Public Sector Fleet Publishers For Sale

Business description

These unique, high quality and specialist magazines and websites have been developed for the public sector fleet management, driving instructor and motability market place. The public sector fleet market has a significant purse of £270 million over the next three years and, as such, is keen to ensure it is up to date with all relevant information regarding the purchase and lease of all types of vehicles for use by its workers. It is estimated that there are some 300,000 vehicles currently within public sector organisations. Because of this the publications are able to boast a very captive audience both in terms of readers and as importantly advertisers. Public sector transport is a truly individual and niche market and all three publications bear this fact in mind with their content. Because of this they are the journals of choice in their field with very little in the way of competition.

Publication 1 – Currently a quarterly A4 glossy publication targeted at the many government departments and agencies that have motor and commercial vehicle requirements. There is potential for this to go bi-monthly. Circa 50 pages of high quality content.

Publication 2 - Currently bi-monthly A3 publication. This publication serves transport and lease car managers throughout the NHS. The magazine contains circa 70 pages of quality content including car and commercial vehicle road tests, legal advice and editorial covering issues such as agenda for change and the working time directive.

Publication 3 - Currently bi-monthly A3 publication. This publication serves the local authority market focussing on fleet and lease car managers. Circa 70 pages of quality content along similar lines to it’s sister publication for the NHS.

Publication 4 - On line media for NHS transport managers. Circa £150,000 revenue per year.

Publication 5 - On line media for Driving Instructors. Circa £110,000 revenue last year.

Publication 6 - On line media for Motability market. Currently under development


All of the publications are self-financing though advertising and editorial revenues and have very little in the way of competition. Our printed media are circulated to a very selective and screened audience of circa 600 contacts per magazine. Whilst this is relatively small in numbers and print run it does cover all the major decision makers within the sectors it serves, be it Transport Manager, Lease Managers or Fleet Managers.

Printed by reputable printers the magazines are produced on good quality paper to further add to the image of a polished professional publication.

Competition:

There are not really any core business competitors. The editorial team have extensive knowledge of these markets and this is portrayed in these truly unique publications.

Editorial Concept:

All three magazine’s target readerships are all the key decision makers for the purchase and/or lease of all types of vehicles within the public sector. Because of this the publications generate impressive revenues through advertising, be it car dealers, lease companies, car manufacturers etc etc.

Distribution:

Copies of the magazines are distributed free of charge utilising the postal service.

The publications are printed by a highly reputable sub-contract print company.

Key Strengths:

This suite of publications are self-financing, niche, informative and professionally put together. The market they serve is growing. The NHS alone has some 40,000 vehicles within its fleet. All three have achieved impressive revenues since inception and their blue chip advertising partners are consistent and growing, bearing testimony to the quality of both the readership and the material included in each issue. The subscriber database is cleansed regularly and very accurate.

Government spending is on the increase and the public sector represents a major growth area for all the vehicle manufacturers, be it for user chooser vehicles, commercial vehicles or conversions for that matter.

Financial Information:

These publications are being offered for sale on a going concern basis. All financial discussions will take place directly between the vendor and all interested parties under the auspices of Turner Butler.

Property information

Property:

Leasehold

Location:

The premises are leasehold, Current lease is a 6 month rolling contract.

Business Operation

Expansion potential:

The magazines are extremely well received by a concentrated but very loyal and receptive audience. More frequent productions would certainly increase readership, exposure and advertising revenues. A public sector transport directory/yearbook is also planned for July 08 and bi annually thereafter. There are also significant opportunities for revenue growth in the vehicle manufacturer, lease companies and supplies and services sectors as our client has only recently addressed these very lucrative areas. The media could comfortably hold £700,000 revenue with the addition of 2 more sales personnel. This would push net profits to around £240,000 per year.

Competition / Market:

The magazine's advertising base is maintained by up-to-date lists covering all sectors of advertising. There are around 5500 franchised car dealers and 2000 commercial vehicle dealers in the UK and they constitute the bulk of the advertising revenue in the publications. Over the years, it is probable that sales staff have spoken to all the major advertisers in the appropriate sectors and current records are kept regarding when they wish to be contacted. All advertisers and agencies, both PR and Advertising, are advised of any planned special features, events or supplements and constant contact is kept with the relevant advertisers, on a month-to-month basis, depending on what features or special events have been planned for a particular issue. Collations of past advertising revenues are available, as are back copies of the magazine.

Employees:

The publications are produced utilising a freelance editor, 4 full time sales personnel who are currently employed by the vendor and 2 copy creators and 1 credit controller also employed by the vendor.

Other information

Support & training:

If required, the vendor is happy to provide a short handover period for the new owner in a part time capacity.

Relocatable:

This business can be relocated.