Marsen Publishing, Inc.

What Marsen Publishing, Inc. does

Bardin & Marsee Publishing, LLC is a privately held, family-operated specialty publisher headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, focused on 100% waterproof religious and outdoor-use paper products. Founded in 2005 by Bobby Bardin, Anna, and their family, and incorporated as an Alabama LLC in 2008, the company pioneered the first waterproof Bible using proprietary synthetic paper technology in which the paper, ink, glue, and thread are all waterproofed. Products float in water and withstand submersion, mud, stains, and temperatures from -30°F to 250°F. In 2015 the company extended the platform with TUFFNotes, a line of 200-page waterproof spiral notebooks (dot grid, blank, or ruled), funded via Kickstarter.

The core product portfolio comprises Waterproof Bibles across multiple translations (KJV, NKJV, NIV, ESV, NASB, NLT, and Spanish RVR60 via a co-publishing partnership with the American Bible Society) and TUFFNotes notebooks, supplemented by an accessory ecosystem: imitation leather and premium Gfeller English Kip leather Bible covers (up to $150), Fisher Space Pens ($22), a Bible personalization/imprinting service ($7 base), and complementary content such as the devotional "Adventures in God's Country." The waterproof synthetic-paper platform has also been extended beyond scripture into the Ranger Handbook TC 3-21.76 military field manual, indicating broader addressability of the underlying materials technology.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through direct-to-consumer e-commerce on bardinmarsee.com, with US shipping handled via USPS (free on orders over $100, $5 flat-rate Media Mail, $9 Priority Mail), including PO Boxes and military addresses, with limited international Priority Mail capability. Customer segments are narrow and persona-driven: outdoor enthusiasts (hunters, anglers, campers, paddlers, climbers), military and first responders (with named placements including the U.S. Military and New Zealand Defence Force), missionaries and international travelers, and field professionals requiring durable notebooks. The company offers a limited lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship and markets primarily through email, organic social (Twitter @waterproofbible, Facebook), and earned media coverage in Christian and outdoor publications.

Name

Marsen Publishing, Inc.

Legal name

Bardin & Marsee Publishing, LLC

Website

https://bardinmarsee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bardin & Marsee Publishing is a Birmingham, Alabama-based, family-owned publisher of 100% waterproof synthetic Bibles and TUFFNotes spiral notebooks, serving outdoor enthusiasts, military personnel, missionaries, and field professionals via direct-to-consumer e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Publishing and Outdoor Stationery

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Books Printing (323117)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Blankbooks, Looseleaf Binders & Bookbindg & Relatd Work (2780), Book Printing (2732)

akta.pro primary industry

Sacred Texts & Scripture Publishing (Bibles, Qur’ans, Vedas, Torah, Sutras) (MPAJAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Religious Reference & Study Tools Publishing (Commentaries, Concordances, Lexicons) (MPAJAHAL)

Keywords

• Waterproof bibles
• Outdoor bibles
• Waterproof notebooks
• Religious publishing
• Field notebooks

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase of waterproof Bibles, TUFFNotes notebooks, accessories (Bible covers, pens), and personalization services through the company's e-commerce website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bardin Marsee Publishing designs, produces, and sells 100% waterproof Bibles and TUFFNotes waterproof spiral notebooks made from synthetic paper that can withstand submersion, mud, stains, and extreme temperatures. The company sells direct-to-consumers through its own e-commerce website, offering multiple Bible translations, notebook formats, and related accessories (Bible covers, Fisher Space Pens, personalization services).

Product overview

Bardin Marsee Publishing is a publisher specializing in waterproof religious materials and durable outdoor journaling products. The core product line consists of Waterproof Bibles (including The Outdoor Bible sub-brand for outdoor enthusiasts) and TUFFNotes waterproof spiral notebooks, both using 100% synthetic waterproof materials. The company also offers related accessories including Bible covers, personalization services, and Fisher Space Pens designed for use with their waterproof products. The product portfolio is unified by a focus on durability and outdoor usability, with all products being 100% waterproof and made from synthetic materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TUFFNotes: Waterproof spiral notebook product line launched in 2015

Quantifiable outcome

• Products withstand submersion in water and continue to function

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• American Bible SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for publishing the RVR60 Waterproof Bible New Testament. American Bible Society provides the translation/licensing while Bardin & Marsee handles production of the waterproof edition. This represents a co-publishing arrangement for Spanish language market.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rite in the Rain: Rite in the Rain is the leading manufacturer of all-weather writing products including waterproof notebooks, journals, and paper used by military, law enforcement, and outdoor professionals. It is the most direct competitor to Bardin Marsee's TUFFNotes line, with comparable synthetic/waterproof paper technology and similar customer segments (military, outdoors, field professionals).
• Tyndale House Publishers: Tyndale House publishes the NLT Bible translation and other Christian content. It competes in the same Bible translation category and represents a comparable specialty publisher with broad translation rights that could overlap with Bardin Marsee's waterproof Bible offerings.
• Crossway: Crossway is the publisher of the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible, which Bardin Marsee licenses for its waterproof ESV editions. Crossway competes in the same Bible translation market and is a co-publishing/distribution partner given the licensing arrangement.

Broad incumbents

• Zondervan: Zondervan is a major Christian publisher and owner of the NIV translation, which Bardin Marsee offers in waterproof form. Zondervan operates broadly across Bibles, books, and ministry resources, while Bardin Marsee specializes in the waterproof/durable sub-segment.
• Thomas Nelson Bibles: Thomas Nelson is one of the largest Bible publishers in the world, including the NKJV and KJV translations that Bardin Marsee produces in waterproof format. As a broad incumbent, Thomas Nelson dominates mass-market Bible publishing while Bardin Marsee occupies the specialty waterproof niche.
• HarperCollins Christian Publishing: HarperCollins Christian Publishing produces the NLT Bible and other major translations under imprints like Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. It is a broad incumbent in the Christian publishing market and a translation licensor for several of Bardin Marsee's waterproof editions.

Others

• LifeWay Christian Resources: LifeWay is one of the largest Christian retailers and resource providers in the U.S., selling Bibles, books, and church supplies. It represents both a potential distribution channel for Bardin Marsee's waterproof products and an adjacent incumbent in Christian retail.
• Moleskine: Moleskine is a globally recognized premium notebook brand offering hardcover and softcover journals. While not waterproof-focused, Moleskine competes for the same premium journaling consumer and represents an adjacent peer in the notebook/stationery category where Bardin Marsee's TUFFNotes competes.
• American Bible Society: American Bible Society is both a translation licensor and strategic partner of Bardin Marsee (co-publishing the RVR60 waterproof Bible). As a nonprofit organization distributing free Scriptures globally, it is an ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but operates in adjacent religious publishing and distribution channels.
• Field Notes Brand: Field Notes is a popular American pocket notebook brand known for durability and rugged use cases. It serves an overlapping outdoor and field professional audience, though its memo books are not waterproof; it represents an adjacent competitor in the durable notebook category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/waterproofbible
• Facebookfacebook.com/waterproofbible

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Marsen Publishing, Inc.