Quad/Graphics inks new $450 million printing contract with Bluestem Brands

Quad/Graphics Inc. has signed a new multi-year contract valued at more than $450 million to print all catalogs for e-commerce retailer Bluestem Brands Inc.

Beginning Jan. 1, the Sussex-based company said, it will supply paper purchasing, printing and mail/distribution services for all 13 of Bluestem Brands' online retail brands.

Quad/Graphics prints catalogs and provides pre-media services, including prepress, digital photography and video production, for the Minnesota-based online retailer’s Fingerhut and Gettington brands. Under the new deal, Quad/Graphics will begin printing catalogs for the other 11 brands as well.

Information on whether the contract will lead to additional hiring by Quad/Graphics wasn't immediately available.

“We are proud to build on our long-standing relationship with Bluestem Brands, a respected multi-brand online retailer,” Joel Quadracci, the chairman, president and chief executive of Quad/Graphics, said in a statement. “Bluestem Brands understands the critical role print plays in its marketing mix — particularly in its effectiveness to drive traffic online."

Quadracci said that by consolidating paper purchasing and print spending with Quad/Graphics, Bluestem will eliminate redundancies and save time and money.

“Quad/Graphics has the knowledge, resources and commitment to help our print program succeed," said Steve Nave, Bluestem Brands president and CEO. "In particular, we value Quad’s partnership approach to doing business by bringing forward ideas and solutions to help us better manage the complexities of today’s retail landscape.”

Bluestem Brands is a unit of Bluestem Group Inc., an Eden Prairie, Minn.-based holding company.

Bluestem Brands describes itself as a national, multi-brand online retailer of a broad selection of general merchandise serving the boomer and senior demographic, generally considered 50 and older, and low- to middle-income consumers over all age demographics, through its 13 retail brands.

In addition to Fingerhut and Gettington, its brands include Appleseed's, Blair, Draper’s & Damon’s, Gold Violin, Haband, Norm Thompson, Old Pueblo Traders, Sahalie, Tog Shop and WinterSilks.