SHOREVIEW, Minn. Deluxe Corp. continues to shift away from its core check printing business with the acquisition of online marketing company VerticalResponse Inc. for $27 million.
VerticalResponse, based in San Francisco, provides self-service marketing tools for small businesses such as direct mail, e-mail, online events and surveys, and social media. The company, with 110 employees, will continue to do business under the VerticalResponse name.
The deal follows the 2011 acquisition of PsPrint, an online supplier of custom printed promotional products and mailing services to small- and medium-sized businesses, and Deluxe’s expansion of non-checks operations, particularly small business services.
“The acquisition accelerates our Web-based growth efforts with small businesses, adding valuable online promotional and Internet marketing services capabilities,” Deluxe CEO Lee Schram said.
