The Arran Banner is a big success

The Arran Banner was the best performing weekly newspaper in Scotland last year by achieving a rise in sales.

Your Banner was the only paid-for title in Scotland to record a year on year sales increase among those using the industry recognised ABC figures for the 12 months to December 31, 2017. Not only was the

Banner the best in Scotland, it was the second best performing weekly in the whole of the UK.

The new figures show the total average net circulation for the Banner in that time was 2,930 copies per week – a small increase on the 2016 figure. It means the Banner outsells titles in much bigger centres, including Irvine, Ayr and even Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven.

News editor Hugh Boag said: ‘I am delighted we have been able to achieve this remarkable success. It shows the hard work and dedication which is put in by the small team at the Banner.

‘I can only thank our readers for staying so loyal week in, week out and welcome our new growing family of online readers, who have helped us increase our circulation in these challenging times.’

We don’t like blowing our own trumpet at the Banner, but this week we are making an exception.

In 2017 the Arran Banner sold more copies than it did in the previous 12 months, which in this day and age is unheard of in either the national or the weekly press. Newspapers are haemorraging readers left, right and centre as they battle alternative internet outlets and social media.

So for the Arran Banner to be the only Scottish paid for weekly newspaper to show a sales increase in 2017 is a remarkable achievement by any standard.

We pride ourselves in providing week in, week out the news and all that is happening on Arran, be it in the busy summer or the quieter winter months. We are always out and about because we think you appreciate that we take a sincere interest in all island life.

Of course we could not have done it without you and for that we give heartfelt thanks to all our loyal readers, and our new online family, who have helped us to achieve this success.

You can be assured in 2018 that the Banner will continue to be the champion for the people of Arran.