By Shirley Roberts
Since 2003 the name Celebrity Magazine has meant something to the residents of Mallorca. Ken and Angie took their cameras and copy around the events and playgrounds of the island. They kept us amused with the antics of the Calvia centric crowd and published as often as they could. Life has moved on for them now and last year they sold their magazine to a new team with different aspirations.
From their office in Palmanova I interviewed one of them – Matthew Cull, who is a co owner of the magazine. I unravelled a poignant ‘Humans of Mallorca story which he candidly shared with me. There is no doubt that Celebrity Magazine has ambitions and intends to be a very important, high end contributor to Mallorcan life with five publications a year. The look and feel of the magazine is glossy and ultra smart. The content relevant and interesting and the spread around the island is their passion.
Matthew Cull is a publications entrepreneur with a start in life in advertising sales. Originally from Bournemouth where his football allegiances still lie. He grew up in Devon where he met Lisa. A team from the very beginning they shared experiences which have been instrumental in bringing them to Mallorca to settle permanently. Every year they holidayed in Alcudia and just loved the sun and the lifestyle Majorca had to offer. In walks along the beach they would discuss that one day, when they had enough money, they would live right here.
Real life was back in the UK at the time and into the path of an articulated lorry. A miracle escape was the headline at the time as tons of steel crashed into them at 50 mph. ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ was their motto and after recovery life moved on. A career in banking for Lisa and in newspaper advertising gave Matthew his thirst for success.
The East Devon News was his happy place for a number of years as he rose through the ranks and led the team. That length of stay was never the intention but eventually, 10 years later, after a momentous event in his family life he moved on. In 2005 Lisa and Matthew were settled in Devon and waiting the birth of their first child. The future looked wonderful and the excitement was mounting as the pregnancy progressed.
In 2005 their beautiful baby girl was stillborn and Lisa was very ill. Their world was shattered and all plans lay in pieces.
So difficult to refocus after tragedy but this couple eventually got back to work and accepted new challenges. Matthew was appointed as Advertising Manager on Europe’s leading golf industry magazine and began his travels to the golf courses of Europe and the USA. Golfers became his friends and he progressed in the game himself. Opportunities to travel included Lisa as well and they expanded their experiences and their life.
Success followed him in his career with Pro Shop Europe and he was in a position to understand the gaps in the market. A business idea led him to the next piece in the jigsaw puzzle of this life.
Matthew created ‘Golf Trade International’ magazine. This was aimed at the American market and was a lower cost, mid range magazine which did not exist at the time. All golfing was seen as expensive and top of the range. His creation was to bring the level down to a wider market for merchandising. To create, develop and eventually sell such a publication was the achievement of a huge ambition. His US life included travel, trade shows, time in Florida and Vegas and so much fun. Matthew and Lisa enjoyed the sun and the great time that was on offer to them until family life called again.
Cameron was born a healthy beautiful baby in 2009 and the ambition this couple had to be a family was realised. Holidays in Alcudia were now taken with Cameron and their love affair with Majorca evolved. A trip to Florida was the actual turning point when they returned to Devon after a glorious time in the US with endless sunshine and blue sky days. Devon greeted them with rain and constant drizzle and that was the Eureka moment. ‘That’s it, lets go, sell the house and move to Mallorca’.
This charts the lives of Matthew, Lisa and Cameron to their arrival in Mallorca. Schools and a base for their family was the criteria which first exercised them as it does many who arrive here to live. Cameron is now settled into the BIC school and the family live in close proximity. Lisa is the Head of Special Educational Needs at the same school and is loving the work and the wonderful children.
Matthew, meanwhile was using the time to understand the advertising and publishing world of Mallorca and where best he could settle his expertise and business passion. An opportunity arose to be part of the purchase of Celebrity Magazine and the development into the high end Majorcan world it seeks to inhabit. It was a no brainer for him and today he is the Editor and a co owner.
Celebrity Magazine has been in existence since 2003. In March 2019 ‘Celebrity Mallorca’ printed its first edition. It is the very best in lifestyle, fashion, celebrities and events on the island. Published five times a year, with a team of staff who are island wide here bringing the stories that people want to read. This is not sound bite journalism but written by people who live and have their stories first hand. The vision is for the ongoing development of the magazine into a content focused, high end, quality magazine.
The magazine has changed from its early life in 2003 because the English speaking population is different. They no longer just live around Palma and Calvia but all over the island. The development of Marinas and beautiful fincas mean that Celebrities are often found well away from the area which used to be central to the magazines life. This has a massive impact on the number of staff needed and the professional work involved in the magazine production. A very different magazine is now in the spotlight and emerging every two months.
With five editions printed under the new team the direction is becoming clearer. The magazine is largely targeted at those who live here. An unusual venture for these days when the trend is towards digital and online publications. The success of Hello, Ola and similar magazines prove that everyone loves a glossy magazine full of stories and smart advertising. Celebrity is certainly one of them.
Matthew Cull, the family man with a drive and passion for success is determined that his move to this island coincides with the development of the Celebrity project. In the meantime, all the reasons he arrived here to live have been more than fulfilled. Mallorca is his place in the universe now and he and his family can’t see that changing. He is content with his family life and business focus to be here in Mallorca in 2020.
