F+W Media

F+W Media, later branded simply as F+W, was an American special-interest content and commerce company headquartered in New York City. Its origins dated to 1913 in Cincinnati, when the business developed around publications associated with farming and writing. The F+W name referred to two early titles, Farm Quarterly and Writer's Digest. Over time, the company expanded from periodical publishing into a broad portfolio of enthusiast media, books, digital products, online education, video, e-commerce, conferences, and trade shows. The company served communities organized around specialist interests rather than operating as a general-interest publisher. Its subject areas included art, crafts, mixed media, writing, genealogy, antiques and collectibles, graphic design, horticulture, hunting, and related enthusiast categories. Its principal publishing brands and imprints included David & Charles, Impact Books, Krause Publications, North Light Books, Writer's Digest, and Interweave Press. F+W also entered fiction publishing through its acquisition of Tyrus Books in 2011 and introduced the Crimson Romance and Merit Press imprints in 2012 for romance and young-adult fiction, respectively. Growth was driven substantially by acquisitions. The company acquired David & Charles, Krause Publications in 2002, Horticulture magazine, and Adams Media in 2003. Private-equity firm ABRY Partners purchased F+W in 2005. In August 2012, F+W Media acquired Interweave, an arts-and-crafts media company based in Loveland, Colorado. In 2014, it acquired New Track Media and adopted the shorter F+W name. Following that transaction, the company was acquired by private-equity firm Tinicum. Chief executive David Nussbaum later left to lead America's Test Kitchen. F+W increasingly connected its editorial properties with commerce. Beginning in 2008, it emphasized online stores and products related to its magazine and book communities. The e-commerce operation grew from one store generating approximately $6 million in revenue in 2008 to 31 stores with more than $65 million in revenue in 2015. The broader business also offered e-books, e-magazines, online video, education, conferences, trade shows, and other interactive media properties. At its peak, the company was described as publishing roughly 600 new book titles annually and maintaining a catalog of approximately 4,000 titles. The business later experienced financial and organizational deterioration. In May 2017, certain creditors received a 97 percent stake in exchange for debt relief and a new credit facility. In January 2018, the chief executive and two other senior executives departed, and the company reduced its workforce by approximately 40 percent. F+W filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 10, 2019. Its assets were subsequently divided and sold through bankruptcy proceedings. Penguin Random House acquired the book-publishing assets at auction in June 2019, while properties including Sky & Telescope were sold separately. The asset sales marked the dissolution of F+W as an operating media and e-commerce company.

F+W developed from a publishing business founded in Cincinnati in 1913. Its later name was derived from Farm Quarterly and Writer's Digest, two publications associated with its early history. The company built its identity around focused audiences and specialist knowledge, eventually organizing its publishing operations into community-based units covering areas such as art, crafts, writing, genealogy, antiques, horticulture, hunting, and design. Expansion came through a combination of organic development and acquisitions. F+W added David & Charles, acquired Krause Publications in 2002, and acquired Horticulture magazine and Adams Media in 2003. The company broadened its content portfolio beyond magazines and conventional books into digital products, online video, interactive media, education, conferences, trade shows, and consumer commerce. Its publishing brands included Writer's Digest, David & Charles, Krause Publications, North Light Books, Impact Books, and Interweave Press. Private-equity ownership became an important part of the company's history. ABRY Partners acquired F+W in 2005. In 2011, the company entered fiction publishing with the acquisition of Tyrus Books. In 2012, it launched Crimson Romance and Merit Press, aimed respectively at romance and young-adult fiction. That same year, F+W Media acquired Interweave, an arts-and-crafts media company based in Loveland, Colorado. In 2014, F+W acquired New Track Media, changed its name to F+W, and was subsequently acquired by Tinicum. David Nussbaum, who had served as chief executive, later departed to become chief executive of America's Test Kitchen. A major strategic shift began in 2008, when F+W placed greater emphasis on e-commerce connected to its editorial communities. The company sold products and services related to its magazines and other content, using specialist media brands to attract customers to online stores. The e-commerce operation expanded from one store with reported revenue of approximately $6 million in 2008 to 31 stores with reported revenue exceeding $65 million in 2015. This model complemented the company's large book catalog, magazine portfolio, digital publications, educational offerings, and events. Financial pressure became increasingly visible during the late 2010s. In May 2017, creditors received a 97 percent ownership interest in exchange for debt relief and a new credit line. In January 2018, the chief executive and two other senior leaders departed, and F+W reduced its workforce by about 40 percent. The company filed for Chapter 11 protection on March 10, 2019. During the resulting bankruptcy process, Penguin Random House acquired F+W's book-publishing assets at a June 2019 auction. Other properties, including Sky & Telescope, were sold individually. The auctions separated the company's assets and ended F+W's existence as an independent media and e-commerce operator.

• 2019

  Chapter 11 filing and asset sales

  [1]F+Wen.wikipedia.org

  F+W filed for Chapter 11 protection in March, and its assets were sold in bankruptcy auctions later that year.

• 2017

  Creditor restructuring

  [1]F+Wen.wikipedia.org

  Creditors received a 97 percent stake in exchange for debt relief and a new line of credit.

• 2014

  New Track Media acquisition and rebranding

  [1]F+Wen.wikipedia.org

  F+W Media acquired New Track Media, adopted the F+W name, and was subsequently acquired by Tinicum.

