{{Short description|Canadian publisher}} {{Infobox company | name = Friesens Corporation | logo = Friesens logo.svg | image = Friesens Publishing (5997372706).jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = Wall display of works published by Friesens at the company's headquarters | type = Private (employee-owned) | founder = David W. Friesen | area_served = North America | key_people = Chad Friesen, Chief Executive Officer<br />Byron Loeppky, President<br />Curwin Friesen, Chairman of the Board | industry = Printing | products = Books, Yearbooks, Self-publishing | revenue = CAD$96,000,000 (2019) {{increase}} 10% from 2018 | num_employees = 600 | divisions = Friesens Book Division, Friesens Yearbooks, FriesenPress | founded = 1907 | hq_location_city = Altona, Manitoba | hq_location_country = Canada | website = [http://www.friesens.com www.friesens.com] }}
'''Friesens Corporation''' is Canada's largest printer of hardcover books.<ref name="mbindustry">{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/ctt/invest/strategic/strat4.html |title=The Economy |access-date=2008-08-19}}</ref> They are employee-owned, specializing in hardcover books and yearbooks, and located in Altona, Manitoba, Canada. Friesens also operates a self-publishing subsidiary named '''FriesenPress''',<ref name="friesenpress.com">{{Cite web|title=FriesenPress {{!}} Self-Publish Your Book in Canada|url=https://www.friesenpress.com/|access-date=2021-06-22|website=FriesenPress|language=en-US}}</ref> launched in 2009.<ref name=":0">{{URL|https://www.friesenpress.com/about-us}}</ref>
==History== {{Prose|date=April 2022}} * Friesens was founded by David W. Friesen in 1907 as a confectionery store. * In 1933, the family purchased a printing press * In 1941 launched weekly ''Altona Echo'' newspaper later amalgamating with the ''Morris Herald'' into the ''Red River Valley Echo''. * In 1950 incorporated as D.W. Friesen & Sons Inc,. * In 1959 built new 16,500 sq. ft. plant. Purchased first offset press * In 1960 began employee profit sharing and post secondary scholarships for employees' children * In 1965 started selling school yearbooks in Manitoba and Saskatchewan<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://friesens.com/Corporate/History.asp |title=Our Past |access-date=2008-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509174010/http://www.friesens.com/Corporate/History.asp |archive-date=May 9, 2008 }}</ref> * In 1970 launched Business Machines division * In 1971 purchased ACME Box Company. Expanded main plant by 12,000 sq ft. * In 1973 expanded school yearbook force * In 1976 D.W. Friesen & Sons changes to [http://www.friesens.com Friesens] * In 1978 printed first four-colour book * In 1987 purchased four colour presses * In 1990 started Graphic Arts course at Red River Community College *In 1999 Friesens Fast Print and Packaging Division relocated. Started selling school graduation supplies. *In 2000, Friesens printed the Canadian run of ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'', producing 400,000 copies of the book.<ref name="cbcharry">{{cite news|date=2000-07-12|title=Potter book flies off shelves|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/potter-book-flies-off-shelves-1.201722|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715014240/http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/07/12/mb_120700Potter.html|url-status=live|archive-date=July 15, 2007|access-date=2008-08-19}}</ref> *In 2002 printed ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' by J. K. Rowling *In 2004 Friesens landmark printing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on 100% post consumer waste led author J.K. Rowling to insist all future Harry Potter books worldwide be printed "tree-free" *In 2008 built North America's most advanced and eco-friendly 130,000 sq. ft. book manufacturing plant. *In 2009 Friesens purchased '''think4D'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=think4D Produces Packaging with Maximum Shelf Impact|url=https://www.think-4d.com/|access-date=2021-06-22|website=www.think-4d.com}}</ref> a revolutionary and patented three-dimensional book cover and packaging technology; Friesens launches '''FriesenPress'''<ref name="friesenpress.com" /> for self-publishing authors; *In 2010 Friesens designed and printed American Idol: Back Story and Season 9 Highlights; Designed and printed school yearbooks appearing on the television series, ''Glee'' *In 2015 Friesens install an 8-colour, format 8, R900 HiPrint XXL perfecting press from Manroland that provides for an imposition of up to 64 pages, printed both sides, in one pass. Successfully completed a shift in the employee-ownership model. *In 2016 printed ''Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'' *In 2017 celebrated 110 years in business with a corporate and community celebration
==Current operations== Friesens is Canada's largest printer of hardcover books.<ref name="mbindustry"/> Furthermore, it has been rated as one of Canada's best 50 managed companies by Deloitte and Touche on several occasions.<ref name="deloitte">{{cite web |url=https://www.canadas50best.com/en/meetourwinners/Pages/Requal.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618225035/http://www.canadas50best.com/en/meetourwinners/pages/requal.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-06-18 |title=2007 Requalified members |access-date=2008-08-19 }}</ref> In 2018, Friesens was number 60 of the top 400 printing companies in the United States and Canada.<ref name="pi">{{cite web |url=http://www.piworld.com/download?sid=42409 |title=The Printing Impressions 400 (pdf) |access-date=2008-08-19}}{{dead link|date=September 2013}}</ref>
== FriesenPress == On July 13, 2009, Friesens Corporation launched a self-publishing subsidiary called '''FriesenPress'''.
FriesenPress offers editing, design, distribution, and promotional support services to assist authors with self-publishing their books. Its team of over 55 employees and 100 freelancers have partnered with thousands of authors on self-publishing over 10,000 book titles.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=St. Germain|first=Pat|date=2021-06-03|title=Making an imprint|work=The National Post|url=https://www.pressreader.com/article/282166474108602|access-date=2021-11-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=FriesenPress|title=Canada's Largest Publishing Services Provider Turns 10|url=https://www.friesenpress.com/about/media-releases/2019/7/19/canadas-largest-publishing-services-provider-turns-10|access-date=2021-11-30|website=FriesenPress|language=en-US}}</ref> It is the largest company of its kind in Canada.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gee|first=Dana|date=2021-07-23|title=Booming self-publishing puts more voices out in the world|work=The Vancouver Sun|url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/books/booming-self-publishing-puts-more-voices-out-in-the-world|access-date=2021-11-30}}</ref>
In March 2021, the company shifted its headquarters to Altona, Manitoba and became a fully remote organization.<ref name=":1" />
==Awards== *In 2004, The National Association for Printing Leadership awarded Friesens its highest management award.<ref name="napl">{{cite web|url=http://www.napl.org/news.pressdetail.aspx?PressId=305 |title=Management Plus Awards Winners 2004 |access-date=2008-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226024700/http://www.napl.org/news.pressdetail.aspx?PressId=305 |archive-date=2008-02-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *In 2004, Caldwell Partners and ''The Globe and Mail'' named president Curwin Friesen as one of Canada's "Top 40 Under 40".<ref name="caldwell">{{cite web|url=http://www.top40award-canada.org/award/old/2004.shtml |title=2004 Recipients |access-date=2008-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403005305/http://www.top40award-canada.org/award/old/2004.shtml |archive-date=2008-04-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.friesens.com/ Friesens Corporation]
{{Self-publishing}}
Category:Book publishing companies of Canada Category:Employee-owned companies of Canada Category:Publishing companies based in Manitoba Category:Altona, Manitoba