MSP Design Group (asi/466928) is heading into the new year with the momentum of a key acquisition.

The Virginia-headquartered promotional products distributorship has acquired Bright Ideas (asi/146026), a Troy, VA-based distributor that ranked first on Counselor’s 2022 Best Places to Work list. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

MSP is retaining all Bright Ideas employees. Ron Baellow, former president/co-owner of Bright Ideas, will serve as MSP Design Group’s executive sales coach. 

“Bright Ideas was a perfect fit,” said Bob Shea, executive vice president of sales at MSP Design Group. “They have a great national footprint, a dynamic, creative team and a great culture. Not every company we consider can fit in so naturally, so we are very excited about the Bright Ideas team joining MSP Design Group.”

Baellow believes becoming part of MSP Design will be a boon for Bright Ideas and its customers.

“We’ll be able to offer enhanced online store capabilities and provide cutting edge ‘phygital’ marketing, integrating augmented reality and digital marketing into the branded merchandise experience,” Baellow explained. “This technology-forward approach will help our clients build even greater brand connections with their customers and stakeholders.”

Founded in 1986, MSP Design Group has locations in Virginia Beach, VA, and Richmond, VA. The company owns and operates an apparel decoration and warehouse/fulfillment facility that features 100,000 square feet of space. In-house services provided from the facility include screen printing, embroidery and dye sublimation – a fact that gives MSP an edge when it comes to quality and turn times, executives said.

“Innovative decoration techniques and an in-house creative team provide a competitive edge to clients’ branded apparel programs,” MSP Design Group said in a statement. “Our ability to manage promotional merchandise fulfillment programs in house gives assurance to our partners that their programs are in experienced hands.”

Bright Ideas has a 23-year history. The firm has appeared eight times on Counselor’s Best Places to Work list, rising to the top spot in this year’s ranking thanks in part to a culture defined by respect, camaraderie, sincere support from management and flexibility. 

“We believe in the power of building connections between brands and the people who love them,” said Dan Clarkson, president of MSP Design. “We welcome the Bright Ideas team and their valued client partners to the MSP Design Group family, and we look forward to helping everyone boldly grow together.” 

This isn’t MSP’s first acquisition in recent years. In 2020, MSP Design Group acquired Richmond, VA-based Promotional Considerations – a distributorship with roots stretching back to 1984.