Journal Graphics

What Journal Graphics does

Journal Graphics is a fourth-generation, family-owned commercial printing company headquartered in Portland, Oregon, operating since 1937 (with corporate origins tracing to the 1872 Daily Journal of Commerce). The company specializes in heatset web offset printing using three Goss presses (M-600, M-500, Sunday 2000) with advanced color management systems, producing high-volume magazines, catalogs, visitor guides, brochures, annual reports, calendars, and direct mail for publishers, marketing agencies, and corporate clients across North America. Its service portfolio spans five integrated lines: prepress (file preparation with Agfa ThermalFuse CTP plate making), heatset web printing, in-house bindery and finishing (perfect binding, saddle stitching, folding, inserting, trimming, coating), mailing and fulfillment (processing 3.5 million pieces per month through USPS, UPS, FedEx, and freight), and a proprietary Digital Editions platform for interactive online publications.

The business operates on a project-based, quote-driven revenue model: Account Executives prepare custom quotes for each job, with pricing determined by print volume, paper type, binding, and finishing specifications. Revenue is generated through multi-year recurring relationships with 405+ customers, supported by a direct sales force and a print broker channel (Pacific Print Source, Bluegill Press). The company employs 105 people, has been women-owned since 1955, and is currently led by Owner/Chairman Suzi Smith and Owner/President Tiffany Spears (fourth generation, appointed February 2021). Distinctive operational features include FSC Chain-of-Custody certification, an energy-positive Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer, and a water-cooled screw chilling system that together have earned Oregon Department of Energy recognition for sustainability.

Name

Journal Graphics

Legal name

Journal Graphics

Website

https://journalgraphics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fourth-generation, family-owned commercial printing company in Portland, Oregon since 1937, specializing in heatset web offset printing, bindery, mailing/fulfillment, and digital editions for publishers, agencies, and corporate clients across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Support Activities for Printing (323120), Direct Mail Advertising (541860)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Offset Printing (Sheetfed/Web) (MPAJALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Prepress & Composition Services (Typesetting, Layout, Color Management, Proofing) (MPAJALAA), Finishing & Post-Press Services (Cutting, Folding, Collating, Laminating, Foil, Emboss) (MPAJALAF), Mailing, Inserting & Distribution Services (Addressing, Direct Mail, Kitting) (MPAJALAH)

Keywords

• Commercial printing services
• Heatset web printing
• Print finishing
• Mailing fulfillment
• Prepress services

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commercial Printing Services: Revenue is generated through high-volume commercial printing services including magazines, catalogs, visitor guides, direct mail flyers, brochures, annual reports, calendars, and maps. The company uses heatset web offset printing for cost-effective volume production. Bindery services (perfect binding, saddle stitching, folding, inserting, trimming) are provided in-house. Revenue is project-based with quotes prepared for each job based on specifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Journal Graphics is a commercial printing company that produces high-volume heatset web offset printed products including magazines, catalogs, visitor guides, brochures, annual reports, calendars, and maps. It provides an integrated end-to-end workflow covering prepress (file prep, color proofing, plate making), heatset web printing, in-house bindery and finishing (perfect binding, saddle stitching, folding, inserting, trimming, coating), and mailing/fulfillment (USPS, UPS, FedEx, freight) processing 3.5 million pieces of mail per month, complemented by a proprietary Digital Editions platform for interactive online publications.

