Illustrated book publisher Abrams has acquired Cameron + Company, a family-owned independent house that specializes in books on photography art, lifestyle, children’s titles, and regional topics. Financial terms for the deal were not disclosed.
C+C will operate as standalone division at Abrams under the continuing direction of C+C v-p and publisher Chris Gruener, who will report directly to Abrams president and CEO Michael Jacobs. In addition, C+C publishing director of Cameron Kids, Nina Gruener, and C+C creative director Iain Morris, will continue in their current positions along with the rest of the house’s staff which will remain based in the company’s current offices in Northern California.
Jacobs called the acquisition “exciting” adding that it “gives Abrams a new West Coast perspective.” C+C imprints include Cameron Books, Cameron Kids, and Cameron Studio, a book packaging and design unit. Abrams, which already distributes C+C titles in the U.S., will now take over its sales, production, human resources, IT and other back office operations for all C+C imprints. C+C was one of PW's fast-growing independent press this year with sales increasing 25% between 2017 to 2019.
Founded in 1964 by the grandfather of C+C kids publishing director Nina Gruener, the house publishes 25 to 30 titles a year. Recent bestselling titles include The President Sang Amazing Grace: A Book About Finding Grace by Zoe Mulford and Jeff Scher, Season: A Year of Wine Country Food, Farming, Family & Friends by Justin Wangler and Tracey Shepos Cenami, and the 50th anniversary edition of Above San Francisco: 50 Years of Aerial Photography by Robert Cameron.
Chris Gruener said the house had “long admired” the Abrams reputation. “We are very excited to expand our list and continue the legacy that Nina’s grandfather, Robert Cameron, began fifty-six years ago in San Francisco when he started Cameron + Company,” says Chris Gruener.
“Abrams and Cameron + Company share a love and passion for publishing beautiful, well-curated, and well-made books for both adults and children,” Jacobs said. “This acquisition is a natural next step between our companies. We have been working together successfully for the past few years as the distributor of Cameron + Company in North America and are thrilled to welcome the terrific people at Cameron + Company and the opportunity to help them grow.”
