Inovva acquires Halifax-based Oyster Group

The Oyster Group, a Halifax-based circulation management and fulfillment company, has been acquired by Inovva, which specializes in web-based data management tools for magazine subscriptions, newsletter recipients, contest entries and event attendees. Oyster Group and its founder Faith Drinnan have been serving magazines in Canada and the United States since 1979. 

Drinnan intends to retire soon and Jennifer Taylor, her vice-president, client services becomes director of accounts at Inovva. The company's main offices will remain in Halifax. 

"This is very exciting news," says Inovva president Brinda Luckoo in a release. "The Oyster Group has an excellent reputation in the publishing industry and we are very keen to bring their expertise to our clients. They are well known as a dedicated, hard‑working group of professionals who have been helping publishers build their paid subscriptions for some 25 years." 

"We spent quite some time looking for the right buyer," says Drinnan. "Inovva has the personnel, the skills and the vision to ensure ongoing growth for the business we started in 1992. The company shares our values and commitment to both clients and staff. Plus, they have the most extensive range of traditional and digital offerings in Canada."

This was the second such acquisition this year.  In January, the company purchased Publish2Profit, a Calgary-based technology company that offers online sales and accounting solutions specifically tailored to the needs of magazine and periodical publishers.