Businesses driven by passion and purpose, creating, innovating, providing opportunities, and inspiring through stories shaped by resilience and vision.
Be seen differently.
General Principles
Alignment with our brand values:
All advertisers must align with our brand’s ethos and content style. We prioritize brands that resonate with our audience’s interests and lifestyle.Creative integration over overt advertising:
We partner with brands across all stages, from emerging ventures to established companies. What matters most is not scale, but the story, intention, and people behind the brand.We seek brands driven by purpose, passion, and a clear point of view—those rooted in a meaningful reason to create, whether inspired by heritage, innovation, or the desire to build something lasting.
We value brands that:
Embrace growth, evolution, and forward thinking
Are people-centered, with a genuine connection to their audience
Carry a sense of craft, intention, or cultural relevance
Have a story shaped by experience, resilience, or vision
Whether your brand is built on legacy or newly imagined, we are drawn to what makes it human, purposeful, and real, the deeper “why” behind what you do.
Success, in this space, is most powerful when it carries meaning, when it reflects not only achievement, but the ability to inspire hope, create opportunity, and contribute to something that extends beyond the brand itself.
Respect for audience experience:
Advertisements are designed to complement the reading, viewing, and browsing experience, never disrupt it. They do not interrupt the stories; instead, they are woven in with intention and presented with taste.This thoughtful integration is what sets us apart.
*We are not a design firm. All assets and content must be provided ready for delivery. We reserve the right to make content adjustments at our discretion.
Photography.
Of person/founder or team or visionaries.
Show the People Behind Your Brand:
Feature the founder, leadership team, or visionaries who define your brand.
Images should capture personality, authenticity, and vision, think portraiture, environmental shots, or lifestyle photography.
Technical & Quality Requirements:
High-resolution images only (minimum 1000 pixels wide; 300 DPI recommended).
Portrait layout for the publication.
No blurry, grainy, or low-quality photos.
Cell phone photos, selfies, casual snapshots, AI-generated images, or virtual backgrounds are not allowed.
Retouching should be minimal and natural, preserving the character of the subject.
Creative Guidance:
Choose lighting, composition, and styling that reflect your brand’s ethos and story.
Focus on authenticity and storytelling—your image should feel like a portrait, not an advertisement.
Advertising Submission Guidelines – Two-Page Feature.
For all Tiers.
Each participating brand will receive a two-page feature in the magazine:
Page 1-2: Visual Brand Showcase
Page 3: Story & Mission (Editorial Feature – 800 words)
Our goal is to present brands in a refined, editorial style that aligns with the magazine’s aesthetic and storytelling approach.
Page 1-2: Visual Brand Showcase
Purpose:
This page is designed to visually introduce your brand in a bold, clean, and memorable way. The photos should convey part of the story, the result of passion, efforts, commitment and excellence.
You may include:
Brand logo (primary or alternate version)
Founder image or product/lifestyle imagery
Brand name and tagline (optional)
Minimal supporting text (no more than 20–30 words)
Creative Direction:
Think magazine cover energy, not advertisement
Prioritize strong composition, lighting, and mood
Avoid clutter, excessive text, or promotional language
No pricing, discounts, or calls-to-action.
Only website URL.
Page 3: Story & Mission
(800 Words)
Purpose:
This page tells your brand’s story in a compelling, editorial voice. It should read like a feature article, not an ad.
Word Count:
800 words (strict limit)
Content Guidelines:
Your story may include:
The origin of your brand (how it started)
The problem you set out to solve
Your mission, vision, and values
The journey, challenges, or turning points
The impact you aim to create
Content that will inspire loyalty.
Tone & Style:
Narrative-driven and authentic
Inspirational, thoughtful, and reflective
Avoid direct sales language or promotional claims
Write in third person or first person (founder voice is welcome)
What to Avoid:
Overt advertising language (“best,” “leading,” “buy now”)
Lists of product features or services
Heavy jargon or corporate tone
No hard sales language; focus on inspiration, relevance, or thought leadership.
