What Vertis does

Vertis Communications was acquired by Quad/Graphics in January 2013 and was integrated into what is now Quad (NYSE: QUAD), a global marketing experience company headquartered in Sussex, Wisconsin. The combined entity operates across Production, Creative, Media, Intelligence, and Technology solution lines, serving more than 2,100 clients in CPG, Retail, DTC, Publishing, Financial Services, and Health. Vertis's direct mail, inserts, and print-on-demand capabilities remain a foundational layer of the Production stack, while the broader platform has expanded into creative agencies (Rise, Betty, Favorite Child, Direct), media activation, audience data, and commerce content.

Vertis's print heritage provides the manufacturing backbone for commercial printing, packaging, in-store signage, and branded merchandise, supported by more than 30 owned facilities including in-house ink production in Wisconsin. Distribution advantage is structural: Quad handles roughly 9.1% of all mail in the United States through USPS-aligned logistics. A proprietary data asset covering more than 3 billion household data points spanning 92% of U.S. households underpins targeting and media activation. Newer product lines — In-Store Connect retail media network, 3D Commerce (via the ALLSIDES partnership), and Branded Solutions — extend the platform into retail media monetization, ecommerce content infrastructure, and consolidated branded merchandise.

The business model is services-and-volume hybrid. Revenue is generated through managed marketing services contracts, transactional print and packaging production, retail media placements, direct mail execution, and creative agency engagements. Roughly 22% of 2025 net sales came from integrated MX Solutions, indicating a deliberate mix shift toward higher-value recurring services. Quad/Vertis employs approximately 10,000 people across 10 countries and reported approximately $2.4 billion in 2025 net sales, with named clients spanning Amazon, ALDI, CVS Health, Kroger, L.L.Bean, Target, Whole Foods, Citi, and Humana.

Name

Vertis

Legal name

Quad

Website

https://quad.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Vertis Communications was acquired by Quad/Graphics in 2013 and is now part of Quad (NYSE: QUAD), a global marketing experience company serving 2,100+ CPG, Retail, DTC, Financial Services, and Health clients with integrated production, creative, media, and data solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marketing Services

NAICS

Direct Mail Advertising (541860), Graphic Design Services (541430), Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Direct Mail Advertising Services (7331), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer Experience (CX) & Digital Experience (BPAHAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creative Concepting & Campaign Development (BPAFAEAD), Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)

Keywords

• Commercial printing services
• Packaging production
• Direct marketing solutions
• Retail media networks
• Marketing experience platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Sussex

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Marketing Experience Services: Integrated marketing solutions including creative services, production services, media planning/buying, and technology solutions. Revenue derived from service fees, production contracts, and managed services engagements with enterprise clients.
2. Commercial Printing: High-volume commercial printing for magazines, catalogs, direct mail, retail inserts, and publications. Revenue from print production, finishing, and distribution services.
3. Packaging Solutions: Custom packaging production including folding cartons, paper blisters, pressure-sensitive labels, tags, and inserts for consumer packaged goods, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and other industries.
4. Managed Services: Outsourced marketing operations including procurement services, creative production, business operations, and technology management.
5. Media Planning and Buying: Omnichannel media services spanning digital, programmatic, print, and direct mail with transparent buying and performance measurement through Rise agency.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Vertis, now operating as part of Quad (NYSE: QUAD) following the January 2013 acquisition, provides integrated marketing experience solutions including commercial printing, packaging production, in-store signage and displays, branded merchandise, direct marketing, postal optimization, and managed services. The company combines creative agency services (Rise, Betty, Favorite Child, Direct) with proprietary data-driven platforms such as At-Home Connect, In-Store Connect, and the MX Solutions Suite to deliver measurable marketing ROI for enterprise brands across consumer packaged goods, retail, financial services, healthcare, publishing, technology, and travel/hospitality verticals.

