Hearst Magazines has decided to discontinue publishing the print version of its women’s weekly Quick & Simple effective with its July 29 issue. A statement released by Hearst Magazines said, “due to market conditions and significantly escalating paper costs, it has become increasingly challenging to produce a low-cost, low-priced weekly.”
Launched in August of 2005, the magazine for time-pressed, value-conscious women will continue to publish content via its Web site quickandsimple.com. The site, recently redesigned by Hearst Digital Media, will feature a recipe finder, new blogs, games, daily horoscopes, online coupons and expanded community.
According to Alexandra Carlin, director of public relations for Hearst Magazines, “the magazine had about 40 staffers. We’re not sure how many will be affected because many of them will be interviewing for other jobs within the company.”
Editor in chief Susan Toepfer and publisher Bernadette Haley will be leaving the company.
In the second half of 2007, the total paid circulation was 325,047 according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Eighty-seven percent of Quick & Simple‘s yearly sales were newstand-only purchases.
