Next Gen publishing plans three new ventures this year

Next Gen Publishing, a joint venture of Forbes Group and HDFC bank is launching three new interest specific publications by the end of this year to further tap niche publication market in the country.

"We already have interest specific publications in photography, automobile and IT," Mandeep Singh, vice -president Next Gen, who was in the city for the launch of Forbes Yellow Pages, the first all colour yellow pages in Ahmedabad told Business Standard.

"Now we are coming out with three new publications by the end of the year," he added.

The titles of the new publications would be a combination of indigenous and license titles and the company will target the lifestyle sector, sources said.

After Ahmedabad, the yellow pages will be launched in Delhi and Mumbai in May and September, respectively.

"The city has one of the highest cross section of SMEs. And the yellow pages is the most cost effective means of SMEs to target market so we choose to launch in Ahmedabad," Mandeep said.

The yellow pages has more than 30,000 business establishments listed and has about 35 per cent share in the Rs 13 crore market in Ahmedabad.

The market for yellow pages in the country is estimated to be around Rs 100 crore.

The company is using print, telecommunication, internet and telephone to woo customers.

The yellow pages is available online and will soon be available in CD.

Customers can also get information through SMS and telephone.

Next Gen is coming out with the next publication by February next year and expects to be the market leader.

"We came out with this publication in ten months and we are coming out with the next publication by February. We are expecting over 50 per cent growth," he added.