What Visual Media Alliance does

Visual Media Alliance (originally Print Creative Alliance, operating since 1935) is a regional trade association serving graphic arts small businesses across Northern California and Nevada. Its members include printers, packaging, label, design, and creative-services SMBs that gain access to a bundled platform of insurance (commercial, group health, workers' compensation), HR and management solutions (401k, Ease, Executive Toolbox, Labor Law Posters, Experian), sales tools (Sales Vault, VMAccess directory, VMGuide), group discounts (Apple, UPS, TForce, Fujifilm, Basys, PressWise, Prudential Overall Supply, Priority1), education (Print University, webinars, Student Suite), industry publications (Connected, eDigest, Chronicles, RISKreport, wage and sales compensation surveys), advocacy, and recurring networking events (Collective Conversations, ConnectUp, CrabFest, Golf Tournament, Rivercats Baseball, Topgolf).

The organization operates on a subscription/membership model with annual dues as the primary revenue stream, supplemented by commissions from insurance brokerage (via related entity Visual Media Insurance Services), referral fees from group-discount partners, and event/program sponsorships. Go-to-market is community-led: member acquisition relies on peer referrals, industry events, and the association's 90-year regional brand. Distribution is direct via the visualmediaalliance.org website and in-person engagement. Strategic partners include OEM sponsors Canon, Landa, and Fujifilm, plus ecosystem collaborators AMASF, CMTA, PIBT, Print Industries, Executive Toolbox, and Sales Vault. Newer platform offerings—PrintConnect (a B2B marketplace linking buyers with member printers), JobConnect (a job board and resume database), and the Sustainability Suite (Love Paper Campaign, PrintReleaf, FSC Certification)—extend the core membership model into marketplace, talent, and ESG verticals. The 2024-approved merger with PIA (Print Industries of America) is the most significant structural event in the association's recent history and signals consolidation across the regional print trade-association landscape.

Name

Visual Media Alliance

Legal name

Visual Media Alliance

Website

https://main.vma.bz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Visual Media Alliance is a regional trade association, operating since 1935, that provides Northern California and Nevada graphic arts SMBs—printers, packagers, designers, and creatives—with bundled insurance, HR, sales, education, discount, advocacy, and networking services on a membership model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Trade association services
• Graphic arts insurance
• Print industry HR services
• Commercial printing benefits
• Industry networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The organization operates as a trade association supported by membership dues from printers, packaging, label, design, and creative businesses. Members pay to access comprehensive services including insurance, HR solutions, management tools, sales resources, networking, discounts, and educational programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Visual Media Alliance is a trade association that provides bundled business services to graphic arts small businesses in Northern California and Nevada, including commercial and group health insurance brokerage, HR and management solutions, sales tools, group purchasing discounts, education, networking events, advocacy, and member publications. Members pay recurring dues to access these services rather than buying individual products.

Product overview

Print Creative Alliance (Visual Media Alliance) is a trade association offering a platform-plus-modules architecture of services for graphic arts small businesses. The core offerings include Insurance (commercial, group health, workers' compensation), Management Solutions (HR Suite with tools like Ease and Executive Toolbox, Cash Management Suite with Experian), Sales Suite (Sales Vault, VMAccess, VMGuide), and member Discounts through partner vendors. Additional services include Education & Training (Print University, webinars), Resources & Publications (Connected magazine, eDigest, Chronicles, RISKreport), Advocacy, Networking & Events, JobConnect job board, PrintConnect marketplace, and Sustainability Suite. The association serves Northern California and Nevada print, packaging, label, design, and creative businesses since 1935.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Insurance Brokerage Services Commercial insurance, group health insurance, employee benefits, and workers' compensation coverage tailored for print and creative industry businesses, provided through Visual Media Insurance Services.
• Management Solutions HR Suite (Collection Service, Ease, Executive Toolbox, Labor Law Posters, Sales Recruiting, 401k) and Cash Management Suite (Experian) for print and creative business operators.
• Sales Suite Sales tools including Sales Vault for document management, VMAccess for printer directory, and VMGuide for industry guidance for print and creative businesses.
• Member Discounts Program Group purchasing discounts on shipping (UPS, TForce), technology (Apple), printing supplies (Fujifilm, Basys, PressWise), sustainability (PrintReleaf, FSC Certification, Two Sides), and corporate needs (Prudential Overall Supply, Priority1).
• Education and Training Professional development including Print University for structured learning, webinars for ongoing education, and student programs with field trips, internships, scholarships, and mentorship.
• Resources and Publications Industry publications including Connected magazine, eDigest, Chronicles, and RISKreport, plus wage and sales compensation surveys for print and creative businesses.
• Advocacy Services Lobbying and advocacy services on behalf of the print and creative industry, including Executive Toolbox and Experience Print programs.
• Networking and Events Industry networking events including Collective Conversations, ConnectUp, CrabFest, Golf Tournament, Rivercats Baseball, and Topgolf for graphic arts business operators.
• JobConnect Job board, resume database, and candidate dashboard connecting print industry employers and job seekers.
• PrintConnect Connection platform linking print buyers with VMA member printing companies.
• Sustainability Suite Environmental sustainability resources including the Love Paper Campaign to promote paper and print sustainability, alongside FSC Certification, PrintReleaf, and Two Sides.

