Bowtie

Lumina Media was an American specialist publishing company whose business centered on pet ownership, animal breeding, veterinary subjects, and related hobby communities. Its corporate history began in 1974, when Norman Ridker founded Fancy Publications. The company built its reputation through enthusiast magazines and reference books, particularly titles serving dog, cat, bird, fish, reptile, horse, and small-animal audiences. Over time, it also operated websites, annual newsstand specials, and publications in selected automotive, motorcycle, agricultural, and lifestyle niches. Fancy Publications developed a broad portfolio during the 1990s. Its magazines included Aquarium Fish, Bird Talk, Cat Fancy, Dog Fancy, Horse Illustrated, Pet Product News, Reptiles, and Wild Bird. The company also expanded online through the Animal Network and later through a network of subject-specific websites. In the pet publishing sector, it was sufficiently prominent that Bob Garfield described it in 2002 as the “Time Warner of the pet magazine business,” a characterization reflecting the breadth of its magazine and book portfolio rather than ownership by Warner-related companies. Ridker later renamed the business BowTie Inc., a name associated with his personal fondness for bow ties. BowTie operated books under the BowTie Press imprint and continued expanding its specialist publishing activities. In 2004 it acquired Kennel Club Books, a New Jersey publisher specializing in dog-breed titles. The transaction added approximately 200 titles to BowTie’s existing book collection and strengthened its position in breed-reference publishing. BowTie also acquired or operated publications outside its core pet titles, including Thoroughbred Times, Motorcycle Consumer News, Auto Restorer, and other enthusiast properties. The company encountered financial pressure in the early 2010s as print readership and advertising revenue declined. In 2013, a newly formed company, I-5 Publishing LLC, founded by David Fry and Mark Harris, acquired BowTie’s businesses for an eight-figure sum and reorganized the operation. Under I-5, the portfolio shifted away from some breeder-oriented editorial products toward rescue and adoption themes. The company launched Rescue Me and later Rescue Proud, while also consolidating important digital and print pet properties. I-5 acquired the Dogster and Catster websites from Say Media, then introduced alternating bimonthly print magazines under the Dogster and Catster brands while discontinuing the separate Dog Fancy and Cat Fancy print editions. In 2016, I-5 Publishing adopted the Lumina Media name. The renamed company continued to manage a mixture of pet magazines, annual specials, websites, books, and hobby publications. Its pet portfolio included Dogster, Catster, Dog World, Reptiles, Ferrets Magazine, Poultry World, and numerous annual publications such as Dogs USA, Puppies USA, and Reptiles USA. Its digital network included Dog Channel, Cat Channel, Bird Channel, Fish Channel, Horse Channel, Reptile Channel, and Small Animal Channel. Lumina subsequently divested much of its portfolio. In 2016 it sold its book division to Fox Chapel Publishing; the transaction covered hundreds of print and electronic titles and led to the creation of Fox Chapel’s CompanionHouse Press imprint. In 2017, Lumina sold Veterinary Practice News to Kenilworth Media, transferred Petcha and Reptiles magazine to PetSmart, sold Horse Illustrated, Young Rider, Hobby Farms, and Chickens to EG Media Investments, and sold Dogster and Catster to Belvoir Media Group. These transactions substantially reduced the company’s publishing operations. By February 2020, Lumina Media had been dissolved and had ceased business operations. Subscribers reportedly received a letter announcing the end of operations without a detailed explanation.

