The recent brisk pace of mergers and acquisitions in the promotional products industry is continuing.

Del Rio, TX-based promo supplier Venturaline (asi/93520) announced Tuesday, May 24, that it has acquired Houston, MN-based supplier Best Way Promotions (asi/40348). Financial terms of the deal between the privately held companies were not released.

Executives at Venturaline said the acquisition empowers the firm to expand its production capacity of buttons, acrylic keytags, ribbons, hand fans and more. The opportunity to acquire Best Way came as that company’s owner, Mitchell Bublitz, moved toward retirement – and as Venturaline aimed to expand its product line.

“We were looking for a company that fit into our group of products and also had a strong reputation for high quality and excellent customer service,” said Ronald Chattler, Venturaline’s founder and president.

Chattler continued: “Acquiring Best Way Promotions was not just a good business opportunity for Ventura, but a privilege to continue operating the company founded by Mr. Mitchell Bublitz, who has been a leader in the advertising button industry for 46 years.”

Venturaline described the acquisition as an asset purchase and said the Best Way Promotions trade name will remain the same. The telephone numbers, 507-896-4824 and 800-504-5627, the fax number, 507-896-4147, the orders email, cs@bestway.biz, and the website address, www.bestway.biz will remain as well.

Acquisitions have been accelerating in the promo products market of late. After a pandemic-induced lull, M&A activity began increasing again in the latter of half of 2021.

The pace of deals then quickened in 2022.

Earlier this month, for instance, HALO Branded Solutions (asi/356000), promo’s biggest distributor by revenue, acquired fellow Top 40 firm BrandVia Alliance (asi/145037). Hardly a week later, White Plains, NY-based distributor Zagwear (asi/365552), a large firm with international offices and household name clients, acquired New York City-based distributor Arrow Promotional (asi/124500).

On the supplier side, Top 40 firm SnugZ USA (asi/88060) made a splash in January when it acquired another Top 40 supplier – Sweda Company (asi/90305). Meanwhile, S&S Activewear (asi/84358), promo’s third largest supplier, purchased TSF Sportswear in April – a deal that followed S&S’s November acquisition of TSC Apparel, which at the time was promo’s 14^th biggest supplier by revenue.

Some promo executives think acquisitions will continue to increase, driven by factors like the rising cost of doing business, technology requirements and an aging executive/owner class in the industry.