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered sponsor and partner.

• CanonsponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerCanon is a sponsor of Visual Media Alliance. As a major technology company serving the printing industry, Canon provides equipment and technology solutions that benefit VMA members.
• LandasponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerLanda is a sponsor of Visual Media Alliance. Landa is known for digital printing technology innovation serving the graphic arts industry.
• Fuji FilmsponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerFuji Film is a sponsor of Visual Media Alliance. Fujifilm provides imaging and printing solutions for the graphic arts industry.
• AMASF (American Marketing Association San Francisco)partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMASF is listed as a VMA Partner, representing a collaborative relationship between marketing professionals serving the industry.
• CMTA (California Marketing Tools Association)partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMTA is listed as a VMA Partner, representing marketing tools industry collaboration.
• Executive ToolboxpartnerTechnology or IntegrationExecutive Toolbox is a VMA Partner providing business management tools and resources for VMA members.
• PIBT (Printing Industries of the Bay Area)partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIBT is listed as a VMA Partner, representing industry trade association collaboration.
• Print IndustriespartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrint Industries is listed as a VMA Partner, representing national print industry trade association collaboration.
• Sales VaultpartnerTechnology or IntegrationSales Vault is a VMA Partner providing sales tools and resources for VMA members as part of the Sales Suite offerings.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PRINTING United Alliance: National printing industry trade association formed from the merger of SGIA and Printing Industries of America. Direct competitor serving the same graphic arts vertical with overlapping insurance, education, advocacy, and member service offerings.
• Idealliance: Non-profit membership organization for the graphic communications industry, focused on standards, certifications, and workflow improvement. Comparable in operating model — member dues-funded association serving print and graphic communications professionals.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): Largest U.S. industrial trade association serving manufacturers across sectors. Comparable operating model as a dues-based industry association offering advocacy, member benefits, events, and insurance programs — though at vastly greater national scale.
• PPAI (Promotional Products Association International): International trade association for the promotional products industry. Adjacent vertical serving SMB marketing and print-adjacent businesses, with comparable member services including education, advocacy, networking, and insurance offerings.
• AF&PA (American Forest & Paper Association): National trade association for the U.S. paper and forest products industry. Operates as a comparable industry advocacy and member services body upstream of VMA's print membership base, with overlapping sustainability and policy interests.

Emerging players

• AIGA: Professional association for design, serving graphic designers and creative professionals — a closely adjacent vertical to VMA's design and creative business member segment. Operates a similar dues-based association model with education, events, and advocacy.
• International Sign Association: Trade association serving the sign, graphics, and visual communications industry. Comparable association model serving overlapping SMB visual communications members with education, advocacy, and member benefits.
• Two Sides North America: Non-profit advocacy initiative promoting the sustainability of print and paper. Comparable non-profit operating model with industry-wide advocacy, education campaigns (analogous to VMA's Love Paper Campaign), and member-driven engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/visualmediaalliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/visualmediaalliance
• Xx.com/visualmediaall

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Visual Media Alliance