Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé
Caractère is a French B2B trade magazine for printing and graphic communications professionals, published monthly in print and digital formats by GLN Médias, with subscription, single-issue, and advertising revenue streams, complemented by a weekly newsletter and co-organized industry events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersColombes, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé does
Caractère is a French B2B trade magazine serving printing and graphic communications professionals, published by GLN Médias (a privately held SAS registered in Nanterre, France) and operating from offices in Asnières-sur-Seine and Colombes. The publication, assigned ISSN 0247-093X, has produced over 840 numbered issues and is currently publishing monthly (latest issue N° 841-842, June-July 2026). Its core product is a monthly magazine available in print and digital formats, with coverage organized across seven thematic categories: Communication, Livre & presse (book & press), Emballage & étiquette (packaging & label), Grand format (large format), Marketing & éditique, Culture, and a single-issue purchase section. The digital edition is delivered through the Flowpaper viewer, and the company operates a weekly newsletter sub-brand, Caractère Hebdo, which provides full content to paying subscribers and headlines-only to non-subscribers.
The business is built on a three-stream revenue model: (1) recurring subscriptions offered as 1-year (€238) and 2-year (€399) combined print-plus-digital plans, with a discounted student tier at €130; (2) single-issue and thematic dossier sales through the caractere.net e-commerce storefront, with international and non-metro France subscription fulfillment outsourced to DMG; and (3) advertising sold to industry equipment vendors and material suppliers, including press manufacturers (Heidelberg, Ricoh, Canon) and paper distributors. The company generates additional brand and revenue leverage through co-organization of industry events such as the Trophée de l'Éditique (with Canon as sponsor), Les Rencontres du Cartonnage (with CAP – Fédération française du cartonnage), and L'Atelier du Grand format (with swissQprint France), alongside editorial coverage of major trade shows including All In Print China and the Uniic congress.
The operational footprint is small: approximately 7 staff covering editorial leadership (Thierry Negri as Président-Directeur de la publication; Guillaume Prudent as Directeur de la rédaction), advertising (Dima Mallem, Mathias Even Wismer), editorial (Christophe Colin, Véronique Basire, Valérie Genest), and digital/web production (Christophe Simon). Marketing channels are concentrated in owned media (caractere.net), LinkedIn, YouTube, the weekly newsletter, and event participation. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, no external investors identified, and €203,524 in registered share capital — consistent with a bootstrapped niche trade publisher rather than a venture-backed media business. Geographic scope is France-only for product distribution, with international presence limited to editorial coverage of overseas trade shows.
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé
- Legal name
- GLN Médias
- Website
- https://caractere.net
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Caractère is a French B2B trade magazine for printing and graphic communications professionals, published monthly in print and digital formats by GLN Médias, with subscription, single-issue, and advertising revenue streams, complemented by a weekly newsletter and co-organized industry events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Publishing
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (51312)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines (MPAJAEAM)
Keywords
Where Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Colombes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Magazine subscriptions: Annual and biennial subscriptions (1-year and 2-year plans) offering paper and digital magazine delivery plus full site access
- Single issue sales: Individual print and digital magazine issues sold online; dossiers and themed supplements sold separately
- Advertising: Advertising space sold to industry vendors (equipment manufacturers, paper distributors, service providers) across print and digital channels
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Papier + Digital 1-year subscription (France metro) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Papier + Digital 2-year subscription (France metro) |
| Subscription | Annual | Student subscription (Papier + Digital, 1-year) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Caractère is a French monthly trade magazine (ISSN 0247-093X) covering the printing and graphic communications industry, published by GLN Médias in both print and digital formats. The publication covers seven thematic areas — Communication, Livre & presse, Emballage & étiquette, Grand format, Marketing & éditique, Culture, and Dossiers — and is distributed via subscription, single-issue sales, a weekly newsletter (Caractère Hebdo), and the caractere.net website.
Product overview
Caractère is a French trade magazine for printing and graphic communications professionals, offered as a unified print and digital publication with individual dossier purchases available. The core product is the monthly magazine (available in print and digital formats via Flowpaper), complemented by a weekly newsletter (Caractère Hebdo). Subscriptions are available in annual or two-year terms for professionals and students, with paid content unlocking full access to articles and the digital archive.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Caractère Hebdo: Newsletter publication sent to subscribers - paid subscribers receive the full version while non-subscribers receive a version with headlines only.
Products and services
- Magazine Caractère (print edition) Monthly French trade magazine for printing and graphic communications professionals, covering thematic dossiers on communication, packaging, grand format, marketing & éditique, and culture, delivered by postal mail to subscribers.
- Magazine Caractère (digital edition) Digital version of the monthly magazine accessible via Flowpaper viewer, available to paying subscribers for unlimited access to all website content and the digital archive.
- Caractère Hebdo (Weekly Newsletter) Weekly newsletter delivering industry news summaries to printing professionals; paid subscribers receive the full version while non-subscribers receive a titles-only version.
- Abonnement Papier + Digital (1 an) Annual subscription combining print magazine delivery by post with unlimited digital access to all website content and the weekly newsletter; priced at 238€ TTC (reduced from 289€).
- Abonnement Papier + Digital (2 ans) Two-year subscription combining print and digital access, priced at 399€ TTC (reduced from 568€).
