Mergers & Acquisitions in December

Here at Promo Gift Blog, we keep up to date with the latest news about the Promotional Products industry. As we close of the year, we saw a surge of mergers and acqusitions this month. Here are some of the mergers and acqusitions of December.

BIC Acquires Rocketbook

Earlier mid-December, France-headquarted BIC Corp acquired Rocketbook. The acqusition was closed for $40 million. This comes after BIC sold BIC Graphic, now known as Koozie Group in 2017 to private equity firm H.I.G. Capital. Koozie Group recently acquired IMAGEN Brands in December as well.

Rocketbook was founded in 2014, selling resuable notebooks powered by the brand's cloud application. Since their rejection on Shark Tank in 2017, the company is now a 38-person operation with a net sales of $32million this year. Rocketbooks products are carried by supplier such as Leed's and VisionUSA.

In a statement by senior sales manager, Hannah Shaw, "Rocketbook will remain in promo and have no plans to change that anytime soon". Founders of Rocketbook, Lemay and Epstein, believes that BIC's entrepreneurial spirit, values and visions for the future of the category are aligned with how we work and where they want to go. 

Facilisgroup Acquires Assets of Corexpand

Facilisgroup, a software as a service company and partnering community for promotional products firms , has recently acquired software assets from Corexpand. The acqusition is said to strengthen Facilisgroup's technologIcal services and to boost their e-commerce platform. The platform is said to be available in the second quarter of 2021.

President of Facilisgroup, Ashley McCune, said “The innovation driving the evolution of our e-commerce offering is rooted in our company’s north star: driving efficiency and growth for our partners,” 

Corexpand has been a leader in B2B e-commerce technology for 20 years. It offers customizable, interactive marketplace solutions to amplify sales, maximize spend management and empower business growth. This acqusition,will allow Corexpand to focus on its B2B e-commerce marketplace and management solutions.

Delta Plus Group Acquires ERB Industries

France-based Delta Plus Group, a safety equipment supplier acquired ERB Industries based in Woodstock earlier this December. ERB Industries has manufactured safety equipment and supplies in South and North America for more than 60 years. Financial details of transaction have not yet been released. 

The acqusition is said to be mutually beneficial, with Delta Plus Group looking to expand their presence in the U.S Market. They currently operate in more than 30 countries. Meanwhile ERB is looking to grow their product line with Delta Plus Offerings.

Jerome Benoit, President of Delta Plus Group said that the acqusition was perfect to complement earlier acquistions in the US. “The addition of ERB Industries to our portfolio will strengthen our relevance and value position for customers. We are impressed by the high-quality standards of ERB Industries, and we look forward to working with Sheila Eads and her team to accelerate the development of the combined ERB/Delta Plus offering and to take an exciting new step forward in fulfilling our vision of becoming a leader in the U.S. market for personal protective equipment.”

“The Delta Plus values of entrepreneurship, family and curiosity parallel those of ERB Industries,” said ERB CEO Eads, in a statement. “We are very excited to increase the value to our customers by broadening our current product offering through the strength of the Delta Plus brand and to build on the successes of both businesses together for many years to come.”

Vault Promotions Acquires GMCline

This December, Vault Promotions announced their acqusition of GMCline. Financial details of the deal have yet to be released. Founded in 1989, Gateway Marketing Concepts specializes in badge, nameplate and identification products.

“Our two companies complement each other perfectly in terms of both production and product lines,” Andy Logan, co-owner of Vault Promotions, said in a press release. “When you add their 30-plus years of experience in the industry, it wholly aligns with our focus on online fulfillment.”

Judy Eppel, the former owner of GMCline, will remain part of the combined organization to ensure continuity of badge-making service. 

“When Judy and I began discussing the possibility of Vault acquiring GMCline, it instantly became clear that their production capabilities would enhance our current offerings,” said Josh Robbins, co-owner of Vault Promotions. “By adding GMC’s impressive stable of clients, production techniques and large-scale equipment, Vault will continue to lead the promotional products industry in both badge decoration abilities and a client-first attitude.”

Koozie Group Acquires IMAGEN Brands

As one of the largest suppliers in the promotional products industry, Koozie Group offers the most comprehensive product assortment with the widest variety of decoration methods. They operate 5 facilities in the United States and a highly strategic product sourcing operation in Hong Kong and mainland China.

