Yesterday saw the first issue proper of the US funded interloper emerge onto the Manchester media stage.

Leading on stories of exorbitant salaries at the Lowry and the city’s fragile property market, some of those questioned (who, unfortunately, wished to remain anonymous) thought the issue ‘lacked punch’ for a launch.

Others noted that it also ‘lacked advertising’ (with only three full page advertisers) but generally deemed this to be a brave attempt to retain the integrity of its rates from the very outset. Meaning – no bargain basement ads, no freebies.

Here are the full thoughts of those prepared to go on the record:

Yesterday's launch issue

Overall mark – 8 out of 10

I think it’s an interesting development for the city.

At the moment I think that if you’ve been looking for in-depth information on businesses you’ve been a bit stymied.

The MEN isn’t bad, but there’s a lack of any real insight and you do get the feeling that a lot of it is press releases that have simply been churned out. In that respect it doesn’t really create a forum for debate.

Insider faces a challenge because it’s a monthly and things are moving on so much quicker these days. In that respect I find it a little dull.

I can read through it and come away thinking I haven’t learned anything new about what’s going on in Manchester right now.

Bearing the limitations of those two in mind I think there’s a real need for something that can be both up to date and insightful. With the investment that Crain’s is putting into creating a premium quality product there’s a lot of high hopes and we like the concept.

It’ll be a great new business tool too.

The problem will be the US ratings model they’re using, where they’re sticking to a set page price (c £5,000) and discount for frequency. I think they’re going to have to take a reality check on that at some stage. They’re just not going to get it for a 20,000-circulation paper.

I’m not sure I’ll be looking to invest significant client budgets in it as yet, but I do look forward to reading it and getting it for as long as it’s published in Manchester. Which I hope is a very long time.

Jason Spencer, MD, PHD North

Overall mark - 5 out of 10.

It’s very polished, but I wonder if it’s a case of style over content at the moment.

The news at present isn’t exactly what I’d call cutting edge business news and I think there has to be more of an emphasis on that to differentiate it from what’s already out there. If it’s going to market itself as a specialist then it needs to follow through on that.

The key consideration for the business model though will be are there enough potential advertisers out there with budgets big enough to make it an on-going success? Will the model that worked well in the US work here? I don’t know - I think that’s going to be a huge challenge.

They are clearly ambitious and I wish them well, but they’re going to have to get the right teams in place quickly and maybe take some initial losses on the chin.

It’ll certainly be interesting to see how the MEN responds. They have a very experienced team and I think this will refocus them a little on the business community.

The arrival of Crain’s can only stimulate the market and I think that has to be a good thing.

Spinoza

Overall mark – 8 out of 10

I’ve seen the US versions and I have to say that I think this is up to scratch.

You’d expect most PR people to say that the more channels we have the better, but I do genuinely think there’s room for Crain’s to complement what we already have on offer from the MEN and Insider. It doesn’t have to work to the detriment of the other two.

As well as fitting in in terms of the sheer scope of the businesses that we have to report on, it also compliments the other two style-wise.

It has a pithy, concise, US style of subbing that allows it to fall in-between the style of the MEN and Insider. For an ex-journo I think that’s very nice to see.

All in all, a welcome addition.

Gurd

Overall mark – 7 out of 10

Speaking from a recruitment perspective it’s a welcome addition to the business market.

The main strength is the editorial quality and the main weakness is the slow launch, with it not going weekly until 2008. The recruitment section is not yet established, but this is probably due to time of the year and should improve in January/February.

Something like this should succeed in Manchester and from a recruitment point of view provides us with an alternative local option for senior/executive positions to consider alongside national press.

Once we’ve seen the full scale launch I’m sure it will become a regular fixture in Manchester business life.

Tangerine's Brown

Overall mark - 7 out 10

Judging by the three stories about veggies on the home page (Brown was looking at the online edition) it’s obvious that Crain's is going to be more than just a dry business newspaper - lifestyle is going to be important.

I was also surprised by the breadth of stories, and the inclusion of Liverpool and Warrington companies.

Size and dedication should be key - give us more. Manchester is important to the UK, and will become more important the more businesses start telling government what they need.  The Council does this already, but a bit of throwing-your-weight-around from businesses would be welcome, and a newspaper should be at the front of that.

It felt a bit "Man on the street", rather than "Man on Spinningfields" - only time will tell whether that's a strength or a weakness.

As long as it remembers it’s a newspaper and not a magazine – we’ve got enough of those already - I think there will be a market for it.

Regan

They should have stuck to playing Banjos.

www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk

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