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Domino Effect - NYT Reports Fans Mourning Demise of Magazine

By
Home Stager with Leslie Olson Interiors

 

Leslie Olson Interiors Logo, Marin Home Stager

The New York Times is reporting a public outcry over the cancellation of popular home magazine, Domino. As I mentioned in my recent blog, Say It Ain't So...Are Home Shelter Magazines the New Dinosaurs?Domino is one of several shelter magazines recently nixed because of shrinking ad dollars.

In the NYT article, "A Girl World Closes, and Fans Mourn," they write:

WHEN Domino magazine folded last week, another casualty of the economic smack-down, a howl of protest rang through the blogosphere. Fans of the girlish, how-to decorating magazine owned by Condé Nast were vociferous in their disappointment, posting anguished comments on design sites like Apartment Therapy, Decorno and Design Sponge (which accrued 498 remarks in just a few hours), as well as nondesign sites, like The Huffington Post. Even Gawker readers set aside their snark to mourn.

The commenters bemoaned the death of a magazine that "felt" like them, and worried that their Domino subscription renewals, already paid, would yield subscriptions to Architectural Digest, Condé Nast's remaining shelter title (median reader age: 50).

To read the entire article, click on http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/garden/05domino.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

It remains to be seen if the protests will bring any results, but clearly this is a publication that was innovative, fresh, and tapped into a young, growing market. Quite a contrast from the old dowager Architectural Digest (which, to my knowledge, is not being cancelled).

 

For Leslie's blogs related to this subject, I invite you to visit:

Say It Ain't So...Are Home Shelter Magazines the New Dinosaurs?

How Are Your Favorite Home Retailers Doing? Must-Read Articles

 

Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors - Home Staging and Interior Design Marin

Leslie Olson, ASID, RESA

 

Leslie Olson Interiors   Marin County, CA   www.leslieolsoninteriors.com   leslie@leslieolsoninteriors.com   415.233.2633

 

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Leslie Olson Interiors - Austin, Texas

www.leslieolsoninteriors.com

leslie@leslieolsoninteriors.com

 

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Comments (5)

Sandi Gerrard
Toronto, ON

I believe I saw this magazine only a couple of times.  If it is the one I'm thinking of, it was very heavy on the advertising for high end products and not enough content.

Feb 05, 2009 03:08 AM
Allegra Dioguardi
Styled and Sold Home Staging and Staging Training - Westhampton Beach, NY
Home Staging & Training, Suffolk Co. Long Island

Hi Leslie, I hate to hear these signs of the times. I'm still crying over Wedgewood going under. We think of these companies as institutions so when they go, it is a tough blow.  Thanks for the update.

Feb 05, 2009 09:46 AM
Leslie Olson
Leslie Olson Interiors - Austin, TX
Interior Design and Redesign - Moved to Austin!

Sandi -- I think Domino struck a chord with its readers because it was youthful, energetic, and provided resources for where "real people" could acquire home goods that used to only be available to the design trade. Less aspirational, more accessible.

Allegra -- Where have I been?  I had no idea that Wedgewood had gone under! I had heard that Waterford Crystal was having trouble (which makes sense to me), but hadn't heard that about Wedgewood. Guess it's on to replacements.com for any missing pieces! Formal china and crystal aren't as much a part of our lives as they used to be, but you're right, it's surprising when these institutions aren't there anymore. Thanks for writing!

 

Feb 06, 2009 06:19 AM
Joanne O'Donnell
Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

Leslie, I totally agree, it is really a shame that Domino is gone - what a great little magazine.  It will be missed!

Feb 18, 2009 11:32 PM
Leslie Olson
Leslie Olson Interiors - Austin, TX
Interior Design and Redesign - Moved to Austin!

I agree, Joanne! Let's hope the groundswell of support for Domino brings some good news to all those to helped make it successful.

Last week I attended an ASID/AIA seminar on kitchen design. The presenters of the event were a custom cabinet company, and they mentioned during a break that they were a long-time advertiser with Dwell magazine. I made a point to thank them for continuing to advertise in (another) important design magazine, and how important their support was to these publications.

Feb 19, 2009 03:22 AM