You can use AI for spelling and proofreading, but not standard ChatGPT templates. AI tends to follow a recognizable format that we do not accept.
How to speak
about your brand.
Keep your message under 10 minutes.
Tone should be upbeat and positive, not aggressive or depressing.
Use your voice only; no music, sound effects, or background noise.
Deliver a straight, unedited recording—no cuts, transitions, or edits.
Avoid environmental distractions: dogs, pets, children, echoes, or other noise.
Record in high-quality landscape mode, with studio-level production standards.
Speak and look at the camera to create a visual connection.
Do not include personal contact info or promote products/services.
Respect copyright; do not infringe on others’ content.
Avoid political messaging; be discreet and neutral.
Submit your script for approval before recording.
Begin with your name, title, location, and story title.
Do not share content publicly before promotion; an NDA is required.
Use a microphone for clean audio and proper lighting for clear visuals.
No virtual backgrounds; visuals should reflect your personality and brand.
Provide supporting high-quality images or videos to enhance your story.
Video & Media Guidelines.
For Tier 2 & 3.
Brands may provide video content, supporting clips, and images for inclusion in our magazine, website, or digital features. All submissions must meet the following professional and editorial standards:
Video Content Requirements:
Provide a 5-minute interview clip featuring key personnel, founders, or visionaries.
All video must be professional in quality: no selfies, phone footage, or casual recordings.
Videos must be clean and appropriate: no obscenities, nudity, political messaging, or misleading content.
Content should be authentic, transparent, and aligned with your brand values.
Supporting Images:
All images must be professionally shot, high-resolution, and have commercial use rights.
Images should reflect a polished, editorial style, consistent with the magazine’s aesthetic.
No phone photos, AI-generated images, or virtual backgrounds.
General Standards:
All media must reflect professionalism, authenticity, and integrity.
Content should tell a story, highlight your brand’s purpose, and inspire or connect with the audience.
Creative Guidelines & Submission Process
Creative Guidelines Across All Platforms
Avoid conventional “ad copy” language; favor storytelling, lifestyle, and educational approaches.
Maintain visual consistency with the magazine’s aesthetic and editorial tone.
Follow provided specifications for logo size, color, and placement.
All creative content must be approved prior to publication to ensure alignment with our standards.
Editorial Integration
We thoughtfully align each brand with a relevant story or feature within the magazine.
Our approach is story-first—your brand is introduced in context, followed by a refined end-slide partner placement, creating a natural and meaningful connection.
Approval & Submission Process
All brand creatives must be submitted 2–4 weeks prior to publication or campaign launch.
Final assets for digital partner ads must be submitted 3–4 weeks in advance.
All materials are subject to editorial review and light editing for clarity, tone, and consistency.
Brands are allowed only one round of revisions. Content must be submitted ready for publication, fully polished and meeting all specifications.
We reserve the right to request modifications or decline content that does not align with our editorial integrity or audience experience.
Submission Requirements
Please provide the following materials for your magazine and media feature:
High-resolution logo (TIFF format preferred)
Founder and/or team photography (professional, high-resolution TIFF format; please provide multiple options)
Product or hero images, fully prepared for publication (high-resolution TIFF format)
Interview video (“talk” video) and supporting footage in landscape 16:9 format
Must follow all quality standards outlined in the Recording Sessions Guidelines
Recommended Additional Materials
To elevate your feature and ensure a cohesive presentation, we also recommend including:
Short brand description (50–100 words) for captions or digital use
Founder name(s) and titles (as you would like them published)
Website URL and preferred contact details
Social media handles (optional, for digital integration)
Image and video usage rights confirmation (for print and digital use)
Optional
Behind-the-scenes or process imagery/video to enrich storytelling
Key quotes or statements from the founder or team
Milestones or highlights that support your brand story
Publishing & Campaign Timing
The magazine is published once annually (Fall season).
Digital advertising and partner placements run on agreed timelines, based on the selected partnership tier.
You might consider adding a “File Naming & Delivery” line, like:
All files should be clearly labeled: BrandName_AssetType_Date
Submit via shared drive or link (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
