Jeff Sharpley’s vacation to Kaua‘i in 2001 turned out to be a business trip.
It started innocently enough.
Sharpley needed some time away from the hectic pace of San Francisco and the Bay Area so he decided to come to the Garden Island and “watch grass grow.”
Soon thereafter, Sharpley pursued a business endeavor in which he could help promote Kaua‘i’s beauty and charm.
The result was Zento Magazine which was first published in February of 2002.
“This is such a magical place,” said Sharpley, who is the magazine’s publisher and CEO. “I wanted that to be the way to promote this island.”
In less than two years of publication, Zento, published quarterly, has tripled in circulation and become known as a valuable resource for travelers who desire an “authentic, culturally rich and engaging Hawai‘i experience.”
“This growth is an affirmation that today people are traveling for truly authentic experiences, not just looking just for places to go and things to do; they are looking to enrich their lives, expand their minds, and inspire their spirits through travel. Hawai‘i is the most sought after place to do this and Zento is being sought as the definitive guide to these experiences,” said Sharpley.
On Dec. 19, Zento announced it has been selected by Ingram Periodicals for nationwide distribution.
Borders is just one of the hundreds of outlets that will now carry the magazine which is sold on newsstands, bookstores, and retail outlets throughout the state. With in-room distribution at some of the finest hotels, and premier placement in all airports and inter-island terminals, it reaches both visitors and locals.
“Initially, I wanted a health and wellness magazine for Kaua‘i,” said the publisher.
“But our number one goal was to highlight the Kaua‘i experience, culturally and in nature. We thought that experience would be access points for people who want to visit the island.”
The most recent issue of the magazine had a circulation of approximately 100,000 copies, 90 percent coming in the state.
“I am surprised by the growth,” Sharpley said. “I am certainly excited and proud too. It just grew exponentially.”
This expansion to the national newsstand now makes Zento the fastest growing magazine in the state.
“Zento is a conduit for transformational experiences, a path cutter to the extraordinary, a menu for creating a vacation that turns into a journey. Our readers are looking for anything but ordinary and we give them a preview of what to expect from the unexpected,” said Yvette Crosby, the Editor in Chief of Zento Magazine.
“It was important for us to start on Kaua‘i,” said Sharpley. “Our roots are here and they always will be. “Our creativity and energy come from here.”
Zento has offices on all islands and a newly opened Tokyo office to cover an expanding interest in Asia for transformational travel to Hawai‘i. For more information visit http://www.zentomag.com.
Business Editor Barry Graham can be reached at 245-3681 Ext. 251 or mailto:bgraham@pulitzer.net
