VIM Magazine
VIM Magazine is a student-run fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication at Michigan State University, producing bi-annual print and digital issues and in-person events for MSU students, faculty, and staff. It operates as a registered student organization funded by member dues, advertising, and ASMSU allocations, with 200+ members across four divisions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersEast Lansing, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What VIM Magazine does
VIM Magazine is a student-run fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication operating as a registered student organization at Michigan State University. Founded at least as early as 2016, the organization has produced a continuous bi-annual archive of print and digital issues under the tagline "The Source for Style at MSU." The publication serves MSU undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff by distributing 1,500 free print copies per semester at campus locations including Wells Hall, the Eli Broad College of Business, the Communication Arts & Science building, and Blue Owl Coffee.
The organization's product portfolio consists of bi-annual print magazines, bi-semester digital issues hosted on the Issuu platform, a continuously updated blog covering fashion, beauty, lifestyle, career, and entertainment topics, and in-person events including annual fashion shows, launch parties, and networking events. Production technology relies on standard creative software — Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator for layout and design, and a WordPress-based website with UX work conducted in Figma and Adobe XD. The organization is structured into four divisions (Administration, Business, Creative, and Editorial) supported by more than 20 specialized functional teams, overseen by 40+ directors, 2 Editors-in-Chief, an Assistant Editor-in-Chief, and a Board of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
VIM's business model is that of a non-commercial campus organization rather than a revenue-generating enterprise. Revenue sources include member dues (amounts undisclosed and variable by semester), advertising sales to local and national businesses, ASMSU budget allocations, and fundraising activities. The publication is distributed to end users at no cost. The organization has no external parent company, no venture capital or private equity investment, and no identified subsidiaries. Its operations are entirely concentrated within a single university campus, with all recruitment, distribution, events, and member activity occurring on or around the MSU campus in East Lansing, Michigan.
VIM Magazine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VIM Magazine
- Legal name
- VIM Magazine
- Website
- https://vimmagazinemsu.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- VIM Magazine is a student-run fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication at Michigan State University, producing bi-annual print and digital issues and in-person events for MSU students, faculty, and staff. It operates as a registered student organization funded by member dues, advertising, and ASMSU allocations, with 200+ members across four divisions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VIM Magazine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Fashion & Lifestyle Media
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (51312), Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines (MPAJAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Science, Technology & Gaming Magazines (MPAJAEAL)
Keywords
Where VIM Magazine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- East Lansing
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
VIM Magazine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: All general members, team members, and directors are required to pay dues which vary each semester. Members can pay per semester or annually.
- Advertising Sales: The Advertising team is responsible for outreach to various businesses, both locally and nationally, selling advertising space in print & digital issues of magazines, as well as social media postings. This generates a large portion of VIM's revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free magazine distribution to students |
| Subscription | Annual | Student membership dues |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
VIM Magazine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VIM Magazine is Michigan State University's student-run fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication. It produces bi-annual print issues distributed free on the MSU campus and bi-semester digital issues published via Issuu, complemented by a continuously updated blog. The organization also runs in-person fashion events and offers a student membership program providing hands-on experience across four divisions: Administration, Business, Creative, and Editorial.
Product overview
VIM Magazine is a student-run fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication at Michigan State University offering a multi-platform content portfolio consisting of bi-annual print magazines distributed on campus, bi-semester digital issues published via Issuu, and a regularly updated blog. The publication also organizes in-person fashion events including an annual fashion show. The organization provides MSU students with hands-on experience across four divisions: Administration, Business, Creative, and Editorial, covering roles in writing, photography, design, marketing, events, and more.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- VIM Magazine (Print Edition) Bi-annual print magazine featuring fashion, beauty, health, and lifestyle content for the Michigan State University community. Distributed free to students and faculty at campus locations including Wells Hall, Eli Broad College of Business, Communication Arts & Science, and Blue Owl Coffee, with 1,500 copies distributed per semester.
