Are you worried about the fate of Harte Hanks? If you’re an investor, business owner, or marketing leader, it’s important to know whether this long-running company is truly at risk. Let’s take a clear-eyed look at the facts—where Harte Hanks stands today, the hurdles it faces, and what its actions say about its future.
What Harte Hanks Is Today: From Newspapers to Global CX Service Giant
Set aside what you remember about Harte Hanks from years ago. This is not a newspaper chain or a coupon mailer anymore. These days, Harte Hanks operates as a global customer experience (CX) and marketing services company, helping brands manage everything from analytics to digital campaigns.
Its headquarters are in Chelmsford, Massachusetts—a shift from its Texas newspaper roots. Harte Hanks now calls itself a “leading global customer experience company,” indicating a focus on business-to-business services, not legacy print. It’s public and trades on NASDAQ under the ticker HHS, which means you can still buy and sell its stock like any other actively listed company.
Take the time to look at a company’s main activities today, not just its history. Harte Hanks sells marketing solutions, data analytics, and CX program services around the world—not Sunday papers or coupon flyers.
These are the actions of an active, publicly traded enterprise—not a firm that’s closed its doors.
Financial Performance: The Risky Side of the Turnaround
Let’s get right to the issue many readers care about—money. Is Harte Hanks profitable? Are its financials flashing warning signals? Keep an eye on a company’s revenue trends and key filings if you want the real story.
Harte Hanks reported revenue of about $185 million (down roughly 3.3% year-over-year), and operating income dropped close to 38%. Recent filings showed full-year 2025 revenues of $159.6 million, meaning the decline accelerated—down nearly 14% from $185.2 million in 2024.
Those are not numbers you want to see if you’re looking for growth. They place the company squarely in “turnaround” territory, with real risks for anyone involved. That being said, Harte Hanks continues to file public financial statements and has not declared bankruptcy or ceased operations. It’s a key signal—the company is battered, yes, but it’s still a “going concern,” not a business being wound down.
If you’re responsible for your own business’s finances, learn from this: create a weekly cash-flow snapshot and review it every Friday, so you spot trends early. Declines can be managed with early intervention, but denial is expensive.
Still Active: Leadership Moves, Acquisitions, and Client Wins
Businesses on their way out almost never hire new leaders, make acquisitions, or announce fresh client wins. In contrast, Harte Hanks has undertaken several major moves just in the past two years.
A media industry veteran, Kirk Davis, was appointed as CEO in 2023. Even more recently, the company announced new sales leadership, describing itself as “a global leader in customer experience for over 100 years.” That phrase is not accidental—they’re leaning on their legacy and experience as selling points.
Be prepared to spot real operational activity, too. In December 2022, Harte Hanks acquired InsideOut Solutions for $7.5 million, bringing 136 new employees under its brand. The acquired business operates under the Harte Hanks name, further strengthening its presence in the sales enablement and B2B marketing space.
And don’t miss a key contract win: Harte Hanks was tapped by Quiet Platforms, an American Eagle Outfitters subsidiary, to manage logistics for its “middle mile” operations. New accounts like this are not typical for a business shutting down—these are a bet on the future.
Set your company up the same way. Even if things look tough, go after wins, make strategic hires, and seek synergistic acquisitions that drive value. Stay in motion to keep your doors open.
The Truth Behind Exits: From Newspapers to Shoppers and Beyond
Maybe you’ve heard Harte Hanks “exited” several industries. Here’s the truth: selling off newspapers and shopper publications was about focus, not failure.
In the 1990s, Harte Hanks sold its remaining newspapers, TV stations, and radio outlets to concentrate on marketing services. One notable move in 1997 was the sale of six daily and 25 non-daily newspapers, plus broadcast subsidiaries, to E.W. Scripps.
The divestiture continued in the 2010s, when it sold PennySaver, its last “shopper” business, for about $22.5 million. These high-profile exits led some to believe the company had disappeared altogether. In reality, Harte Hanks used the proceeds to zero in on what it considered its core: direct, data-driven marketing solutions.
If you are running a company, remember: a strategic exit from one line does not mean your entire business is folding. Sometimes, shrinking to your strongest core is how you survive—and even grow.
Restructuring Happens: Plant Closures, Layoffs, and the Survival Mindset
Restructuring is never fun, but it’s a fact of business life. Harte Hanks has closed plants and laid off staff multiple times as part of its turnaround efforts.
For example, in 2016 the company shut down its Maryland printing plant, letting go of 112 workers. This move reflected dwindling demand for direct mail printing and a serious digital shift—a challenge you probably confront, too, as print budgets fade away.
Going further back, the early 2000s and 2010s brought closures of fulfillment centers and additional layoffs, often in response to shrinking client business or market changes. In 2018, WARN notices went out for major layoffs at the Texarkana facility (about 460 jobs), mainly due to a lost client. In each announcement, though, Harte Hanks emphasized plans to continue business with a smaller workforce versus closing entirely.
Another key example: layoffs at the Austin call center and the shutdown of a technical support division. Each time, leadership made clear these were part of a reset, not a total exit.
Take this to heart—if you have to cut costs, communicate clearly with your team and customers. Let them know what you’re doing to stabilize the business and what won’t change, even if some aspect of your operation is shrinking.
Will Harte Hanks Survive Long-Term? Assessing Viability and Risks
It’s one thing to survive a quarter of declining sales. It’s another to reposition for decades. Harte Hanks holds the rare distinction of being a company with over 100 years of operating history. Few ventures last that long without occasional brushes with disaster.
One profile noted that Harte Hanks “almost didn’t make it to the century mark,” highlighting brutal declines in revenue and rising costs in 2019. The pandemic only made things worse for a company already in transition. Yet, recent executive messaging is focused on “evolving to drive improved results” and building a foundation for the next century.
Here’s where you can’t afford to ignore reality: Harte Hanks is in a high-risk phase. Revenue continues to fall, and the turnaround has not reversed these declines—yet. But, the company actively tries to grow, make deals, hire new leaders, and win new business.
If your own company is struggling, follow this framework. Identify your high-risk metrics, communicate transparently, and keep pushing for new revenue streams. Build a rhythm of honesty and action.
For more ideas about business trends or company investigations, visit In Business Press.
Summary: Harte Hanks Has Not Gone Out of Business—But Keep an Eye Out
To recap: Harte Hanks is still operating, still listed on NASDAQ, and still executing deals and announcing wins. It’s undergone major restructuring—closing plants, selling divisions, and laying off workers. But these are survival moves, not signs of a business that’s entirely shutting down.
If you’re considering working with, investing in, or joining Harte Hanks, the key risk today is ongoing revenue decline and turnaround uncertainty—not an imminent shutdown. Stay informed; set disciplined operating habits. Don’t assume the worst just from headlines. Instead, monitor actions—new contracts, filings, and leadership changes are your guide to what’s next.
Set your expectations clearly—Harte Hanks is a company fighting to stay relevant in a challenging market. That’s not failure, that’s resilience. Arm yourself with facts, embrace disciplined execution, and you’ll always be in a position to act with confidence—no matter what challenges your own business faces.
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