Trader Group caps off 2003 with record issues

23 December 2003
Media release

***Trader Group caps off 2003 with record breaking issues

Holiday reading just took on a new meaning with the January editions of Trader-A-Boat and Auto Trader, the biggest full-colour boating and motoring magazines ever published in New Zealand.

Combined, the two magazines come close to the size of the A-K Auckland yellow pages with every car and boat for sale carrying a full-colour photo. Auto Trader will be just a little bigger than its sister publication, with some 600 pages and 7000 cars, while Trade-A-Boat will carry 4,000 boats, with an average sale price of $50,000.

Trader Group General Manager Lee Williams says, "These publications cap off a successful year for Trader Group. We're printing over 27.5 million magazines a year and Trader believes it is now the second largest magazine company in New Zealand."

Over 1 million people read at least one of Trader's 18 magazines (based on AC Nielson figures) each month, which offer over 4 million items for sale over the course of a year.

Trader has also significantly grown the online presence of its print publications Traderpoint.

Already the country's largest online classifieds website, Traderpoint launched a significant marketing campaign earlier this year as part of its strategy to become New Zealand's most popular online buying and selling marketplace. Results of the campaign to date indicate a 33% increase in classifieds published to the site and RedSheriff figures show a 5% increase of average weekly site visitors and Mr Williams expects this number to rise significantly over the next few months.

"This year we've launched a number of specialty classified web channels, which include caravans, flatmates, horses, rental properties, and vehicle parts," says Mr Williams.

"Traderpoint now has over 135,000 unique visitors per month and we're introducing new technology in 2004, which will make Traderpoint unparalleled in the online classifieds market."

Mr Williams says that Trader Group is looking to expand its online offerings in the New Year and plans are afoot to make giant leaps in service and market offerings in both its print and online businesses.

Watch this space?

Ends.

About Traderpoint and TIG publications:

Traderpoint has over 130,000 unique users nationally, 50% in Auckland, and has 135,000 items for sale daily. Backed by Microsoft technology through an exclusive alliance, Traderpoint now offers a free online photo classified ad option. Traderpoint is the online presence of ACP Media's Trader International Group, which incorporates the web versions of the company's top rating print publications including "Auto Trader", "Trade-A-Boat," "Farm Trader,", "Buy, Sell & Exchange.", "Motorcycle Trader & News", "Prestige & Classic", "Deals on Wheels", "Bay Trader", "Thursday Trader", "Property Press" and "Motor Guide".

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