- VIM Magazine (Digital Edition) Digital issues of VIM Magazine hosted on the Issuu platform and published to the VIM website, featuring the same fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content as the print editions with enhanced digital accessibility. Two digital issues are produced per semester.
- VIM Blog Regularly updated blog featuring articles on fashion trends, beauty tips, lifestyle topics, career advice, entertainment, and travel, written by VIM staff members and published on the VIM Magazine website.
- Fashion Events In-person fashion events including annual fashion shows, magazine launch parties, cover reveal events, networking trips, casting calls, and fundraisers. Coordinates with MSU's Apparel and Textile Design program to showcase student designer work.
- Membership Program Student membership program offering hands-on experience in media, design, marketing, and more across four divisions: Administration, Business, Creative, and Editorial. Members pay dues per semester or annually and participate in producing the magazine, blog, events, and digital content.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1500 magazines distributed per semester to students at no cost
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use VIM Magazine
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
VIM Magazine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
VIM Magazine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
VIM Magazine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Vogue College: A university-focused vertical from Vogue/Conde Nast targeting the same college-age fashion audience as VIM, but operating as a major commercial publication rather than a student organization.
- Refinery29: A major women's lifestyle media brand covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle topics that overlap with VIM's editorial coverage, though at a professional/commercial scale rather than student-run.
- SHE Media (formerly SheKnows Media): A women's lifestyle media network covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content that overlaps with VIM's editorial scope, though SHE Media operates at a commercial scale.
- Who What Wear: A digital fashion and beauty publication targeting millennial and Gen Z women, covering the same core categories (fashion, beauty, lifestyle) as VIM but at a major commercial scale.
- Byrdie: A beauty and wellness publication targeting a similar young female demographic with overlapping content categories (beauty, lifestyle, fashion) as VIM.
Direct peers
- College Fashionista (College Fashion): A college-focused fashion and style publication that shares VIM's editorial niche (college fashion, beauty, lifestyle) and audience demographic (university students), with a multi-campus contributor model.
- The State News: Michigan State University's independent student-run newspaper, the most direct organizational peer to VIM on the same campus serving the same student organization audience.
- The Odyssey: A national student-run digital publication network with contributors from hundreds of universities, comparable to VIM in mission (student voices) and category (lifestyle content), but operating as a digital-first platform.
- Her Campus Media: The largest college women's lifestyle media brand, with content, chapters, and advertising targeting a similar fashion, beauty, and lifestyle audience as VIM, but at a national scale across hundreds of universities.
Regional players
- Spartan Magazine / MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences publications: Other student-run publications at MSU tied to specific colleges; they share infrastructure, talent pool, and target audience with VIM but focus on journalism, communications, or academic topics rather than fashion/lifestyle.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
VIM Magazine social profiles
Digital presenceVIM Magazine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VIM Magazine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
VIM Magazine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VIM Magazine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VIM Magazine
What does VIM Magazine do?
VIM Magazine is Michigan State University's student-run fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication. It produces bi-annual print issues distributed free on the MSU campus and bi-semester digital issues published via Issuu, complemented by a continuously updated blog. The organization also runs in-person fashion events and offers a student membership program providing hands-on experience across four divisions: Administration, Business, Creative, and Editorial.
Is VIM Magazine a public or private company?
VIM Magazine is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was VIM Magazine founded?
VIM Magazine was founded in 2010. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is VIM Magazine based?
VIM Magazine is headquartered in East Lansing, United States, in the North America region.
How does VIM Magazine make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are advertising Sales.
Who are VIM Magazine's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Vogue College, Refinery29, SHE Media (formerly SheKnows Media), Who What Wear and Byrdie. Direct peers are College Fashionista (College Fashion), The State News, The Odyssey and Her Campus Media. Spartan Magazine / MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences publications is listed as a regional player.
Does VIM Magazine have an API?
No public API is recorded for VIM Magazine.
What industry is VIM Magazine in?
VIM Magazine's product category is Student Fashion & Lifestyle Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAA, Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines, with a secondary code of MPAJAEAL, Science, Technology & Gaming Magazines. Its NAICS code is 51312 and its SIC code is 2721.