Lumina Media traces its origins to Fancy Publications, founded by Norman Ridker in 1974. The company specialized in enthusiast media for pet owners, animal breeders, and hobbyists. Its publishing model combined recurring magazines, breed and care books, annual newsstand specials, and later a network of websites. During the 1990s, Fancy Publications developed a substantial portfolio spanning dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, horses, and other small animals. It published titles such as Bird Talk, Cat Fancy, Dog Fancy, Horse Illustrated, Pet Product News, Reptiles, and Wild Bird, while also operating the Animal Network website. In 1998, it sued Primedia over alleged copyright infringement involving Primedia’s Cats magazine. The company later adopted the name BowTie Inc., with books published through BowTie Press. In 2004, BowTie acquired Kennel Club Books, a publisher focused on dog-breed books. The deal added about 200 titles and reinforced BowTie’s role in specialist animal-reference publishing. BowTie also held properties outside its core pet portfolio, including Thoroughbred Times, Motorcycle Consumer News, and Auto Restorer. Print-market pressures became increasingly significant in the early 2010s. Declining readership and advertising revenue contributed to months of financial difficulty. In 2013, I-5 Publishing LLC, established by David Fry and Mark Harris, acquired BowTie’s businesses and reorganized them. I-5 reduced emphasis on some breeder-centered publications and promoted rescue and adoption content, including the launch of Rescue Me and later Rescue Proud. I-5 also expanded its digital pet presence by acquiring the Dogster and Catster websites from Say Media. In 2014 it introduced alternating bimonthly print editions for those brands and discontinued the separate Dog Fancy and Cat Fancy magazines. In 2016, the company changed its name to Lumina Media. Lumina continued to publish pet, veterinary, equestrian, agricultural, automotive, motorcycle, and lifestyle properties, including Dog World, Reptiles, Ferrets Magazine, Poultry World, Horse Illustrated, Hobby Farms, and Motorcycle Consumer News. Its web properties included Dog Channel, Cat Channel, Bird Channel, Fish Channel, Horse Channel, Reptile Channel, and Small Animal Channel. The company then pursued substantial portfolio rationalization. In 2016 it sold its book division to Fox Chapel Publishing, covering hundreds of print and electronic titles; Fox Chapel placed the acquired list under CompanionHouse Press. In 2017, Lumina sold Veterinary Practice News to Kenilworth Media, Petcha and Reptiles magazine to PetSmart, several equestrian and agricultural titles to EG Media Investments, and Dogster and Catster to Belvoir Media Group. These disposals removed many of the company’s best-known assets. By February 2020, Lumina Media had been dissolved and had ceased business operations.

• 2020

  Business dissolved

  [1]Lumina Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Lumina Media ceases operations and is dissolved by February.

• 2017

  Major portfolio divestitures

  [1]Lumina Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Lumina sells several major publishing assets to Kenilworth Media, PetSmart, EG Media Investments, and Belvoir Media Group.

• 2016

  I-5 adopts the Lumina Media name

  [1]Lumina Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company changes its corporate name to Lumina Media.

• 2013

  I-5 Publishing acquires BowTie’s businesses

  [1]Lumina Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  David Fry and Mark Harris acquire and restructure the BowTie operation through I-5 Publishing.

• 2013

  Dogster and Catster websites acquired

  [1]Lumina Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  I-5 purchases the Dogster and Catster websites from Say Media.

• 2012

  Bird Talk print edition ends

  [1]Lumina Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  BowTie stops publishing the print version of Bird Talk.

• 2004

  Kennel Club Books acquisition

  [1]Lumina Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  BowTie acquires the dog-breed book publisher Kennel Club Books.

• 1998

  Animal Network website operates

  [1]Lumina Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Fancy Publications operates Animal Network while continuing to expand its print portfolio.

• 1993

  Expansion across animal-hobby magazines

  [1]Lumina Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company publishes a broad portfolio covering aquarium fish, birds, cats, dogs, horses, pet products, reptiles, and wild birds.

• 1974

  Fancy Publications is founded

  [1]Lumina Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Norman Ridker establishes Fancy Publications as a specialist publisher serving pet and animal-care audiences.

A specialist enthusiast-media publisher serving pet owners, breeders, animal-care professionals, and hobby communities through magazines, books, annual specials, and digital channels.

• Dog magazine

  Dog Fancy

  A dog-focused magazine covering breeds, ownership, training, care, and canine lifestyle topics. It was one of the company’s established print brands before being discontinued as a separate magazine when the Dogster print edition was introduced.

• Cat magazine

  Cat Fancy

  A specialist cat magazine serving owners and breeders with coverage of feline breeds, health, behavior, care, and lifestyle. The brand was later consolidated into the Catster website and magazine.

