Retail print and digital editions will complement each other, says Condé Nast CEO

It's not at all surprising that, writing for the February newsletter of the International Periodical Distributors Association that the head of Condé Nast praises retail as being responsible for the powerful bond that readers form with magazines. What is a little more surprising is that CEO Charles Townsend makes a strong case for digital magazines -- the antithesis of going to the store and buying a copy -- as being the ideal way to expand audiences and support traditional print. 

To be clear, we expect to reach mostly new consumers with this digitized content, consumers who have historically not selected magazines as their vehicle of choice for information and entertainment services. 

The huge magazine conglomerate is and will continue to invest in new print products and new ways of displaying and retailing them, his column said, including digital editions, seeking an "optimal portfolio".

Digitized versions of our magazines extend our brands, reach more and new consumers, and work in a complementary way to maintain and reinforce the vitality of our print products.  We at Condé Nast firmly believe they will broaden the appeal of our brands across all channels and expand our readership base, which will accrue to the benefit of all parties involved in this resilient and robust business of magazine publishing.