Bodyshop Magazine

What Bodyshop Magazine does

Bodyshop Magazine is the trading name of Plenham Limited, a UK private limited company based in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. Founded in 1987 by Chris Mann and David Young, the company publishes the leading monthly independent magazine for the UK automotive collision repair industry, mailed directly to a monitored database of industry leaders and decision makers.

The company's product platform is a multi-channel trade media property. Core outputs include the monthly print magazine, a Pagesuite-powered digital interactive edition accessible via web browser, a free iOS and Android mobile news app relaunched in 2024 with live updates and digital edition access, and a daily e-newsletter mailed to more than 4,500 recipients every weekday. Supporting technology is a conventional digital publishing platform with mobile applications, email marketing systems, and event management tooling rather than proprietary AI or data infrastructure. The publication is IPSO-regulated and ABC-audited, and claims to be the only sector publication with verified readership and circulation.

Revenue is generated through a mix of print and digital subscriptions, advertising and sponsorship across the magazine, website, app, and newsletter, and events revenue from the Bodyshop Awards (since 1997), Bodyshop Expo, 30 Under 30 Rising Stars initiative (since 2017), and the IBIS Worldwide brand which operates the IBIS Global Summit and regional events. Customers span two sides of a B2B media market: readers in UK bodyshops and vehicle repair centres (subscription), and aftermarket suppliers, paint and equipment vendors, and technology providers (advertising, sponsorship, awards partnerships). The company is privately held with 11-50 employees and no disclosed outside funding, M&A activity, or parent company structure.

Name

Bodyshop Magazine

Legal name

Plenham Limited

Website

https://bodyshopmag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bodyshop Magazine is a UK-based trade media company, owned by Plenham Limited, publishing a monthly print and digital magazine, daily e-newsletter, and mobile app for the automotive collision repair industry, alongside the Bodyshop Awards, Bodyshop Expo, and IBIS Worldwide events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Media Publishing

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive & Transportation Magazines (MPAJAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines (MPAJAEAM)

Keywords

• Automotive collision repair
• Trade media publishing
• Industry news publication
• B2B events management
• Aftermarket journalism

Headquarters

HQ city

Tring

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Print Magazine Subscription: Monthly print edition subscription mailed directly to industry leaders and decision makers in the automotive collision repair sector.
2. Digital Edition Subscription: Digital interactive edition of Bodyshop magazine available online for subscribers.
3. Mobile App: Free mobile news app with live news updates and digital edition access.
4. E-Newsletter Sponsorship: Daily e-newsletter with over 4,500 recipients used for solus e-marketing projects and promotional content.
5. Advertising and Sponsorship: Advertising and sponsorship opportunities across the magazine, website, events, and digital platforms. Contact: [[email protected]]
6. Awards and Events: Bodyshop Awards event (launched 1997) including partner opportunities, ticketing, and association with the industry calendar highlight. Also includes Bodyshop Expo and 30 Under 30 Rising Stars initiative.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Bodyshop Magazine is a monthly UK trade publication covering the automotive collision repair industry, complemented by a digital interactive edition, a mobile app on iOS and Android, a daily e-newsletter, and industry events including the annual Bodyshop Awards and the Bodyshop Expo. The company sells advertising, sponsorship, and subscription access to this content and event portfolio to industry professionals, suppliers, and insurers.

Product overview

Bodyshop Magazine operates as a unified media platform for the automotive collision repair industry, combining print and digital publishing with events and awards programmes. The core offering consists of Bodyshop Magazine (the leading monthly publication), complemented by a Digital Interactive Edition, Daily eNewsletter (serving 4,500+ recipients), and a Mobile App (6,000+ downloads). The company runs the Bodyshop Awards (established 1997) which includes the 30 Under 30: Rising Stars initiative and the Bodyshop Expo. Through its IBIS (International Bodyshop Industry Symposium) brand, it manages the IBIS Global Summit and publishes the annual IBIS Global Focus. All properties are owned and managed by Plenham Ltd.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bodyshop Magazine (Print Edition) Monthly print magazine delivering news, technical features, supplier information, and industry updates to UK bodyshop operators, technicians, and aftermarket suppliers.
• Digital Interactive Edition Online digital edition of the print magazine providing interactive paginated access to editorial content for digital subscribers.
• Bodyshop Magazine iOS App Native iOS application giving readers mobile access to Bodyshop Magazine's editorial content.
• Bodyshop Magazine Android App Native Android application giving readers mobile access to Bodyshop Magazine's editorial content.
• Bodyshop Daily e-Newsletter Daily email newsletter delivering the latest industry news and updates to bodyshop professionals.
• Bodyshop Awards Annual industry awards event recognising achievement and best practice across the UK automotive collision repair sector, with sponsorship and ticket revenue.
• Bodyshop Expo Annual trade exhibition for the UK bodyshop industry, hosting suppliers, equipment vendors, training providers, and workshops, with paid exhibition and sponsorship revenue.

Quantifiable outcome

• Daily e-newsletter reaches 4,500+ recipients
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IBIS WorldwidecoreOthersBodyshop Magazine operates ibisworldwide.com as part of its portfolio alongside bodyshopmag.com. IBIS (International Bodyshop Industry Symposium) is a global community for leading figures within the automotive collision repair industry, spreading reach worldwide via the IBIS Global Summit and its portfolio of regional and national events.
• International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS)coreOthersA genuine global community for the leading figures within the automotive collision repair industry, IBIS continues to spread its reach to all corners of the world via the IBIS Global Summit and its portfolio of regional and national events. Bodyshop Magazine is associated with this initiative.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Crash Repair Magazine: Australian trade publication for the collision repair industry, offering the same editorial proposition in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Haymarket Media Group: Large UK B2B and automotive publisher with print, digital and events; overlaps in automotive media and business model but operates at far larger scale and breadth.
• CloserStill Media: UK B2B events and media group running trade exhibitions and awards; comparable business model to Bodyshop's Expo/Awards franchise but across many verticals.
• Endeavor Business Media: US B2B media company owning multiple vehicle-repair trade brands; a broad incumbent with directly comparable collision-repair media assets.

Direct peers

• CAT Magazine (DVV Media): UK trade title for the automotive aftermarket and repair sector, overlapping strongly with Bodyshop Magazine's advertisers and readership.
• Repairer Driven News (SCRS): Digital news outlet dedicated to the collision repair industry, closely comparable in editorial scope though operated by a US trade association.
• Aftermarket Matters: UK automotive aftermarket trade media brand covering parts, garages and repair, sharing audience and advertising-led model with Bodyshop Magazine.
• FenderBender / ABRN (Endeavor Business Media): US trade media brands serving the collision repair industry with news, print/digital editions and events, directly mirroring Bodyshop Magazine's editorial focus and advertiser base.
• Auto Body News: US collision-repair trade publication covering industry news and supplier products, targeting the same bodyshop and aftermarket audience as Bodyshop Magazine.
• Motor Trader: UK automotive trade magazine and events business serving dealers and the wider motor industry, sharing geography, business model and B2B automotive audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bodyshopmag
• Facebookfacebook.com/BodyshopMagazine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bodyshopmag
• Instagraminstagram.com/bodyshopmag

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bodyshop Magazine