• Pet website and magazine · 2013

  Dogster

  A digital and print dog-media brand acquired from Say Media by I-5 Publishing. Lumina used Dogster as a successor-oriented platform after ending the separate Dog Fancy print publication, and later sold the brand to Belvoir Media Group.

• Pet website and magazine · 2013

  Catster

  A digital and print cat-media brand acquired from Say Media and used as the successor platform to Cat Fancy. Lumina launched an alternating bimonthly print edition before selling the brand to Belvoir Media Group.

• Reptile magazine

  Reptiles

  A specialist publication for reptile keepers and enthusiasts, covering husbandry, species information, habitat design, feeding, and related products. The magazine and the Petcha web publication were sold to PetSmart in 2017.

• Veterinary trade publication

  Veterinary Practice News

  A professional publication serving veterinary practitioners with industry and practice-related coverage. Lumina sold the title to Kenilworth Media in 2017.

• Equestrian magazine

  Horse Illustrated

  An equestrian publication covering horse ownership, riding, care, training, and related lifestyle subjects. It was among the horse and agricultural properties sold to EG Media Investments in 2017.

• Animal-rescue magazine

  Rescue Me

  A rescue-focused magazine launched under I-5 Publishing as the company shifted part of its editorial strategy away from breeder-centric content toward adoption and animal rescue.

• Pet-reference books

  Companion animal book division

  The company’s book division contained hundreds of print and electronic titles, many focused on specific dog breeds and companion-animal care. Fox Chapel Publishing acquired the division in 2016 and continued it through CompanionHouse Press.

• Rescue-focused editorial repositioning

  United States

  After the 2013 restructuring, I-5 Publishing reduced emphasis on some breeder-oriented publications and developed rescue and adoption-focused content, including Rescue Me and Rescue Proud.

  Outcome. The initiative became part of the company’s revised editorial direction, although the later divestitures and closure limited its long-term continuity.

  Source

• 2020

  Cease business operationsOther

  Background

  Following extensive asset sales, Lumina Media no longer maintained its former publishing portfolio.

  Action taken

  The company was dissolved and stopped operating by February 2020.

  Aftermath

  Subscribers received a closure letter, but the available account did not explain the specific reason for the shutdown.

  Source

• 2017

  Execute broad portfolio divestituresStrategy

  Background

  Lumina’s publishing portfolio had become increasingly fragmented across pet, veterinary, equestrian, agricultural, and digital properties.

  Action taken

  Lumina sold Veterinary Practice News, Petcha, Reptiles, Horse Illustrated, Young Rider, Hobby Farms, Chickens, Dogster, and Catster to separate buyers.

  Aftermath

  The sales substantially reduced the company’s operating portfolio before Lumina ceased business operations by February 2020.

  Source

• 2016

  Sell the book divisionStrategy

  Background

  Lumina sought to focus its remaining operations while monetizing its substantial specialist book catalog.

  Action taken

  The company sold its book division to Fox Chapel Publishing, including hundreds of print and electronic titles.

  Aftermath

  Fox Chapel created CompanionHouse Press as the imprint for the acquired list.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch Dogster and Catster print magazinesProduct launch

  Background

  I-5 had acquired the Dogster and Catster digital properties and sought to extend their brands into print.

  Action taken

  The company launched alternating bimonthly print editions for Dogster and Catster and stopped publishing the separate Dog Fancy and Cat Fancy magazines.

  Aftermath

  The move consolidated legacy dog and cat magazine brands around the newer digital properties.

  Source

• 2013

  Acquire and restructure BowTie’s businessesM&A

  Background

  BowTie faced financial difficulty amid declining magazine readership and advertising proceeds.

  Action taken

  I-5 Publishing, founded by David Fry and Mark Harris, acquired BowTie’s businesses and reorganized the publishing portfolio.

  Aftermath

  The restructured company shifted some editorial emphasis toward animal rescue and subsequently adopted the Lumina Media name.

  Source

1. 1Lumina Mediaen.wikipedia.org