In a move that further enhances its current partnership with NAPCO Media and creates unprecedented value for the industry, the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association on Aug. 6 announced that it has acquired NAPCO Media.
Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by SGIA’s Board of Directors, NAPCO Media—owners of Printing Impressions, Packaging Impressions, PromoMarketing, In-Plant Impressions, TotalRetail, Target Marketing and Wide-Format Impressions—will become an LLC and will continue to operate as an independent entity.
All NAPCO Media staff and business units will remain in place. SGIA offices and NAPCO Media offices will continue to reside in Fairfax, Va., and Philadelphia, respectively.
In 2017, SGIA and NAPCO Media formed a strategic partnership to create a global platform to connect print service providers and suppliers in the graphic and visual communication industry like never before. That platform, PRINTING United, was built upon the solid foundation of the former SGIA Expo. PRINTING United is being held Oct. 23-25 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.
“In an industry where traditional boundaries and segments continue to come together, an organization that spans the breadth of the industry is needed more than ever,” says Ford Bowers, CEO and president of SGIA. “Research, education, training, relationships, government affairs, technology and more are not nearly as siloed as they once were. It is imperative that organizations develop a broad ability to address market needs, either through more close-knit collaboration or, as in this instance, combination.”
Dave Leskusky, who will remain as NAPCO Media president, says, “We are thrilled to cement our relationship with SGIA. NAPCO Media and SGIA share a common mission to build community and be the primary resource for information and education to help the industry flourish. In order to best serve our communities, we need to create a year-round platform that includes events, media, research and more. Combining forces makes perfect sense.”
“While SGIA is buying NAPCO Media,” Leskusky continues, “this is more of a vertical merger designed to capitalize on our unique strengths and lay the foundation for organic growth. Our current plan amplifies the strengths of each company to extend our reach as a combined organization across all of the audiences we serve.”
Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) is the premier printing and graphic arts trade organization that provides members with cutting edge resources, tools and education to promote growth and convergence into new market segments. SGIA members have unparalleled access to current industry information, trends and events. SGIA-produced events include, but are not limited to, PRINTING United (Dallas; Oct. 23-25, 2019) and Graphics of the Americas (Miami; Feb. 27-29, 2020). For more info, visit SGIA.org.
NAPCO Media is a business-to-business media company serving printing and packaging, publishing, marketing, retail and non-profit, and promotional products industries. Its mission is to build community between its audience and clients through integrated media programs, research, video services, events, marketing services, and e-learning. For more info, visit napco.com.
