Looking at the creative and editorial development of a much-appreciated community resource.
Publisher’s Perspective:
WE’RE LARGER THAN LIFE!!
When first published starting in the fall of 2005, the magazine was called “In & Around the Shops – South Miami Town Center” (Whew! Now you know why we eventually shortened it!) It was a tabloid size and published ten times in that first year to build the “Town Center” brand. This marketing initiative, rather than “Downtown South Miami”, was originally proposed by the Mayor’s Marketing Task Force in 1996, to convey a more “hometown” image recognizing our unique boutiques and fine restaurants. Over the course of the year, as the magazine grew in appreciation, each issue brought anticipation for the next.
Indeed as a tabloid size, we were “larger than LIFE.” We became larger than life as well in promoting our dynamic shopping and dining area. In 2005, South Miami was a destination shopping area and our retail and restaurant community prospered.
Over the course of the years change came easy, from the size of the magazine – tabloid to large formatted magazine to the now very popular coffee table square format. We also developed an online edition of the magazine (www.somimag.loc).
In addition to creative changes, we continually added new content; more regular features and articles were added, and advertising support continued to grow as well. The magazine was well received by our readership and partners. From the start we have had a saturated distribution in our retail and restaurant establishments, in area hotels, and in professional offices in a three-mile area out.
It is only with the sustaining advertising partnership over the years which supports our editorial initiatives and allows SOMI Magazine to stand apart from other local publications. Thank you.
SOMI MASTHEADS – CHANGE IS A GOOD THING
2005 – 2009
When the magazine first published in October 2005, we were known as “In & Around The Shops – South Miami Town Center” (and that was quite a mouthful!). During that first year we published monthly. In January 2006, we featured our elected officials on the cover. Pictured were: then County Commissioner Carlos A. Gimenez with wife Lourdes, Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick with Jeannett, and South Miami Mayor Mary Scott Russell. Focus was clearly on the dynamic of a thriving “town center” which incorporates the county, Coral Gables and South Miami. After the first year, the magazine format changed from a folded tabloid to a large 9 x 12 format and published every other month.
2009 – 2015
On our fifth anniversary we re-branded the magazine from the shortened “Town Center Magazine” to simply “SOMI MAG.” The conversation bubble in the letter “O” was an invitation for our readership to “Be Part of the Conversation.” Creative changes were also made throughout the growing publication.
2016 – 2019
Concurrent with our tenth year of publishing we initiated an exclusive and authoritative cover feature series of principal cultural resources in the county: HistoryMiami, Fairchild Tropical Garden, The Barnacle, Perez Art Museum, Montgomery Garden, ZOO Miami, the Frost Science Museum, the Vizcaya Centenary, Stiltsville, the Doc Thomas House, The Underline and Everglades National Park. This series spanned over five years and positioned the magazine’s recognized editorial content. Our large 9×12 magazine with colorful “SOMI” has been a big standout – literally.
2020 – 2022
On occasion of our fifteenth year the coffee table square magazine was launched. The new format proved to be one of the most dramatic creative changes over the years and the most appreciated. In formatting the magazine we brought together our “lifestyle” pages with our exclusive area shopping and dining “guide” pages. Interest in our online presence also flourished during this time.
OUR COVERS
So often readers comment on the exceptional magazine covers which we’ve run. Space does not allow us here to show all the covers published over the 17 years. We do have them grouped on our online pages, so take a look and perhaps your interest may be piqued to explore our archived editions.
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CREATIVE EXCELLENCE
INFORMATIVE ARTICLES
AREA BUSINESS NEWS
As we now shift to an all-online edition coming into Volume XVIII, our online format will be creatively re-tooled.
What you can expect from us is to continue to present informative articles, Town Center News updates and more that you have come to expect and appreciate in your magazine. Quality and excellence will be sustained.
The SOMI Shopping & Dining Guide will continue to be published in print and will be updated seasonally online.
