Purch Acquires AnandTech, Dominates Tech Expert and Enthusiast Market
Leading content and commerce company adds respected mobile, computing, and IT reviews site to its brand portfolio
NEW YORK, NY (December 17, 2014) – Purch today announced the acquisition of AnandTech.com, a leader in mobile, computing and IT analysis and reviews. Purch’s industry-leading combination of high-quality content and integrated commerce experiences makes complex buying decisions easy for more than 100 million consumers and professionals monthly. With the acquisition of AnandTech, Purch furthers its mission to simplify purchase decisions for in-market tech consumers by adding one of the most popular computer components, hardware, and mobile reviews sites to a brand portfolio that already includes category heavyweight, Tom’s Hardware.
AnandTech has been at the forefront of the technological evolution, providing groundbreaking reviews and trend coverage of cutting-edge mobile and computing products since Anand Shimpi, one of the tech industry’s most authoritative and respected figures, founded it in 1997 at age 14.
“AnandTech has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years, but we were nearing what’s possible as an independent company,” said Ryan Smith, editor-in-chief, AnandTech. “The challenge has always been that there are very few players in the publishing space these days who value deep, high-quality content. We wanted a partner that understood our values, had a sound business model to ensure AnandTech’s legacy would continue for years to come, and would allow us to grow and expand our readership without compromising the quality that made us who were are today. Purch provides all of these things. I am beyond excited about what we’ll be able to do with their support.”
“The addition of AnandTech to a brand portfolio that includes Tom’s Hardware, Tom’s Guide, and Top Ten Reviews unquestionably establishes Purch as the dominant provider of in-depth, quality technology content, serving technology buyers who want to ensure the value of their potential investments,” said Greg Mason, CEO, Purch. “Technology manufacturers, too, can be assured that their messages will reach any serious buyer. The two editorial teams represent the finest, most expert group of content talent in the technology space. ”
“AnandTech represents much of my life’s work over the past 18 years,” said Anand Shimpi, founder, AnandTech. “I am happy to see it end up with a partner committed to taking good care of the brand and its readers. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
Purch offers brands and advertisers unmatched reach to tens of millions of discerning in-market tech consumers and professionals each month. These tech “enthusiasts” look to the kind of detailed research, benchmark testing, and advice from category experts during their buying process for which Tom’s Hardware and AnandTech are known. Readers trust that advice because it is backed by nearly two decades of testing every mobile and PC component imaginable, and is supported by unprecedented input and guidance from the biggest, passionate community of like-minded enthusiasts.
Purch’s acquisition of AnandTech is the company’s most recent move in a series of strategic acquisitions and partnerships aimed at furthering its mission to ease complex buying decisions for shoppers and deliver branding and performance results to advertisers. In 2013, the company acquired the renowned “Tom’s” brand of tech media sites and, earlier this year, purchased BuyerZone, the leading online marketplace for SMB buyers and sellers. Purch’s ability to trigger buying decisions in an array of product categories is evidenced by the more than 7,000 marketers and sellers that come to Purch to connect with ready-to-buy consumers. Each year, Purch’s content-commerce combination drives more than one billion dollars in commerce transactions.
In addition to the acquisition, Purch is now the number one technology publisher in the U.S., [1] with a global readership of more than 100 million monthly unique visitors.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
To find out more about Purch, visit www.purch.com or follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
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About Purch
Purch is a portfolio of digital brands and services that helps make complex buying decisions easy for 100 million consumers monthly. Its respected sites such as Top Ten Reviews, Tom’s Guide, Tom’s Hardware, and Live Science natively integrate commerce and content in more than 1000 product categories so consumers can make better choices before, during, and after an important purchase.
The company helps marketers achieve their branding and performance objectives in a high-quality, brand-safe context. Its sites connect in-market shoppers with more than 7,000 marketers and sellers, driving industry-leading conversion rates and $1 billion in commerce transactions annually.
Purch is a high-growth, privately held company with more than 350 employees and offices across the U.S. and Europe.
