Print & Distribution FAQ

While the FAQs offer a convenient, high-level overview of common questions, they only cover a fraction of the full details. You should view the FAQs as a helpful guide, but not as a replacement for the complete policy. It's essential that you read, learn, and familiarize yourself with the full policy to ensure complete compliance and understanding of all requirements.

What is the Annual Residential Distribution Overview?

All magazine distribution is reviewed annually. Mail lists are licensed for a maximum of one year from the date of acquisition. The USPS updates, changes, and modifies regularly. The more growth or change in your area, the more changes will take place on the routes.

The biggest part of this is the demographic information. Each year, even if no route changes are required, you will receive an updated overview, as there will be changes to income and home values, as well as how many homes are on the routes.

The overview is an updated version of what you are used to seeing. If there are changes recommended, it will be clearly indicated as to why, and you will see a before-and-after recommendation.

Why is my lowest home value lower than it used to be?

As you increase residential distribution, the lowest home value will naturally decrease. This is a good thing! You are mailing deeper into your community.

We already mail to the highest value homes in your territory
Adding routes means reaching more homes, including younger homeowners with disposable income
This expands your reach and selling power

Example Tiers:

Launch (6,500 residential homes) – Max: $5.5M | Min: $550K
Gold (7,800 residential homes) – Max: $5.5M | Min: $480K
Platinum (9,000 residential homes) – Max: $5.5M | Min: $370K

Are there caps on the additional readers, businesses, and/or Clients/customers?

Yes—Keeping distribution within targeted limits helps ensure efficiency, accuracy, and consistency with our brand standards. Mailing outside of high-saturation postal routes drives up costs. Over time, it leads to duplication & bloated lists. It also keeps the lists fresh and intentional.

Business List: Max 500
Additional Readers: Max 300
Total Clients: Max 250

Are there larger caps at higher tiers?

No, for details please see the Distribution Policy.

Why are there caps on the Additional Readers list?

The additional readers list was designed for adding photographers, writers, featured article subjects, family, friends, active clients' home addresses, or special people in the territory who should receive the magazine. The list is not to be used to add additional subdivisions, neighborhoods, large groups of residential homes, or residential homes outside of the assigned territory. When this happens, it’s common for duplicated addresses to become a problem when a magazine grows in distribution.

Why are there caps on the Business list?

On the business operations side, it helps publishers avoid mailing to closed or irrelevant businesses, reduces overlap between advertiser and business lists, and keeps things from becoming stagnant. Removing inactive entries opens the door to fresh partnerships and ensures we're reaching the right businesses. The business list is designed to be an ever-evolving, fresh list of prospecting businesses. If a business is determined to be uninterested, not a fit, or out of business, remove it and add a new one. Feel free to ask for a new business list if it’s been over a year since your last list.

Why are there caps on the Customer/Client list?

It continues to help keep the list current, avoids waste, and ensures your publication stays focused on households first, which is where your clients see the most return. There are many strategies your coaches can supply to help retain a client.

We are working to put some processes in place to have ARC automatically remove inactive clients after 90 days of no activity.

Can I make changes to my distribution?

Yes—ideally, this will be made with your annual review round. So be ready when the team reaches out. They are going to bring to your attention anything that should stand out as a potential perk you can take advantage of.

There are times when distribution MUST be changed due to changes at the USPS. Publishers will not incur charges with these changes; however, they often result in quantity changes affecting distribution and/or production cost.

Can I increase my distribution?

Yes, based on your tier: See the distribution policy for full details.

Can I add a ZIP code to my distribution?

No. ZIP codes are set in your franchise agreement and cannot be added to an existing magazine.

ALL changes in distribution take place within the territory zip codes defined in the franchise agreement. CL does not add zip codes as the magazine advances in tier. All territories are strategically designed from the outset to support and sustain a Black Tier publication, with a residential distribution range of 14,000 to 20,000 homes.
- Zip codes are defined when a territory is created. Each territory is designed at the onset to support and sustain a Black Tier magazine (120+ pages, 14,000+ in distribution) in line with brand standards.
- City Lifestyle monitors USPS activity closely for any zip code additions or changes. If a new zip code is established within an assigned territory, the publisher will be notified, and it will be added to the territory. However, existing zip codes are not added to territories once the territory has been defined.
- Once a publisher has reached and consistently maintained:
  - Platinum Tier or higher for 180 days
  - 90 days projected $45K or higher
  - with an appropriate, fully trained staff

They may discuss the possibility of launching an additional publication with their director, provided there is an available territory of interest.

Why is my client/or reader not receiving a copy of my magazine?

Check ARC > Distribution > Your Lists > Enter the address in the search bar
Verify the address is listed and correct (including unit/suite)

If everything is correct, submit a support ticket for investigation.

Why is an address in one of my carrier routes not receiving the magazine?

