Where Did Arch Promo Group Come From & Why Is It Buying So Many Supplier Firms?
Recent acquisitions of StrombergBrand, Drum-Line and ProRose have put this holding company on the map.
Unfamiliar with Arch Promo Group? You’re not the only one. A division of St. Louis-based Confluent Holdings, it entered the promo industry in 2016 with the acquisition of supplier Gemini Industries (asi/56100), but it wasn’t until this past February that the Arch Promo Group name was officially unveiled. The company has quickly made up for its initial lack of name recognition, acquiring ProRose (asi/79933) in the beginning of the year, Drum-Line (asi/50873) in May and StrombergBrand Umbrellas (asi/89955) two months later.
“I honestly do not expect us to be done,” says Steve Ehlert, national general manager for Arch Promo Group. “Just the buzz of when we acquired Stromberg – it was announced the morning that ASI Chicago started, and by the end of the second day we had three additional companies that approached us to begin discussions.”
Clearly, Arch Promo Group is positioned to continue making waves.
In this Promo Insiders conversation, Ehlert explains Arch Promo Group’s expansion goals, its management philosophy with the suppliers it acquires, and where it sees itself in the promo marketplace.