Firebox.com to test digital customer magazine

LONDON - Online gadget retailer Firebox.com is next week launching a pilot digital customer magazine, produced by PR and marketing consultancy Insider Consultancy.

Genius will go out to the 600,000-plus subscribers on Firebox's mailing list on June 24.

It is the first project handled by Insider Consultancy's new digital publishing division, which is a return for Insider's founders Mike Peake and Simeon de la Torre to creating male-focused magazines.

Peake is a former deputy editor of FHM and de la Torre was instrumental in the launch of Zoo, Nuts and ShortList.

Since they founded the consultancy in June 2008 they have advised on PR and marketing campaigns for brands including Lastminute.com, Ketel One vodka, and My Single Friend.

De la Torre said: "We have a great team of writers, designers and flash programmers on board and given our track record, Mike and I obviously know the difference between 'boring corporate waffle' and 'entertaining copy for men'.

"If a client wants their own version of ShortList, an FHM or a GQ, then we can give them as close a copy as we legally can."