ADVERTISING RATE CARD
RATE CARD No. 1 / EFFECTIVE MAY 2011


Our Mission

Black Business Chicago was introduced to fulfill  three basic objectives:

To provide a voice and information for black-owned businesses in Chicago, and to advocate for their interests and the interests of African-American business professionals.

To promote increased business activity between Chicago's black-owned businesses and the larger business community.

To encourage and monitor corporate responsibility and citizenship between Chicago's larger business community and the black consumer market.

Meeting a Unique Need

Chicago represents one of the largest concentrations of black-owned business in the nation, but there is no singular vehicle that brings together news, information, research and commentary about this dynamic community. Consequently, the ability for these businesses to grow, exchange information and do business with one another has been challenging.

A media vehicle is needed that can report on and galvanize African-American-owned enterprises throughout metropolitan Chicago. Black Business Chicago is that publication.

Target Readership

There are more than 50,000 black business owners in the city of Chicago. Their annual household income is above $75,000 and they are above average in education, home ownership and car ownership. They are business leaders and opinion influencers in their communities and typically have membership in numerous community, social and professional organizations.

Starting with a circulation of 15,000, Black Business Chicago will be an advertising-supported tabloid mailed via controlled-circulation to business owners and executives. BBC will also be available as a stand-alone, complimentary publication carried at various consumer and business locations throughout the Chicagoland area.

Editorial Focus

Black Business Chicago will spotlight news and features on Chicago's African-American businesses, corporate executives and local business issues. Regular topics and departments will focus on local business statistics, entrepreneurship, management, economic development, industry profiles, business and personal technology, calendar of business-related events, lists and topical commentary.

The publication will also be supplemented by a Web site, www.blackbusinesschicago.com, that will provide updated coverage of relevant business news on a daily and weekly basis between issues of the print publication.

Management and Staff

Black Business Chicago will be edited and published by Target Market News with Ken Smikle serving as editor and publisher. Editorial material will be contributed by prominent African-American writers who have worked for the Chicago Tribune, Business Week and other noted national and local business publications.

Celebrating its 22nd year in operation, Target Market News is the leading authority on African-American marketing and media. Ken Smikle is editor and publisher of Target Market News' Web site and annual report, "The Buying Power of Black America." Prior to founding Target Market News, he was a senior editor of Black Enterprise magazine, and an editor for the N.Y. Amsterdam News.  

PUBLICATION DATE
Black Business Chicago is published monthly on the first Thursday of each issue

PRINTING MATERIALS
Ads should be submitted as PDF files using QuarkXPress, Photoshop or Adobe. All fonts and art must be included. A charge will be added for ads that require composition or revision in order to comply with mechanical requirements.

DEADLINES
Insertion orders and materials for display advertising are due by 5 pm on the 21st of the month prior to the month of issue of insertion. 

AD ACCEPTANCE
All advertising is accepted for publication at the discretion of the publisher, and may be rejected or cancelled for any reason at any time. 

Specifications are based on a 4-column page format.

style or appearance or are not immediately identifiable as advertisements are not acceptable.

AD CANCELLATION
Advertising insertions may be cancelled one week prior to the closing deadline noted above. If an advertiser fails to deliver material within the deadline, the space reserved must be paid for. Advertisers who does not fulfill the contract will be pro-rated accordingly.

LIABILITY
We are not responsible for errors in advertisements submitted by the advertiser. All ads must be submitted in camera-ready condition with contents approved by the advertiser. The publisher shall be redeemed by the advertiser for any legal obligations or judgments resulting from the printing of an ad. The publisher's liability may not exceed the cost of that single ad.

PAYMENT
All advertisements of 1/4 page and smaller, including classifieds, must be paid for in advance. Invoices are rendered within 5 business days of publication and are payable within 15 days of billing. Invoices unpaid 60 days beyond billing will incur a service charge of 1.5% per month.

AGENCY COMMISSIONS
Accredited advertising agencies are entitled to a 15% discount on display advertising placed at the open rate. No agency commissions on discounted ad rates. A 5% discount is available to established accounts which choose to prepay their advertising.

For further information contact:
Ken Smikle, President
Target Market News
228 S. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60604
312-408-1881