ACP Magazines’ head of sales Louse Barrett has confirmed 2013 as the launch date for the Australian edition of the major-league glossy, telling Ragtrader that “Elle is absolutely coming next year. Without doubt.”
We were originally promised an Aussie Elle back in November by then-managing director Phil Scott before plans were pushed back in March. But good things come to those who wait, and ACP now plans to hold fire to ensure the launch is done properly. Elle is probably more aware than anyone that timing is everything (see Katie Holmes), and Barrett cites the magazine’s digital presence and its wealth of licensed product as the reason for pushing the launch back to 2013: “No one sells as much licensed product as the Elle brand does. The launch has to be done properly. You can’t rush it.”
No doubt ACP is hoping the exciting news helps shift attention from less considered moves. A number of its senior staff have recently jumped ship, with Christine Centenera heading to the newly revamped Vogue to work alongside Edwina McCann. Incidentally, McCann, the former editor of ACP’s Harper’s Bazaar, was apparently offered the opportunity to head up Elle but turned it down.
ACP will publish Elle in partnership with Hearst International Magazines, which alongside Harper’s also co-publishes Cosmopolitan, Madison, and Grazia with ACP.
