Great Lakes Publishing
Great Lakes Publishing is a Cleveland-based private media company operating a four-studio creative marketing agency (digital, video, publishing, media) alongside owned regional magazines including Ohio Magazine, Cleveland Magazine, and Cleveland Scene, serving tourism boards, CVBs, and regional businesses across the Great Lakes region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Great Lakes Publishing does
Great Lakes Publishing Co., operating commercially under the brand Great Lakes Studios, is a Cleveland, Ohio-headquartered private media company founded in 1972 that runs an integrated regional creative marketing agency alongside a portfolio of owned regional magazines. The company organizes delivery through four studio units: a Digital Studio for marketing, SEO, lead generation, and distribution; a Video Studio for production; a Publishing Studio for brand-aware print products; and a Media Studio that publishes Ohio Magazine, LongWeekends Magazine, Cleveland Magazine, Lake Erie Living, and Sip Magazine. In January 2024 the firm acquired Cleveland Scene, an alternative weekly newspaper, bringing combined readership and digital audience to over one million and extending its local journalism footprint.
The business generates revenue through two streams: (i) professional services fees from B2B creative marketing engagements delivered to tourism boards, CVBs, and regional businesses, and (ii) advertising and publication revenue across its owned magazine portfolio. The go-to-market is sales-led, with direct engagement to enterprise and government clients quoted on a per-project basis; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Select named customers are concentrated in government tourism (TourismOhio, Clermont County CVB, Akron Summit CVB, Visit Wayne County, Toledo Guide, Trumbull County Tourism Bureau) supplemented by mid-market regional publishers such as Sip Magazine.
The firm is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or external investors based on the input, suggesting founder or locally-owned ownership. Headcount is reported in the 101-250 range, the company is non-AI in nature, and its competitive positioning rests on 50-plus years of regional brand equity, scaled audience across acquired and owned publications, and an integrated multi-studio service model.
Great Lakes Publishing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Great Lakes Publishing
- Legal name
- Great Lakes Publishing Co.
- Website
- https://glpublishing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Great Lakes Publishing is a Cleveland-based private media company operating a four-studio creative marketing agency (digital, video, publishing, media) alongside owned regional magazines including Ohio Magazine, Cleveland Magazine, and Cleveland Scene, serving tourism boards, CVBs, and regional businesses across the Great Lakes region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Great Lakes Publishing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marketing and Publishing Services
- NAICS
- Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Newspaper Publishers (513110)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines (MPAJAEAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Digital Publishing Platforms (News/Magazines) (BPAMAJAE)
Keywords
Where Great Lakes Publishing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Great Lakes Publishing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Creative Marketing Services: The company generates revenue through providing creative marketing services including digital marketing, SEO, lead generation, video production, brand-aware print publications, and targeted digital campaigns to local and regional businesses.
- Magazine and Publication Operations: Revenue from publishing magazines including Ohio Magazine, LongWeekends Magazine, Cleveland Magazine, Lake Erie Living, and operating news publications like Cleveland Scene. The company serves tourism boards, CVBs, and regional businesses.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Great Lakes Publishing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Great Lakes Publishing operates four studios — Digital Studio, Video Studio, Publishing Studio, and Media Studio — that deliver integrated creative marketing services including SEO, lead generation, video production, brand-aware print publications, and targeted digital campaigns. The company also publishes regional magazines such as Cleveland Magazine, Ohio Magazine, LongWeekends Magazine, and Lake Erie Living, serving local businesses and tourism organizations across the Great Lakes region.
Product overview
Great Lakes Publishing operates as a full-service digital marketing and publishing agency organized into four distinct studio offerings: Digital Studio (marketing, SEO, lead generation, distribution), Video Studio (video production), Publishing Studio (print products), and Media Studio (magazine publications). Their portfolio includes owned publications such as Cleveland Magazine, Ohio Magazine, LongWeekends Magazine, Lake Erie Living, and Sip Magazine. The company expanded its local journalism presence through the acquisition of Cleveland Scene (effective January 5, 2024), combining publications to reach over one million readers monthly.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Digital Studio: Marketing, SEO, lead gen and distribution services
- Video Studio
- Publishing Studio
- Media Studio
Products and services
- Digital Studio Marketing services for businesses including brand awareness, engagement increase, and lead quality improvement through marketing, SEO, lead generation, and distribution specialists. Provides hands-on support to clients across the Great Lakes region.
- Video Studio Video production services with writers, art directors, and videographers creating expertly crafted videos designed to amplify business marketing messages and reach broader audiences.
- Publishing Studio Print product creation services that craft brand-aware, content-savvy print publications delivering on message with lasting impact for both clients and audiences.
- Media Studio Magazine publishing services covering Ohio Magazine, LongWeekends Magazine, Cleveland Magazine, Lake Erie Living, and Sip Magazine, focused on regional attractions, restaurants, and outdoor adventures.