First, if you have multiple zip codes in your territory, double-check that the route is indeed in your distribution. It is commonplace to have the same route name in multiple zip codes. Once you have verified that it is in your residential distribution list (ARC > Distribution > Residential Routes > Route ID: Zip Code, i.e., R012:64108), then:

Two likely reasons:

The home was for sale, not complete, or vacant, when the list was pulled
The recipient is on the national "do not mail" list for marketing mail

You can add them to your Additional Readers in ARC. If their home is for sale, not completed, or vacant, be aware that on your annual review, you will need to remove the address, or they will start receiving duplicate copies since the USPS will have made their address “live” again once records are updated.

NOTE: If they are on the national "do not mail" list for marketing mail, they will still not receive the magazine. We are a free publication using Marketing mail discounts. If they want to receive the magazine, they will need to contact the USPS and have their address removed.

Can I charge a subscription fee or charge a fee for the (a) magazine(s)?

No. We are a free publication. Charging for publications is a violation of your franchise agreement and would change the postal rates that are paid by City Lifestyle, preventing the lowest possible rates and causing increases in production costs. Anything mailed by City Lifestyle on the mailing list is a free publication; therefore not eligible for charges to the recipient of the publication.

NOTE - There are circumstances where a publisher can charge for SHIPPING magazines to a client for a special event or circumstance. Request additional information through the ticketing process.

Why haven’t my magazines been delivered to homes and businesses yet?

Magazines are to be in homes and businesses between the 23rd and the 5th of the month, depending on your deadline. If an address has not received the magazine by the 10th, please submit a support ticket.

Why are my magazines arriving early? Can I move the shipment date?

No. Shipment dates are fixed to maintain national consistency. Magazines are to be in homes and businesses between the 23rd and the 5th of the month, depending on your deadline.

While there are some parts of every magazine that must drop locally, 98+% of every magazine is drop-shipped to the local sorting facility.

Mail is drop-shipped via various trucking companies, THEN delivered by the USPS mail carriers.

1-3 days for the trucking company or a full truck to deliver to the sorting facilities (SCF)
1-3 days to deliver from the SCF to the local post offices (DDU’s)
- Most tiles have at least 3-4 local DDUs
1-3 days to deliver from the DDUs to homes.
AVERAGE time from the printing facility to homes is 7 days - NOT counting weekend days

Publisher copies are ground SHIPPED via FedEx.

That usually takes 2-3 days.
Publisher copies usually leave the printing plant on the same day as the mail is shipped from the plant.
The average time for publisher copies from the printing facility to the publisher is 2 days.

Can I get a receipt for the shipment of my magazines?

USPS does not issue receipts for our pre-sorted drops. However, under special circumstances, we can provide a 3602 postal report showing mailing quantities for a specific issue.

City Lifestyle dropships the magazines to USPS sorting facilities. All required mailing paperwork and postage payments are submitted electronically and are linked to the barcoding on the pallet labels. As this process is handled internally on your behalf, there is no physical mailing receipt available.

How do I verify if a route is currently in my distribution?

You can use Every Door Direct Mail by USPS to verify if neighborhoods, specific areas, or specific addresses are or are not within their residential distribution. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to use the tool: Identifying Residential Distribution in EDDM

How do I remove an address from my distribution?

Residential address: ARC > Distribution > Exclusion List (How to Navigate the Exclusions Tab)
Client/business/additional reader: ARC > Distribution > Your Lists and remove manually (How to Navigate the Additional Readers Tab)

Please enter the address exactly as it appears on the magazine label. When you receive the Green “Found” box, the address has been excluded.

The address may receive one more copy of the magazine, but should not receive any subsequent issues.

Publisher & Client Copies

Can I get additional publisher copies for an event?

Yes. Make the change in ARC by your first ad deadline:

Go to ARC > Distribution > Additional Readers > My Copies
Submit by the first ad deadline for that issue
Don’t forget to return to the original quantity before the ad deadline for the next month

How do I change the number of copies my client receives?

In ARC:

ARC > Distribution > Your Lists/Additional Readers > search for address in search bar
Click the client’s address, update the quantity, and click Save

Client Mail Policy:

Maximum direct copies mailed to a client: 15 (individually labeled).
For more than 15 copies, include the extra in your publisher copies and deliver them personally.
You are charged for all magazines printed each month, including residential, business, client, or publisher copies.

What are the costs to order additional copies?

Use the Profit & Loss Report to determine the per-magazine cost. Read more here: How to Review the Profit and Loss Report

Note: If an “End Issue” is selected for your publisher copies under the Forecast tab, the P&L report will not reflect accurately. (Keep the End Issue as "N/A").

