Better Homes and Gardens (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Better Homes and Gardens is the fourth best selling magazine
in the United States
. The editor in Chief is Gayle Butler. Better Homes and Gardens focuses on interests regarding homes, cooking
, gardening
, crafts, healthy living, decorating, and entertaining. The magazine is published 12 times per year by the Meredith Corporation
. It was founded in 1922 by Edwin Meredith
, who had previously been the United States Secretary of Agriculture
under Woodrow Wilson
.
Better Homes and Gardens is one of the "Seven Sisters
", a group of women's service magazines.
and gardening under the BH&G brand, the best known of which is the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, colloquially known as the "Red Plaid" book. Now in its 15th edition (published in August 2010), the Red Plaid was originally published in 1930. Meredith also publishes the New Junior Cookbook for children learning to cook.
The magazine's title was used by Meredith's real estate
arm, which was sold and then called GMAC Real Estate. In October 2007, Meredith entered a 50-year licensing agreement with Realogy Corporation to license the Better Homes and Gardens name to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
. The company is based in Parsippany, New Jersey, and has offices across the country.
Meredith's broadcasting division began producing the television program Better
in the fall of 2007, which is a lifestyle show which has a mix of content from Meredith's various magazine titles (included BH&G), consumer advice and celebrity interviews. The program currently airs on stations owned by Meredith, Journal, Fisher
and LIN TV
groups. Some Meredith-owned stations produce their own local edition of Better.
The brand offers a line of home decor products through a partnership with Home Interiors, a company based on direct selling
.
n edition is also published, under licence, by Pacific Magazines
and there is also a television show which airs on the Seven Network
. The Australian edition is the 6th best selling consumer magazine in Australia. The Australian edition has been publishing since July 1978.
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The editor in Chief is Gayle Butler. Better Homes and Gardens focuses on interests regarding homes, cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
, gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
, crafts, healthy living, decorating, and entertaining. The magazine is published 12 times per year by the Meredith Corporation
Meredith Corporation
The Meredith Corporation is a media conglomerate based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The company has two divisions, National Media and Local Media.-History:...
. It was founded in 1922 by Edwin Meredith
Edwin Meredith
Edwin Thomas Meredith founder of the Meredith Corporation and was the United States Secretary of Agriculture under President Woodrow Wilson. - Life before Politics :...
, who had previously been the United States Secretary of Agriculture
United States Secretary of Agriculture
The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
under Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
.
Better Homes and Gardens is one of the "Seven Sisters
Seven Sisters (magazines)
The Seven Sisters are a group of magazines which have traditionally been aimed at married women who are homemakers with husbands and children, rather than single and working women. The name is derived from the Greek myth of the "seven sisters", also known as the Pleiades...
", a group of women's service magazines.
Brand extension
The Meredith Corporation publishes a number of books on home economicsHome Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
and gardening under the BH&G brand, the best known of which is the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, colloquially known as the "Red Plaid" book. Now in its 15th edition (published in August 2010), the Red Plaid was originally published in 1930. Meredith also publishes the New Junior Cookbook for children learning to cook.
The magazine's title was used by Meredith's real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
arm, which was sold and then called GMAC Real Estate. In October 2007, Meredith entered a 50-year licensing agreement with Realogy Corporation to license the Better Homes and Gardens name to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC is an international real estate company which began operations in July 2008. In October 2007, Realogy Corporation entered a 50-year agreement to license the Better Homes and Gardens brand from Meredith Corporation...
. The company is based in Parsippany, New Jersey, and has offices across the country.
Meredith's broadcasting division began producing the television program Better
Better (TV series)
Better is a syndicated lifestyle television show. It airs weekdays on 80 stations across the United States. The program is produced and distributed by Meredith Corporation which was first founded as a publishing company back in 1902. Better gets its name from Meredith's flagship publication, Better...
in the fall of 2007, which is a lifestyle show which has a mix of content from Meredith's various magazine titles (included BH&G), consumer advice and celebrity interviews. The program currently airs on stations owned by Meredith, Journal, Fisher
Fisher Communications
Fisher Communications is a media company in the United States. Based in Seattle, Washington, the company owns a number of radio and television stations in the Western United States.- Radio Stations :- Television Stations :...
and LIN TV
LIN TV
LIN TV Corporation is an American holding company that operates 31 television stations.-History:LIN TV's roots trace back to the founding of its former parent, LIN Broadcasting Corporation, in 1961. LIN Broadcasting was engaged in radio, television, direct marketing, information and learning, music...
groups. Some Meredith-owned stations produce their own local edition of Better.
The brand offers a line of home decor products through a partnership with Home Interiors, a company based on direct selling
Direct selling
Direct selling is the marketing and selling of products directly to consumers away from a fixed retail location. Peddling is the oldest form of direct selling. Modern direct selling includes sales made through the party plan, one-on-one demonstrations, and other personal contact arrangements as...
.
Overseas editions
An AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n edition is also published, under licence, by Pacific Magazines
Pacific Magazines
Pacific Magazines is a magazine publisher operating in Australia and New Zealand, owned by Seven Media Group. It has it roots in the Southdown Press, the publishers of New Idea and long owned by the Murdoch family...
and there is also a television show which airs on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
. The Australian edition is the 6th best selling consumer magazine in Australia. The Australian edition has been publishing since July 1978.
Editors
- Chesla Sherlock (1922–1927)
- Elmer T. Peterson (1927–1937)
- Frank W. McDonough (1938–1950)
- J. E. Ratner (1950–1952)
- Hugh Curtis (1952–1960)
- Bert Dieter (1960–1967)
- James A. Riggs (1967–1970)
- James Autry (1970–1979)
- Gordon Greer (1979–1983)
- David Jordan (1984–1993)
- Jean LemMon (1993–2001)
- Karol DeWulf Nickell (2001–2006)
- Gayle Butler (2006–present)