In most recent news, they have acquired fellow Top 40 supplier IMAGEN Brands in a new deal announced yesterday. The financial details of of the deal have yet to be released.

Sources from the Koozie Group states that the acquisition will not disrupt IMAGEN's everyday operations. In addition, executives for Koozie Group noted that all sales, service and operations teams will continue to function separately as IMAGEN Brands. IMAGEN is the parent company of Crown and Vitronic which joined the brand in 2016. They specialise in items such as rainwear, drinkware, headgear and houseware.

Paul Lage, IMAGEN Brands President

It is said that IMAGEN's current president, Paul Lage, a member of the Counselor's Power 50 will not be joining the transition into Koozie Group. However, some members including VP, Lisa Lemond will be remaining in their roles and reporting directly to Koozie's CEO, David Klatt.

"In addition to the increase in resources and marketing support, Koozie Groups plans to invest in IMAGEN Brands business to better serve their customers," the company said in a statement.

Koozie Group is a portfolio company of private equity firm H.I.G. Capital. CEO,Klatt said the firm’s support was instrumental to making the acquisition. The acqusition is part of their long-term plan for sustainable growth within the promo products marketspace. 

In the Counselor's latest list of the largest suppliers in the industry, Koozie Group and IMAGEN Brands ranked 7th and 26th respectively.

IMAGEN Brands, recent sales tally is far into 8 figures, however the company has struggled in recent years. Its 2019 revenue total was down 3.8% from 2018 with the company’s 5-year average annual growth being -2.6%.

Koozie Group has also had its struggles of late, with year-on-year revenue down 1.3% in 2019 even as the promo industry experienced a record year for distributor sales of $25.8 billion. The firm’s five-year average annual growth rate is also negative: 0.8%.

Keep up to date in the Promotional Products Industry

New Amazon Platform to offer Custom T-Shirts Services

Did you hear? Amazon just became a virtual tailor! They recently debuted a new service that enables users to order custom-fit T-shirts with personalised label, online.

Promotional Source Acquires South Paw Canada

Promotional Source, a member of Facilisgroup that specializes in corporate merchandise and uniform programs for clients across North America recently acquired South Paw Canada.

If you are interested in promotional products. Don't hesitate to contact us for a guest blog or interview publishing on our page. The sole purpose of publishing guest blogs is to spread inspiration on case studies from leaders in the industry. It is a completely free service, where the blog will be credited to your company.

Gemline Acquires RuUseMe

Announced on Dec 17, Gemline acquired RuMe brand and their intellectual property. Financial terms of the deal have not yet been released. 

RuMe, short for ReUseMe, is the provider of premium, everyday accessories geared toward creating an organized way of living. Designed with environmentally conscious consumers in mind who don’t want to sacrifice style and functionality for sustainability. They are now carried in leading retailers such as Target, Whole Foods and The Container Store.

Entering the promotional products market in 2014, RuMe's brightly patterned bags and accessories grew quickly in popularity. Their partnership with Gemline in 2018, accelerated RuMe's growth in the promotional channel.

Founded in 1958, Gemline is the promotional product industry’s premier supplier of bags, business accessories, stationery, drinkware, gifts and writing instruments, and is ranked as one of the largest industry suppliers by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI).

According to Frank Carpenito, president of Gemline, "We are thrilled to leverage our success to advance our relationship with the RuMe brand from partner to owner, and we look forward to growing the RuMe product portfolio with our distributor partners in the future.” 

Gemline CEO Jonathan Isaacson says Gemline anticipates making more key acquisitions in the coming years.“We continue to see opportunity in being best-in-class brand stewards for both large and up-and-coming retail brands looking to make their mark in the promotional channel, and feel strongly that our culture and reputation make us desirable to brands and businesses looking to be acquired,” Isaacson said.

Keep up to date in the Promotional Products Industry

New Amazon Platform to offer Custom T-Shirts Services

Did you hear? Amazon just became a virtual tailor! They recently debuted a new service that enables users to order custom-fit T-shirts with personalised label, online.

Promotional Source Acquires South Paw Canada

Promotional Source, a member of Facilisgroup that specializes in corporate merchandise and uniform programs for clients across North America recently acquired South Paw Canada.

