We stock about a gazillion different magazine titles as well as stationery across our 5 stores in Australia, New Zealand and online.

Archive for July, 2010

Classic Material: Wax Poetics

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

With so many great new mags popping up all the time, it’s easy for us to focus almost exclusively on new titles on this blog… and to a fault, we probably do! With that in mind, this post marks the beginning of a new on-going feature where we dig up some of our old favourites…

Founded in 2001 (and now forty one issues deep) Wax Poetics is basically your crate diggers companion par excellence—there’s everything you need to know about slabs of wax both classic and obscure from Polish jazz to hip-hop to afrobeat and disco, latin, soul, R&B and back again.

Where it really comes into its own is as a historical compendium; un-earthing records long forgotten by all but the most ardent of collectors and conducting deep, long form interviews with the artists behind them and shedding some light on their creation.

Independently published out of Brooklyn by editor Andre Torres, the latest issue is a hip-hop special with features on Easy Mo Bee (he produced pretty much all of Biggie’s first record, dig?) and KRS-One, Stones Throw records head honcho Peanut Butter Wolf weighing in on Ariel Pink on his favourite music videos, Ice-T talking about his electro roots (with incredible, classic photos by Glen E. Friedman) and Ice Cube remisicing on the creation of Amerikkka’s Most Wanted. Essential!

Posted in Classic Material | No Comments »

The Third Floor and the Wi-Fi dilemma re-visited

Monday, July 26th, 2010

The Third Floor, mag nation Elizabeth Street

We’ve written about the dilemma of offering free public wi-fi before, which really amounts to the simple the fact that there’s always a couple of customers who chew up the quota downloading German latex fetish movies or the entire back catalogue of The Fall… and blow it for everyone for the entire month!

The result of this has been an altogether patchy, on-again-off-again wi-fi service within the store. And while we haven’t worked out how to keep the latex fetishists or Mark E. Smith enthusiasts at bay just yet, we have created a dedicated free Wi-Fi zone on The Third Floor in our Elizabeth Street store in Melbourne.

We’ve blocked the necessary ports (so video downloaders won’t chew up all the bandwith) and put in some chairs, so you’ll now be able to Internet to your heart’s content… hallelujah!

Posted in Our stores | 2 Comments »

Get (almost) ready for Wooden Toy #7

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

It has to be said that it’s been a little while between drinks! And by their own admission, Wooden Toy is the world’s only quarterly magazine that only comes out only once a year.

With the most intricate and incredibly detailed illustration and graphic design adorning each page, amazing packaging, absolutely no advertising and all-round attention to detail like no other mag out there… well, it’s little wonder that Wooden Toy takes a little but longer to put together than say, your average issue of Practical Poultry!

Like many of you, we’ve been eagerly awaiting news of the next issue for many months now… and while we’re not sure exactly when it’s going to come out, we do know that it’ll be here sooner rather than later. And from what we’ve seen, it looks like it’s going to be well and truly worth the wait.

Details from the Wooden Toy site:

Can you hear that beat?? Yep, that’s right people, it’s the sound of the Music edition jamming this way. Wooden Toy Quarterly the ‘MUSIC’ edition features interviews and profiles with rocking cover artist Ken Taylor (AUS), Tara McPherson (USA), Mcbess (FRA), Elefant Traks’ Urthboy, Hermitude & Unkle Ho (AUS), Woodstock MC Chip Monk (USA), Tim Minchin (AUS), Wax Tailor (FRA), The Doves (UK), Nine Mile (CAN) plus loads more hidden tracks and samples!

Pre-order your copy now!

Posted in Individual Mag Titles | No Comments »

Design:Made:Trade

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Design:Made:Trade at the Royal Exhibition Building

As a part of the State of Design Festival, Design:Made:Trade will be taking place in the opulent surrounds of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne over the weekend.

Part trade show, part seminar and exhibition it’s a really comprehensive round-up of some of the best design happenings right now. There are over sixty 3×3 meter cardboard booths (and a veritable jungle of other paper-based displays… we’re still wondering how we can convince them to let us take one of their gigantic cardboard geodesic domes back to the store once they’re finished!) containing all kinds of great design bits and pieces from furniture to fashion to lighting and beyond.

And if you need to take a break and check out some mags or browse through a selection of design and architecture books while you’re there… well, we’ll be there as well. Happy days!

Posted in General randomness | No Comments »

Mag Nation’s Founder says goodbye

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

This is the last blog entry I will write as the MD of mag nation. Monday morning, I sent out the following email to my entire contact database:

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Professional Acquaintances,

It is with both a tinge of nervousness but moreover great excitement and anticipation for the future that I inform you that this coming Friday is my last day at the helm of mag nation.

