AdMax

What AdMax does

AdMax Displays is a privately held, full-service local advertising network headquartered at 1518 E. Superior Street in Duluth, Minnesota, operating in the Twin Ports region (Duluth, MN and Superior, WI). Founded in 1992, the company monetizes a portfolio of community-rooted advertising assets: outdoor placements (bus benches across Duluth and Superior, illuminated backlit displays, Canal Park kiosks positioned along the Lakewalk in front of 5-6 million annual visitors), print publications (The Duluthian Magazine — the official publication of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce — and Positively Superior Magazine), annual business directories for both Chambers, and the semiannual Campus Coupons program reaching 19,000+ students at five area colleges. Reported scale metrics include 10,000,000+ monthly impressions across the platform, 3,000+ copies per issue of The Duluthian, and 2,000+ per issue of Positively Superior.

In 2025, AdMax entered a strategic partnership with Finden Marketing to extend beyond its print and outdoor heritage into digital marketing services — online advertising, social media management, SEO, content writing, branding, website design, and print design. The company has productized this combined offering through tiered Complete Marketing Packages priced at $2,500/month (Core) and $6,000/month (Growth), bundling dedicated specialists, social media, graphic design, SEO, PR, and content production into recurring engagements. AdMax sells exclusively through a sales-led direct field-sales motion targeting SMBs in the Twin Ports, supplemented by Chamber of Commerce referral channels; it has no app, no public API, and no disclosed AI/ML technology stack.

The business model is a hybrid of transactional ad placements (outdoor boards, print ads, one-time directory listings at $200-$500 per issue, campus coupons at $500-$1,000 per insertion) and recurring monthly subscriptions (CMP plans). AdMax is led by CEO Andrew Weisz with a small leadership team spanning sales (JoEllen Winship), editorial (Jim Lundstrom), creative (Benji Wedel, Tim Hunt), accounts (Adam Daoust), publication photography (Steve Isola), and accounting (Bari Fladmark-Hunt). The company is founder/management-controlled with no disclosed institutional investment.

Name

AdMax

Legal name

AdMax Displays

Website

https://admaxdisplays.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AdMax Displays is a privately held Duluth, Minnesota-based local advertising network selling outdoor placements (bus benches, Canal Park kiosks), community magazines, Chamber directories, and — via a 2025 Finden Marketing partnership — digital marketing subscriptions to small businesses in the Twin Ports region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Advertising Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (54181), Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850), Advertising Agencies (541810)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Marketing Technology, AdTech & MarTech Services (BPAFAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sales Promotion Management (Coupons, Rebates, Sampling, Sweepstakes) (MPAAAJAE), Paid Social Advertising (BPAFACAB)

Keywords

• Outdoor advertising
• Magazine publishing
• Digital marketing services
• Business directory listings
• Campus coupon marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Advertising Placements: Revenue from selling advertising space across multiple platforms including bus benches, backlit displays, canal park kiosks, campus coupons, and magazine/directory placements. Pricing varies by placement type and package level.
2. Complete Marketing Package Subscriptions: Monthly subscription services providing ongoing marketing support including social media management, graphic design, SEO, and content creation. Core Plan at $2,500/month and Growth Plan at $6,000/month.
3. Campus Coupon Advertising: Semester-based advertising sales targeting college students with coupon book placements. $500 per issue for single page, $1,000 for two-page spread.
4. Directory Listings and Upgrades: Annual directory advertising with tiered pricing for enhanced listings (Silver, Gold, Diamond packages) in Duluth and Superior Chamber directories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AdMax is a local advertising network headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota, founded in 1992, that sells outdoor advertising placements (bus benches, backlit displays, Canal Park kiosks), print publications (The Duluthian, Positively Superior, and annual Duluth/Superior directories), and the Campus Coupons distribution program to local businesses. In 2025 it expanded into digital marketing services—online advertising, social media management, branding, website design, print design, and a Complete Marketing Package subscription (Core $2,500/month, Growth $6,000/month)—through a strategic partnership with Finden Marketing.

