Harte Hanks

Harte Hanks is an American marketing services company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Its current service scope includes analytics, strategy, marketing technology, creative services, digital marketing, customer care, direct mail, logistics, and fulfillment. The company began in 1923 as Harte-Hanks Newspapers, founded by Houston Harte and Bernard Hanks, and spent roughly its first half-century operating newspapers, primarily in Texas. Over time it expanded into broadcasting, shopper publications, data services, and digital marketing before concentrating on marketing and customer-engagement services. The company’s early publishing base was built around newspapers associated with its founders: Hanks’s Abilene Reporter-News and Harte’s San Angelo Standard. During the 1920s and 1930s it added titles including the Harlingen Star, Corpus Christi Times, Big Spring Herald, and Paris News. It incorporated as Harte-Hanks Newspapers, Inc. in 1948. In the 1950s it acquired competing Greenville, Texas, newspapers and consolidated them into the Herald-Banner. The transaction led to an unfair-competition case, but the company was acquitted in 1959. Harte Hanks broadened its scale and geographic reach during the 1960s and 1970s. It obtained full ownership of the San Antonio Express-News in 1962 and entered television and radio through the related acquisition of KENS-AM-TV. KENS became a leading station in the San Antonio market during the company’s ownership. In 1972, Harte-Hanks completed its first initial public offering, by which time it owned properties in 19 markets across six states. It also expanded beyond Texas by acquiring newspapers in Anderson, South Carolina, and later accumulated a substantial portfolio of daily and weekly newspapers. By 1980, the company owned 29 daily and 68 weekly titles, along with four television stations, 11 radio stations, and four cable systems. The company’s ownership structure changed significantly in the 1980s. Managers took Harte Hanks private in 1984, and the company later returned to public markets in 1993. Debt associated with the leveraged buyout contributed to the sale of many broadcast assets. During the 1990s, Harte Hanks increasingly withdrew from newspaper and broadcasting operations and focused on direct marketing and shopper publications. Its remaining Texas and South Carolina newspaper properties, together with KENS, were sold to the E. W. Scripps Company in 1997. Direct marketing and shopper media became important parts of the later business. Harte Hanks owned PennySaver, a network of local advertising publications and related online content, and The Flyer in Florida. The Flyer was sold in 2012, while PennySaver and PennySaverUSA.com were sold in 2013. The company also moved toward data-driven marketing technology and digital services through acquisitions. It acquired Global Address in 2006, renamed the business Trillium Software in 2008, and later sold it to Syncsort in 2016. In 2008 it acquired UK-based digital marketing businesses Mason Zimbler and Strange & Dawson, followed by UK data and database-marketing firm Information Arts in 2010. In 2015 it acquired 3Q Digital, a San Mateo digital marketing firm, and sold the business back to an entity owned by its previous owners in 2018. Harte Hanks therefore represents a transition from regional newspaper and broadcast ownership to integrated marketing services. Its historical capabilities in audience reach, direct response, data management, creative work, and customer communications underpin a contemporary offering aimed at helping organizations acquire, engage, and retain customers across physical and digital channels.

Harte Hanks was founded in 1923 by Houston Harte and Bernard Hanks as Harte-Hanks Newspapers. The founders’ initial newspaper properties included the Abilene Reporter-News and the San Angelo Standard. The business expanded through acquisitions in Texas, adding newspapers such as the Harlingen Star, Corpus Christi Times, Big Spring Herald, and Paris News. It became incorporated as Harte-Hanks Newspapers, Inc. in 1948. In the mid-1950s, the company purchased two competing newspapers in Greenville, Texas, and combined them into the Herald-Banner after a period of intense rivalry. The consolidation resulted in litigation alleging unfair competition; Harte Hanks was acquitted in 1959. In 1962, it acquired full ownership of the San Antonio Express-News, then its largest-circulation newspaper. The same transaction brought KENS-AM-TV into the company, marking an important step into broadcasting. Under Harte Hanks, KENS developed from a ratings underperformer into the San Antonio market leader by 1968. The company moved its headquarters from Abilene to San Antonio in 1968. It continued expanding its media holdings during the 1970s, acquiring newspapers in Anderson, South Carolina, and broadcast properties in several American markets. Harte-Hanks completed its first initial public offering on March 8, 1972. At that point it owned properties in 19 markets across six states. The company also acquired or operated television stations, radio stations, and cable systems. By 1980, its portfolio included 29 daily newspapers, 68 weekly newspapers, four television stations, 11 radio stations, and four cable television systems. Harte Hanks’s ownership changed in 1984, when company managers took it private. The leveraged buyout created debt pressure and prompted the sale of much of the broadcasting portfolio. The company returned to public ownership in 1993. During the middle of the 1990s, it began exiting newspapers and broadcasting in favor of direct marketing and shopper publications. It sold its Massachusetts newspaper interests in 1995. In May 1997, the remaining Abilene, Anderson, Corpus Christi, and San Angelo newspaper properties, together with KENS, were sold to the E. W. Scripps Company. After the media divestitures, Harte Hanks concentrated on direct marketing, customer communications, and related services. Its shopper-media activities included PennySaver in California and The Flyer in Florida. At one point, these publications reached millions of weekly readers through numerous local editions. The Flyer was sold to Coda Media in 2012, and PennySaver and PennySaverUSA.com were sold to OpenGate Capital in 2013. The company also pursued marketing technology and data capabilities. It acquired Global Address, a UK software company specializing in international address validation, in 2006. Global Address was renamed Trillium Software in 2008 and sold to Syncsort in 2016. Other acquisitions included UK digital marketing and media provider Mason Zimbler and digital advertising company Strange & Dawson in 2008, followed by UK data-insight and database-marketing firm Information Arts in 2010. Harte Hanks acquired San Mateo-based digital marketing company 3Q Digital in 2015 and sold it back to an entity owned by its former owners in 2018. The company’s historical evolution moved through three broad phases: regional newspaper ownership, diversified media operations, and specialized marketing services. Its present identity is associated with analytics, strategy, marketing technology, creative and digital work, customer care, direct mail, logistics, and fulfillment.

