The Guide is a one-woman business – owned and run by myself!

It began in February 2005.  Relatively new to Norwich, I quickly gauged there was a gap in the market! The Golden Triangle had no glossy neighbourhood magazine, of the type that had regularly dropped through my door when living in North London! For local businesses wanting to hit a target market in the ever up and coming NR2, choices were pitifully limited. Advertising in conventional newsprint was costly and throwaway…and there was nothing else!

The Guide began small. At first it covered 1500 homes and was black and white, and non-glossy!  I delivered the magazines myself – with the help of my daughter and various foreign students (several of whom became family friends!)

The magazine was immediately successful, and business grew and grew. In 2006 I set up a second magazine, The Silver Scout, to cover roads that the Guide didn’t reach. In March 2007,  to maximise efficiency and to give the best possible financial deal to my clients, I merged both magazines. 

The Golden Guide currently covers just over 12,000 homes.  We deliver to 6000 homes one month, and to another 6000 homes the following. That means that householders receive a copy of their Guide every 2 months.

I get lots of feedback about the magazine. Residents comment on how useful it is to be able to pick up a Guide and find the number of anyone from a plumber to a beauty therapist.

As well as being full of very useful adverts, the Guide also carries features on local businesses, and anything of interest going on in the community. In our time, we’ve covered topics as broad as The Norwich and Norfolk Chamber Society to The Plantation Garden to a feature on our top butcher, Michael Quinton.  Our features are very much rooted in the community that we serve. They make looking at the magazine more fun – which in turn benefits advertisers!

Local charities – or national ones with a local, regional branch - can apply for a free half page advert. Amongst the brilliant organisations we’ve featured so far have been Norfolk Wildlife, Homestart, The Matthew Project, Thalia Theatre Company, The Samaritans, and the Eating Disorders Association etc.

We are also perennially interested in anyone who’s recently set up their own business, who can benefit from a free feature to be written on them which will give them an extra push!

Lastly, we offer to draw up any artwork free of charge for bookings of 2 issues or more!