We've loved ReadyMade magazine for years and we've loved it for a number of reasons. It is the go-to magazine for DIYers interested in creative reuse. It's got a sparkling personality and a sense of humor (we like that in our magazines). And it's sort of our neighbor. It lives in Berkeley, Ca .... we live in Berkeley, Ca.
But now it's moving, and we feel sort of sad.
According to an article in the SF Chronicle, ReadyMade's parent company, Meredith Corp., is moving it to Des Moines, Iowa. This is all part of the massive layoffs and apparent restructuring that Meredith has been going through over the past month.
So what does that mean for ReadyMade? Well, we hate to be cynics ... but we're worried. All of the current editorial staffers have chosen not to move to Des Moines ... meaning there will be a new staff.
From the article:
"But will this magazine look exactly the same next year? No," Morgan [interim editor] said, noting that all magazines evolve. "Geography absolutely matters, but at the same time, we're all connected in other ways."
What will become of ReadyMade? Are you worried (like we are) or should we just be happy the mag is still being published?
image via Bedtime Champ; Flickr.com
© 2010 Apartment Therapy
I have a subscription to the magazine and will be getting it no matter what for a while yet. When I learned they cleared house with the staff I figured that would be the last I would see of the magazine as I have known it. So it goes to Des Moines... there are craftsters everywhere... we'll see what happens. Luckily for you there is still a bunch of great stuff in the East Bay.
view kmarie's profile
I just recently let my subscription lapse. I was not happy with the changes that came about after they were bought out by Meridith Corp. Too much product placement and it lost it's edge. I'm thinking of picking up a subscription to Make or Craft instead.
view coffeebuzz76's profile
wow! So those of us in the mid-west won't/can't do as a good a job as those on the west coast?
pretty demeaning commentary.
there are a hell of lot of great people here in the central states that do work just as good as those on the coasts.
view hood's profile
As a Californian I wholeheartedly agree with Hood.
Great concepts and ideas for this magazines comes from everywhere. In an interconnected world we have, Ready Made should pursue stories and ideas where they come from, not solely the surrounding neighborhoods.
If the magazine moves to something irrelevant and washed out by actively pursuing every last advertising opportunity is another thing all together. This strategy can be pursued in New York, LA, Berkeley as well as Des Moines
view MinorWeston's profile
bummer...I remember meeting a couple of the original editors when they launched while living in SF. I hope they go on to do something even greater.
view art's profile