Active Interest Media (AIM) is a publisher specializing in "niche enthusiast magazines" (i.e. magazines targeted at

hobby A hobby is considered to be a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one's leisure time. Hobbies include collecting themed items and objects, engaging in creative and artistic pursuits, playing sports, or pursuing other ...

ists).

History

The company was formed in 2003 by private-equity investment firm Wind Point Partners by the acquisition of ''Sabot Publishing'', a "special interest" publisher based in Richmond, VA which had been established in 1999 by James Causey and Colonnade Capital. In July 2017, the company announced that it had acquired the United States

Team Roping Team roping also known as heading and heeling is a rodeo event that features a Cattle#Terminology, steer (typically a Corriente) and two equestrianism, mounted riders. The first roper is referred to as the "header", the person who ropes the fr ...

Championships and the TRIAD Classification Agency. In 2020, AIM sold these properties in conjunction with the sale of many of its largest divisions to Pocket Outdoor Media.

Overview

Active Interest Media publications are organized in three "groups", the Collectibles group (

antiques An antique () is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely to describe any object that i ...

, currency collecting, sports, military, and collectable cars, the Home Arts group (

woodworking Woodworking is the skill of making items from wood, and includes cabinetry, furniture making, wood carving, joinery, carpentry, and woodturning. History Along with stone, clay and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked b ...

gardening Gardening is the process of growing plants for their vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, and appearances within a designated space. Gardens fulfill a wide assortment of purposes, notably the production of Aesthetics, aesthetically pleasing area ...

cooking Cooking, also known as cookery or professionally as the culinary arts, is the art, science and craft of using heat to make food more palatable, digestible, nutritious, or Food safety, safe. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely, from ...

, and

sewing Sewing is the craft of fastening pieces of textiles together using a sewing needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era. Before the invention of spinning yarn or weaving fabric, archaeo ...

), and the Home Building Group (home building,

renovation Renovation (also called remodeling) is the process of improving broken, damaged, or outdated structures. Renovations are typically done on either commercial or residential buildings. Additionally, renovation can refer to making something new, o ...

, architectural styles, interior design etc.); and

Writer's Digest ''Writer's Digest'' is an American magazine aimed at beginning and established writers. It contains interviews, market listings, calls for manuscripts, and how-to articles. History ''Writer's Digest'' was first published in December 1920 und ...

. On 7 November 2012, PixelMags Inc. announced that they had reached an agreement with Active Interest Media to distribute magazine content digitally. In March 2017, Active Interest Media sold its Yachting Promotions Inc. division to

Informa Informa plc is a British publishing, business intelligence, and exhibitions group based in London, England. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It has offices in 30 countries and around 12,000 ...

for $133 million. The sale included the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Yachts Miami Beach, the Palm Beach International Boat Show, the St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show, and the Suncoast Boat Show. On 30 April 2013, Active Interest Media purchased the ''SKI'' and ''Skiing'' magazines, Warren Miller Entertainment, and NASTAR from the Bonnier Mountain Group. In 2015, Active Interest Media purchased August Home Publishing, publisher of ''Woodsmith'' magazine. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is Efrem Zimbalist III (the son of Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.), formerly of Times Mirror Magazines, a subsidiary of '' Times Mirror''. In 2019, Active Interest Media acquired the “collectibles” magazines from F+W Media, which includes ''

Coins A coin is a small object, usually round and flat, used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order to facilitate trade. They are most often issued by ...

'', '' Numismatic News'', '' Writer’s Digest'', '' Popular Woodworking'', and ''

Horticulture Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

''. In 2020, Active Interest Media sold off divisions including "several of its largest publications" to Pocket Outdoor Media of

Boulder, Colorado Boulder is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality, home rule city in Boulder County, Colorado, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 108,250 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the most ...

(which was renamed to Outside Inc. the following year); the sale included the magazines ''Backpacker'', ''Better Nutrition'', ''Clean Eating'', ''Climbing'', ''Muscle & Performance'', ''NatuRx'', ''Oxygen'', ''SKI'', '' Vegetarian Times'', and '' Yoga Journal'', as well as the digital outlet SNEWS and the action sports film studio Warren Miller Entertainment. In 2021, Wind Point sold AIM to B&W Communications, a company founded by CEO Andy Clurman. In 2021, Active Interest Media sold its Equine Network properties to Growth Catalyst Partners. On December 3, 2023, Active Interest Media acquired The Taunton Press, publisher of '' Fine Woodworking'', ''Fine Homebuilding'', ''Green Building Advisor'', ''Threads Magazine'', and '' Fine Gardening''. In December 2024, the Marine group (sailing, boating, fishing, etc..) was sold to Firecrown Media.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Magazine publishing companies of the United States Publishing companies established in 2003 Mass media in Boulder, Colorado