1968

The printing company OZ Druck GmbH is set up by Hanspeter and Erika Medweth. After the newspaper “Oberrheinische Zeitung” has been sold by the founders, as a reminiscence the contraction OZ is taken over for the new printing company`s name.

1977
The takeover of a customer magazine constitutes the beginning of publishing activities.
Under the guidance of Erika Medweth needlework magazines like “Die kleine Diana”, “Lena” and “Sabrina” were be published in the subsequent years.

OZ Druck becomes OZ Druck und Verlags GmbH.

The distribution company BPV Buch und Presse-Vertrieb is established, catering to OZ as well as external publishing clients.

1989
Under the leadership of Michael Medweth, oldest son of the founders, the company starts rotary offset printing.

1992Christian Medweth, the younger son, strongly expands and consolidates the publishing activities. New business areas and special interest fields are opened up.

1995An independent publishing company, the OZ-Verlags-GmbH, is set up.Printing, publishing and distribution activities are assigned to separate companies, joined together in the OZ Group.

In Stuttgart a subsidiary for titles in the segment TV series and cult movies like “Marienhof”, “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” is founded.

1998
OZ Verlag starts book publishing in the field of picture books, educational and activity books for children. Moreover a book programme for adults in the segment needlework, handicraft and decoration is developed.

1999
Opening of a subsidiary in Offenburg for magazines in the segment gardening/lifestyle.

By the end of 1999 OZ Verlag takes over the publishing house Velber Verlag (Seelze) with its titles “spielen und lernen”, “Treff” and “mach mit”, as well as a small book programme.

2000
Opening of a subsidiary in Freiburg for magazines and books for parents and kids.

2001
In Offenburg the publishing house Living & More GmbH is set up as a joint venture company of OZ Verlag and Verlagsgruppe Weltbild, specialized on gardening and lifestyle titles.

OZ Verlag gains market leadership within the German speaking countries in the segment of handicraft and decoration magazines. Regarding traditional needlework magazines OZ Verlag/BPV is world market leader since many years and monthly publishes more than 70 titles in about 14 languages and 60 countries. 

2004
In Freiburg the publishing house Family Media GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture company of OZ Verlag and Axel Springer AG, is established. Family Media takes over the complete portfolio of parents/kids magazines of both companies like "spielen und lernen" (OZ) und "Familie & Co" (AS). The Velber book programme is integrated as well.

2005
Foundation of targetmedia GmbH, a full service media provider in close cooperation with OZ Druck & Medien, located in Rheinfelden. TargetMedia offers services in the field of media consulting, development and production of customer magazines, product development, database, marketing, print etc.

2007
In Rheinfelden OZ Direct GmbH is established. The company closely cooperates with OZ Verlag and offers services in the field of direct marketing, customer services, distribution and handling of subscriptions.

Foundation of targetmedia Polska Sp., Poland.

By the end of 2007 OZ Druck & Medien acquires 74% of the shares of the Cologne printing company OZ Druck Köln KVD, the minority of shares held by Kölnische Verlagsdruckerei KVD GmbH.

The Swiss company targetmedia AG, founded 2003, takes over WPS medienservice AG, the Swiss marketleader regarding production of advertising materials in the Swiss trade sector.

2008
Bayard Mediengruppe Deutschland becomes the new joint venture   partner of OZ Verlag in respect to the company Living & More Verlags   GmbH, since Verlagsgruppe Weltbild separates from its magazine   segment and sells to Groupe Bayard, including its share in L & M.

In October OZ Verlag acquires from Verlag Kreuz GmbH the publishing house Christophorus Verlag, founded in 1935, as well as parts of Urania. OZ thus becomes the number two in the market for creative books.

2009

Foundation of the publishing company Christophorus Verlag GmbH & Co KG, located in Freiburg i. Br. From 01.01.2009 the business segment OZ creative books as well as Christophorus is integrated in this new company.

In July OZ Verlag takes over the Axel Springer company`s 50%-share of Family Media GmbH. Family Media becomes a wholly-owned OZ company. Moreover OZ Verlag acquires from Axel Springer Media House München (ASMM) the renouned women`s magazine Jolie as well as the titles Mädchen and Popcorn and the respective internet domaines like Jolie.de and Mädchen.de

At Munich the company Vision Media GmbH is founded. Gernot Körner, Managing Director of Family Media, in addition takes over the responsibility for the new company`s publishing activities.

In November Christophorus Verlag takes over all book titles and publishing activities of Englisch Verlag. The hitherto location Wiesbaden of Englisch Verlag remains.

The book portfolio of Christophorus Verlag is then restructured under 4 labels: Christophorus – Crafts/Dekoration, OZ Creativ – Needlework, Englisch – Painting & Drawing, Velber – Children`s books/Guides for Parents.

In December Vision Media acquires the premium title “Madame” of Magazinpresse / Medien Union. “Madame” is published since over 50 years and has gained in 2006 the Lead-Award in Genre-Ranking as the best monthly women`s magazine in Germany.

2010
OZ Verlag currently publishes 40 periodicals and monthly about 30 special magazines in the area of needlework, handicraft, fashion, painting, drawing, fine art, cooking & baking, animals, cult movies, celebrities and sports including well-known titles like “Lena”, “Sabrina”, “Diana”, “Meine Bastelwelt”, “Mein Kreativ-Atelier” etc.

Moreover about 1000 foreign language magazines per year are launched in 16 different languages and more than 80 countries around the world.

4 general as well as 4 novelties book programmes of Christophorus per year are featuring 125 novelties in 2010 as well as 790 backlist titles in the field of handicraft, decoration, lifestyle, needlework, painting and drawing. In addition there are 2 general Velber book programmes including novelties.