12 replies to this topic

[minimanmaddan]

Hey TMF crew,

 

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here (in fact had to make a new account as couldn't get into my old), but some of you might remember me from back in the day—I was quite active on the forum and even put together the TMF calendar a while back! Safe to say, the Mini bug has never really left me.

 

I’m excited to share something I’ve been working on with a few other people that I think some of you will appreciate—a new lifestyle Mini magazine, created for people who genuinely love these little cars as much as we all do.

 

It’s called Mini Mad Magazine—a fun, pocket-sized print mag that drops through your letterbox once a month. Each issue is packed with stories, owner features, photos, mods, meetups, and more—all with that classic MINI spirit we know and love. And yes, it’s a real printed magazine—because there’s still something special about flipping through pages instead of swiping a screen.

 

We’re keeping it super accessible too—just £3/month + 50p postage, cheaper than a coffee!

 

If that sounds like your thing (or you just want to support a fellow TMFer bringing something to life), you can check it out and subscribe here:
👉 www.minimadmag.com

 

Would love to hear what you think—and always open to ideas, contributions, or features from the TMF family in future issues.

 

Cheers,
Dan

👋

 

[beardylondon]

Hi Dan,

 

Welcome back! It sounds like a nice idea, as we all like a printed mag. However in era when print sales are declining, I'm curious who is the publisher (bank roller) behind this mag? Also the website doesn't have any details of who are the journalists/contributors involved are? Also when is the launch date?

 

Also small thing, but presumably it's all classic minis only? If so, I suggest removing MINI in caps from your publicity, classic mini owners may think it has BMW MINIs in it!

[Shep76S]

When you go to subscribe it says £3 for the mag and £3.50 delivery, £6.50?

Edited by Shep76S, 05 August 2025 - 12:35 PM.

[mab01uk]

Also small thing, but presumably it's all classic minis only? If so, I suggest removing MINI in caps from your publicity, classic mini owners may think it has BMW MINIs in it!

 

The magazine front cover on the website says 'MINI Aceman Test Drive' which is one of the very latest MINI models recently launched, so suggests they will also be covering modern MINI's. Judging by the number of Modern MINI's on show at this weekends Brands Hatch Mini Festival (where there was a very good attendance of both classic and modern Minis) a new magazine would maybe need to attract both types of enthusiast. However when the now closed 'Mini Magazine' tried to do that it did not really work, as only those who own both would want to read all the articles & features in the magazine. Strangely Kelsey Publishing had earlier closed their 'Modern MINI' magazine, (only shortly after they relaunched & renamed it as 'Performance MINI' magazine), presumably due to a lack of subscribers? As an early subscriber to 'Modern MINi' magazine myself (and an owner of an early 2002 R50 MINI) I stopped buying the mag when it started covering the later BMW MINI's and then went on to be renamed 'Performance MINI' mag which only featured extreme modified BMW MINI's which were of little or no interest to me.

 

I think the problem for any BMW/ Modern MINI magazine is that unlike the long lived classic Mini (which was essentially the same basic design of car for 40 years), modern MINI's completely change engine & platform every 7 years or so....so if a magazine tries to cater for all the variants, many enthusiasts stop buying the mag as much of the content covers other models (older or newer) which they don't own or have no interest in. Then we have the future all electric EV MINI's and I can't say I have read any road test of an EV which is of any interest to me yet....seems about as interesting as reading up on a domestic appliance like my latest Bosch washing machine....

 

I wish the new 'Mini Mad Magazine' well though and hope it is a success as I'm not sure how much longer 'MiniWorld' magazine will survive when the publisher has already closed two of their Mini/MINI based magazines presumably due to declining sales. Personally I would be happy to pay less for a bi-monthly MW magazine if it was a way of remaining viable in the future.

Edited by mab01uk, 05 August 2025 - 02:23 PM.

[beardylondon]

Well spotted, says same for me. I think they meant to have it as 50p postage for UK addresses, £3.50 for Rest of World

 

​a second class stamp is 87p, so not sure of the business model here! 

 

 

When you go to subscribe it says £3 for the mag and £3.50 delivery, £6.50?

Edited by beardylondon, 05 August 2025 - 02:10 PM.

[Colinmac1330]

Once you enter your (UK) postcode the postage changes to 50p

[minimanmaddan]

Hello Beardy!

The bank roller is my current business, it's a little bit of a project to see if I can make it my full time job... I've always wanted to write and produce something in the car space and always being a mini-nut seemed like the only thing I wouldn't get bored of writing about! I've done a lot of ghost writing from various automotive car blogs and tech companies.

 

But having said that, a few more journalist/contributors will hopefully get involved.

 

It's a magazine to celebrate all things Mini, classic and new - however I am mostly a classic mini nut so majority of the magazines will be classic focused but also appreciate BMW MINI brand so we'll have a sprinkling of new MINI stuff!

 

 

 

Hi Dan,

 

Welcome back! It sounds like a nice idea, as we all like a printed mag. However in era when print sales are declining, I'm curious who is the publisher (bank roller) behind this mag? Also the website doesn't have any details of who are the journalists/contributors involved are? Also when is the launch date?

