(Credit: Saratoga Living, 2023)
Empire Media Network has acquired Saratoga’s Best direct mail advertisement guide from Elizabeth Perella. Saratoga’s Best joins a portfolio including Saratoga Living and Capital Region Living magazines, the Albany Symphony Orchestra’s year-round programs, SPAC’s summer classical season programs, as well as other custom projects, a release from Empire Media says.
"Saratoga's Best is a beloved publication among local readers and small business owners, so it is a perfect fit with that mission,” said Abby Tegnelia in a statement. She is Empire Media’s president and CEO.
“This is the first time that we’re entering the direct mail arena,” Tegnalia said in a subsequent interview. “It doesn’t compete with any of our magazines while adding to the overall portfolio, doing everything we can to celebrate the people of Saratoga and the local business owners as well.”
She said this is a great opportunity for her company since it brings a different group of businesses to their family of publications.
“We couldn’t believe that some of our favorite businesses who may not be a right fit for [advertisement in] Saratoga Living do advertise in Saratoga’s Best,” Tegnelia said.
Perella is staying on for a few issues to help the two magazines merge.
“I’m honored and thrilled to have Abby Tegnelia and her team from Empire Media taking over the helm of Saratoga’s Best guide,” Perella said in a statement. "I read their magazines cover to cover, and I know that they will keep up the guide's quality and reputation as the top spot for local promotions done in an affordable, professional way."
Empire Media does not plan to add any more full-time employees in the merger. At the end of last year, they brought back Teresa Frazer post-pandemic to run Capital Region Living, and she will be overseeing Saratoga’s Best as well.
The acquisition is effective immediately, with the spring issue of Saratoga's Best, scheduled to hit mailboxes by the end of March, as the first issue under Empire Media.