The Quarto Group

What The Quarto Group does

The Quarto Group is a privately held international illustrated book publishing group founded in 1976 and headquartered in London, with primary corporate operations through The Quarto Group, Inc., incorporated in Delaware, USA. The company operates 30+ publishing imprints spanning both US and UK markets and covering 11 subject areas including arts, crafts, hobbies, cooking, fiction, gardening, house and home, health, spirituality, history, biography, culture, kids and teens, math, science, nature, stationery, gifts, transportation, and travel and recreation. Notable imprint brands include Walter Foster Publishing, Motorbooks, Chartwell Books, Harvard Common Press, White Lion Publishing, Rockport Publishers, Frances Lincoln Children's Books, Wide Eyed Editions, becker&mayer! kids, and Murdoch Books. The company does not operate a proprietary technology platform, API, or SaaS product; its core business is content creation, editorial, and book publishing across print and digital formats.

The Quarto Group generates revenue through the sale of physical and digital books under a one-time-license unit-pricing model, with title-level price points ranging from approximately $10.99 to $60.00 (hardcovers typically $25-$60, activity and coloring books $10-$20). Books are sold through a multi-channel distribution network that includes direct e-commerce at quarto.com, major online retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Indigo, Bookshop.org), independent bookstores, and international distribution partners. The company's customer base is a horizontal spread of mass-market general consumer readers — hobbyists, crafters, home cooks, automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts, art instruction seekers, and children's activity buyers — supplemented by a secondary segment of media-tie-in and licensed-content buyers tied to franchises such as Peaky Blinders and Frankenstein.

The Quarto Group's value proposition is built on a multi-imprint portfolio model that allows specialized content curation and brand identity by subject area, supported by strategic content partnerships with cultural and governmental institutions including the British Museum, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Transport for London, Royal Horticultural Society, and the British Library. The company has demonstrated a continuous product launch cadence through 2025-2026 across cooking, art instruction, transportation, and children's categories, and has been expanding its creator/influencer IP partnerships (e.g., Bobbie Goods, Leo Messi / Little People Big Dreams). The company employs between 251 and 500 people, with operational offices in London (UK headquarters) and US operations, and is led by CEO Alison Goff.

Name

The Quarto Group

Legal name

The Quarto Group, Inc.

Website

https://quarto.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Quarto Group is a privately held international illustrated book publisher founded in 1976, operating 30+ imprints across the US and UK. It serves mass-market consumer readers with illustrated non-fiction, how-to, cooking, transportation, and children's titles distributed via Amazon, major retailers, and direct e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Book Retailers and News Dealers (45921)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Book & Periodical Wholesalers (Trade Distribution) (MPAJAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious & Specialty Publishing Distribution (CRAOALAD), Children’s Books & Educational Readers Retail (CRALAAAD)

Keywords

• Illustrated book publishing
• Book distribution services
• Children's illustrated books
• Cookbook publishing
• Art instruction books

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: The Quarto Group generates revenue through the sale of physical and digital books across multiple imprints. Books are sold through direct e-commerce, major retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble), independent bookstores, and international distribution channels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Quarto Group is a global illustrated book publisher that creates, produces, and distributes physical and digital books across more than 30 specialized imprints in the US and UK, covering subjects such as art instruction, crafts, cooking, transportation/automotive, gardening, children's illustrated books, lifestyle, fiction, and pop culture. The company sells directly to consumers through quarto.com and to retail/wholesale customers via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Indigo, Bookshop.org, and independent bookstores, while operating a dedicated distribution arm (Quarto Distributed Publishers) for third-party publishers.

