Editorial Letter

Allow us to reintroduce ourselves…it’s Crème (not CREAM)…

We were off-line for awhile, leaving a temporary blog to blaze a trail we started in 2004.  A trail that celebrated the very best in fashion, film, music and those behind the scenes who make the front liners look great.  Yes, we continuously lived up to the name Crème de la Crème [and] the day before we were set to re-launch with a new design January ’08 a few greedy geniuses thought the same thing and decided they’d try to extort our magazine.  We were in a state of shock! 

Several months prior, we hired a web team to upgrade our site, they did an amazing job, but they were blinded by the lights.  They decided to flip the script of our agreement and wanted a percentage of our ad revenue for a lifetime.  They tried to force us into giving them a cut of a sale, should we decide to sell our publication.  A cut of 20 million dollars is what they calculated.  My partner (Gladymir Leveille) and I had no intention on selling the magazine, nor any buyers on the table.  They were buggin! You see, a few months prior, we met them at a party we hosted.  All the influencers and celebrity friends were there and their minds got twisted.  They were all in with their hidden agenda.

So, it was a big fight.  Our attorney, their attorney, us--fighting their greed.  We had to make a decision: Do we sell our souls to the devil for some money or do we have faith that God has something better in store? See, our hard work was beginning to pay off.  We were part of a few ad networks.  In negotiation with a huge company to begin a revenue stream and we were ready to move forward with a bigger team. 

It was enticing to sign an agreement so that the money can flow in, but in the end we realized, it would be a nightmare to partner with the greedy fools.  So we got our comrades together, attitudes and expertise in the chamber and ready to have our back when we call.  This was a legal battle and although their attorney made subtle threats, they really didn’t want to take it to the streets.  We had a bigger force behind us, that of will and faith.  And we were NOT WILLING to let a few bullies take what’s ours.  So we pulled the plug--terminated them and started from scratch.  We took A HIT and damn, it was hard!

That was the hardest business decision we’ve ever had to make, but we felt a relief.  A relief knowing we did the right thing.  We took a hit for every entrepreneur who may think they’re powerless, who may not know where to turn when things have turned upside down.  We took a hit for the future of this magazine.  We took a hit so we can look at ourselves in the mirror.  And while we were in the lab, we took hits with all the other magazines that popped up with similar formats to ours, even the big fish were upgrading for a more crème de la crème makeover.  We took the hit because we know who we are.  We could afford to take the hit because this magazine is built on a foundation of strength, a good support system and true friends.  We took the hit because there is only one Crème (not CREAM).

We may have been off-line for awhile, but we are back to stay; ready to take in the millions of hits that were coming our way when we gave the greedy vultures the finger.

We’re back and it feels so good to know that the new team is solid as a rock.  This time around we are bridging the gap between the consumer and the celebrity and having a few exclusive contests for our readers. Because in this business it’s all about the CLICK or the CLIQUE you’re in.

Over at Crème we believe that dreams are attainable for everyone, not just “who you know” or “what you do”  We want our readers to know that we are just one click away from sharing our world with you! 

At Crème we continue to bring you the very best of the culture because we are crème de la crème. 

Welcome back to a place where everybody knows you’re name because you are the best at what you do!

Many Blessings!

Dominga Martin
(Editorial Director)

PS.  I want to give an extra special thanks to all those who had our back! Big Ced (The Industry Cosign.com), Chuck (AHH.com), Cesar Jordan (Onfumes.com), Pam Pickens, (UrbanAdServe.com), Wilson (BlackFilm.com) and Kyle (NV Magazine) for having me as his Guest Editor for their Sports Entertainment issue!  AND ESPECIALLY our team from jump: Stephen Knight, Eddie Etienne.  Our new team is bigger and better, but the Fantastic Four is back and here to stay! LOL  Meet us on Facebook and join "The Creme Movement!"