Product overview

Quad is a marketing experience (MX) company offering an integrated suite of marketing solutions organized into five interconnected solution suites: Production (Commercial Printing, Packaging, In-Store Signage & Displays, Branded Merchandise, Managed Services, Postal Optimization), Creative (Content Creation with photography, motion, CGI, audio, and 3D scanning; 3D Commerce by Quad), Media (Direct Marketing, In-Store Connect retail media network), Intelligence (Accelerated Marketing Insights research and testing), and Technology (At-Home Connect direct mail automation, Local Connect local marketing, In-Store Connect). The company also operates four agency sub-brands: Rise (omnichannel media), Betty (creative services), Favorite Child (brand design), and Direct (direct marketing). Quad's MX Solutions Suite integrates creative, production, and media capabilities across online and offline channels, powered by proprietary household-level data covering approximately 97% of U.S. adults and 92% of U.S. households.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rise: Omnichannel media agency providing performance media, digital analytics, attribution and optimization services. Recognized in Forrester Media Management Services Landscape Q2 2026.
• Betty
• Favorite Child
• Direct
• QuadMed

Products and services

• Commercial Printing

Quantifiable outcome

• 19% average reduction in postal and operating costs through direct marketing optimization
• +24 more outcomes

Named customers28 records

Segments6 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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ALLSIDEScoreTechnology or IntegrationQuad partnered with ALLSIDES to deploy the first automated 3D scanning solution in the U.S., using ALLSIDES' leading-edge computer vision and machine learning technology to deliver reality-grade 3D models for e-commerce, AR/VR, and generative AI applications.
• USPScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuad is a critical USPS marketing mail partner, distributing more than 5.4 billion pieces annually and representing 9.1% of total USPS marketing mail & periodical volume. The partnership includes collaboration on pricing programs, logistics standards, and promotional incentives.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cenveo: Diversified print and envelope manufacturer serving direct mail, financial, and label markets. Comparable as a North American print services peer focused on direct marketing and customer communications.
• LSC Communications: Major U.S. commercial printer producing magazines, catalogs, and direct mail at scale. Closest legacy direct peer in production printing, though it has undergone significant restructuring and is now privately held under Atlas Holdings.
• Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN): Spin-off of the legacy RR Donnelley financial communications and marketing services business. Comparable in serving regulated, document-intensive enterprise clients with print and digital communications solutions.
• TC Transcontinental: Canadian-based printing and packaging company with a flexible packaging segment and significant U.S. footprint. Comparable in commercial printing, packaging, and integrated marketing services for retail and CPG clients.
• Valassis / Harland Clarke: Direct mail, in-store, and marketing services company. Comparable in direct mail volume, retail inserts, FSI, and shopper marketing — historically one of Quad's most direct competitors in U.S. marketing mail.
• InnerWorkings / EFC Group: Marketing execution and print management company now part of EFC Group. Comparable as a managed services and print procurement partner for enterprise marketing organizations, though smaller in scale.

Emerging players

• HH Global: Global marketing execution services company focused on creative production, print procurement, and retail POS. Comparable in managed services and marketing operations outsourcing for global enterprise brands, though private and primarily UK-headquartered.

Regional players

• St. Joseph Communications: Canadian-based integrated marketing and communications company serving content, print, and digital marketing needs. Comparable as a regional integrated marketing services peer with similar vertical mix (publishing, retail, CPG) but primarily serves the Canadian market.

Broad incumbents

• Epsilon (Publicis Groupe): Data-driven marketing and direct marketing services firm owned by Publicis Groupe. Comparable in household-level data assets, direct mail, and integrated customer acquisition services, though it operates at much larger scale within a global advertising holding company.
• Merkle (Dentsu): Performance marketing and customer experience management firm owned by Dentsu. Comparable in data-driven direct marketing, CRM, and audience targeting capabilities, but operates as part of a global agency holding company.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@quadgraphics
• Facebookfacebook.com/builtonquad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vertis-communications
• Instagraminstagram.com/builtonquad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 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 Vertis