Product overview

The Quarto Group is a global book publishing company operating a multi-imprint portfolio model. The company publishes illustrated books across multiple subject areas including Arts/Crafts/Hobbies, Cooking, Fiction, Gardening/House/Home, Health/Spirituality, History/Biography/Culture, Kids/Teens, Math/Science/Nature, Stationery/Gifts, Transportation, and Travel/Recreation. The company structure includes numerous UK and US imprints (such as Walter Foster Publishing, Motorbooks, Chartwell Books, Harvard Common Press, White Lion Publishing, Wide Eyed Editions) and publishes book series (Color Mixing Recipes, Complete Book Series, Motorbooks Workshop, For Artists, Creative Keepsakes, Cozy Stickers, Sticker Activity Deluxe Editions). Products are distributed through retail channels including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and independent bookstores. The company does not appear to offer a technology platform, API, or SaaS product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Walter Foster Publishing: Art instruction and creative publishing imprint
• Walter Foster
• Little People Big Dreams
• Chartwell Books
• Murdoch Books
• Motorbooks
• White Lion Publishing
• Rockport Publishers
• Quarry Books
• Harvard Common Press
• Fair Winds Press
• Cool Springs Press
• Voyageur Press
• Wellfleet Press
• Castle Books
• Epic Ink
• Ivy Press
• Wide Eyed Editions
• Frances Lincoln
• Aurum
• Bright Press
• Carnival
• Happy Yak
• Holler
• Ivy Kids
• Kaddo
• Leaping Hare Press
• Quarto Publishing
• Quarto Distributed Publishers
• Rock Point
• words & pictures
• becker&mayer! kids

Products and services

• Quarto.com E-commerce Storefront Company-owned e-commerce platform enabling direct consumer purchase of all Quarto Group titles across imprints, with browsing by subject area, imprint, and new releases, and support for shipping, returns, and customer service.
• Walter Foster Publishing
• Motorbooks US imprint specializing in automotive, motorcycle, and transportation books including the Complete Book series covering individual brands such as BMW, Ducati, Ford Mustang, and Jaguar.
• Harvard Common Press US imprint specializing in cookbooks, food, and general interest specialty titles for home cooks, food enthusiasts, and gift buyers.
• Chartwell Books US imprint publishing across a wide range of subjects including history, craft, home reference, puzzles and games, music, art instruction, and transportation, plus sticker/activity books.
• White Lion Publishing UK imprint publishing books on travel, food and drink, issues and activism, self-care, lifestyle, and popular culture, often developed with institutional partners such as the British Museum, Kew, and TfL.
• Frances Lincoln Children's Books UK imprint publishing children's books including the Little People Big Dreams series, for children, parents, schools, and gift buyers.
• Murdoch Books International imprint publishing cookbooks and lifestyle books including titles by celebrated Australian and international bakers and chefs.
• Rockport Publishers US imprint publishing art instruction and creative books including the For Artists series, for art learners and creative practitioners.
• Quarry Books US imprint publishing art instruction, craft, and creative books for crafters, artists, and creative hobbyists.
• Cool Springs Press US imprint focused on practical how-to books for home improvement, gardening, and DIY topics, for homeowners and DIY enthusiasts.
• Fair Winds Press US imprint publishing books on cooking, crafts, and DIY lifestyle topics for general lifestyle consumers.
• Castle Books US imprint publishing general interest titles including pop culture, entertainment, and gift-format books.
• Voyageur Press US imprint publishing books on transportation, restoration, and technical subjects, for hobbyists and restoration enthusiasts.
• Aurum UK imprint publishing books across various subject areas including architecture and design.
• Wide Eyed Editions UK imprint publishing illustrated children's books and educational content for young readers, parents, and schools.
• Ivy Kids UK imprint publishing children's activity books and educational materials for kids and parents.
• becker&mayer! kids US imprint publishing innovative children's books and activity kits, including novelty formats for kids and gift buyers.
• Rock Point US imprint publishing gift books, stationery, and lifestyle titles for gift buyers and lifestyle consumers.
• Wellfleet Press US imprint publishing books on popular culture, entertainment, and gift-format nonfiction for pop culture and gift consumers.
• Bright Press Imprint publishing books across lifestyle and wellness subject areas for general lifestyle consumers.
• Sticker Activity Deluxe Editions Series Series of deluxe sticker, color, and activity books featuring 500+ stickers, coloring pages, and interactive activities across themes including national parks, holidays, and creative topics, for kids, parents, and gift buyers.
• Color Mixing Recipes Series Series by William F. Powell featuring precise color mixing combinations for oil, acrylic, and watercolor painting, including acetate grids for measuring paint units, for artists and art students.
• Complete Book Series (Motorbooks) Series of comprehensive books covering individual automotive and motorcycle brands including BMW, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Triumph, Ford Mustang, and Jaguar, with detailed year-by-year overviews, for vehicle enthusiasts and collectors.
• Motorbooks Workshop Series Series of practical how-to books for restoring and customizing vehicles, motorcycles, and farm equipment with step-by-step instructions and photographs, for DIY mechanics and restorers.
• For Artists Series Series of art instruction books and workbooks covering techniques for painting, drawing, and creative practice with step-by-step guidance, for art students and creative practitioners.
• Creative Keepsakes Series Series of guided and free-form journals including activity books, gratitude journals, sketching books, and self-discovery prompts designed for offline creative engagement, for gift buyers and personal development consumers.
• Cozy Stickers Series Series of miniature sticker books featuring charming scenes with hundreds of mini stickers for creating cozy illustrations, for sticker enthusiasts, kids, and gift buyers.
• Quarto Distributed Publishers Wholesale book distribution service operating as part of The Quarto Group, providing distribution capabilities to both Quarto's own imprints and third-party publishers in the US and UK markets.
• Little People Big Dreams Series Acquired children's book series of illustrated biographies of inspirational figures, for children, parents, schools, and gift buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2025 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Honorable Mention for Frankenstein Lives

