On April 30, our company, Xpo Press, publisher of the Tucson EZ-Guide, finalized our purchase of the Tucson Show Guide assets from its publisher, Golden Peak Media. This purchase brings together two well-loved guides that have competed fiercely for twenty years. Both have been distributed during the annual Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase to help the tens of thousands of show attendees navigate the 40+ shows.
The guides have been a must-have source to navigate the city and its shows, with maps, details about the shows and exhibitors, and where to stay, eat, and enjoy Tucson. Beginning in 2026, visitors to the January-February Tucson Showcase will enjoy an upgraded Tucson EZ-Guide — which will be renamed the Tucson Show EZ-Guide — and will be enlarged from its current 5.5” X 8.5” digest size to a magazine-size 8” X 10” format. The bigger size will offer easier reading with larger maps and more details.
Xpo Press’s Tucson EZ-Guide premiered in Tucson in 2004. That was just two years after we started the first citywide show guide — the Denver EZ-Guide — for the Denver Gem & Mineral Showcase. Every year since, our Tucson EZ-Guide increased in page count, our advertiser base grew year after year, and the guide became hugely popular, even while being distributed alongside the Tucson Show Guide on our magazine racks at every gem show in Tucson.
I believe our popularity grew and our number of advertisers increased for various reasons. First, advertisers who trusted us with their advertising dollars soon experienced our reliability — we printed and delivered the EZ-Guides when, where, and at the circulation number that we promised. I think our advertisers have always appreciated that I (not only the guide’s publisher but also their ad sales rep) personally met with all my advertisers at their Tucson show every year to renew their advertising with Xpo Press.
Our readers also looked forward to getting their EZ-Guide (either by pre-ordering it or picking one up in Tucson during the Showcase) because of the excellence of the article writing and the easy flow of the guide’s organization.
Another important reason why the EZ-Guide became so highly regarded has been because of how well the Xpo Press website complements the guide, with interviews with exhibitors and show promoters, news about the shows, and a wealth of articles and photos. The Xpo Press site is the most-visited gem-show website in the world, particularly the Tucson Showcase section of the site. Most of our advertisers combine their EZ-Guide advertising with online advertising on the website.
I was always impressed with the longevity and attractive layout and design of the Tucson Show Guide, and its staff persons whom I met over the years were always friendly and cordial. Together, the team at Golden Peak Media and I recognized the extraordinary potential of our guides coming together to bring forth the most comprehensive information source for attendees, exhibitors, and show promoters in Tucson. This discussion eventually led to our decision to purchase the Tucson Show Guide assets outright. I wish Golden Peak Media all the best and great success with all they do in the quilting, crafting, and fine art sectors. Check out Golden Peak Media’s many magazines, TV shows, resources, and events at www.goldenpeakmedia.com.
Finally, if you’d like to pre-order the 2026 Tucson Show EZ-Guide (or the 2025 Denver EZ-Guide) and have them mailed to you before the shows begin, place your order here. If you’re interested in advertising with Xpo Press, contact me at support@xpopress.com or learn more about Xpo Press ad rates and specs here. The Xpo Press staff remains enthusiastic about serving the gem, mineral, and jewelry show universe with our show guides, website, quarterly email newsletter, and the other offerings that we’ll be introducing to you in the months ahead! Stay tuned ...