The Oregon, Wis.-based printer Thysse has announced a series of additions to its team and services through the acquisition of Badger Group in Fort Atkinson.
Long located in the northside Gordon F. Day Industrial Park, Badger Group is reputed for its direct-mail, print services, and digital marketing expertise.
Thysse stated in a press release that combining forces and relocating to Oregon will offer Badger Group clients increased capacity for current services, a larger team to focus on every project, and additional offerings in vehicle graphics, signage and large format, creative services, promotional items, inventory management and distribution.
The transition is progressing smoothly, as both businesses run on the same Print Management Information System (MIS) and are structured similarly to assist clients, Thysse stated.
“Badger Group has a long and respected history in Wisconsin and a fantastic set of experts who will strengthen our mailing, offset, and marketing capabilities,” said Jason Thysse, president of Thysse. “We’ve long admired their business model and presence in the print industry, and couldn’t be happier to have them join our team.”
Sally O’Brien, Badger Group president/owner, echoed that sentiment.
“Badger Group has been family-owned and operated since 1975, and we’re thrilled to combine both companies’ rich history and extremely knowledgeable teams,” she said.
O’Brien said the move is a very positive one for Badger Group, as it now can offer its clients additional brand development options.
‘We’re thoughtfully planning our transition so there are very few changes to client and staff relationships and no delays to current or scheduled projects,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien, along with many of her sales, project management and production staff members, will complete the move to Thysse.
All Badger Group employees reportedly were offered jobs with Thysse.
Thysse is a brand experience provider built by three generations of visual communication specialists. It is a design, printing, specialty graphics and manufacturing company at its core, but also offers imagination and the tools to customize projects.
“Our team believes the story your brand tells is as important as the materials it is printed on, and we’re here to help you think through every step of your project, be it direct mail, catalog, fleet vehicles, apparel, signage, or environmental wayfinding,” Thysse said.
Thysse’s growth in recent years can be attributed to expansions in facilities and services. This latest acquisition increases expertise and capacity in both mailing and offset printing services, the owner said.
Badger Group is a full-service print and marketing services provider. It manages targeted direct-mail campaigns with integrated digital components, marketing automation and dashboard analytics. Its storefront solutions help maintain brand identity, connect teams, streamline ordering and fulfillment, and monitor inventory.
Badger Group was incorporated as Badger Press in the early 1950s. Operating for 25 years as a small print shop, the business was sold in 1975 to Frank Brown, only the tenth employee to work for Badger Press.
In 1990, Brown purchased land at the corner of Blackhawk Drive and State Highway 89 in Fort Atkinson and built the current plant. Almost 30 years of evolution and expansion led to a 58,000-square-foot facility.
Badger Press integrated a host of innovative digital and data-driven marketing solutions into the print world and in 2013, the company rebranded itself as Badger Group to better reflect its expanded offerings beyond print.
In April 2018, Badger Group expanded its business once more with the acquisition of a local commercial printer.
After a 39-year career in the print industry, Brown passed the reins over to his daughter, Sally O’Brien, who purchased the company from him in December of 2013. O’Brien had begun her career with Badger in 1988, working her way through the ranks to become president in 2000.
Founded about eight decades ago by John Thysse, the company remained a small, Madison-based printer until grandson Jason Thysse took the helm in late 2008. He moved the business to Oregon in 2012, where there was more space than its Madison location.
A new 95,500-square-foot facility opened last summer at 780 Cusick Parkway, marking the third expansion in the eight years.
Along with the longstanding printing services for catalogs, mailings and brochures, Thysse now also provides graphic design, marketing and environmental graphic design — which helps a company brand its physical space.
Above two photos: With its building in the Gordon F. Day Industrial Park for sale, Badger Group in Fort Atkinson has been acquired by Thysse, an Oregon, Wis.-based printer. All Badger Group employees have been offered jobs with Thysse, according to information released by the company.
Chris Spangler photos.
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