{"id":6807,"date":"2014-12-10T08:42:46","date_gmt":"2014-12-10T15:42:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/?p=6807"},"modified":"2014-12-10T09:16:14","modified_gmt":"2014-12-10T16:16:14","slug":"somi-magazine-tenth-year-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/somi-magazine-tenth-year-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"SOMI MAGAZINE TENTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/a>

Recently, Somi Magazine<\/i> marked its tenth year as an upscale publication devoted to the promotion of South Miami and the local and surrounding businesses. Sidebar at Town was the venue for about 80 people from the business community, Chamber South, and city government who came to help celebrate the magazine\u2019s success. John Edward Smith, publisher, creative director and visionary behind the magazine, brought all his skills as a promotional and marketing professional to bear on the ten-year milestone.<\/p>\n

Champagne flowed, plates of delicious hors d\u2019oeuvre from Town Kitchen & Bar kept arriving, premium rum drinks from Tiburon rum from Belize and Gosling\u2019s rum were served. Mojito-scented candles from Porter Spa added a lovely aroma and warm lighting accents around the room. The evening ended on a sweet note with artisanal dark chocolate truffles from Town & Cocoa.<\/p>\n

A display of 58 past magazine covers graced the walls, and guests were asked to choose their favorite for the prize of Tiburon rum. Five entries from the Somi<\/i> readers survey were announced and presented with prizes from Garden Gate, Splitsville, Town Kitchen & Bar, Fox\u2019s, and ROK:BRGR. The new SOMI Magazine<\/i> logo, conceived by Smith, was unveiled and editions of the newly formatted 2015-2016 \u201cYear of Fun\u201d magazine were distributed.<\/p>\n

In 2005, what began as Smith\u2019s plan to print a four-page, four-color publication called In & Around the Shops of South Miami Town Center designed to tout South Miami\u2019s downtown businesses morphed into an eight-page magazine from the first issue. Smith, once focused on his efforts promoting tours to Italy to savor the famous white truffle from the country\u2019s Piedmont region and other marketing pursuits, turned his attention to the fledgling magazine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never really thought of myself as a publisher when I started this. I understood myself chiefly as a creative force,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\nMari Colina, John Edward Smith, Carol Williamson, Karla Cooper, Margaret Sotham, Katy Sorenson, John Sotham.\n

Smith was able to establish a brand for the city\u2019s downtown by renaming it the \u2018Town Center,\u2019 thus avoiding the rather pedestrian \u201cbusiness district\u201d used by others. The public had something to rally around and think of as uniquely South Miami. The magazine never wavered from its initial mission to promote the area, even though the look, name and amount of content would change over the years. Along the way, the Somi Guide <\/i>directory of retail, restaurants and services in the town center became a separate publication.<\/p>\n

Advertisers make it possible for the magazine to be available free-of-charge to its many readers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to our ever-expanding core of advertisers, we have been able to remain in print at a time when so many magazines have had to close shop.\u00a0 The magazine (which is available online, too) continues to grow because it is well-received and appreciated,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n

Party-goers were eager to share their thoughts about the magazine.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe magazine has the pulse of the community, and it contributes to the coolness of South Miami\u2019s downtown,\u201d said Katy Sorensen, past County Commissioner and president and CEO of the Good Government Initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like the covers, and it stands out on the newsstand,\u201d said Dennis Deblois, Chamber South board member and co-chair of government affairs.<\/p>\n

After remarks by Mary Scott Russell, past Mayor of South Miami and President of Chamber South (\u201cJohn Edward never stops giving his time to the community and the magazine.\u201d), Smith thanked the people who helped make the magazine possible from advertisers, to friends, and staff.<\/p>\n

Indeed it takes a lot to make a magazine successful:\u00a0 from the creative mind of John Edward Smith, to the participation by the advertisers, to the efforts of the staff and contributing writers, and to the positive reception by the readership.<\/p>\n

Look for the latest issue at businesses and other local venues.<\/p>\n\n\t\t