• 2012

  Interweave acquisition and fiction imprints

  [1]F+Wen.wikipedia.org

  F+W acquired Interweave and launched the Crimson Romance and Merit Press imprints.

• 2011

  Entry into fiction publishing

  [1]F+Wen.wikipedia.org

  F+W entered the fiction market through the acquisition of Tyrus Books.

• 2008

  E-commerce expansion begins

  [1]F+Wen.wikipedia.org

  F+W began emphasizing e-commerce activities and products tied to its magazine and specialist-content communities.

• 2005

  ABRY Partners acquisition

  [1]F+Wen.wikipedia.org

  Private-equity firm ABRY Partners purchased F+W.

• 2003

  Acquisitions of Horticulture and Adams Media

  [1]F+Wen.wikipedia.org

  The company acquired Horticulture magazine and Adams Media, broadening its magazine and book interests.

• 2002

  Acquisition of Krause Publications

  [1]F+Wen.wikipedia.org

  F+W expanded its specialist publishing portfolio through the acquisition of Krause Publications.

• 1913

  Company founded in Cincinnati

  [1]F+Wen.wikipedia.org

  The business that eventually became F+W was established in Cincinnati and developed around early publications including Farm Quarterly and Writer's Digest.

A community-centered special-interest media company that combined enthusiast publishing with digital content, education, events, and commerce. F+W sought to monetize focused audiences by pairing editorial brands with books, products, online services, and live experiences.

• Writing media and education

  Writer's Digest

  Writer's Digest was one of the publications connected to F+W's origins and became a core specialist brand for writers. The broader Writer's Digest operation represented the company's focus on practical content and community services for aspiring and established authors, supported by publishing, digital products, and educational activity.

• Arts and crafts media

  Interweave

  Interweave was an arts-and-crafts media company acquired by F+W Media in 2012. Its portfolio fit F+W's community-based approach by serving specialist makers and creative hobbyists through content, books, magazines, digital media, education, and related commerce.

• Special-interest publishing

  Krause Publications

  Krause Publications joined F+W through a 2002 acquisition. It strengthened the company's portfolio of enthusiast publishing and contributed to F+W's broader focus on focused communities, specialist reference content, magazines, and books.

• Book publishing

  David & Charles

  David & Charles was among the publishing businesses associated with F+W's expansion. It formed part of the company's book-publishing portfolio, which complemented its magazines, digital products, specialist communities, and commerce activities.

• Art and craft books

  North Light Books

  North Light Books was an F+W publishing brand focused on art and creative subjects. It exemplified the company's strategy of serving enthusiast audiences with specialized instructional and reference publishing.

• Fiction publishing · 2012

  Crimson Romance

  Crimson Romance was a romance-fiction imprint launched by F+W in 2012 as part of the company's move beyond specialist nonfiction into focused commercial fiction publishing.

• Young-adult fiction · 2012

  Merit Press

  Merit Press was introduced in 2012 as an F+W young-adult fiction imprint. Its launch broadened the company's publishing mix while retaining the focused-audience logic used across its specialist media operations.

• 2019

  Chapter 11 filing and asset liquidationOther

  Background

  Continuing financial difficulties followed the 2017 restructuring and the 2018 workforce reduction.

  Action taken

  F+W filed for Chapter 11 protection and subsequently sold its assets through bankruptcy auctions.

  Aftermath

  Penguin Random House acquired the book-publishing assets, while properties such as Sky & Telescope were sold separately. F+W ceased operating as an independent company.

  Source

• 2017

  Debt restructuring and creditor ownershipStrategy

  Background

  F+W faced financial pressure and required debt relief and additional financing.

  Action taken

  Creditors received a 97 percent stake in the company in exchange for debt relief and a new line of credit.

  Aftermath

  The restructuring did not prevent further executive departures, workforce reductions, and the eventual Chapter 11 filing.

  Source

• 2014

  Acquisition of New Track MediaM&A

  Background

  F+W continued to consolidate specialist media properties and expand its portfolio.

  Action taken

  F+W Media acquired New Track Media, adopted the F+W name, and came under the ownership of Tinicum.

  Aftermath

  The transaction increased the scale of the company but was followed by leadership turnover and later financial distress.

  Source

• 2012

  Launch of Crimson Romance and Merit PressProduct launch

  Background

  F+W had expanded from specialist nonfiction into fiction through the acquisition of Tyrus Books and sought additional focused fiction categories.

  Action taken

  The company launched Crimson Romance for romance fiction and Merit Press for young-adult fiction.

  Aftermath

  The launches diversified F+W's publishing program beyond its established enthusiast and instructional categories.

  Source

• 2008

  Shift toward content-linked e-commerceStrategy

  Background

  F+W sought to extend its specialist media communities beyond magazines and books by selling related products and services online.

  Action taken

  The company increased its emphasis on e-commerce and developed stores connected to its editorial brands and subject categories.

  Aftermath

  The e-commerce operation expanded from one store in 2008 to 31 stores by 2015, becoming a significant part of the company's business model.

  E-commerce revenue. $6 million from one store → More than $65 million from 31 stores (2008 to 2015)

  Source

1. 1F+Wen.wikipedia.org