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal Botanic Gardens KewcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Royal Botanic Gardens Kew for publishing botanical and garden-related content under White Lion Publishing imprint.
• Transport for LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Transport for London for publishing travel and transportation-related content under White Lion Publishing imprint.
• Royal Horticultural SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Royal Horticultural Society for gardening and horticultural content publishing.
• The British MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The British Museum for publishing cultural and historical content.
• The British LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The British Library for publishing historical and archival content.
• Daily TelegraphminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for promotional and marketing purposes.
• Wainwright SignatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Wainwright Signature for walking/hiking guide content.
• SCMUminorOthersPartnership with SCMU referenced on White Lion Publishing partners page.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Workman Publishing: Independent illustrated book publisher specializing in calendars, how-to, cookbooks, and gift titles. Highly comparable to Quarto's illustrated non-fiction, activity books, and gift-driven catalog across similar retail channels.
• Chronicle Books: Privately held publisher of illustrated books, stationery, and gift products with strong design and lifestyle positioning. Directly comparable to Quarto's illustrated non-fiction, stationery, and gifting imprints such as Rock Point and Chartwell.
• Octopus Publishing Group: UK-based illustrated non-fiction publisher operating multiple imprints across cooking, craft, wellness, and lifestyle. Direct peer given similar UK heritage, multi-imprint model, and illustrated trade focus overlapping with White Lion Publishing and Murdoch Books.
• Abrams Books: Independent publisher specializing in illustrated books, art, cooking, and children's titles. Comparable to Quarto in illustrated non-fiction, art instruction, and children's publishing categories.
• DK (Dorling Kindersley): Illustrated reference publisher known for visual non-fiction across adult and children's segments. Direct peer given shared focus on highly illustrated, visually-led non-fiction content comparable to Ivy Press and Wide Eyed Editions.

Emerging players

• Quarto Distributed Publishers: Quarto's own distribution arm servicing third-party publishers. Listed separately because it functions as an internal distribution business comparable to independent trade distributors like National Book Network.

Broad incumbents

• Penguin Random House: Largest global trade publisher with broad illustrated, lifestyle, and children's catalogs. A broad incumbent in the same space, with significantly greater scale but less specialization in Quarto's niche illustrated non-fiction depth.
• HarperCollins Publishers: Global trade publisher with illustrated, lifestyle, and children's divisions. Broad incumbent overlapping Quarto's categories including cookbooks, illustrated reference, and children's books.
• Scholastic: Major children's book publisher and distributor with global educational reach. Comparable to Quarto's children's imprints including Little People Big Dreams, Wide Eyed Editions, and Ivy Kids.

Regional players

• Bonnier Books UK: UK-based illustrated non-fiction and lifestyle publisher with multiple imprints. Regional peer given shared UK heritage and comparable illustrated non-fiction editorial focus, though with limited direct US overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/quartoknows
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCg6_9Q3TbEXRPspas_bqPHw
• Facebookfacebook.com/QuartoKnows
• Instagraminstagram.com/quartobooksus
• Pinterestpinterest.com/quartoknows
• TikToktiktok.com/@quartobooks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quarto-publishing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A7 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Quarto Group