EDgage
Reinventing a longstanding association by creating community and connections
The Challenge
As a longtime organizer of the largest graphic arts show in the country, APTech faced a crossroads. Declining sponsorships and event revenues raised critical questions about the value of membership and the long-term sustainability of the association. Members—especially those in the print sector—were no longer seeing clear ROI. More than anything, they were asking for one thing: new business opportunities.
Read an issue
Approach
APTech’s leadership remained committed to supporting the print industry and recognized that business-as-usual was no longer an option. They needed to provide real, tangible value. Through collaborative surveys and interviews, one insight rose above the rest: their members wanted leads and connections—not just networking, but meaningful access to potential clients.
We partnered with APTech to create a new model. Leveraging their event expertise and our strength in content strategy, we launched a platform designed to build community with purpose. The initiative began with EDgage Magazine and EDgage Live, a focused campaign targeting higher education marketers. The content served as a bridge—positioning APTech’s print members as knowledgeable, relevant, and ready to support education institutions with print and marketing services.
Awards
Results
- 2,000+ readers after the first issue
- Four new advertisers engaged with the platform
- New editorial board formed to steer future content
- Platinum MarCom Award for excellence in print media
- Platinum Hermes Creative Award for design and content
This strategic shift has done more than refresh a brand—it’s helping APTech reassert its role as a connector, a catalyst, and a community-builder for the future of print.