Product overview

Journal Graphics is a fourth-generation family-owned commercial printing company offering a comprehensive suite of print production services. The core offerings include Prepress (file preparation and plate making), Heatset Web Printing (using Goss M-600, M-500, and Sunday 2000 presses), and Bindery and Finishing (perfect binding, saddle stitch, folding, trimming, and specialty finishing). These production services are complemented by Mailing and Fulfillment (processing 3.5 million pieces per month) and Digital Editions (online publishing platform). The company specializes in high-volume printed products including magazines, catalogs, visitor guides, brochures, maps, annual reports, and direct mail, serving customers across North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prepress File preparation and optimization services that prepare digital print files for press production, including digital and hard copy proofs, color calibration, and environmentally friendly laser plate making using Agfa's ThermalFuse CTP system and ECO3's Adamas printing plates. Offered to publishers, agencies, and corporate clients requiring production-ready files.
• Heatset Web Printing High-volume offset printing using heat to dry ink immediately on paper, powered by Goss M-600, M-500, and Sunday 2000 presses with advanced color monitoring systems. Prints magazines, catalogs, guides, brochures, and other publications in CMYK with optional spot colors and metallic inks for publishers, agencies, and corporate clients.
• Bindery and Finishing In-house finishing services including perfect binding, saddle stitch binding, folding, inserting, trimming, perforating, scoring, blow-ins, envelope bind-in, fugitive gluing, and tab sealing. Inline and offline coating options include varnish, UV, and soft-feel aqueous. Sold as part of project delivery to publishers, agencies, and corporate clients.
• Mailing and Fulfillment In-house mailing and shipping services processing 3.5 million pieces of mail per month. Services include USPS processing, UPS and FedEx small package shipping, freight carrier partnerships, inventory management, and fulfillment. Provided to publishers and corporate clients as a consolidated print-to-mail solution.
• Digital Editions Interactive online publications accessible on smartphones, tablets, and desktops via a proprietary platform. Features include multimedia integration, clickable web addresses, iPhone/iPad support, 24/7 online access, search, zoom, and table of contents functionality. Offered to publishers as an online complement to print titles.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Girls Who PrintcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJournal Graphics partners with Girls Who Print, the world's largest network of women in the printing and graphic communication industry with 11,000+ global members spanning all segments and career paths. This partnership supports women-owned business visibility in the printing industry.
• International PapercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with International Paper for recycling 100% of all Journal Graphics paper waste created through press and bindery production.
• Printing Industry of AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association partnership for printing standards and best practices.
• Oregon Business and IndustryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional business association partnership supporting Oregon businesses.
• Portland Metro ChamberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber of commerce partnership for Portland business community.
• Travelwriters ConferenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership supporting travel writers and tourism publications.
• Print Creative AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrint industry alliance for creative and printing professionals.
• Lift UpminorOthersNonprofit organization fighting food insecurity in NW and Downtown Portland through food pantry, free food markets, and adopt-a-building programs. Journal Graphics supports their community efforts.
• With Love OregonminorOthersNon-profit supporting foster families by providing clothing and supplies for children ages 0-6. Journal Graphics supports their community efforts.
• Paddle for LifeminorOthersOrganization empowering women in Clark County who have experienced breast cancer. Journal Graphics supports their community efforts.
• Pacific Print Source Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrint broker representing Journal Graphics services to their customer base. Contact: Lisa Bunch ([email protected]).
• Bluegill PressminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrint broker representing Journal Graphics services to their customer base. Contact: George Marquez ([email protected]).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sheridan (CJK Group): Publication and journal printer with prepress, bindery, and digital publishing capabilities, overlapping Journal Graphics' publisher-focused services at larger scale.
• LSC Communications: Major magazine, catalog, and book printer with integrated logistics, offering the same categories as Journal Graphics on a national scale.
• RR Donnelley: Global commercial printing and marketing communications firm whose print, direct mail, and fulfillment services overlap with Journal Graphics' portfolio.
• Quad/Graphics: Large national commercial and publication printer offering print, bindery, and marketing services; overlaps with Journal Graphics but at far greater scale and breadth.

Direct peers

• Fry Communications: Heatset web offset printer of magazines and journals with prepress, bindery, and mailing services, closely aligned with Journal Graphics' offering.
• Freeport Press: Magazine and catalog printer offering print-to-mail and digital editions, a directly comparable full-service publication printer.
• Trend Offset Printing: West Coast heatset web printer producing publications, catalogs, and inserts, competing in the same regional publication-print niche as Journal Graphics.
• Cummings Printing: Family-owned short-to-medium-run heatset web printer of magazines and publications, comparable in scale and specialization to Journal Graphics.
• Publishers Press: Heatset web offset printer specializing in magazines and catalogs with in-house bindery and mailing, directly mirroring Journal Graphics' publication printing model.

Regional players

• American Web: Denver-based heatset web offset printer for magazines and catalogs serving the Western US, a comparable regional publication printer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jg_printing
• Facebookfacebook.com/JournalGraphics

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Journal Graphics