Company
The Cologne-based company, WA Media GmbH, founded as WA Verlag in 1982, is a media service provider and information platform for haptic advertising. The portfolio of the specialist publishing company includes diverse magazines for the German and European promotional products market, i.e. the industry publication Werbeartikel Nachrichten and the English-language eppi magazine as well as the user magazine HAPTICA® Magazine. Once a year, WA Media organises an international design competition, the Promotional Gift Award. The renowned design and communication prize distinguishes promotionally effective give-aways, premium products and merchandising items as well as marketing campaigns that involve the implementation of haptic elements. In addition, the publishing company also organises the HAPTICA® live – the Experience of Haptic Advertising. The annual event held at the World Conference Center Bonn highlights various aspects of haptic marketing compactly over the course of one day. The programme encompasses the product presentations exhibiting companies, the demonstration of examples of best practice from all over the globe and lectures by marketing professions. Newsletters, web portals and social media activities as well as print production services round off the portfolio of the publishing company.
Milestones
- 2024: The first edition of Haptica® Magazin
- 2022: Haptica online, the digital platform with 24/7 info updates, theme specials, newsfeeds and much more, is launched
- 2018: Publication of the Sustainability in haptic advertising special
- 2016: HAPTICA® live moves to Bonn.
- 2014: Company is renamed WA Media GmbH
- 2013: HAPTICA® live celebrates its premiere in Cologne.
- 2012: 3rd WA Community Event in Cologne
- 2011: 2nd WA Community Event in Cologne
- 2011: The first edition of HAPTICA®
- 2010: 1st WA Community Event in Cologne
- 2010: Michael Scherer becomes the sole Managing Partner of WA Verlag GmbH.
- 2009: Publication of the reference guide entitled Haptic Advertising. Practical Handbook for Promotional Products
- 2008: WA Verlag jointly organises the Pro 8 Congress Fair in Amsterdam together with the Dutch publishing company, Het Portaal Uitgevers.
- 2007: The first edition of Promotion Products
- 2002: The Promotional Gift Award is conferred for the first time
- 2002: The launch of Promotion Business
- 1998: The first edition of eppi magazine
- 1998: Michael Scherer and Klaus Stallbaum take over the company
- 1998: The publishing company moves to Cologne
- 1996: Publication of the 50 Years of Promotional Products in Germany special
- 1992: Publication of the reference book What one ought to know about promotional products
- 1989: Launch of Werbeartikel Wirtschaft
- 1986 Insider is renamed Werbeartikel Nachrichten
- 1983: The first edition of Insider