Kalmbach Media, a long-standing publishing company based in Waukesha, is undergoing significant changes as it prepares to sell off its assets to Firecrown Media. The sale will result in the layoff of 67 employees by July 1, but there is a glimmer of hope as Firecrown Media has expressed its intention to hire all of the affected staff members.
The acquisition by Firecrown Media includes popular brands such as Trains, Model Railroader, Classic Toy Trains, Classic Trains, Garden Railways, and Trains.com, as well as the space enthusiast brand Astronomy. Craig Fuller, the CEO of Firecrown, expressed excitement about the addition of the rail titles to their portfolio, citing a shared passion with the rail and aviation communities.
Firecrown plans to invest in enhancing the editorial coverage of Trains, with a focus on increasing video updates, news content, virtual events, and business analysis for the rail industry. Additionally, the company will retain all editorial and content resources of the former Kalmbach Media brands and establish a new office in Wisconsin to support these operations.
While the decision to sell off assets and lay off employees was undoubtedly difficult for Kalmbach Media, CEO Dan Hickey emphasized the importance of finding a new home for the brands under the stewardship of a company dedicated to their growth and expansion. As the media landscape continues to evolve, Kalmbach Media recognized the need for greater scale and resources to thrive in the industry.
Founded in 1934, Kalmbach Media has been a staple in the publishing world for nearly a century. As the company transitions to new ownership and eventually dissolves, Hickey remains uncertain about his future but plans to take some time off to explore new opportunities.