If you are interested in promotional products. Don't hesitate to contact us for a guest blog or interview publishing on our page. The sole purpose of publishing guest blogs is to spread inspiration on case studies from leaders in the industry. It is a completely free service, where the blog will be credited to your company.

New Amazon Platform to offer Custom T-Shirts Services

Did you hear? Amazon just became a virtual tailor! They recently debuted a new service that enables users to order custom-fit T-shirts with personalised label, online.

The platform "Made For You", allows users to provide details about your weight, height and body types along with 2 images through Amazon's app or website. Next, you select which of two cotton-based fabrics you’d like the T-shirt to be. The shirts come in eight colors, and users can pick which one they’d like. They can also choose how long they want the shirt and its sleeves to be as well as determine fit-type.

Another sign of just how much the personalization pheomenon is continuing to accelerate, Amazon can print your name on the shirt's label. Your shirt creation will be reviewed on a virtual version of yourself, and after making some edits, you can place your order. Just for the low price of $25.

Made For You may expand to other styles and items in the future, so you could eventually have an entire of made-to-measure apparel from Amazon. There have been some privacy concerns regarding the service, however Amazon ensures users that photos are deleted after it uses them to create a virtual body double. Amazon says a user can update or delete size information at any time.

Some promotional products companies have opted for systems that ensure the end-user gets a product they want by giving them a code or an access link to shop for a branded product. In theory, Amazon could give end-users a business card or sticker with a link on it where they can go on and create their own shirt exactly to their specifications. 

Made For You represents yet another step for Amazon in its continued expansion into custom merchandise. Earlier in September, the company made investments in on-demand digital printing equipment with its $400 million Kornit deal. And it has been slowly but methodically building its Merch by Amazon business over the last few years, most recently with the addition of a new facility.

Keep up to date in the Promotional Products Industry

4Imprint makes Encouraging Progress in Sales despite the COVID-19 Pandemic

In a trading update released on October 31, 4Imprint announced that encouraging progress has been made despite continous disruptive efforts as a result of the pandemic.

Unethical PPE Players in the Promotional Industry

As a result of the pandemic, many in the promotional products industry have turned to selling PPE to stay in business and help meet society's demand for the protective equipment. 

If you are interested in promotional products. Don't hesitate to contact us for a guest blog or interview publishing on our page. The sole purpose of publishing guest blogs is to spread inspiration on case studies from leaders in the industry. It is a completely free service, where the blog will be credited to your company.

Face Mask Searches Surge in November Searches

Earlier in October, the Promo Gift Blog wrote an article about traditional PPE's increasing in October ESP searches. Despite the rise in COVID cases throughout the United States, new exclusive data from ASI shows that the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has not increased in the promo industry. However, face masks remain the top search in November's ESP searches.

Since our article in October, face masks, mugs and mask continue to occupy the top 3 search terms in ASI's database of promotional products. Hand sanitizer dropped from seventh to eighth place while industry staples such as pens and blankets rounded out the top 5.

According to Nathaniel Kucsma, ASI's executive direcor of research and corporate marketing. “2020 will be remembered as the year of PPE in promo, as the year is coming to a close, the importance of tried and true promotional products is being reasserted.” Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the promotional industry is hoping for a normal last quarter. The end of 2020 looks promising, according to the data shown by ASI.

With winter quickly approaching, searches for Sherpa blanket rose 131%. And with the holidays around the corner, searches for Santa hat, executive gifts, gift baskets and tissue paper were up 72%, 61%, 57% and 56%, respectively.

Promotional Source Acquires South Paw Canada

Promotional Source, a member of Facilisgroup that specializes in corporate merchandise and uniform programs for clients across North America recently acquired South Paw Canada based in Collingwood,ON.

Financial details of the transaction were not immediately available.

“The management team, staff, technology, decoration abilities and history of South Paw Canada come with a wealth of knowledge and experience that complements our strong foundations at Promotional Source,” said Craig Kaplan, president of Promotional Source, in a statement. “This acquisition ensures that our clients continue to receive the highest quality of service that they have come to rely on and our promise to always deliver.”

South Paw’s expertise in decoration combined with Promotional Source’s on-demand imprinting technology will create a one-stop shop experience for clients, according to the two firms.

Begining 4th Jan 2021, South Paw will be operating under Promotional Source name, and the management and employees will remain in their offices in Collingwood,Barrie and Bracebridge. Promotional Source's head office is based in Oakville, along with its warehouse and distribution services.