- Cleveland Magazine Regional magazine publication covering Cleveland area news, local content, and community reporting.
- Ohio Magazine Regional magazine covering Ohio's attractions, restaurants, and outdoor adventures.
- LongWeekends Magazine Regional magazine covering attractions, restaurants, and outdoor adventures focused on weekend travel experiences.
- Lake Erie Living Regional magazine covering Lake Erie area attractions, restaurants, and outdoor adventures.
- Sip Magazine Regional magazine covering attractions, restaurants, and outdoor adventures with a beverage/lifestyle focus.
- Cleveland Scene Alternative weekly newspaper known for local reporting and arts coverage in Cleveland, acquired by Great Lakes Publishing effective January 5, 2024.
Companies that use Great Lakes Publishing
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Great Lakes Publishing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Great Lakes Publishing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Great Lakes Publishing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hour Media: Hour Media publishes regional city magazines including Cincinnati Magazine and Hour Detroit, with similar integrated content and marketing services. Closely comparable to Great Lakes Publishing's combination of regional lifestyle magazines and client-side creative services in the Midwest.
- SagaCity Media: SagaCity Media operates regional city magazines such as Portland Monthly and Seattle Met. Directly comparable to Great Lakes Publishing's regional magazine portfolio and digital publishing operations serving major U.S. metropolitan markets.
- 5280 Media: 5280 Media publishes 5280 Magazine covering the Denver metro and offers integrated marketing services to local businesses. Directly comparable in business model: regional lifestyle magazine + creative agency serving a defined U.S. metro area.
- Boston Magazine: Boston Magazine (owned by MET Media/Regent Communications) operates a regional city magazine with related marketing services. Direct peer in the regional city magazine category with similar audience-targeting and advertising model.
- Philadelphia Magazine: Philadelphia Magazine (Metro Corporation) is a regional city magazine publishing operation covering Philadelphia metro with integrated marketing and events. Directly comparable regional magazine and branded-content business.
- St. Louis Magazine: St. Louis Magazine is a regional city magazine serving the St. Louis metro with related marketing services. Comparable to Great Lakes Publishing in being a regional lifestyle publication that sells integrated marketing solutions to local clients.
- Where Magazine: Where Magazine (WMX Group) is a travel and tourism-focused publication distributed in major U.S. cities. Directly comparable customer base and content focus, as both serve tourism boards and CVBs with destination-marketing content.
- Austin Monthly: Austin Monthly is a regional city magazine serving the Austin metro with related marketing services. Direct peer in the regional city magazine category, comparable audience and revenue model.
Broad incumbents
- Miles Partnership: Miles Partnership is a tourism-focused marketing agency serving state tourism offices, CVBs, and DMOs nationally. Broader incumbent serving many of the same customer types (state tourism boards, CVBs) that Great Lakes Publishing serves in Ohio and the Great Lakes region.
- Emmis Communications: Emmis Communications is a diversified regional media company operating radio stations and city magazines (e.g., Indianapolis Monthly) across multiple U.S. markets. Broader incumbent with overlapping regional publishing and local advertising businesses.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Great Lakes Publishing social profiles
Digital presenceGreat Lakes Publishing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Great Lakes Publishing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Great Lakes Publishing subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Great Lakes Publishing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Great Lakes Publishing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Great Lakes Publishing
What does Great Lakes Publishing do?
Great Lakes Publishing operates four studios — Digital Studio, Video Studio, Publishing Studio, and Media Studio — that deliver integrated creative marketing services including SEO, lead generation, video production, brand-aware print publications, and targeted digital campaigns. The company also publishes regional magazines such as Cleveland Magazine, Ohio Magazine, LongWeekends Magazine, and Lake Erie Living, serving local businesses and tourism organizations across the Great Lakes region.
Is Great Lakes Publishing a public or private company?
Great Lakes Publishing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Great Lakes Publishing founded?
Great Lakes Publishing was founded in 1972. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Great Lakes Publishing based?
Great Lakes Publishing is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Great Lakes Publishing make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Creative Marketing Services are the primary driver. The others are magazine and Publication Operations.
Who are Great Lakes Publishing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hour Media, SagaCity Media, 5280 Media, Boston Magazine, Philadelphia Magazine, St. Louis Magazine, Where Magazine and Austin Monthly. Broad incumbents are Miles Partnership and Emmis Communications.
Does Great Lakes Publishing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Great Lakes Publishing.
What industry is Great Lakes Publishing in?
Great Lakes Publishing's product category is Marketing and Publishing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAN, Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines, with a secondary code of BPAMAJAE, Digital Publishing Platforms (News/Magazines). Its NAICS code is 5131 and its SIC code is 2721.