And my dealer received a load of them yesterday. I am reading it right now and it looks good. Half is a magazine with interview (David Lewis), the other half is a catalogue.

Source: Media Week, APA

Consumer electronic goods manufacturer and retail Bang & Olufsen has commission contract publisher Forward Publishing to produce its first international customer magazine.

Forward, which also publishes magazines for Barclays, Vodafone, and Tesco Clubcard, won the contract last week following a competitive pitch hosted by the Association of Publishing Agencies.

The win is the second major deal brokered in March by the APA’s new business service, after Audi awarded Northstar its publishing contract.

Called B&O, the 120-page issue will launch in October. Published biannually, it will run features in the first half of the book, with a catalogue of products at the back.

Kim Moller, Bang & Olufsen’s marketing communications manager, said he wanted the magazine to overrun perceptions that the firm was ”the stupid blonde of consumer electronics” by promoting the functionality of its products, alongside lifestyle features on the experience of listening to music and watching films. Published in 30 languages in seven additions, each version will have eight pages of regional editorial.

So does this look like the end of the road for our much collected catalogues, usually available in hardback form too?

Andy T.

jandyt:

So does this look like the end of the road for our much collected catalogues, usually available in hardback form too?

Andy T.

Lack of hardback availability would be a pity, though the new magazine (magalog!) looks like it will be just as beautiful as the catalogs. (I'm appalled at the idea of painting BeoLab 5s, though!)  I honestly don't see much difference so far between the magazine and the catalog. Last year's catalog had interviews with prestigious B&O owners, theme stories, etc.  Can't wait to see the new release!

"Stupid blonde of consumer electronics"?!  I haven't heard that one before!  That comment must have been made by someone very very jealous! 

moxxey:

There is definitely no dress code in the UK stores (well, none of the stores I've visited), although the sales people always wear suits. I don't particular care what they believe, based on how I dress. There is an upmarket jewellers in the centre of Bath who do look down at you when you walk in in jeans - buy something though, and they quickly treat you differently, next time you visit, irrespective of your dress code!

moxxey, I know the jewellers you mean!  I went in in to have something valued, and left it with them, then had to go back in a week to ask for it and the value as I had not heard anything form them, only to be told they hadn't got round to valuing it for me!  I simply collected it and went elsewhere!

As for B&O in Bath, they are not stuffy at all, i went in earlier this week to enquire about the new Serenata and ask about moving my B&O TV when I move house and the guy I spoke to was one of the engineers, and he was in jeans, but very professional and polite, exactly the way all their staff are.  If I get snotty service, and believe me there are a lot of places like that here in Bath, I simply take my money elsewhere, but I do tell them why I am going elsewhere!

moxxey:

There is definitely no dress code in the UK stores .....although the sales people always wear suits. ... !

Not strictly true. Not a suit in site at King Street.  In fact, since our shop had a refit and re-opened in April, it has been a matter of some debate. 

I personally have never liked any type of retail outlet (car, Hi-Fi, clothing, high street or specialist..) that has its staff wearing a mixture of non-matching shirts, ties and jackets.  The salespeople just look end up like trainee car salesmen*, and also, they can be indistinguishable from the customers to a passing member of the public - particularly in a city centre shop.

When it comes to deliveries/home visits, a suit is simply innapropriate - its not ideal for crawling around routing cables, lifting boxes and so-on, which often happens on the way in/out of work,  and its also a bit Double-Glazing-Salesman* to pitch up at a customers house all suited and booted at 8pm.

So, we have varied from "smart casual", to "casual", to B&O branded polo shirts & chinos, and we still can't quite decide on the best dress code.

I would be interested to hear what people prefer to see / are comfortable with, actually. 

* - no slight is intended if your a car salesman or double glazing salesperson - its just not the "image" I want for my shop. 

I have been to Bang & Olufsen stores in Europe, North America and Latin America. The staff personalities have been generally quite good, with a few exceptions. I believe the magazine is a very good idea, just as this forum is. Interesting and informative.

In fairness to the German stores, my experiences have always been very good. The store in Frankfurt am Main greeted us warmly the first time I entered from pouring rain, despite fact that I was pulling along a large (XXL) Rimowa suitcase. Our travelling attire was hardly Saville Row.

I mentioned a restaurant nearby that we had heard about, and was encouraged to dine there. The salesman offered to generously hold the suitcase for us, and my wife and I enjoyed a meorable meal.

Upon returning, I bought a pair of A-8 and Form 2 headphones. Not much of a purchase, but I have since reccommended B&O products there to friends who later became customers there. Many were residents of Frankfurt, and knew nothing of the store.

To date, this store continues to exhibit a reliable, and consistent cordiality, and helpful staff, even if I am not buying anything. I look forward to visitng whenever I am there.

Good customers are worth the effort to keep, and everyone has started at the entry or learning regarding B & O products.  If a customer is there for a just a catalogue in jeans,  or a Beosound 4 with all the trimmings and wearing Versace, equal courtesy and good manners by the sales staff are an expectation, consistently.

I do not think B&O shop staff should wear a uniform at all - it is not McDonalds!

I am expecting them to have a good enough taste to pick appropriate individual clothes.

That said there could be a general dress code for staff. 

The obvious colour is Back/Charcoal as it matches the product and is smart.

