Soundings Trade Only
Soundings Trade Only is a U.S. B2B trade media company serving boat manufacturers, dealers, marinas, engine and electronics makers, and accessory sellers via a daily news website, monthly print and digital magazine, daily e-newsletter, digital boat show, job board, classifieds, and recurring marine industry events, operating as a division of Firecrown Media.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersEssex, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Soundings Trade Only does
Soundings Trade Only, operating under the Trade Only Today brand, is a U.S. B2B trade media company serving the recreational marine industry. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Essex, Connecticut, it operates as a division of Firecrown Media's portfolio of marine and boating publications. The company targets boat manufacturers, boat dealers and retailers, marinas and boatyards, engine and electronics manufacturers, accessory makers and sellers, and marine service companies with a combination of daily editorial, a monthly print/digital magazine, a daily business-day e-newsletter, a digital boat show, a job board, classifieds, and recurring event franchises including the Marine Ideas Exchange (MIX) at IBEX, a co-programmed Women in the Marine Industry International event at METSTRADE, and the EPIC Awards.
The core technology stack is a multi-format B2B media platform: a CMS-driven daily news website (tradeonlytoday.com), print and digital editions of the monthly Trade Only magazine, email newsletter distribution, and supporting portals for jobs, classifieds, and a virtual boat show. Distribution is omnichannel, spanning the website, Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, daily email, and live industry events. The business makes money through two primary streams: advertising sold against the print magazine and digital surfaces, and recurring subscriptions to the printed and digital magazine. Lead generation and recruitment inventory (job board, classifieds) and event sponsorships (MIX, EPIC Awards) extend the revenue mix beyond traditional media buying.
Soundings Trade Only firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Soundings Trade Only
- Legal name
- Soundings Trade Only
- Website
- https://tradeonlytoday.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Soundings Trade Only is a U.S. B2B trade media company serving boat manufacturers, dealers, marinas, engine and electronics makers, and accessory sellers via a daily news website, monthly print and digital magazine, daily e-newsletter, digital boat show, job board, classifieds, and recurring marine industry events, operating as a division of Firecrown Media.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Soundings Trade Only is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Essex
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Soundings Trade Only business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Subscription-based content: The company generates revenue through magazine subscriptions available in printed or digital format. The publication provides industry news relevant to marine professionals.
- Advertising: Revenue is generated through advertising in the print magazine and digital platform, serving marine industry companies wanting to reach trade professionals.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Soundings Trade Only product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Soundings Trade Only publishes B2B trade media for the marine industry, operating the Trade Only Today news website, a monthly print and digital magazine, and a daily e-newsletter. It also runs a Digital Boat Show virtual platform, a marine industry job board, classified listings, the EPIC Awards program, and the Marine Ideas Exchange (MIX) event series, all aimed at boat manufacturers, dealers, marinas, engine and electronics makers, accessory vendors, and marine service companies.
Product overview
Soundings Trade Only is a B2B media company serving the marine industry with a multi-platform portfolio consisting of its flagship Trade Only Today website (delivering daily industry news), a monthly print/digital magazine, daily e-newsletters, a Digital Boat Show virtual platform, Job Board, Classifieds, the EPIC Awards program, and the Marine Ideas Exchange (MIX) event series. These products work together to inform and connect marine industry professionals including boat manufacturers, dealers, marinas, engine and electronics manufacturers, and marine service companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Trade Only Today Website
Companies that use Soundings Trade Only
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Soundings Trade Only technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Soundings Trade Only partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- IBEX (International BoatBuilders Exhibition & Conference)coreSoundings Trade Only Group hosts the Marine Ideas Exchange (MIX) program during IBEX, featuring keynote conversations, forums and networking to foster collaboration and creativity in the marine industry.
- FirecrowncoreSoundings Trade Only is part of the Firecrown media group, which owns multiple marine and boating publications including Soundings magazine and manages the Trade Only Today brand.
- Women in the Marine Industry InternationalminorPartnership for the free event at METSTRADE focused on building the next generation of marine industry leaders, scheduled for November 18 at RAI in Amsterdam.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Soundings Trade Only competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Boats.com: Marine marketplace and consumer-facing boat listing platform. Overlaps with Soundings Trade Only in serving marine industry participants, though operating a marketplace rather than trade-publication model.
Direct peers
- WorkBoat Magazine: B2B trade publication covering the commercial marine industry, including vessel operators, builders, and marine services. Comparable trade-media business model serving a marine professional audience.
- Boating Industry: B2B trade publication serving marine dealers, manufacturers, and marine industry professionals. Operates a similar news, magazine, and digital model targeting the same trade audience as Soundings Trade Only.
- Marine Business Journal: B2B publication covering the recreational marine industry, including boat dealers, manufacturers, and marine retailers. Closely comparable business model and target audience to Soundings Trade Only.
- Professional Mariner: B2B publication covering the professional maritime sector including vessel operations, marine engineering, and commercial marine. Same B2B trade-media business model in the broader marine vertical.
- Marine Electronics Journal: B2B publication focused on marine electronics and technology, targeting marine electronics manufacturers, dealers, and installers. Adjacent trade-media model serving a segment of the same marine industry audience.
Broad incumbents
- Soundings Magazine: Consumer-facing marine publication also owned by Firecrown Media, serving recreational boaters. Sister brand within the same parent company, providing portfolio and audience synergies with Soundings Trade Only.
- Maritime Reporter: Long-running B2B maritime publication covering commercial shipping, marine technology, and offshore sectors. Adjacent trade-media model serving marine professionals, broader in scope than the recreational focus of Soundings Trade Only.
Regional players
- Yachting Times / Trade-A-Boat: Regional marine trade publication serving the Australian and Asia-Pacific boating industry. Similar trade-publication model and marine-industry focus, but operating in a different geography than Soundings Trade Only.
Others
- IBEX (International BoatBuilders Exhibition & Conference): Major annual marine industry trade show and conference for boat builders, dealers, and marine product manufacturers. Partner of Soundings Trade Only through the MIX program; comparable as a marine-industry audience monetization channel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Soundings Trade Only social profiles
Digital presenceSoundings Trade Only financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Soundings Trade Only leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Soundings Trade Only funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Soundings Trade Only 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 Soundings Trade Only
What does Soundings Trade Only do?
Soundings Trade Only publishes B2B trade media for the marine industry, operating the Trade Only Today news website, a monthly print and digital magazine, and a daily e-newsletter. It also runs a Digital Boat Show virtual platform, a marine industry job board, classified listings, the EPIC Awards program, and the Marine Ideas Exchange (MIX) event series, all aimed at boat manufacturers, dealers, marinas, engine and electronics makers, accessory vendors, and marine service companies.
Is Soundings Trade Only a public or private company?
Soundings Trade Only is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Soundings Trade Only founded?
Soundings Trade Only was founded in 1987. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Soundings Trade Only based?
Soundings Trade Only is headquartered in Essex, United States, in the North America region.
How does Soundings Trade Only make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Subscription-based content is the primary driver. The others are advertising.
Who are Soundings Trade Only's main competitors?
Boats.com is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are WorkBoat Magazine, Boating Industry, Marine Business Journal, Professional Mariner and Marine Electronics Journal. Broad incumbents are Soundings Magazine and Maritime Reporter. Yachting Times / Trade-A-Boat is listed as a regional player. IBEX (International BoatBuilders Exhibition & Conference) is listed as an others.
Does Soundings Trade Only have an API?
No public API is recorded for Soundings Trade Only.