The Charlotte Market

Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina, the 20th most populous in the United States and is steadily building on the designation of being a “World Class City.” The Charlotte Region is the nation’s 5th largest urban region which is comprised of 15 counties. The population of the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County is 594,359 and 801,137according to the US Census 2004 Estimate. African Americans make up 32% of the population of Charlotte. Charlotte is the home of nine Fortune 500 firms that are headquartered here and is the second largest financial center in the United States. The city has a strong commitment to business supported by solid labor, transportation, service and educational resources. The arts and cultural community is very vibrant and consists of approximately 27 cultural organizations.

Here are a few facts about Charlotte:

• Charlotte is the largest city between Washington, D.C. and Dallas, TX
• Charlotte is the number one travel destination in the Carolinas.
• Charlotte is home to 3 professional sports teams (The Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Bobcats and the
  Charlotte Eagles), NASCAR and the PGA’s Quail Hollow Championship
• Charlotte has just been awarded the NASCAR Hall of Fame
• Charlotte is home to the Meineke Car Care Bowl
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport is the 17th busiest airport in the US and is the largest hub
  of US Airways.
• Charlotte has been ranked as one of the hottest and most affordable housing markets by U.S. News
  & World Report
• Charlotte is the sixth largest trading area in the nation.
• North Carolina is currently the 9th largest trucking center, while Charlotte employs 19% of the
  state’s work force in the industry. Over 46% of the nation’s top 100 trucking companies are in
  Charlotte, including nine of the top ten firms.
• The Charlotte region is at the center of the largest consolidated rail system in the country.
• Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte is the state’s largest community college system

Demographics of Pride Readers

Pride magazine a locally owned, high-gloss magazine that caters to middle and high income African Americans. Pride distributes 30,000 magazines in metro Charlotte and surrounding areas such as Albemarle, Concord, Kannapolis, Gastonia, Huntersville and Rock Hill, South Carolina. The bulk of the magazines are delivered free to over 600 locations that include, but not limited to, businesses, non- profit organizations, schools, libraries and predominantly African-American churches.

Our readership is approximately 75,000 in which 75% are women. The average Pride reader is between the ages of 35 and 64, college educated, gainfully employed, earns over $59,000 a year, and is fairly settled in our community. Over half of our readers work in “white-collar” positions and use Pride magazine as a shopping guide, learning tool, and networking resource.

Target Profile

• Estimated African American Population: 200,000 +
• Aggregate Household Income: $1.6 billion
• Average Household Income: $59,399
• Household Income of $20k-$40K: 22%
• Household Income of $40K-$60K: 29%
• Household Income of $60k-$100K: 35%
• Household Income of $100K: 6%
• Average age of Pride reader: 44
• 60% of Pride readers own homes
• 85% of Pride readers have attended church at least twice in the last month.
• 75% of Pride readers use a home computer
• 90% of Pride readers use a cell phone