Media Matters, publisher of Collision Repair has launched Collision Repair Québec to reach what it describes as a largely untapped French audience for the trade magazine.



The idea for Collision Québec started rolling following advertisers voicing concern about the English title's reach in Québec. “Advertisers were asking if we were really reaching the French market with the English version,” says publisher Darryl Simmons. “That reflected in our circulation, people in Québec don’t generally read trade magazines in English. Advertisers are happy now that both magazines offers a single point of entry, reaching the market in English and French as well.”

The French magazine, published in Thornhill, Ont. and printed in Québec by Solisco will be a bi-monthly print and online translated ‘best of’ the English version, which targets managers of collision repair agencies, says Simmons.

Collision Québec's launch issue has 22 pages of ads and uses the same national advertisers as those in the English version, says Simmons. He adds that base will be built on with localized advertising over time.

Reader response to Collision Québec has been great, says Simmons with nine out of ten requests coming back asking for the French version over the English one in Québec. “Looking to deliver information to the people in Quebec,” he says. “We are the only magazine in the sector that has a full-time editor, also to establish a rapport with readers so they can send in what they would like to see in the magazine.”