Last week, Top 40 promotional products supplier Edwards Garment (asi/51752) announced it had acquired Bishop Custom Clothing (asi/40585), a Vancouver, BC-based supplier that specializes in manufacturing highly customized corporate apparel. We reached out to Rick Cesere, executive vice president at Edwards, to get more insight on what this major acquisition means for the Kalamazoo, MI-based supplier and why it will be a boon for its customers.

Q: Can you tell us a little more about how this acquisition came about?
Rick Cesere (pictured): Strategically, Edwards is very focused on career apparel programs. We have long recognized the need for custom clothing and the need for our distributor partners to be able to markedly differentiate themselves to secure and hold high-volume programs. We were searching for the right partner, and the priority was to find one that had true custom capabilities, able to handle any product or accessory that presented itself, and do so with photo-real presentation capabilities. We met with Norm Bishop last January, and we’ve been talking ever since. Norm was also looking for a partner to take his dream and hard work to the next level and to continue his legacy. Both companies share common values, both have a strong commitment to customer service, and we care deeply about our teams who make it all happen day in and out. The match just felt right from the beginning.

Q: There’s an interesting dichotomy with the two companies: Edwards, with its focus on uniforms, and Bishop, which has a robust custom fashion division. What sorts of synergies exist between these two seemingly disparate realms that make this acquisition work so well?
RC: “Effective merchandising” is at the heart of the acquisition, quickly followed by proven execution and dynamic fulfillment solutions for complex apparel and uniform programs. Edwards plus Bishop, strategically paired with a well-positioned distributor partner, can and will secure any major apparel program. As the talent and knowledge of the two companies blend, look for continued innovation with fabrications, fashion, embellishment and fulfilment.

Q: Is there a need for more customization options and capability in the world of large uniform programs? Why?
RC: The term “uniform” has a negative overtone for most people. There’s a natural desire for individuality, and corporations need to find apparel solutions that satisfy this desire. Further, the companies themselves need to find individuality and brand differentiation in the marketplace, through well-crafted apparel merchandising, which is critical to this mission. True customization is the ultimate engine for personalization and differentiation. Fueled by the branding intelligence of our distributor partners, the over 300 years of experience of the Bishop team has continually maintained market leadership in this space.

True custom apparel takes advanced planning and logistics. Very few apparel/uniform programs can exist solely with custom apparel production; it’s the blending of the Edwards stocking program and single invoice embellishment services with the Bishop custom platform, which represents what our distributors will embrace.

The team at Bishop Custom Clothing has over 300 years of industry experience combined.

Q: The acquisition will give Edwards greater access to the Canadian market, since Bishop is based in Vancouver. How did that factor into the deal? What are some of the benefits of this expanded market access?
RC: The majority of the current Bishop business is in the US. Edwards has built a solid business in Canada, so of course, we feel there’s plenty of room for growth in Canada. What’s more important to us is the talent and creativity of Bishop’s team and leadership. Vancouver is a bit of a fashion hub, which has allowed Bishop to attract very creative designers, and we expect that to be a real plus for us going forward.

Q: This year, Edwards Garment was named the 20th largest supplier in the industry with 2018 revenue of $70.3 million, a jump from 2018 when you were ranked at 22. Can we expect another year of growth for Edwards in 2020? How does this acquisition better position the company as a power player in the industry?
RC: Yes, we do expect continued growth for 2020 and beyond. The combination of our in-stock product offering combined with the ability to develop truly inspirational custom apparel along with complex program fulfillment capabilities will be very attractive to our distributor base and their end-user customers. This acquisition allows us a whole new flexibility to develop and design product that is made specifically for one client, and that we feel is powerful.

Q: What can we expect in the future from Edwards garment? Can you give us a glimpse of any exciting plans you have for 2020 and beyond?
RC: You can expect Edwards to manage growth carefully. The core to our business has always been quality product, in-stock, great service, and complete program fulfillment capabilities. We’re a one-stop shop, and now that has been taken to a whole new level.