Keep up to date in the Promotional Products Industry

4Imprint makes Encouraging Progress in Sales despite the COVID-19 Pandemic

In a trading update released on October 31, 4Imprint announced that encouraging progress has been made despite continous disruptive efforts as a result of the pandemic.

Unethical PPE Players in the Promotional Industry

As a result of the pandemic, many in the promotional products industry have turned to selling PPE to stay in business and help meet society's demand for the protective equipment. 

If you are interested in promotional products. Don't hesitate to contact us for a guest blog or interview publishing on our page. The sole purpose of publishing guest blogs is to spread inspiration on case studies from leaders in the industry. It is a completely free service, where the blog will be credited to your company.

Pizza Hut's Weighted Blanket Sells Out in 10 Hours!

The limited-edition blanket comes with a seemingly weighty price of $150, was sold out in 10 hours, reported by Fox News. With the cold weather quickly approaching, Gravity Blanket and Pizza Hut have teamed up for a warm and delicious collaboration, the Original Pan Weighted Blanket. 

Pizza Hut announced the limited-edition weighted blanket, so pizza lovers can climb underneath and feel like they just came out of the oven themselves. Weighing in a toasty 15-pounds, it’s made to look like a pepperoni pizza spanning a whopping 72-inches in diameter.

The blanket features a “premium micro-fleece duvet cover to comfort and soothe, mimicking the unbeatable feeling of indulging in an Original Pan Pizza.” And the chain says the blanket’s “therapeutic power of deep touch pressure stimulation” makes it “perfect for fans to snuggle up under this winter if they’re looking for improved sleep and reduced anxiety.”

In a press release, George Felix, Chief Marketing Officer ar Pizza Hut said, “There’s no better way to close out 2020 than eating a Pizza Hut Original Pan Pizza while wrapped in the warmth and comfort of the Original Pan Weighted Blanket, this partnership with Gravity Blanket was the perfect solution to bring one of our legendary pizzas to life while bringing our fans a little TLC at the same time.”

Why were so many people ready to shell out $150 for a blanket? The price may have actually played a role. A comparably sized Gravity Blanket – 72” long and weighing 15 lbs. – typically sells for $195 on the company’s website, so this Pizza Hut version was sold at a 25% discount.

Top Trending Promotional Products for 2021

The Promo Gift Blog publishes the happenings in our industry such as promotional products case studies, marketing campaigns and other industry news. 

This year proved to be a challenging one for all of us in the promotional products space. While some of us took to producing PPE to help with the pandemic, others had to come up with creative solutions to stay afloat during this difficult period.

However, things seem to be looking up this holiday season, and we remain optimistic that it will be carried into 2021.  We have decided to collate a list of the items we believe will be the top trending products for next year. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The pandemic affected businesses worldwide, with many of us forced to work from home. However, with the economy opening back up, the streets are begining to fill with people and emoloyees are returning to work. By focusing on PPEs, it is a great way to show that your brand cares about their consumers. This includes items such as sanitising wipes, alcohol sprays and face masks. 

Credit: ODM Group

Masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others. Studies show that masks reduce the spray of droplets, helping prevent individuals from contract airborne diseases. Masks alsoprevent cross-contamination. Having a logo on the masks can be a stylish and safe way for brands to penetrate the market

Electronic Products for the Workforce

Many employees are still working remotely, with majority working from home. This means that many of them are looking to upgrade their electronics to be better equipped for their work. In addition, companies must ensure that their data is not compromised and safe from viruses and hackers. 

Some interesting products we came across includes a wireless mousepad charger and a fast charging data blocker.

Credit: ODM Group

A wireless charging mousepad is convenient and useful. Given that we are constantly running out of time, we want to be able to maximize our workflow and our time on the computer. Most importantly, it can keep your mouse charged even when you are done using it. Moreover, this mousepad allows you to charge your smartphones at the same time.

Credit: Yorkn

The data blocker attaches between a USB cable and charger. It physically blocks data transfer and syncing, keeping data safe from hackers and viruses. Brands can print their logo on the data blocker, as it is essential for a remote workforce.

Custom Pandemic Kits/ Custom Kits

People love sending care packages to their loved ones, especially during such a difficult time. Using your brand's favourite products and forming a custom kit may be just what you need to get your brand noticed! Products may include everyday clothing, PPEs, hand sanitisers etc.