- Abonnement Étudiants Discounted annual subscription for students providing print and digital access, priced at 130€ TTC (reduced from 238€); requires valid student identification.
- Dossiers thématiques (single-issue editorial supplements) Individual thematic dossiers and supplements (e.g., Print Ethic RSE label, regulatory updates RDUE, interviews, technology trends, market analysis) sold separately from the regular magazine.
Quantifiable outcome
- Coverage of 7 thematic categories across print and digital formats
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- swissQprint FrancecoreswissQprint France organizes L'Atelier du Grand format (annual event, 6th edition September 2026, Villebon-sur-Yvette). Caractère provides editorial coverage and likely promotional support. The event features live demonstrations of wide-format printing equipment.
- CAP - Fédération française du cartonnagecoreCaractère collaborates with CAP (Fédération française du cartonnage et des articles de papeterie) on Les Rencontres du Cartonnage annual event (September 23, 2026, Paris 4e).
- CanonminorCanon is a sponsor of the Trophée de l'Éditique (September 8, 2026); Philippe Sella, former French rugby player, serves as ambassador representing Canon.
- Havas VoyagesminorHavas Voyages is the designated travel partner for Uniic congress (December 8, 2026, Lyon), providing transport and accommodation solutions for attendees. Caractère covers the event.
- ImpriFranceminorCaractère provides editorial coverage of ImpriFrance regional meetings and events. ImpriFrance is a network of printing companies.
- Drupa Shanghai / All In Print ChinaminorCaractère covers All In Print China (October 12-16, 2026), co-organized with the Drupa Shanghai office. The magazine reports on this major Asian trade show.
- UNFEAminorUNFEA (Union nationale des fabricants d'étiquettes adhésives) is covered by Caractère for industry news and its annual congress (Arcachon).
- UniiccoreUniic (Union nationale des industries de l'impression et de la communication) holds its annual congress through Caractère's coverage and organizational support. Caractère provides editorial coverage of Uniic events and policy positions.
- Duplo FranceminorDuplo France was a partner for the ImpriFrance regional meeting day at Bourquin Imprimeries, Reims (July 3, 2026), with an equipment presentation.
- DMGminorDMG handles subscription services for Caractère outside France metropolitan and international inquiries ([email protected]).
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Graphiline: Long-established French B2B trade publication covering the printing and graphic arts industry. It is the most direct competitor to Caractère, serving the same French printing professional audience with news, technology coverage, and events.
- Édition Production Presse (EP-Presse): French B2B media publisher covering print production, packaging, and graphic communications. Directly comparable to Caractère as a French-language trade publisher for the same buyer personas.
Regional players
- Printing Impressions: US-based B2B magazine for commercial printers with a similar advertising-supported, news-and-technology editorial format. Not a direct competitor but a structural peer in printing trade media economics.
- PrintWeek: Leading UK-based trade publication for the commercial printing industry. Comparable in editorial model and audience to Caractère; useful as a regional peer given Caractère's France-only operating geography.
- Druck&Medien: German-language trade publication for the printing and media industry. Comparable in editorial scope and target audience, but serving the German-speaking market rather than France.
- Graphische Revue Österreich: Austrian printing industry trade publication. Comparable in business model (B2B trade magazine) but operating in a different DACH regional market rather than France.
Others
- ImpriFrance: French network of printing companies and industry association. Not a media peer but a comparable ecosystem participant that Caractère both covers editorially and partners with for events like regional meetings.
- Uniic: Union nationale des industries de l'impression et de la communication — a strategic partner of Caractère, but also functions as an industry body that produces content and events. Comparable as a publishing/event organizer for the French printing industry rather than a direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- L'Usine Nouvelle: Major French B2B media title covering industry at large, including segments of manufacturing and printing. Broader portfolio than Caractère but overlaps on advertising inventory for industrial equipment vendors.
Emerging players
- Emballages Magazine: French B2B magazine focused on the packaging industry — one of Caractère's seven core verticals (Emballage & étiquette). Comparable in business model (B2B trade magazine, advertising-led) with strong overlap in packaging sub-segment advertisers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé social profiles
Digital presenceCaractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé
What does Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé do?
Caractère is a French monthly trade magazine (ISSN 0247-093X) covering the printing and graphic communications industry, published by GLN Médias in both print and digital formats. The publication covers seven thematic areas — Communication, Livre & presse, Emballage & étiquette, Grand format, Marketing & éditique, Culture, and Dossiers — and is distributed via subscription, single-issue sales, a weekly newsletter (Caractère Hebdo), and the caractere.net website.
Is Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé a public or private company?
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé founded?
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé based?
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé is headquartered in Colombes, France, in the Europe region.
How does Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Magazine subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are single issue sales and advertising.
Who are Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Graphiline and Édition Production Presse (EP-Presse). Regional players are Printing Impressions, PrintWeek, Druck&Medien and Graphische Revue Österreich. Others are ImpriFrance and Uniic. L'Usine Nouvelle is listed as a broad incumbent. Emballages Magazine is listed as an emerging player.
Does Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé have an API?
No public API is recorded for Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé.
What industry is Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé in?
Caractère, le magazine des professionnels de l'imprimé's product category is Trade Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAM, Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines. Its NAICS code is 51312 and its SIC code is 2721.