Twenty-five years ago, Alan Giagnocavo founded Fox Chapel Publishing at his kitchen table, focusing on books about the arts of woodcarving and creating with a scroll saw. Since then, the press has specialized in illustrated nonfiction with a focus on artisan and high-quality craft books, and has further expanded with the publishing and distribution of cookbooks, children’s titles, and quilt books. Fox Chapel recently acquired the book division of Lumina Media, which includes more than 700 lifestyle titles, and is being further developed under a new imprint called Companion House Press. The publisher currently boasts a list of more than 1,500 titles in print.
To accommodate the rapid growth, Fox Chapel is moving to a seven-acre campus in the hills of Lancaster County, Pa. The 70,000-square-foot multibuilding complex includes office and conference space, a separate studio for retail and community events, and an impressive warehouse space that will support the company’s distribution for B2B and B2C initiatives.
“We have a lot of cause for celebration at Fox Chapel Publishing in our 25th year,” says Giagnocavo. “Our growth would not be possible without the people who make up our company—our authors who continue to inspire, our team members who are passionately creative, the people we continue to do business with, and of course our wonderful readers. Together, we have a bright future ahead.”
Fox Chapel credits much of its recent success to its continued dedication to adult coloring books. During the coloring book boom, Fox Chapel sold over 10 million units and held 10% of the U.S. market and 25% of the Canadian market. It also released DO Magazine, a publication for coloring book hobbyists. The company has a history of producing consumer-focused magazines, currently publishing Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts Magazine, Pyrography Magazine, and Woodcarving Illustrated Magazine.
The company is excited about its upcoming list, including Joanne Fink’s When You Lose Someone You Love (Oct.), the Vera Bradley Pattern Portfolio books, and faith-based craft books such as Complete Guide to Bible Journaling: Creative Techniques to Express Your Faith (Oct.), also by Joanne Fink.
Fox Chapel Publishing is committed to humanitarian outreach as well. It has made a $250,000 cash donation to several Guatemalan charities including the Hands of Hope Medical Clinic, the House of Joy-filled Ones for the Developmentally Handicapped, and other community-based charities. Since its founding, Fox Chapel Publishing has always emphasized the importance of giving to charities, with a special emphasis on education, children, and health, even when first-year profits reached only $96.
Tomorrow, 2:30 p.m. Fox Chapel Publishing is celebrating with a champagne and sparkling cider toast at its booth (339).
