Who are you and what is your background?
My name is Ben Mervis, I’m the founder and editor of Fare Magazine. My background is actually in academia, history, but I fell into the world of food and decided to combine my passions for it with my other loves.
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In what city?
I’m based in Glasgow, Scotland. I love this city and its charms and, character, honesty, and personable spirit.
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Can you tell about us, about your magazine?
I wanted to create an experience that was special to print, a reading experience that channeled the essence of visiting a place. Picking up local color, styles, voices, histories, and so forth. Things that are hard to find in a top 10 or a recommendations list.
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Editorial…
I look for personal, honest, research-driven pieces that dive deep and stay real. I try and build some narrative arcs across the magazine too, but often that falls into place at the end.
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Print: Why choose print? What kind of paper you use and why? Typography?
That’s probably a good question for my art director! But print because this is a product and an opportunity to learn but also something to hold, to get physically enraptured in.
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How’s the public response?
Very good so far, thankfully!
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Business: Good print mags get a lot of love, but is not always translated to sales or advertising. How’re the sales? Advertising-wise, is it a normal approach of selling an ad page or more a brand ad approach?
The sales are good, but yes, it’s not realistic to make money on magazines.
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What is your online strategy?
Ha! I wish we had time to craft a specific one. We pull something together at the end of the day based on what is available to us time-wise, unfortunately.
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What inspires you and motivates you to go to work every day?
Well, my day job is something else, but I happen to love that as well. Most of what I do relates to food and food writing.
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What were your biggest challenges as an entrepreneur?
Staying afloat!
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What advice would you give someone who wants to start a magazine?
Look at your personal situation and don’t try to just follow someone else’s advice blindly. It doesn’t come in one size!
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Upcoming projects
Just continuing to develop the magazine and seeing where other opportunities take me!
faremag.com | faremag.com/subscribe | twitter.com/FareMagazine