UK calendar publisher, distributor and licensee Carousel Calendars is delighted to announce the acquisition of US-based publisher Gladstone Media.
Gladstone Media, under Leonard Phillips and based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, has been a highly regarded publisher since 1995. Specialising in distinctive, high quality and creative calendars, it has a unique place within the dated market.
Carousel Calendars has been expanding its distribution worldwide, particularly in the US, so welcomed this opportunity to acquire Gladstone Media. Both companies share very similar values with design, spectacular imagery and stunning photography, as well as having environmental and sustainability issues at the heart of all products. This has helped to make the whole process of integration as smooth as possible, to continue delivering the highest quality calendars to all our customers.
The move supports Carousel’s growth within the US and its imminent launch of the Carousel Worldwide brand. The aim of Carousel Worldwide is to become the largest calendar publishing business in the world. Carousel Calendars is part-owned by Calendar Club US, which, with the Go! Retail and www.calendars.com brands, is billed as the largest US calendar retailer.
Steve Plackett, managing director of Carousel Calendars, said: “This is an exciting and significant step in our international growth. Gladstone’s unique range of calendars is very complementary to our own range, and it’s been a pleasure to work with Leonard in order to make this happen.”
Leonard commented: “It’s been a long, strange trip from the single title Gladstone Media began with in 1995, to the scores of titles we now produce. It is difficult to let go, yet I am honoured and excited to pass the reins to Carousel Calendars. Steve has been great throughout the acquisition process, and we at Gladstone Media look forward to the support, scale and worldwide reach that comes with joining the team at Carousel.”
