MILL HILL GUIDE/DIRECTORY | IS IT OVER ?

 Over the weekend the Mill Hill Residents put out an appeal for financial help with their annual guide which will have a business directory for the first time.  They state that they only have sold just over 50% of the full page ads and few enhanced adverts.  The full page is £500 and enhanced is a simple box as for £49.  The aim was to print 10,000 copies post covid to help local businesses.   However, it is clear that the finances do not add up.

This follows the long standing annual Official Guide to Mill Hill announcing that they will go online only in 2021 and cut full page ads to £100 with free enhanced listings.

The Mill Hill Guide told us ,:

" We are not surprised that the figures don't add up for a printed brochure.  Printing 10k booklets can cost up to £10k and distribution is also a large expense.  We got sponsors including Barratt homes last year to pay for the print cost.  However, it became clear to us that charging local businesses anything in 2021 would be near impossible due to covid.  Therefore, we decided to go online.  Our production costs are covered by Arc Media Group, so we have very little outlay.  Hence we can charge nothing for all enhanced adverts and offer free adverts to those who advertised in 2020. "

It has taken the Mill Hill Guide 12 years to establish its position as the leading guide to the area.  Many have contributed and this year it has a new editor who is the first female editor.  So the whole design will be fresher and younger. It also will be more interactive.

We asked the Mill Hill Guide if they will print again.

" If someone comes forward with significant money to do this then we consider it but it needs to be around £6k to £10k to deliver to all households a 48 page full colour brochure that is free.  For now we think online is more important and we are putting our efforts and resources into creating an incredibly beautiful online resource for the area"

So it looks as if print guides for the area are over. At least the cost of advertising will now drop hugely.

To contact the Mill Hill Guide email them at info@millhillbroadway.com. Adverts for 2022 will open soon at just £100.

To contact the Residents Association brochure go to their website where there are still adverts at £500 each available in their annual brochure and directory.

You can find both brochures for 2020 on issuu.com