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# SM magazine to be launched in May
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/sm-magazine-to-be-launched-in-may/
- Published: 2004-03-09T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:58:20.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Business, Santa Monica, #archive-import

pay for and produce “Santa Monica Magazine,” which launches in May. The first issue of the 80-page, free magazine will be mailed out to 15,000 local households. Another 5,000 copies will be left at what officials call “hot spot” locations throughout the city.

Chamber leaders hope to eventually publish the magazine quarterly, and possibly more frequently. Though its immediate goal is to connect advertisers with affluent households, the magazine also could generate thousands of dollars in profits for the chamber, said Kathy Dodson, chamber president and CEO.

“My philosophy is nothing can lose money,” she said. This year, officials expect the magazine to generate about $1,000 for the chamber. But in coming years, Dodson said each issue could generate $5,000 to $8,000, or more.

It’s rare for a chamber of commerce to launch its own magazine. Bill Bush, Gramercy’s publisher, said he took the gamble because of the success he’s had putting together business-to-business directories in Santa Monica. Gramercy will pay nearly all the costs of producing and publishing the magazine, which Bush said are under $100,000.

Professional writers and designers have been hired to put together the first edition, said Bush, who added he hasn’t decided whether to publish the magazine more than once a year because he’s waiting to see how successful the first issue is.

“It’s hard to pigeon hole the Santa Monica market,” said Bush, pointing to groups like small business owners, school parents and business executives. “We’re trying to launch a product that hits the sweet spot, the center for everybody.”

> “It’s hard to pigeon hole the Santa Monica market.” — — BILL BUSH Publisher, Gramercy Partners Inc

The magazine’s content will be mostly features on local groups and organizations, arts and leisure, restaurants and other activities that occur in Santa Monica.

Though Gramercy is funding the magazine, it’s still an official publication of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and Dodson’s team has the final say on content. She said there already has been a dispute over one article, when she took issue with non-chamber merchants being mentioned in a story. Dodson said she eventually bowed to Gramercy’s writer, a professional journalist.

Asked what the impetus for the magazine was, Dodson replied that it’s needed in a community like Santa Monica that has such a high profile. She added, “There’s been this, almost philosophy, in Santa Monica that the business community is separate from the residents — and that’s not at all true.”

Dodson said she hopes the magazine will eventually go to 45,000 households in Santa Monica. She said the chamber and Gramercy decided to start with 15,000 affluent households to help attract advertisers and get the magazine off the ground.

“We just had to find a starting place,” Dodson said.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 9, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/030904.pdf?ref=smdp.com)