Quad/Graphics, Inc. (NYSE: QUAD) (“Quad/Graphics,” “Quad” or the “Company”), a global marketing services provider that helps brand owners market their products, services and content more efficiently and effectively, today announced that it has extended and expanded its relationship with Bluestem Brands, Inc., a multi-brand online retailer, under a newly signed multi-year contract valued at more than $450 million over the term.
Beginning January 1, 2018, Quad/Graphics will supply paper purchasing, printing and mail/distribution services for all 13 of Bluestem Brands online retail brands. Currently, Quad/Graphics prints catalogs and provides premedia services, including prepress, digital photography and video production, for the online retailer’s Fingerhut and Gettington brands. Soon, Quad/Graphics will begin printing catalogs for 11 additional brands, all of which are under Bluestem’s Orchard portfolio.
“We are proud to build on our long-standing relationship with Bluestem Brands, a respected multi-brand online retailer,” said Joel Quadracci, Quad/Graphics Chairman, President & CEO. “Bluestem Brands understands the critical role print plays in its marketing mix – particularly in its effectiveness to drive traffic online. Further, by consolidating paper purchasing and print spend with Quad/Graphics, the retailer will eliminate redundancies, and achieve time- and cost-saving efficiencies. As with all our clients, we will work closely with Bluestem Brands to provide exceptional customer service while continuing to innovate solutions that advance its marketing and overall business objectives.”
“We, too, are proud to expand our relationship with Quad/Graphics as we strategically strengthen our brands in the marketplace,” said Steve Nave, Bluestem Brands President & CEO. “Quad/Graphics has the knowledge, resources and commitment to help our print program succeed. In particular, we value Quad’s partnership approach to doing business by bringing forward ideas and solutions to help us better manage the complexities of today’s retail landscape.”
Bluestem Brands’ Northstar portfolio is comprised of the Fingerhut and Gettington brands. Bluestem Brands’ Orchard portfolio consists of the Appleseed’s, Blair, Bedford Fair, Draper’s & Damon’s, Gold Violin, Haband, Norm Thompson, Old Pueblo Traders, Sahalie, Tog Shop and WinterSilks brands.
True to its pioneering roots, Quad/Graphics continues to transform its business to create significant value for its clients by addressing their urgent business needs to improve both process efficiencies and marketing spend effectiveness. For example, Quad/Graphics helps simplify how clients operate within their own organizations to save time and money through workflow re-engineering and optimization services, and mailing and distribution programs. Quad/Graphics also helps clients sell more of their own products and services by creating more powerfully integrated online and offline campaigns driven by consumer data.
“We are excited about our ongoing transformation, which we refer to Quad 3.0 and reflects of our ever-evolving functionality to help clients compete more effectively today while addressing tomorrow’s changing market demands,” Quadracci said.
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