Check out this custom pandemic kit we spotted!

Credit: ODM Group

Keen in working remotely and passionate about sales? Setting up your own SWAG business may be for you. Check out this link for more details. 

Don't miss November Promo Gifts Updates from Our Top 7 Picks

Promo Marketing

Apple announced that the new iPhone 12 would be compatible with its MagSafe technology, the first thought was chargers and accessories. Things like phone wallets and grips will be able to be attached magnetically rather than with adhesive, opening the door to new options for branding on smartphones.

Sourcing City News

Sourcing City are proud to announce the winners of the Annual Sourcing City Awards.

The Sourcing City Awards are widely recognised in the industry for showing how well both Suppliers and Distributors are regarded by each other, with both sides of the industry voting for the people they most respect and enjoy doing business with.

JEM Promotional Products

Although time is getting away from us there is still sufficient time to organise employee gifts as well as loyal customers who supported the business in 2020. It has been a challenging year so it's important to acknowledge the contribution of team members who kept going when times were tough. End of Year celebrations will take on a more meaningful aspect this year so it's time to finish on a happy note.

Promo Direct

We are slowly learning to adapt to our new normal, the coronavirus pandemic.  While we brace ourselves for the recovery period that will follow, we need to consider what this could mean for the way we’re using certain promo products? From a business perspective what will be the aftermath of this global pandemic?

Perfect Imprints

With the holidays upon us, it seems that everything is full of Christmas spirit – even advertisements.Have you ever wondered who decided that Jolly Old Saint Nick would be a large-bellied, red-faced man with a long white beard? Or maybe you’ve questioned when Elf on the Shelf dolls became so popular?

This may come as a surprise to you, but many of our holiday traditions actually came from marketing!

Red Canoe Promotions

Blue light glasses lead to better sleep and better performance at work, according to a new study published in the Harvard Business Review.  Not familiar with blue light glasses?  The sun, digital screens (TVs, computers, laptops, smart phones and tablets), electronic devices, and fluorescent and LED lights all give off a specific type of light, called blue light.  Blue light glasses are designed to filter out this blue light, which can be unhealthy if we're exposed to too much of it.

The ODM Group

The 128th Top Promotional Products Show: Canton Fair, brought to us many new and innovative products. Here is the list of the Top 65 promotional products for business!

Weisbach-Led Group Acquires Overture Promotions

Promotional Products Industry Icon, Lou Weisbach who founded HALO Branded Solutions is leading an investment group that just acquired Overture Promotions based in Waukegan,IL. 

Lou Weisbach

He and his partners - Mark Serdar and Michael Nemlich will join Overture's leadership to focus on acqusition strategies, expanding into new service areas, growing distribution center capacities and building the company's global manufacturing. 

The current leadership team at Overture including their CEO Jo Gilley will remain in place. She said in a recent statement that she is excited to be working with the new team, whom she descibes as bringing a "wealth of experience in promotional marketing,acqusitions, technology and building value."

Jo Gilley

At the moment, Westbridge Capital a Canadian provate equity firm is funding the acqusition and any future acqusitions made by Overture. Financial terms of the deal is not yet released.

Overture ranked 26th on Counselor's 2020 list of the industry's 40 largest distributors by revenue.As a result to the company's continued sales growth, they are looking to expand its staffing. They forecast a revenue of $125 million in 2020, an approx. 53% increase in 2019.

A statement by Weisbach states that "Overture's strong management team has ensured that the company responds to the challenges of this difficult year and flourished," The company’s experienced, creative sales team has a diverse client base and a proven ability to retain customers.

Keep up to date in the Promotional Products Industry

4Imprint makes Encouraging Progress in Sales despite the COVID-19 Pandemic

In a trading update released on October 31, 4Imprint announced that encouraging progress has been made despite continous disruptive efforts as a result of the pandemic.

Unethical PPE Players in the Promotional Industry

As a result of the pandemic, many in the promotional products industry have turned to selling PPE to stay in business and help meet society's demand for the protective equipment. 

If you are interested in promotional products. Don't hesitate to contact us for a guest blog or interview publishing on our page. The sole purpose of publishing guest blogs is to spread inspiration on case studies from leaders in the industry. It is a completely free service, where the blog will be credited to your company.