Boating Industry parent company buys show producer

VENTURA, Calif. – Boating Industry magazine’s parent company, Affinity Group, Inc. (AGI), continues to build its consumer show business division with the acquisition of the consumer shows of Royal Productions, Inc., a Richmond, Virginia-based producer of 12 shows in the boat, home and garden, RV and camping markets.

AGI, a Ventura, California-based business, is a media and marketing company in the recreational vehicle (RV), boat and powersports markets. It provides numerous publications, affinity clubs and services to consumers who enjoy these recreational lifestyles.

The acquisition elevates AGI’s consumer show total to 18 events in eight different cities. With the addition of these 12 shows, and a goal to build and acquire additional shows, AGI has created a new division called “AGI Events.”

“We have a very aggressive plan to expand our show division at AGI,” said Steve Hedlund, president of AGI Events. “The marriage between strong, local RV, boat and powersports shows and AGI’s extraordinary media and marketing assets creates far
greater value for show exhibitors. There is a great upside for both our customers and our overall business.”

The shows acquired from Royal Productions, Inc. will form a regional group within AGI Events. The group will be led by David Posner, one of the founders of Royal Productions. Posner will serve as vice president/general manager.

“AGI’s involvement with the business my family and I have built over the past 35 years will bring nothing but additional strength to all of our shows,” say Posner. “I look forward to the marketing muscle that will be added to the shows we already produce and to the prospects for new shows as well.”

Posner’s Richmond, Virginia-based division produces shows in Virginia, Pennsylvania and the Washington, D.C. area. Currently, AGI Events also produces five shows from its Minneapolis, Minnesota-based division and one show from its Ventura, California-based headquarters.

“These shows are primarily local businesses, thus the regional office and management structure,” according to Tom Gaither, vice president of AGI Events. “While we intend to harness the marketing power of AGI to strengthen and expand the shows, we also realize that the local relationships with customers and vendors are what make each of these shows unique. Our opportunity is to empower those relationships and create a win-win.”

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