Apparel News Group Purchased by Industry Veteran
MnM Publishing has announced that it has sold its Apparel News Group, including its flagship 68-year-old fashion-industry newsweekly, the California Apparel News, to Terry L. Martinez and her company, TLM Publishing Inc. Martinez, formerly the publication’s Director of Sales and Marketing, takes the reins as CEO and Publisher, effective immediately.
In addition to the newsweekly, the sale to TLM Publishing includes all holdings and publications of the Apparel News Group, which has been a mainstay in the fashion marketplace since 1945. Teri Fellman and Carl Wernicke assumed ownership of MnM Publishing in 2000 upon the death of their father, former publisher and CEO Martin Wernicke, who purchased the company in 1974. The Apparel News Group was sold to Martinez for an undisclosed amount.
“With the industry continuing to pick up steam, as was evident from the brisk traffic at MAGIC in August, the timing could not be better for the purchase of such an important and quality company,” said Martinez. “The California Apparel News has been such a major part of my career. I am relishing the opportunity to work with our team to move forward aggressively and serve our industry readership in new and better ways.” Longtime Publisher and General Manager Molly Rhodes will remain a critical part of the company.
Martinez, who has extensive sales experience in apparel retail, manufacturing, textiles, trim and technology, joined the California Apparel News in 1998 as an Account Executive. She was promoted to National Advertising Manager in 2000 and then to Director of Sales & Marketing in 2001.
The California Apparel News is known for its wide-ranging coverage of the apparel and related industries, focusing not only on fashion but also on all aspects of the business. In addition to its newspaper arm, the Apparel News Group produces ApparelNews.net; Waterwear, devoted to the swimwear industry; Decorated, devoted to the decorated apparel industry; numerous special sections focused on technology, fiber and fabric, denim, lingerie, and other niche markets; as well as custom innovative marketing concepts for clients.
