A new sister publication to Aycliffe Today Business was officially launched in the region this week.
Wear Business magazine, the new voice of business in Wearside and County Durham, held its official launch on Wednesday afternoon.
More than 50 businesses from the area attended the unveiling of the first edition of the publication at the Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa in Durham.
Wear Business, which is aimed at promoting the business community in the region, is a new quarterly publication for the Sunderland and Durham areas.
Based at the BiC in Sunderland, the first issue of Wear Business is already being distributed to firms across Sunderland, Durham, Seaham, Peterlee, Washington, Spennymoor, Houghton-le-Spring and Chester-le-Street.
It is the brainchild of local publishing and writing professionals who have experience and expertise in the market.
Aycliffe Today editor Martin Walker and his business partner Dave Allan, directors of North-East publishers Resolution, have joined forces with experienced Wear and Durham region writers Colin Young and Graeme Anderson.
Martin (above, right), who launched Aycliffe Today eight years ago and subsequent business magazine in November 2012 followed by Tees Business five years ago, said: “We’re delighted to have expanded further into the region, providing another quality platform for businesses to promote their services.
“As we look to grow our network across the North-East region, this will give local firms an exciting opportunity to increase their reach to even more businesses.
“We’re confident Wear Business will prove to be just as successful as Aycliffe Today Business and Tees Business.”
Speaking at the event in the Ramside’s Bishop’s Suite, Dave Allan said: “Tees Business has proved there’s still a huge demand for printed publications, when done properly, and we’re really excited about Wear Business, the potential is huge.
“Colin and Graeme will be leading on Wear Business as they know the region and are already well connected.
“Tees Business has grown significantly in its first five years, and we believe Wear Business can follow in the same vein.”
Graeme Anderson also spoke to the attendees, saying: “We’d like to thank all the sponsors who helped to make this first issue happen, and to John Hays from Hays Travel for agreeing to his only business magazine interview since taking over Thomas Cook, which was very much a coup for us.
“We’ve seen the successful business model Martin and Dave have created on Teesside, and there’s no reason we can’t replicate it here in the Wearside and Durham region.”
The launch also included a presentation on new the Luxury Treehouses by the Ramside group sales and marketing officer Sarah Barber.
The stylish accommodation and retreats in the hotel grounds on the outskirts of Durham City, which open soon, are one of the features in the magazine.
The cover feature in the launch focuses on John Hays and includes an exclusive interview with the Hays Travel founder, whose Sunderland company was behind the salvage of the beached Thomas Cook holiday empire.
Also featured in the first issue are Business Durham, Great Annual Savings, Baldwins Durham, Jacksons Law Firm, Finchale Group, Finley Structures, Spennymoor Town FC, Mandale with their latest developments at Mandale Business Park, near Durham and a revealing Q&A with Sunderland College chief executive Ellen Thinnesen.
And the launch issue also attracted advertising from Ramside Hall Hotel Golf Club and Spa, Sunderland City Council, Durham Business Club, Sunderland AFC, Media Savvy, Teesside University, Tomahawk Steakhouse, Lemontop Creative, Lincoln Miles Estates, Sweeney Miller Law, Sunderland BiC, Cornerstone Business Solutions, Elliott Westland Insurance Brokers, J&C’s Roofing and Building Services, First Choice Labels, Aspray and Teesside International Airport.