So I would say:

- Black trousers (but each person, could chose a different style, casual or smart)

- White shirt, long sleave black polo shirt. Polo shirts could have a B&O logo.

- Tie optional and left to the persons choice.

- Black jacket

----

Like that a person that has a planned delivery could have a black pair of jeans, and a polo.

--- 

Long sleave polo shirts can be very elegant, and suit every type of body.

 For shirts, fitted shirts can be seen as more modern, but not for every body type. So everyone should pick their own.

 I know it sounds very classic... but you can't really go wrong with that...

p. 

Just picked up my copy from B&O in Islington. Looks nice. I'm going to make a cup of tea and settle down for a read...

I think we shouldn't forget the importance of Grooming and personal hygiene. At our dealer there is a reasonably new lady working there who i have noticed dresses impeccably every time i see her but to top it off, she is open and friendly which is really nice.

A bit of creative flair in the way B&O sales people dress goes a long way, but at the end of the day it's how they interact with the consumers.

 

Just picked up my Magolog,  not as impressive as some previous catalogues,  but an interesting read.  Pitty it is the end of hardback catalogues though.

Greg

Some slight changes in product names too.....

 BeoLab 4 PC now becomes BeoLab 4 PC/MAC

BeoMedia 1 now becomes BeoMedia

Subtle changes,  but interesting

The painted Lab 5's are HORRENDOUS!!!!

A14BEO:

The painted Lab 5's are HORRENDOUS!!!!

 

Agree.  Just because they are "Artists" doesn't mean they have taste.  I've met plenty of artists who don't.

(not that I'm opinionated or anything!) 

I found a copy of the new B&O magazine in the mail post last night when I came in.

Very nice, good format, and I enjoyed reading it after dinner. The Inner Vision article on  David Lewis and the development of the Beo 5 remote was short, compared to previous Beoworld posts, but quite good. I now also look forward to hearing THE LYRIC album, featuring Stacey Kent.

Regarding Colour of Sound, and the various painted Beolab 5 speakers: It is promotion of the product via artistic expression, which Porsche, Ferrari, and Jaguar have done before. Personally not for me, but to each his own. If one can afford a pair of them, I suppose they can do what they like with them. I would wonder about the warranty if something needed repair.

My wife and I worked on a translation document for a friend, and when finished she asked me what I had been reading. I handed her the B&O magazine, which she then read for 30 minutes. Handing it back, she then asked me ( with Radiological clarity ) " So, this your Christmas wish list then ? "

Guilty, as charged.

Hasn't really grabbed me - I picked one up yesterday and have still not read it all. Just had a quick skim.

To be fair, I was playing with the Serenata - which is now hopefully winging its way back to Lee - but even so!

The bits I have read are more of an airline mag than I would like. The Encounter pages are amusing -  trumpeting their forum which is painfully quiet - the questions posed are usually unanswered unless a Beoworld stalwart helps out!

I liked the article on the Beo5 though - though the line about sitting in the Hall of fame next to the BL5 (fair enough) and the BV9 (I think this is a bit early, don't you!!) made me laugh.  One does feel sometimes that Jensen is airbrushed away!

I must have odd taste, as I love the painted Beolab 5's.

I remember seeing a painted BL5 early last year in a magazine, the design was subtle and not flashy as was in the BeoMag, but I like it nonetheless.

B & O could have a niche industry on their hands if designer fabric were available as the cloth covers for their speakers.

-Sal

Got mine in the mail as well. I actually did never get around picking up catalogs myself in the store over the last years so that they mail the mags now is a nice surprise. I will read it over the weekend with a coffee at starbucks I guess ...

Gosh, a lot of you seem to be getting this through the mail. Have you noticed that, Dave at King Street?

Andy T.

My dealer tells me that the Magalogue will be in the Aussie stores next week sometime. Can't wait.

There has been talk here of the hard back catalogues?? I've never seen such a thing here in australia. The hard back would make them a real collectable.

jazz

GSHaigh:

Some slight changes in product names too.....

 BeoLab 4 PC now becomes BeoLab 4 PC/MAC

BeoMedia 1 now becomes BeoMedia

Subtle changes,  but interesting

Interesting, indeed... What we can conclude about that is that there will never be a Beomedia 2, maybe replaced by the Beosound 5...
And for the Beolab 4 PC/MAC, we can see that B&O finally noticed the existence of the MAC platform! (if they make future digital product entirely compatible with my iTunes aac library (without forgetting mp3 & wma of course!), that would be a second great step!

jandyt:

Gosh, a lot of you seem to be getting this through the mail. Have you noticed that, Dave at King Street?

Andy T.

Andy - these are sent by B&O UK from their own database - aprox 23,000 were sent out directly, with many more invitaitions to "collect your copy" from your "own" dealer ( last store you purchased from is the criteria here ) 

However, point taken - if your postie decides to go back into work for an hour or two, you may get a treat in the next week or so.

The interview with Tony Visconti is very interesting, if your a fan of his many collaborations ( which I am )

On a related note, I have a customer who owns an old Gibson acoustic, certified at auction, as previously owned by Hendrix, and then Visconti.  It was used on many noteable recordings, and although a bit beat up, is a real bit of history. 

Best wishes,

 

David