Buffalo Bay (asi/42416) is closing its custom neckwear division and will no longer operate in the promo market.

The Greensboro, NC-based manufacturer and supplier of neckwear plans to shutter its custom division by May 1, 2024. Buffalo Bay will be accepting new and repeat orders for the ties, scarves and bowties it provides through the end of February.

Starting March 1, distributor customers can contact President/founder Bruce Crockett directly at blc@buffalobay.com for neckwear orders.

Crockett has formed what was described as an alliance with a “friendly competitor” to whom he will refer business. That company will provide fulfillment of the neckwear. 

In a statement, Crockett said Buffalo Bay set up the arrangement with the competitor out of a deep, abiding respect for distributor customers, hoping to provide continuity for them.

“We value our customers immensely and can’t thank them enough for their support and friendship through the years,” Crockett said. “The relationships we have forged, and the collaboration of ideas and project involvement have been rewarding in so many ways.”

Crockett told ASI Media the name of the partner will remain private until Buffalo Bay completes doing business at the end of April.

“There has been no sale or merger; we simply want our customers to be taken care of in the future,” Crockett told ASI Media.

While Buffalo Bay is leaving promo, it's not going away entirely. Crockett said Buffalo Bay will continue as a corporate entity, serving other industries under a different business model. "We will no longer manufacturer neckwear and the markets we are involved in are not related to neckwear," he told ASI Media.

Founded in 1987, Buffalo Bay entered promo in 1994. The firm was a finalist in ASI Media apparel design award contests, and has a top-notch five-star rating in ESP, a tech solution from ASI that features a database of searchable products from throughout the promotional products industry.

Buffalo Bay was also a nine-time Supplier Achievement Award Winner, an honor bestowed by industry trade group Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), and a six-time PPAI Pyramid Award winner.

“The industry has been wonderful to us, and we want to sincerely thank our distributor partners for the years of friendship, support and unwavering loyalty; it has been a blessing in so many ways,” said Crockett in a statement.  “I also want to thank our many employees and their families over the years for allowing us to achieve the level of excellence each and every day.”