For more information on Purch, visit www.purch.com or follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
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[1] Source: comScore U.S. Media Metrix, Tech-News category ranking by unique visitors, PC audience, September 2014
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MrSpadge - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
"AnandTech and Tom’s Hardware remain editorially independent, and though no longer competitors, the goal is to learn from one another."Please, don't learn too much from them!
rickon66 - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
I love that they are using the space vacated by the much hated DailyTech to display Facebook links to stuff 8 months old. I kinda liked Daily Tech and really don't want to be reminded on how to waste the power of a GTX 780ti from back in May.Stuka87 - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
Well, hopefully this all works out for the best. As long as the current staff stays on, I have complete faith that the quality of this site will not change.I stopped going to Toms about a decade ago, but still come here 1-2 times a day.
Keep up the great work Ryan (and others) and those of us that are long time viewers will continue to enjoy this site.
hammer256 - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
Funny thing went through my head as I was reading this... "I hope it wasn't the same company that bought Tom's hardware", since I didn't know who Purch is. Then I saw, and was a bit more concerned. Hopefully this site won't go in the same trajectory as Tom's. Now mind you that Tom's still has great articles (Chris Angelini might be my favorite), but at the very least the site's presentation has gone to the pooper.So I guess we shall find out. I am hopeful that this site will keep delivering the good stuff. I don't have too many places to turn to. Actually, on that subject, what other sites do you guys recommend that has in-depth stuff?
cyberguyz - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
The quality at Tom's hardware went way downhill after they sold out to 'big business' (same owners now).I'm very much expecting the same to happen here.
It saddens me to see htis happening since it is the creators of a site that gives that site its spirit. When the site's creator leaves it int hands of others who are in it purely for the money, it diminishes to the point of becoming jut another soulless tech magazine.
No disrespect to Ryan, but Anand Al-Shimpi was Anandtech's soul. Without him and his vision, Anandtech has lost its soul. That is not something that Purch can replace.
Hulk - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
I have been there since the beginning... 1997. In a way I kind of feel like I grew up with Anand and Anandtech. More than anything it has been his passion and curiosity for computers and technology, especially processors, his ability to cut to the chase and get to what's important in an review, and to at once speak naturally and professionally that has made this site so endearing to me. I have learned so much from this site over the years...Losing Anand was like losing a friend in a way. But I told myself that is passion and style had been thoroughly ingrained into the people he hired. And more importantly he found people that had those same qualities he himself possessed so all he had to do was nurture what was already there in his new hires. That last point is especially important to the survival of the greatness of Anandtech because it's not something that will wither in time with Anand's passing. Hopefully it is an inherent quality in all who work here and will continue to work here.
I am optimistic for Anandtech. Passion, curiosity, and great writing are key. If you are going to keep the name "Anandtech" then make sure you keep the qualities that made it great in the first place.
All that being said if I start to see those adds that block out the entire screen on Anandtech I will know it's the beginning of the end.
agoyal - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
I am in the same boat, reading Anandtech and may other hardware sites since 1999. Anandtech has been my favorite and has been my number one bookmark for more than a decade. What made Anand's reviews so special were the insight he brought about the category and industry in general. I could read the first page and tell if it was written by Anand. Anand leaving was a big blow and now this. Reading the comments from the editors it seems they are still committed to Anandtech... may be there is some hope.HardwareDufus - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
Take a look at WindowsCentral.com.. (formally WPCentral.com *windows phone*). That site has Purch as an Advertsing Partner. Key difference you'll note right away is more advertising (10 different ads... as opposed to the 6 that appeared here) from very interesting vendors like Subaru and Mercedes Benz.Daniel Rubino's site is obviously Windows centered... it's a fan site of sorts... but he doesn't appear to be overly tainted.
imaheadcase - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
Maybe you can upgrade website to autofit screen sizes of users who browse it. I don't understand how websites are made with a good 4 inches of wasted space on both sides of screen. Don't get me started on the terrible color schemes used. White on black..seriously. That is just the thing i love to see when i wake up and visit popular websites..freakin bright white backgrounds on every page.The appropriately named "bluesnews" background is perfect, easy to read with nice background.
Bobberr - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
"The Most Trusted in Tech Since 1997"Now in the same boat as TH. Awesome.