Trade Publishing Co., established in 1954, is trying to find a buyer as it seeks a cash infusion to expand its technology and digital footprint in the increasingly competitive publishing market.

The longtime Honolulu-­based commercial printing and publishing firm with 26 employees and annual revenue of about $2.75 million, mostly from advertising sales in trade magazines and periodicals, is listed for $800,000 on BizBuySell.com.

It doesn’t have the resources to “accelerate growth opportunities,” said Ken Berry, the company’s CEO and publisher, who listed the shareholder-­owned company a couple months ago.

There have been a handful of inquiries, but “nothing that I consider too serious,” he said, citing interest from two private parties that even signed non-disclosure agreements.

“We had a lot of dialogue, but I was looking for a cash sale and I don’t think they have the cash,” Berry said. “It’s really a good company. It’s maybe the oldest local company with both printing and publishing under one roof. Trade has always been in the black, but we’ve never built our equity and I’d like to do a lot of things that require cash.”

Despite a volatile market nationwide that has seen major downsizing and closures, the publisher of the Building Industry Hawaii Magazine and other professional journals and directories has seen a significant growth in sales in four of the past five years. The business is valued at between $1 million and $1.5 million, he said, and will continue to operate even if it doesn’t find a suitable buyer.

Commercial clients include large businesses, state and county governments and other niche groups.

Trade operates out of a 5,000-square-foot building that it has occupied for more than 40 years. Its primary assets include its brand, $250,000 in collectible receivables, $200,000 in press and office equipment and a redesigned subscription website, according to the sales listing.

“Despite intense competition from traditional media, presumably resulting from high ad counts and obvious success of our most successful products, Trade has continued to record year-over-year increases,” the listing said.

“There’s no real pressure. We’re doing fine as we are. The products, they’re really exceptional,” Berry said. “As good as they’ve ever been in 65 years.”

Meanwhile, industry rival Hagadone Hawaii plans to end operations in January after more than 26 years, citing rising costs, increased tariffs and a changing business climate that has shifted business to mainland printing and digital publications.