers 4,249
Motorcycle Cruiser 23,620
Motorcycle Classics projected under 5,000
Cycle World Specials projected under 15,000
Rider 11,834
Ride Texas no idea
Buzz Kanter
Publisher of American Iron Magazine
Mr. Kanter Very interesting. Thanks. But do you know about the subscriptions of these same magazines? Also, I don’t see Easyriders in the list. Why?
Interesting Stats.
Thanks BK
-nicker-
Stats are only as accurate as their sorce. Wal Mart didn’t become the largest retailer store in the world without at least a couple of brain cells working for them.
American iron sure does outsell all the others. And what difference does the subscription numbers make to Walmart? They dont sell subscriptions, they sell magazines.
I sometimes shop in Walmart and have never seen Easryiders there. I don’t think they sell that kind of magazine.
Only subscriptions newsstand sales gives you the truth about magazines influence and penetration.
I meant subscriptions plus newsstand sales.
I stopped buying Walmart years ago
I campain greatly to everyone NOT to SHOP Walmart
This is ONE more reason –
its not really about selling magazines –
its about wanting to controll what we can buy –
Magazines that cater to American motorcycle enthusiasts go against the grain of the Walmart philosophy. It isn’t surprising that wally’s execs realized that consumers entering their stores to buy a bike mag aren’t likely to buy anything else on their way out.
Walmart is STILL an American owned company listed on the NY Sock exchange as WMT. That does not lessen my contempt!!
They account for 12% of China’s GNP.
My first encounter with Wally World was in their home state of Arkansas (I was from the east coast). I was training at Little Rock Air Force Base and there was a store across from the base. I needed some boat shoes for water survival. I figured them being “All American” this and that, I would try them out. It was 1992 and EVEN then, everything I saw was from China!!! I think I have stepped inside a Walmart 4 times since then!! They have also quite selling firearms. At least they have a reason for this decision. They can still kiss my ass!!
Don’t shop walmart. Ex union, UAW,appreciated good wages and reasonable benefits. Benefits are now shrinki Pension safe for now.
.
They don’t represent the bike commnity. Don’t have a greeter t my door. Has to be an emergancy to shop there.
To Hell with Wal-Mart! Subscribe to Renegade Biker Magazine! The best dam Biker magazine in the known universe!
Who cares… too many biker rags on stands. Most of ’em junk.
Spin
I love to read the postings that are on Cyril’s site. When some use it to spread propaganda, I feel I have to step in and comment. First of all, HotBike Baggers has not been taken out of Wal-Mart. If you are going to make comments in a public forum, you might want to get your facts straight otherwise people might not believe you the next time you speak. It is a very successful title at present and extremely relevant to our marketplace. Its newsstand numbers are averaging around 27,000 with subscriptions to add of approximately 44,000. This gives the magazine combined circulation of around 71,000. I am glad I could clear up that bit of confusion.
I noticed that you left out the numbers of any major competitors. HotBike in the last 6 month audit period has combined numbers of 107,533. This breaks down to 77,998 monthly subscriptions and 29,535 average newsstand. It is my personal belief that if you really want a magazine, you subscribe to it and get it every month. That way you can make a choice and you don’t have to worry about where your favorite magazines are sold.
Jeff Tinnion
Publisher of HotBike, HotBike Baggers and Street Chopper Magazines
Jeff:
If my source for sales data is inaccurate, I apologize. Because Hot Bike Baggers is not audited, and you do not make the sales data public, I have no way of checking the data I receive from various sources.
Thye last sales data we have for what is now called Hot Bike Baggers is the statement you printed in the Jan 07 issue, where you claim 4,249 copies sold on the newsstand and 48,769 subscriptions. If you have grown as significantly as you now claim, congratulations. Where can I find this data to verify your claim and update our records?
According to WalMart, here is a complete list of all street (not ATV or dirt) motorcycle magazines authorized by WalMart for all magazines going on sale after February 1, 2008:
American Iron Magazine, Barnett Magazine, Cycle World Hot Bike, Motorcyclist Racer X, RoadBike Sport Rider, V-Twin 2 Wheel Tuner,
If Hot Bike Baggers has been added back on to Walmart’s like it’s news to me and congratulations are in order to you.
Thanks for helping set the record straight.
Buzz Kanter
Publisher – American Iron Magazine, American Iron Retailer, RoadBike.
Buzz
As a publisher I would think that you would want to verify information before you put it out for public consumption. HotBike Baggers is actually audited and we do make the data public. I guess you have no interest in checking data if it doesn’t serve your purpose.
When I talk about Spin, Jan 07 is almost one year old data for this magazine. I know your titles are less than your Jan 07 numbers. I can see no other reason than an attempt to discredit and provide dis-information on a competitor’s product. HotBike Baggers happens to be addressing a growth segment in our market and it is growing. The numbers you allude to reflect Bike-Works sales. You are aware that we combined a rather healthy subscription base from Bike-Works with the promising title of HotBike Baggers. This, like any other product needs to change, modify and respond to the market as required.
You can find the information in the audit sheets. They come out every six months and they are pink. If you want correct information call me. All you have to do is ask.
Jeff Tinnion
Publisher of HotBike, HotBike Baggers and Street Chopper Magazines
Hey Buzz, your circ numbers for other mags are way off as usual.
Publishing false numbers is very misleading and libelous. Please re-cant Mr. Kanter.
Wade Ramsey
Associate Publisher/General Counsel
IronWorks Magazine
I really don’t understand what the big deal is about wal-mart taking items off their shelf that isn’t selling, by the way they do hire local people in communities that could not get a job anywhere else and I think that is quite admirable to say the least, I think everyone should have a chance for any type of american dream they have.
Guys fess up and post the real ABC numbers for your mags….enough bull shit already lol
didnt we have this pissing match
ch om here before
http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/09/14/us-motorcycle-magazines-circulation/