Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
| Company type | Public (until 2015), now owned by Marquee Brands LLC |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media and merchandising |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Martha Stewart |
| Fate | Acquired by Marquee Brands LLC in April 2019 |
| Headquarters | Chelsea, New York City , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Martha Stewart (founder, former CEO and chairwoman), Daniel Dienst (former CEO) |
| Products | Publishing (magazines, books), television and radio content, online retail, merchandising (home products, paint, crafts, wine) |
| Owner | Marquee Brands LLC (since April 2019) |
| Parent | Marquee Brands LLC |
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. (MSLO) is a U.S.-based media and merchandising conglomerate established by Martha Stewart in 1997. Since April 2019, it has been under the ownership of Marquee Brands LLC. The company operates across four primary divisions: publishing, digital platforms, broadcasting, and product merchandising. MSLO's assets encompass printed magazines, television and radio content, as well as online retail services.
History
Created in 1997 by Martha Stewart to consolidate her media and merchandising enterprises, the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange on October 19, 1999. At its initial public offering, shares rose sharply from $18 to $38 each, instantly elevating Stewart to billionaire status.
In 2002, MSLO faced a class-action lawsuit alleging investor deception and insider trading; this was resolved with a $30 million settlement approved in 2007. Two years later, in 2004, the firm adjusted its accounting approach for subscription acquisition expenses by recognizing these costs as incurred and restated prior financial reports accordingly.
On February 19, 2008, MSLO purchased specific business assets from celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse for $50 million. This acquisition included rights to television shows, cookbook collections, and product lines but excluded his restaurant operations and charitable foundation.
Martha Stewart held the roles of president, chairwoman, and CEO until she was compelled to step down following the 2001 ImClone insider trading scandal. An agreement with the SEC prohibited her from executive positions involving financial reporting until 2011. She returned to the board in September 2011 and reassumed the chairmanship in May 2012.
In 2012, Macy’s initiated legal action against MSLO and J.C. Penney concerning "Martha Stewart Home Shops," alleging contract breaches and interference. These lawsuits were consolidated in 2013; Macy’s reached a settlement with MSLO but continued pursuing claims against J.C. Penney. CEO Daniel Dienst reported that legal expenses related to this matter totaled between $7 million and $8 million.
The media segment discontinued printing Everyday Food and Whole Living magazines in 2013; meanwhile, Martha Stewart Living cut its publication frequency to eleven issues annually.
On December 4, 2015, Sequential Brands Group acquired MSLO, resulting in the suspension and removal of its common stock from the NYSE.
In March 2017, MSLO collaborated with Marley Spoon Inc. to offer Martha & Marley Spoon meal kits through Amazon Fresh in major metropolitan areas across the United States.
Sequential Brands divested MSLO along with the Emeril brand to Marquee Brands in April 2019 for $175 million plus additional contingent payments. The transaction did not include MSLO’s Chelsea office lease; however, Marquee had the option to assume it. Marquee Brands is owned by asset manager Neuberger Berman and controls various subsidiaries such as BCBG Max Azria.
Publishing
MSLO has produced numerous magazines including:
- Martha Stewart Living (print publication ended May 2022)
- Martha Stewart Weddings, featuring special editions like the yearly Holiday Cookies
- Blueprint: Design Your Life (discontinued)
- Martha Stewart Kids (discontinued)
- Martha Stewart Baby (discontinued)
- Everyday Food (ceased publication in 2013)
- Whole Living (ceased publication in 2013)
Additionally, four newspaper columns—Ask Martha, Living, Weddings, and Everyday Food—are syndicated nationwide via The New York Times Syndicate.
Current book titles are published through Random House’s Clarkson Potter imprint; earlier works were issued under Time Warner subsidiaries prior to the company’s spin-off.
Publishing continues to be a significant revenue contributor, representing approximately 60% of total income in 2005.
Television
On November 15, 2005, MSLO named Sheraton Kalouria, formerly of NBC, as president of television. In this capacity, he managed global programming development across multiple platforms including cable, broadcast, syndication, DVD, and digital content distributed via video on demand, web, and mobile devices.
Prominent television properties under MSLO include:
- Martha (daily syndicated)
- Everyday Food (weekly on PBS)
- Martha Stewart Living
- From Martha's Kitchen
Although MSLO did not hold ownership in NBC’s The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, its brand and associated enterprises were significantly highlighted. Additionally, producer Mark Burnett co-produced MSLO’s daily talk show, further boosting the company’s media presence.
DVD
Beginning in late 2005, MSLO began distributing instructional DVDs through a collaboration with Warner Bros., initially concentrating on culinary and holiday-themed content.
Radio
MSLO operated the satellite radio channel Martha Stewart Living Radio on SiriusXM Channel 110. The channel featured a weekday evening talk show titled Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer, co-hosted by Martha Stewart’s daughter Alexis Stewart and Jennifer Koppelman-Hutt. Alexis departed in June 2011, after which Jennifer served as the sole host until the program ended in December 2011.
Internet and Direct Commerce
The Internet and Direct Commerce division of MSLO encompasses marthastewart.com and the direct flower sales site marthastewartflowers.com.
Previously, MSLO collaborated with Touchpoint to create customizable greeting cards under the Marthascards brand. This initiative was later replaced in 2006 by a program with Kodak EasyShare Gallery.
In November 2006, MSLO introduced Martha's Circle, a lifestyle blog advertising network that included sites such as Apartment Therapy and Smitten Kitchen.
Historically, MSLO produced both print and online catalogs titled Martha by Mail, later renamed Martha Stewart: The Catalog for Living. Following Martha Stewart’s public controversy and the collapse of the dot-com market, the catalog was discontinued in 2003; the last printed edition was distributed in January 2004 while the online store ceased operations in June 2004.
Merchandising
MSLO offers home products through its mass-market Martha Stewart Everyday brand at Kmart stores across the U.S. and Sears Canada. Its specialty retail line, Martha Stewart Signature, provides furniture and paint products through partnerships with Bernhardt Furniture Company and formerly Sherwin-Williams.
In October 2006, MSLO formed a partnership with Lowe's to introduce Martha Stewart Colors, an exclusive interior paint collection that replaced Sherwin-Williams products and launched in April 2007.
In April 2006, the company announced a premium merchandise line with Macy's set to debut in 2007.
MSLO also created Martha Stewart Crafts in collaboration with EK Success, which launched at Michael's stores early in 2007.
By 2009, MSLO expanded its product offerings to include outdoor furniture, indoor organization solutions, kitchen cabinetry, and home décor items available at Home Depot.
On December 7, 2011, JCPenney purchased a 16.6% equity stake in MSLO with plans to establish "mini-Martha Stewart shops" within its stores by 2013 alongside launching a joint e-commerce website.
Wine
On September 14, 2007, MSLO revealed a collaboration with E & J Gallo Winery to launch the "Martha Stewart Vintage" wine collection, focusing on six key U.S. markets. The debut shipment consisted of 15,000 cases, including 2006 Sonoma County Chardonnay, 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2006 Merlot, available in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Denver, Phoenix, and Portland.
In August 2024, MSLO broadened its product range by entering into an agreement with Costco Wholesale Corp. to introduce a selection of food items crafted from its extensive recipe archive, thereby strengthening its footprint in the retail food sector.