Meredith to Launch Hispanic Women's Lifestyle Magazine

NEW YORK, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Meredith Corporation , the publisher of such well recognized titles as Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies' Home Journal and More magazines, announced today that it will launch its first lifestyle and shelter publication for Hispanic women. The magazine will be titled Siempre Mujer! and will premiere in fall 2005 on a bi-monthly basis with an initial rate base of 350,000.

"As leaders in the women's home and family marketplace, we feel we are uniquely positioned to address the growing marketplace of Hispanic women and homeowners," says Jack Griffin, President, Meredith Publishing Group. "We believe that our strong editorial expertise and in-depth understanding of the shelter and women's lifestyle categories will enable us to create a magazine that speaks to the priorities of Hispanic women, their families and their homes."

According to the Census Bureau, within the next decade one in five new homeowners will be Hispanic. The Hispanic market currently represents $600 billion in spending power and is expected to grow to $1 trillion by the year 2010.

In addition to the resources of its 75 million name database and newsstand distribution network, Meredith will be extending its marketing alliance with Home Interiors & Gifts Inc., which currently develops and markets a line of home decor products under the Better Homes and Gardens brand name. This alliance will utilize the 30,000-member Hispanic segment of the Home Interiors sales force to sell subscriptions to Siempre Mujer! directly to Hispanic women. As the premiere direct-selling company of home related products, Home Interiors reaches approximately one million Hispanic households.

"Home Interiors Hispanic Consultants' passion for family, home and self improvement create a powerful marketing channel that leaves little room for the competition at the point of sale and helps to foster relationships that bring customers back time and time again," says Mike Lohner, president and CEO Home Interiors & Gifts. "The Home Interiors experience coupled with Meredith's well-targeted Siempre Mujer! is a natural fit."

Leadership Team

Overseeing the launch and marketing of Siempre Mujer! will be Susan Baron, Vice/President, and Ruth Gaviria, Publisher/Executive Director of Meredith Hispanic Ventures. Gaviria will work alongside magazine industry veteran Johanna Buchholtz-Torres, who will be responsible for creating the editorial for Siempre Mujer! and serve as the title's Editor-in-Chief.

Prior to joining Meredith last year, Gaviria was Director of Marketing and Brand Development for People En Espanol, a publication of Time Inc. She also has served as Vice President, Global Marketing for Fusion Networks, where she was responsible for developing the marketing and web brand positioning for Fusion in the U.S. and Latin American Hispanic markets. Additionally, Gaviria has served as Director, U.S. Hispanic Market for Colgate Palmolive, and Brand Promotions Manager at Miller Brewing. She began her career working in advertising sales and marketing with Procter and Gamble. In 2000, Gaviria was named one of Advertising Age's Top 100 Marketers.

Gaviria says she has received strong support for the magazine among a diverse group of marketing and advertising partners. "Global marketers recognize the growing impact of the Hispanic market and are hungry for a magazine that speaks directly to Hispanic women in their role as gatekeepers for their homes and families," she says.

Buchholtz-Torres, a recognized editorial leader in the Hispanic community, is an experienced editor and journalist with over 17 years in the Hispanic media market. She is the former editor in chief of Ser Padres magazine, the first national parenting magazine in Spanish. She also has contributed articles and photography to magazines such as Latina, Imagen and Lamaze, created award-winning bilingual community television programs, has done on-camera work for parenting videos, and provided voice-overs for radio commercials.

"This magazine will provide the ideas that nourish the creative vein of Hispanic women, inspire them to create a home reflective of their diverse culture, and celebrate their lives and the important role they play within their families and our society," says Buchholtz-Torres.

In addition to Siempre Mujer!, Meredith also publishes a number of Hispanic publications under its American Baby brand including Espera, 12 Meses, and Healthy Kids en Espanol, as well as numerous custom publications such as Casi Lista, a magazine for expectant Hispanic parents that was bound into Espera last spring.

About Meredith Corporation

Meredith Corporation ( http://www.meredith.com/ ) is one of the nation's leading media and marketing companies with businesses centering on magazine and book publishing, television broadcasting, integrated marketing, and interactive media. The Meredith Publishing Group, the country's foremost home and family authority, features 17 magazine brands, including Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies' Home Journal, More and American Baby, and approximately 150 special interest publications. Meredith owns or operates 14 television stations -- including properties in top 25 markets such as Atlanta, Phoenix and Portland. Meredith has nearly 350 books in print and has established marketing relationships with some of America's leading companies. Meredith's consumer database, which contains more than 75 million names, is the largest domestic database among media companies and enables magazine and television advertisers to precisely target marketing campaigns. Additionally, Meredith has an extensive Internet presence, including 26 Web sites, and strategic alliances with leading Internet destinations.

About Home Interiors & Gifts, Inc.

Home Interiors & Gifts, Inc. is a member of the Direct Selling Association, and markets exclusive home decorative products through non-employee, independent Decorating Consultants in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada. Founded in 1957, the Dallas-based company reported net sales of more than $617 million in 2003. Home Interiors & Gifts' premium brands include Thomas Kinkade(R), Boehm at Home(TM) and the Better Homes and Gardens(TM) Collection. For more information, please visit Home Interiors on the Web at http://www.homeinteriors.com/ .