Go into ARC > Forecast > Production Cost and write down the forecast number that corresponds to your page count.
Next, go into ARC > Distribution > Additional Readers and click on your name to adjust your publisher copies up to 100-200. Click save.
Go back into ARC > Forecast > Production Cost, and the cost will change with the adjustment, and you will then see what the production cost will be. You can then figure the cost per copy using the cost difference and the number of copies you adjusted.
Make sure you go back into ARC > Distribution > Additional Readers and adjust your copies back to the original amount and save.

Who can receive “My Copies” or publisher copies?

The Publisher
One other team member (e.g., Publication Director)
- Update the address info in ARC accordingly.
- A client who needs an amount of magazines of 50 or more

Where are my publisher copies? Can I track them?

All publisher copies are shipped via FedEx GROUND on the same day as residential/mail copies ship from the printing plant. To track your publisher copies:

Go to ARC > Distribution > Additional Readers
Use arrows to select the correct month
The tracking # will be entered to the left of your name/address the day after they ship

Note: The tracking number will be available once your magazines have shipped. Publisher copies typically arrive within 1–3 days. You can expect them between the 18th and the 3rd of the month, depending on your deadline. If your tracking shows “delivered” but you haven’t received them, or if there is no movement on the shipment, please submit a ticket, and we will investigate right away.

How do I update my client’s mailing address?

First, determine if you are updating it for BOTH the account and where the magazine mails, OR only one of those options. Many people make a change to where their business mail goes, but not where they are sending the magazine.

It is important to understand that the client account and the address on your mailing list are not tied together. If you change one, it does NOT change the other. BOTH will need to be changed if you are changing BOTH.

To change it on your client/customer list:

Go to ARC > Distribution > Additional Readers
Sort by Customers
Find the client, click their address, edit, and save
THIS WILL NOT CHANGE IT ON THE ACCOUNT. ONLY ON THE MAILING LIST.

To change it in your accounts

Go to ARC > Distribution > Additional Readers
Sort by Customer
Find the client - they should be listed in BLUE, click their NAME
This will open the account, edit, and save
THIS WILL NOT CHANGE IT ON THE MAILING LIST. ONLY ON THE ACCOUNT.

Page Count

How can I increase my page count?

Once you reach Silver Tier ($25K+), you can increase by 4 or 8 pages manually in ARC (before editorial deadline). Please note that any changes are subject to associated costs. If your tier falls below Silver, the option to manually adjust the page count will be automatically disabled in ARC.

Read more here: How to Manually Increase Page Count

Printer

Did my paper change?

We want to assure you that the paper we use has remained consistent and unchanged for several years. Quality is a top priority. If you believe there has been a change in paper quality, please submit a support ticket with a photo and any relevant details. Our team will pull several copies, current and previous, for the Print and Distribution team to conduct a review.

Why is the mailing label upside down?

To maintain USPS compliance and keep rates low, mailing labels are:

Placed on the front cover (because of a full-page back ad)
Rotated upside down so USPS equipment can scan it properly

Why are there only two staples in my magazine? Can I switch to perfect bound?

36–40 pages: Saddle-stitched with two staples
44+ pages: Automatically perfect bound

If you are noticing an issue with the stitching or binding on any of your magazines, please submit a support ticket, along with any supporting photos, for further review.

Can I change the finish on my magazine?

Yes. You can switch between matte and gloss. Submit a support ticket before the Ad Deadline. Note: This change stays in place until you request otherwise.

Print Quality

Why did my client’s ad print darker than it looks on my screen?

The colors you see in “proofs” on a computer screen might look different compared to the printed magazine because a computer screen is backlit, which will make colors appear brighter than they do in a printed magazine.

Here are some photography tips that may help your photographer understand the colors vs the overall ink limit required to help with printing:

Use CMYK (images submitted as RGB will be converted)
Overall ink limit: 240%
Highlights: 10c, 5m, 5y, 0–3k
Midtones: ~50c, 40m, 40y (adjust on this scale if needed)
Shadows: 85c, 75m, 75y, 10–20k (adjust if more black/less detail is needed)
Based on pleasing color standards (green grass, blue sky, etc.)
SWOP standards for dot gain on 60# gloss text sheets range from 7%-20%

Here’s a useful link for skin tone colors: Skin Tone Color Palette.

Why did my magazine print weird/blurry/low quality?

If you have concerns about the quality of your magazine, please submit a support ticket with:

Clear photos showing the issue
Type of copy (Is this a publisher, business, or residential copy?)
Number of affected copies - if these are your publisher copies
- Is it all of them, one box, a few, so on
Address(es) of impacted magazines
- This is to review the mailing list and locate the place in the mailing list where the error occurred. This allows us to view press & bindery pulls before and after that place in the print run, determining how many were affected

Why is the white border around my cover uneven?

Slight border variation is normal due to production tolerances. If it looks significantly off, submit a ticket with photos for review.