Art Joinnides and Trisha Malcolm at Vogue Knitting Live! in 2011.
It is with deep sorrow that SOHO Publishing Company (SPC), Mixed Media Resources (MMR), and West Broadway Distribution Services (WBDS) announce the death of Arthur Joinnides, 77, cofounder and president of SPC, MMR, and WBDS. Arthur (Art) passed away peacefully at his home in Islip, NY, on August 13, 2024.
Art began his publishing career at Butterick Company in his early twenties. While at Butterick, Art was the primary driving creative force behind the business. Art oversaw the marketing of Butterick and Vogueâ patterns, played a key role in originating the See & Sew pattern line, relaunched the premier fashion knitting magazine, Vogue Knitting, was instrumental in helping to form a book publishing program, helped to conceive and launch the PBS series Sewing Today (sponsored by Bernina), and was integrally involved in the founding of a book distribution business.
In 2001, upon the sale of Butterick Company to the McCall Pattern Company, Art and his business partner, Jay Stein, maintained control of the book distribution business, the book publishing business, and Vogue Knitting. In 2001, Art and Jay formed two separate private holding companies for these businesses. In 2012 the partners founded another book publishing company, Mixed Media Resources LLC.
Under Art’s guidance, SPC, MMR, and WBDS have flourished, publishing hundreds of top-selling craft titles under the imprints of Sixth & Spring Books, MMR, and Get Creative 6, including Vogue Knitting The Ultimate Knitting Book, which has sold over 1 million copies, and The Master Guide to Drawing Anime by Christopher Hart, with over 500,000 copies sold.
In 2011, Art, in conjunction with editor in chief Trisha Malcolm, launched Vogue Knitting LIVE!, an immensely successful consumer show, bringing together thousands of knitting enthusiasts. Later, the company offered knitting retreats and virtual consumer experiences.
Art helped to build a robust packaging business, creating books and magazines for companies such as FTD Flowers, PBS, Joann, Charming Shoppes, Lion Brand Yarn, Cascade Yarns, Knitting Fever, and many other brands.
The book distribution business founded in 1997 now serves as the exclusive pay-on-scan book distributor for the two largest craft chains in the world.
Art’s pioneering spirit, creativity, business acumen, and leadership skills led to some of the most successful endeavors in the craft publishing industry.
Art’s celebrated career in the publishing industry spanned over 50 years, and throughout that time he cultivated tremendous relationships. Art will be deeply missed by all of us at SPC/MMR/WBDS and by so many others.
Art’s legacy will be carried forth by his partners, Jay Stein and Carrie Kilmer, and by the staffs of the book distribution, event businesses, and publishing companies he helped to found.
Carrie I read your tribute to Art. It was beautiful. You really did a wonderful job describing Arts many talents . He really was an amazing man . Thank you.
Our sincere condolences to the Joinnides family.
I met Art a lifetime ago( in the early 70’s )
and always admired his insights regarding the knitting yarn business as well as his marketing savvy. He was a most positive force in
our industry and will be sorely missed.
It was impossible not to like Art. He had a great sense of humor and an interest in everything. He always looked at the big picture. Above all, he was a man of integrity. He was a great guy and will be missed – he’s already missed.
I hadn’t heard about Art’s passing. He was very much apart of my career at Butterick and Vogue Knitting. He did so much for the industries. A great loss.