I co-founded the company 5 years ago, and have overseen the creation of a wonderful challenger brand that has built a deep cult-like adoration amongst its fans. The time has now come for me to seek out my next challenge.

I leave the day to day management of my company in the hands of my wonderful team who have developed out of sight. mag nation is performing better than ever before in its history, and I remain convinced that our industry disruptive model and innovative approach towards a staid and tired model has the most exciting future.

I will obviously maintain close involvement with the company in an advisory capacity. Even though I have decided to seek out a larger playing field, mag nation will always be my baby and my brand, and I remain emotionally connected to it. I will always be mag nation’s Founder.

While I will retain and be checking my mag nation email address, I have set up a new one: XXX My phone contact XXX will remain the same.

My co-founder Ravi Pathare will continue as the overall Managing Director of the Company. Vali Valibhoy who is our Operations Manager here in Australia will be the key point of contact for our Australian day to day operations, while Oliver Palmer will be the point of call for all things marketing and website related.

I would like to thank all of the people who have touched my life in some way during the creation of mag nation. I encourage you to continue your support of mag nation, and look forward to maintaining contact with you as I continue my professional journey.

Best wishes
Sahil

Other than my 3 children, mag nation has been the most amazing thing I have ever been involved with. As those of you who read my first ever blog entry will know, I have put my heart, soul and every ounce of my being into mag nation. I will miss it immensely and feel that I am leaving behind a part of me. The character, tone and values of the brand have been an extension of myself.

Ultimately however, what has made mag nation has been all the customers and supporters who choose to interact with us as opposed to the other options presented to them. To every single person who has ever walked through our doors, bought from us online, tweeted us or simply mentioned us to a friend (including the infamous Angry City of Melbourne Taxpayer), I am indebted to you.

Thanks to all of you for what has been the most amazing journey. One that for me personally is only beginning (I am still just 36 years old), but that is about to enter a new chapter.

Sahil

Posted in Entrepreneurial, The Inside Story | 5 Comments »

Beautiful Escher-esque New Yorker cover

Monday, July 12th, 2010

The New Yorker cover

We love love love The New Yorker.

They have those extra long profile features spanning about 50 pages which seem to make a point of always telling you what the subject’s parents did for a living and cartoons that oscillate between either being side-splittingly hilarious or… completely incomprehensible.

Our friends over at Mag Culture recently brought to our attention this cover on the July 4th issue, illustrated by Bob Staake. Riffing on Escher’s Sky and Water to produce this fantastic commentary on the BP Oil Spill in a typically understated manner. Classic.

Posted in Individual Mag Titles | No Comments »

Where is my copy of Apartamento?

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Apartamento magazine

We’ve been fielding lots of inquiries recently as to the whereabouts of the latest issue of Apartamento.

And frankly, we’ve been wondering a bit ourselves!

The bad news is that there’s been some sort of a mix-up that has delayed their shipment to this side of the world. The good news is that we’re on the case and doing our best to get these in as soon as we possibly can.

We still don’t have a firm date as to when we can expect to take delivery of the latest issue of the world’s favourite ‘everyday interiors’ mag, but rest assured… we’ll be shouting it from the rooftops as soon as they come in.

Posted in Individual Mag Titles, Magazine Industry | 1 Comment »

Don’t know whether to laugh, cry or be very concerned

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

This is a piece of feedback we received via our website. I have not edited it one iota other than taking out the name of the author.

I just wanted to complement Mag Nation on their phenomenal choice in staffing at the Prahran store. I live just around the corner from the store. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday every week its babes babes babes. Those three fine women are a real calling card for the Prahran Mag Nation and are a big reason I keep spending.A bit too shy to ask to her face. Would Miss Monday be free one night? I think some sparks could really fly,I m a handsome dude and you a total babe. What you say? My emails attached.

That is verbatim folks. Babes, babes, babes eh? Now, I thought we had a guy with a bushy beard working there one day a week.

In any case, I am glad that the author of this missive finds some reason to spend money in our store. Perhaps it may have been preferable if it was because of our amazing magazine selection but hey, beggars can’t be choosers.

As for referring to one of our lovely staff members as Miss Monday – well, that has got me thinking… Mag nation staff calendar, perhaps? I vote for being Mr March. I’ll even shave my chest.

NB: To my staff members who are reading this blog. I am being flippant. Please do not polish up your resignation letters just yet, and I sincerely apologise for making you think of your boss and his hairy chest.

Posted in The Inside Story | 4 Comments »