 

Also small thing, but presumably it's all classic minis only? If so, I suggest removing MINI in caps from your publicity, classic mini owners may think it has BMW MINIs in it!

[minimanmaddan]

When you go to subscribe it says £3 for the mag and £3.50 delivery, £6.50?

Once you input your address it will correct to the right shipping charge if you're in the UK. Annoyingly the platform the website is on doesn't allow you to show which shipping comes first - tried to fix so just UK comes up but no luck without some special coding... we'll sort it eventually but it does work, just need to input your address.

Edited by minimanmaddan, 08 August 2025 - 07:13 PM.

[minimanmaddan]

 

Also small thing, but presumably it's all classic minis only? If so, I suggest removing MINI in caps from your publicity, classic mini owners may think it has BMW MINIs in it!

 

The magazine front cover on the website says 'MINI Aceman Test Drive' which is one of the very latest MINI models recently launched, so suggests they will also be covering modern MINI's. Judging by the number of Modern MINI's on show at this weekends Brands Hatch Mini Festival (where there was a very good attendance of both classic and modern Minis) a new magazine would maybe need to attract both types of enthusiast. However when the now closed 'Mini Magazine' tried to do that it did not really work, as only those who own both would want to read all the articles & features in the magazine. Strangely Kelsey Publishing had earlier closed their 'Modern MINI' magazine, (only shortly after they relaunched & renamed it as 'Performance MINI' magazine), presumably due to a lack of subscribers? As an early subscriber to 'Modern MINi' magazine myself (and an owner of an early 2002 R50 MINI) I stopped buying the mag when it started covering the later BMW MINI's and then went on to be renamed 'Performance MINI' mag which only featured extreme modified BMW MINI's which were of little or no interest to me.

 

I think the problem for any BMW/ Modern MINI magazine is that unlike the long lived classic Mini (which was essentially the same basic design of car for 40 years), modern MINI's completely change engine & platform every 7 years or so....so if a magazine tries to cater for all the variants, many enthusiasts stop buying the mag as much of the content covers other models (older or newer) which they don't own or have no interest in. Then we have the future all electric EV MINI's and I can't say I have read any road test of an EV which is of any interest to me yet....seems about as interesting as reading up on a domestic appliance like my latest Bosch washing machine....

 

I wish the new 'Mini Mad Magazine' well though and hope it is a success as I'm not sure how much longer 'MiniWorld' magazine will survive when the publisher has already closed two of their Mini/MINI based magazines presumably due to declining sales. Personally I would be happy to pay less for a bi-monthly MW magazine if it was a way of remaining viable in the future.

 

 

 

Thanks for the input mab01uk, with our magazine it's going to focus heavily on classics but I think there's opportunity to sprinkle in some stuff about the new MINI's too... I guess you could say it mainly appeals to classic enthusiasts. 

[minimanmaddan]

Well spotted, says same for me. I think they meant to have it as 50p postage for UK addresses, £3.50 for Rest of World

 

​a second class stamp is 87p, so not sure of the business model here! 

 

 

When you go to subscribe it says £3 for the mag and £3.50 delivery, £6.50?

 

 

Once you input your address it will correct to the correct shipping charge if you're in the UK. Annoyingly the platform the website is on doesn't allow you to show which shipping comes first - tried to fix so just UK comes up but no luck without some special coding... we'll sort it eventually but it does work, just need to input your address.

 

Postage cost wise, it's to attract people to subscribe. It's a low cost mag, part of the shipping is covered by your purchase of the mag you're correct and we're making a small margin on each. It helps that it's an A5 size mag as we can send as a letter... don't be fooled we haven't got a big publisher behind us... starting from scratch while print is dying but I think there's room for a niche little magazine that costs less than a coffee just so people can have a little bit of mini fun delivered to there door monthly.

[beardylondon]

All very good explanations, good for you, and the very best of luck with it!

Well spotted, says same for me. I think they meant to have it as 50p postage for UK addresses, £3.50 for Rest of World

​a second class stamp is 87p, so not sure of the business model here!


When you go to subscribe it says £3 for the mag and £3.50 delivery, £6.50?

Once you input your address it will correct to the correct shipping charge if you're in the UK. Annoyingly the platform the website is on doesn't allow you to show which shipping comes first - tried to fix so just UK comes up but no luck without some special coding... we'll sort it eventually but it does work, just need to input your address.

Postage cost wise, it's to attract people to subscribe. It's a low cost mag, part of the shipping is covered by your purchase of the mag you're correct and we're making a small margin on each. It helps that it's an A5 size mag as we can send as a letter... don't be fooled we haven't got a big publisher behind us... starting from scratch while print is dying but I think there's room for a niche little magazine that costs less than a coffee just so people can have a little bit of mini fun delivered to there door monthly.

[timmy850]

Sounds awesome, I’m glad to hear you’re trying to get a new magazine started, there’s something so much nicer about a print magazine compared to reading online

I’m signed up and waiting patiently for the first one to arrive!

[mini-mad-mark]

I've subscribed and it says I will be charged first in September - is that the first issue?