Easyfairs acquires Aesthetics Media, adding Journal, ACE and Awards to UK portfolio [June 2019]

Easyfairs announced on 18 June 2019 that it had acquired the Aesthetics Media portfolio, including the monthly Aesthetics Journal, the Aesthetics Conference & Exhibition (ACE), the Aesthetics Awards and its digital platforms. [1]

At the time, Easyfairs already owned CCR, having acquired the event in 2016. The addition of Aesthetics Media therefore brought two of the UK sector’s major professional events, alongside a specialist publication and awards platform, into the same group. [1][2]

Easyfairs said the acquisition would allow suppliers to access exhibitions, awards, print, digital and advertising opportunities through a single organisation. At the time of the transaction, Aesthetics Journal reported an ABC-audited circulation of 10,100, while its weekly newsletter reached more than 14,000 professionals. [1]

The Harley View

This is particularly relevant to Harley because it demonstrates that industry media itself can be a strategic asset.

Easyfairs was not simply buying a journal. It was acquiring a professional audience across content, events, awards and digital channels, while combining that audience with an existing exhibition business.

For Harley’s deal history, it belongs in a separate but important category: Media & Events.

It also raises an interesting strategic question for the aesthetics sector: when the same owner controls media, events, awards and commercial access to an industry audience, the value lies not only in individual products but in the network connecting them.

References

[1] Easyfairs — “Easyfairs acquires Aesthetics Media” — 18 June 2019
https://www.easyfairs.com/2019/06/18/easyfairs-acquires-aesthetics-media/

[2] Easyfairs — “Easyfairs acquires UK’s largest medical aesthetic exhibition & conference, CCR Expo” — 4 October 2016
https://www.easyfairs.com/2016/10/04/easyfairs-acquires-uks-largest-medical-aesthetic-exhibition-conference-ccr-expo/