Product overview

AdMax is a locally rooted full-service advertising network headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota, established in 1992. The company operates as a unified advertising platform combining outdoor advertising, print publications, and digital marketing solutions. Its core product portfolio includes outdoor advertising placements (bus benches, backlit displays, and Canal Park kiosks), community publications (The Duluthian Magazine and Positively Superior Magazine), business directories (Duluth Annual Directory and Superior Annual Directory), and the Campus Coupons program. Through its 2025 partnership with Finden Marketing, AdMax has expanded to offer digital services including online advertising, social media management, branding, website design, and print design. The company also offers tiered Complete Marketing Packages (CMP) providing comprehensive marketing support for small to enterprise businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bus Bench Advertising Outdoor advertising placements on bus benches across high-traffic areas of Duluth and Superior, delivering year-round continuous exposure to commuters, drivers, pedestrians, and riders. Sold to local businesses seeking affordable, high-visibility outdoor reach.
• Backlit Displays Illuminated outdoor displays placed in high-traffic areas including Canal Park and Duluth business districts, providing 24/7 brand visibility day and night for local advertisers.
• Canal Park Kiosks Advertising kiosks positioned in high-traffic areas of Canal Park along the Lakewalk in Duluth, reaching locals and the 5–6 million annual tourists who visit the destination each year. Sold to local businesses, especially tourism and hospitality operators.
• The Duluthian Magazine Official publication of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, reaching business leaders, professionals, and engaged community members with trusted local journalism. Distributed 3,000+ copies per issue and offering high-impact advertising placements.
• Positively Superior Magazine Superior, Wisconsin's business-to-business magazine celebrating local businesses, people, and community progress, distributed 2,000+ copies per issue with both print and digital circulation.
• Duluth Annual Directory Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce Business Directory and Community Guide functioning as a year-round reference for residents and businesses seeking local products and services, with tiered Silver, Gold, and Diamond listing packages ($300–$500 per issue).
• Superior Annual Directory Superior-Douglas County Area Chamber Annual Directory providing year-round business listings and advertising opportunities for the Superior, Wisconsin market, with tiered Silver, Gold, and Diamond listing packages ($200–$375 per issue).
• Campus Coupons Semiannual coupon distribution program reaching 19,000+ college students and staff across UMD, St. Scholastica, Lake Superior College, UWS, and other Twin Ports campuses. Sold at $500 per issue for a single full-page ad and $1,000 for a two-page spread.
• Complete Marketing Package (CMP) Full-service monthly marketing subscription providing dedicated marketing specialists, social media management, graphic design, SEO, content writing, branding, website maintenance, PR support, and online ad management. Core Plan $2,500/month and Growth Plan $6,000/month, introduced through AdMax's 2025 partnership with Finden Marketing.
• Online Advertising Digital marketing solutions delivered through AdMax's partnership with Finden Marketing, covering search engine advertising, social media advertising, retargeting, and digital display placements for local advertisers.
• Social Media Management Social media marketing services including content creation, Facebook/Instagram management, LinkedIn management, TikTok management, and social media ad management delivered through the Finden Marketing partnership.
• Branding Services Comprehensive branding solutions including logo design, complete brand development, business naming, brand guidelines, package design, and rebranding services delivered through the Finden Marketing partnership.
• Print Design Print design services for brochures, flyers, banners, magazines, and other print materials with creative layout and local market insight, offered through the Finden Marketing partnership.
• Website Design Modern, mobile-friendly website design services that showcase client services, drive inquiries, and integrate with AdMax's advertising campaigns, offered through the Finden Marketing partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000,000+ monthly impressions across advertising platforms
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Finden MarketingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In 2025, AdMax partnered with Finden Marketing to expand beyond print advertising into comprehensive digital marketing solutions. The partnership combines AdMax's established local advertising network (outdoor displays, publications, campus outreach) with Finden Marketing's digital expertise (social media management, SEO, content creation, website development, branding). Together they offer integrated marketing packages including the Complete Marketing Package at $2,500/month (Core Plan) and $6,000/month (Growth Plan).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dex Media: Local marketing solutions provider for small businesses, including digital presence, search, and directory listings. Comparable to AdMax's annual Chamber directory products and the broader local SMB marketing bundle.
• Hibu (formerly Yellowbook): Provider of digital marketing solutions (websites, SEO, SEM, social, reputation management) targeted at small and medium businesses. Comparable to AdMax's Finden Marketing-enabled digital services (Complete Marketing Package) for the SMB buyer.
• Thryv Holdings: SMB-focused marketing and business management software platform offering websites, SEO/SEM, listings, social, and CRM. Comparable to AdMax's bundled digital marketing and directory offerings for small local businesses.
• Lamar Advertising Company: One of the largest outdoor advertising operators in North America, with a national network of billboards, transit shelters, and displays. Comparable to AdMax as a competitor in the outdoor (bus bench / display) advertising category, but operating at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Outfront Media: National out-of-home advertising company with a portfolio of billboards, transit, and mobile media across the U.S. and Canada. Comparable to AdMax for its outdoor display advertising inventory (analogous to AdMax's bus benches and Canal Park kiosks) but at much broader scale.

Direct peers

• Townsquare Media: Local media and digital marketing company operating radio stations, events, and digital advertising services in small and mid-sized U.S. markets. Closely comparable to AdMax in combining local content, advertising sales, and digital marketing services for community-level advertisers in non-major markets.
• SagaCity Media: Regional city magazine and digital media company publishing lifestyle, business, and visitor publications in mid-sized U.S. markets. Comparable to AdMax for community magazine publishing and the integrated digital marketing layer sold to local advertisers.
• Tiger Oak Media: Independent regional magazine publisher producing city/regional lifestyle and business publications and offering custom content, design, and digital marketing. Closely comparable to AdMax's community magazine portfolio (The Duluthian, Positively Superior) and local design services.

Regional players

• Mann Media Group: Independent media and marketing group operating local publications, events, and digital marketing in the Midwest. Comparable to AdMax for combining community publishing with multi-channel local advertising and digital services for SMBs in a specific regional market.
• Bluestem Media (formerly Morris Multimedia): Family-owned local media company operating community newspapers, magazines, and digital marketing services across smaller U.S. markets. Comparable to AdMax in combining legacy local print publications with digital marketing services for community advertisers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about AdMax