Scarlet, the pioneering adult lifestyle magazine for women, has been sold by Helix Media to Blaze Publishing for an undisclosed sum.
Erstwhile publisher and MD of Scarlet Gavin Griffiths said: “I had achieved all I wanted to with Scarlet. Everyone said it was impossible to get a women’s sex magazine into the mainstream and Scarlet now sells in WH Smith, Tesco and Asda – you can’t get more mainstream than that. We proved it could be done. I always knew that it would be a start up project and that I would sell to another publisher one day. I’m a bit of a start up man I think. I love the white hot thrill of getting a new concept off the ground but I’m not one for the day to day running of something.
“It ends a long chapter of me being in, or rather on the edge of, the adult world. It started with the Erotic Review back in 2002. I’ve made some great friends, not only my team at Scarlet with Sarah and the gang but also many of our advertisers and characters in the business. It has been the most enjoyable four years of my life.”
Gavin has written a book about his experiences in the adult world, called The Accidental Pornographer, which will be published by Wiley in September, and Helix Media has a new consumer title about to be launched called Cosmetic Surgery Magazine.
Blaze Publishing, which is based in Leamington Spa, has a portfolio of consumer publications including Gun Trade News, Sporting Rifle, Classic Arms & Militaria, Clay Shooting and Black Meringue – an alternative wedding magazine. The Scarlet editorial and sales operation will remain in London.
