Indianapolis-based distributor ScreenBroidery (asi/305623), a Counselor Best Place to Work, has closed on its acquisition of Orlando, FL-headquartered Thumbprint (asi/293564), a distributorship that’s worked with household-name clients like Hertz, Sandals, Delta, Hilton and Dollar Tree.

Financial terms of the deal were not released. Going forward, the combined companies will go to market under the Thumbprint name and will retain ScreenBroidery’s ASI number.

Tom Rector (left), CEO of ScreenBroidery (asi/305623), shared that the distributorship will be rebranding as Thumbprint (asi/293564), the firm it has acquired. Greg Gill (center) founded Thumbprint and is retiring. Brian Gill, Thumbprint president, is joining the combined company as chief revenue officer.

The newly melded Thumbprint is projecting about $36 million in 2025 revenue. Executives emphasized that the acquisition weds ScreenBroidery’s creative and marketing expertise with Thumbprint’s technology, print automation and fulfillment capabilities – a symbiotic match they say will prove a win for customers and employees alike.

“Between our two organizations, we have a powerhouse, giving our current customers access to enhanced solutions while expanding our reach into new markets,” said Mark Myers, a partner in the organization and ScreenBroidery’s first employee.

While it’s common for an acquired company to take the name of a business that purchases it, it’s less so for the acquiring firm to assume the name and branding of the company it’s buying.

Still, Tom Rector, CEO of the former ScreenBroidery and now the joint company known as Thumbprint, explained his company was already planning to rebrand regardless of the acquisition. The Thumbprint name has strong recognition with a broader base of large clients and is a better reflection of the myriad services the firms can provide, which include print automation, fulfillment, web stores, apparel decoration and the full gamut of branded merchandise solutions, Rector said.

Employees of the acquired Thumbprint are coming aboard. The Florida firm’s president, Brian Gill, is joining as chief revenue officer. Greg Gill, who founded Thumbprint some 30 years ago, is retiring.

“Greg and his team have built an incredible company rooted in innovation and customer obsession,” Rector said. “By officially bringing our organizations together, we are better equipped to offer our clients a seamless, tech-driven experience with unmatched creativity and execution.”

When it comes to M&A, Screenbroidery (now Thumbprint) has been aggressive of late. In December, the 17-year-old company acquired Graphicon Inc. (asi/212902), an Indianapolis-based promo distributorship that’s been in business since 1996.

The acquisitions are “part of a broader expansion strategy, with Thumbprint setting its sights on continued innovation and future acquisitions to accelerate growth,” the company said in a statement.

Blockbuster acquisitions involving Counselor Top 40 firms, international business purchases and a flurry of smaller domestic deals made 2024 arguably the most momentous year ever for mergers and acquisitions in the promotional products industry. The dealmaking has continued in the opening months of 2025.