Ali of WhatHiFi

[anm]

since your mag is a little unknown to the masses, you should do some content tie ups with ToI or HT to push a weekly column.

 

[deepakgang]

And hope you guys will try to showcase and promote Indian brands as well

 

[alipardiwala]

doors666: Thanks, it's always good to get feedback from readers...
Earlier, due to a smaller, overworked team, that was the case, where UK features were picked up and published without any changes. But now that we've increased the team size, we're able to put attention into it and go through the features to modify it for Indian audiences. We also do a lot more local features now, including reviews, tests, Indian news, etc. Also, we've built up databases and price lists for practically all hi-fi brands so if a brand is represented by an Indian distributor, we'll get an accurate MRP from them. For brands which have no distributor here, we give an indicative price of how much it will cost to have the product shipped to India. The Buyers Guide at the end has also gone through a much-needed update and is quite accurate now.

anm: As a technical magazine on a very specialized subject, it might be hard to get features and tie-ups with major newspapers, but we can see what to do about increasing visibility.

deepakgang: We do occasional features on Indian brands... But not too many. The market seems to prefer established brands from abroad.

 

[captrajesh]

since your mag is a little unknown to the masses, you should do some content tie ups with ToI or HT to push a weekly column.

Fantastic suggestion. This can be used to give a tantalising preview to what is in store in the mag.

 

[venkatcr]

Ali, I am curious. Have you become a member officially to represent WhatHiFi here, or are you here on your personal capacity?

Cheers

 

[alipardiwala]

venkatcr: I'm here on my own. I found this forum a few months ago while doing some research and I had to sign up to access the information I needed which had been posted on the forum. But now I'm taking a personal interest, not officially representing WHF magazine. Just mentioned my occupation as an introduction and to let the forum know why I'm interested in hi-fi in India. People have been asking magazine related questions, so I've been answering.

 

[stevieboy]

The title does seem to suggest official else it would have been like the other intros. It would have been greetings from ali

Welcome though


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[alipardiwala]

stevieboy: haha yes i realize now it does seem official. Didn't realize that would be the presumption when I made the post. Anyway, I'm here on a Saturday when work is off, can't possibly be on official business

 

[stevieboy]

No sweat ali I just might go out and pick up a copy to see how things are now...though to be honest with the www and plethora of real user opinions out there, going by a mag review with all the associated wondering of is it influenced by advertising, plus the quality and knowledge of reviewers etc... Just the english in avmax used to be a
pain to read. Forget the tech part. it's a wonder people still buy magazines! Oh yeah and there are free mags delivered straight to your inbox also...

So do you work full time for the mag or you do something else also?

Regards


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[alipardiwala]

I guess the popularity of magazines won't fade away because they put all the information in your hands, and when reading or looking at images, it's really better to have a hard copy. Just a better experience on the whole for the reader. The advertising in the magazine itself is also helpful, at least when it comes to publications that are product-centered, because it's all relevant advertising. Despite the web and the fact that information is readily available online, the magazine sector is growing and the industry is doing well (luckily for us and our jobs!). Sometimes it takes buying a magazine and sitting down to read it to catch up with information that you want. But yeah, I know what you mean...

I work full-time for What Hi Fi as well as another publication by the same company called 'Stuff', which is a more generalized and light magazine on gadgets and tech. Our team handles both publications. Apart from that, I'm also a final-year law student from 7AM-10AM on weekdays.

 

[stevieboy]

That's nice Ali! Working with a hobby while finishing your studies. Way to go!


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[denzong]

hayman should not just copy from their other editions. indian market is diff from the UK one.
is your office still in LP area?

 

[alipardiwala]

denzong: The office has shifted to Parel... Its one large office with all of Haymarkets publications including Autocar...

 

[denzong]

thats nice. remember going to the smaller one which was very cramped

 

[miroflex]

Hi Ali,

I hope you are still a visitor to this forum and read the posts.

I suggest that three new columns be opened in What Hi Fi:

Letters to the Editor;

Answers to Readers' Questions and

For Sale/Wanted advertisements against coupons cut out from old issues.

Please push for inclusion of these features which will attract more readers.

Regards.

 

[magma]

funny
i know an ali pardiwala in mumbai too!

do you live anywhere near mumbai central , ali ?

 

[alipardiwala]

@miroflex: Yes, still here, don't worry I do stop by the forum every few days and have a look to see if I can help with people's posts.
Usually Nishant (our editor) answers readers questions personally by email, but I can suggest something in the pages so that other readers can also benefit from the advice. Even the 'letters to the editor' idea can be suggested as an occasional piece.
We do have a classifieds section in the final few pages of the magazine, where ad space is quite affordable and readers can post individual listings. If you require a contact for that, let me know.

@magma: Hey! I went to your soundfoundations.in website and figured out who you are, and yes, we do know each other! This is Ali from 402

 

[miroflex]

@miroflex: Yes, still here, don't worry I do stop by the forum every few days and have a look to see if I can help with people's posts.
Usually Nishant (our editor) answers readers questions personally by email, but I can suggest something in the pages so that other readers can also benefit from the advice. Even the 'letters to the editor' idea can be suggested as an occasional piece.
We do have a classifieds section in the final few pages of the magazine, where ad space is quite affordable and readers can post individual listings. If you require a contact for that, let me know.

Hi Ali,

I would suggest one column called "Letters To The Editor" containg readers' views and suggestions and another separate column called "Readers' Queries" containg technical queries about equipment, seeking advice on repairs and maintenance, matching of equipment etc.

Some photography magazines in the U.K. carried a coupon in every issue which could be used to place a free ad in a later issue of the magazine. This would cost nothing to the magazine but boost readership and circulation enormously.

Regards.

 

[alipardiwala]

Miroflex: I can definitely suggest these to the team at our next meeting. Thanks for the feedback...

 

[miroflex]

Miroflex: I can definitely suggest these to the team at our next meeting. Thanks for the feedback...

Hi Ali,

I have high hopes of your persuasive powers and await the results in a positive frame of mind. How long will one have to wait, with bated breath, for the outcome meeting, be it what it may? Or is that a closely guarded secret?

Would you like me to prepare a brief agenda note or an aide memoire for the kind consideration of the team?

Regards.