Podcast Episode #214: Anne Merrow
In this podcast episode, Anne Merrow discusses her long career in craft publishing from Interweave to co-founding Long Thread Media.
Long Thread Media Buys Spin Off, PieceWork, and Handwoven
Linda Ligon, John Bolton, and Anne Merrow have come together to buy Spin Off, PieceWork, and Handwoven magazines and related material from Peak Media Properties. The new company is called Long Thread Media LLC and is based in Fort Collins, Colorado.
F+W Craft Communities Have Been Auctioned Off to Macanta Investments
In a bankruptcy auction that took place today Macanta Investments, a private investment partnership based in New York City, was the successful bidder for the largest portion of the Crafts Community with a bid of $2,850,000.
F+W Books Has Been Sold to Penguin Random House
According to a bankruptcy court filing made this morning, F+W Books has been sold to Penguin Random House. The amount of the sale was not disclosed.
F+W Media Files for Bankruptcy
F+W Media, the major craft publisher, has filed for bankruptcy. In the filing, CEO Gregory Osberg cites the decade long decline in the market for print magazines as a contributing factor. Since 2015, for example, the company’s subscribers have decreased from approximately 33.4 million to 21.5 million and the company’s advertising revenue has decreased from $20.7 million to $13.7 million. But that’s not the whole story.
F+W Sells Martha Pullen Company and The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo to Hoffman Media
F+W has sold the Martha Pullen Company and its portfolio of books, patterns, teacher curriculums, in-person and online events, and online embroidery club to Hoffman Media. The sale includes the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, a suite of eight consumer sewing, quilting and embroidery shows in the US.
F+W to Cease Publication of Modern Patchwork, Cloth Paper Scissors, Quilty, and Knit.Wear Magazines Amidst New Round of Layoffs
F+W is shutting down Modern Patchwork, Cloth Paper Scissors, Quilty, and Knit.Wear magazines. The issues currently in production will be the last. A letter will be going out informing contributors later this week and Tiffany Warble, Director of Content, says the company is working on a plan for existing subscribers. A round of layoffs accompanied the closures.
F+W Sells Keepsake Quilting to Steelcity
F+W has sold Keepsake Quilting, the quilt shop and catalog business, to Steelcity LLC, the parent company of Swatchcraft and Pineapple Fabrics. The sale was announced this week. The Keepsake Quilting shop is located in Center Harbor, New Hampshire and the catalog business has its headquarters eight miles away in Moltonborough.
How F+W Became a Craft Publishing Giant and What the Future Holds
F+W has grown from a family-owned magazine publisher to an international force in the craft market. Here’s a history of the company, and how they did it.
An Open Letter to the Community From John Bolton, General Manager of Interweave
An open letter to the community from John Bolton, General Manager of Interweave. This letter apologizes for and announces corrections in favor of teachers.