1. 2018Divestiture of 3Q Digital

   Harte Hanks sold 3Q Digital back to an entity owned by its previous owners.

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2. 2015Acquisition of 3Q Digital

   The company acquired San Mateo-based digital marketing firm 3Q Digital.

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3. 2010Acquisition of Information Arts

   Harte Hanks acquired the UK data-insight, data-management, and database-marketing firm Information Arts.

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4. 2008Expansion into UK digital marketing and data services

   The company acquired Mason Zimbler and Strange & Dawson and renamed Global Address as Trillium Software.

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5. 2006Acquisition of Global Address

   Harte Hanks acquired a UK software company focused on international address-validation technology.

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6. 1997Exit from remaining newspaper and broadcast properties

   The company sold its remaining major newspaper properties and KENS to the E. W. Scripps Company.

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7. 1993Return to public ownership

   Harte Hanks became publicly traded again after its period as a private company.

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8. 1984Management-led privatization

   Company managers took Harte Hanks private in a leveraged transaction.

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9. 1972First public offering

   Harte-Hanks completed its first initial public offering and expanded outside Texas through the acquisition of Anderson newspapers.

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10. 1968Headquarters moved to San Antonio

    The company relocated from Abilene to San Antonio and continued developing its newspaper and broadcast portfolio.

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11. 1962Expansion into San Antonio newspapers and broadcasting

    Harte Hanks took full ownership of the San Antonio Express-News and acquired KENS-AM-TV as part of the transaction.

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12. 1948Incorporated as Harte-Hanks Newspapers, Inc.

    The newspaper business adopted a formal corporate structure under the Harte-Hanks Newspapers name.

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13. 1923Company founded as Harte-Hanks Newspapers

    Houston Harte and Bernard Hanks established the company around their newspaper properties in Texas.

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A data-oriented marketing services partner combining strategy, analytics, digital and creative execution, customer care, direct marketing, and operational fulfillment.

• Integrated marketing servicesMarketing services

  Harte Hanks provides coordinated marketing support spanning analytics, strategy, creative development, digital marketing, customer communications, and campaign execution. The offering reflects the company’s transition from media ownership toward an integrated services model.

• Data and marketing technology servicesMarketing technology

  The company’s data-oriented capabilities include analytics, data management, database marketing, and marketing technology. Its historical portfolio included Global Address and Trillium Software, although those businesses were subsequently divested.

• Digital and creative servicesDigital marketing

  Digital marketing and creative services form part of Harte Hanks’s contemporary marketing portfolio. Related historical acquisitions included Mason Zimbler, Strange & Dawson, Information Arts, and 3Q Digital.

• Customer careCustomer experience

  Harte Hanks lists customer care among its services, supporting customer communications and engagement as part of broader marketing and customer-experience programs.

• Direct mail, logistics, and fulfillmentDirect marketing operations

  The company provides physical campaign execution capabilities that include direct mail, logistics, and fulfillment. These services extend its marketing work beyond planning and creative production into operational delivery.

• PennySaverShopper publication1972

  PennySaver was a local advertising publication and related online network serving consumers and businesses through geographically focused advertising content. Harte Hanks owned the business before selling it to OpenGate Capital in 2013.

• The FlyerShopper publication1983

  The Flyer was a Florida-focused shopper publication that formed part of Harte Hanks’s local advertising-media activities. The company sold it to Coda Media in 2012.

• 2015Acquisition of 3Q DigitalM&A

  Harte Hanks continued expanding its digital marketing capabilities through acquisitions.

  What changed. The company acquired 3Q Digital, a digital marketing firm based in San Mateo, California.

  Aftermath. Harte Hanks sold 3Q Digital in 2018 to an entity owned by its previous owners.

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• 2006Acquisition of Global AddressM&A

  Harte Hanks sought to strengthen its marketing-data and technology capabilities.

  What changed. It acquired Global Address, a UK software company specializing in international address validation.

  Aftermath. Global Address was renamed Trillium Software in 2008 and was later sold to Syncsort in 2016.

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• 1990Shift from media ownership to direct marketingStrategy

  During the 1990s, Harte Hanks was reducing its exposure to newspapers and broadcasting after decades as a diversified media company.

  What changed. The company withdrew from the newspaper and broadcasting businesses and concentrated on direct marketing and shopper publications.

  Aftermath. The strategic change established the foundation for Harte Hanks’s later focus on data, digital marketing, customer care, direct mail, and fulfillment.

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• 2018Harte Hanks sells 3Q Digital back to previous owners

  The company sold 3Q Digital to an entity owned by the firm’s previous owners after acquiring the digital marketing business in 2015.

  M&A
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• 2016Harte Hanks sells Trillium Software

  Trillium Software, the data-quality and address-validation business previously known as Global Address, was sold to Syncsort.

  M&A
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• 2013Harte Hanks sells PennySaver assets

  Harte Hanks sold PennySaver and the PennySaverUSA.com online network to OpenGate Capital, further reducing its exposure to shopper publications.

  M&A
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• 2012Harte Hanks sells The Flyer

  The company sold its Florida shopper publication, The Flyer, to Coda Media as part of its continuing shift away from shopper-media ownership.

  M&A
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1. Harte Hanks