Lifestyle magazine celebrates its sixth year

An online lifestyle magazine that champions the achievements of Bermuda’s young professionals has just celebrated its sixth anniversary.

ShowOff’s young publisher Patrice Morgan threw an appreciation party at Moon nightclub on Thursday evening to thank readers, sponsors and advertisers for their help and support in making the magazine the success it is today.

Targeted at young professionals aged between 21 and 40-years-old it covers topics including careers, fashion and beauty, relationships, entertainment, and product reviews while recognizing the island’s emerging local professionals. The Bermuda Sun will soon be featuring articles that appear on the website www.showoffmagazine.net so watch this space. And there will be a special magazine printed to be distributed with the Bermuda Sun featuring fresh and original articles produced by ShowOff writers, due late October.

This will include articles on weddings, a profile piece of the careers of five successful male professionals, highlights of rising entertainers in Bermuda and photo shoots.

The sixth anniversary party featured the finalists of the website’s L’Oreal Amazing Faces beauty competition. Chanika Jones was announced as the overall winner.

Ms Morgan arranged free cocktails and a night of entertainment as a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has contributed towards the success of the magazine. There was music from DJs IBreeze, Hershey, Aztec and Bitzy on the night and each female guest received a free L’Oreal gift on entry.

Ms Morgan launched ShowOff magazine as a print magazine in 2004 when she came out of university.

“I launched it because I felt there wasn’t a magazine available that displayed who the young professionals of Bermuda were—there was nothing solely dedicated to recognising their achievements,” explained Ms Morgan.

“When I started the magazine I was so busy and preoccupied with all factors of it from sales to writing to managing a team I didn’t really have a long term plan but I knew it was something I needed to do.

“I wanted to see what the locals thought of it and I am very happy with the result—it has been very well received. The support from the community has always been overwhelming.”

Last year the magazine went online only as Ms Morgan’s long term plan was to return to college and she needed the flexibility to produce the magazine from any location.

The circulation of its printed version was around 5,000 per month with a readership of 7,500 according to Ms Morgan. Now it is solely online, there are some 300,000 hits per month.

Ms Morgan said that her business has been profitable every year since its launch in 2004. There are currently five freelance writers contributing to the site as well as web designer Shay Ford (also a graphic designer for the Sun) and Ms Morgan herself.

“I have never lost any money on this business and I’d really like to thank all the sponsors who have helped to make that happen,” Ms Morgan added.

In addition to the print product coming out with the Bermuda Sun in October, ShowOff will be printing a commemorative issue featuring highlights from ShowOff’s previous years. Ms Morgan hopes this will be complete before December.