Branded merch distributor IMAGEN Inc. (asi/230616) has acquired IMPACT Promotional Products in the firm’s first acquisition since its founding.

Both distributors are based in Southern California – IMAGEN in Glendora and IMPACT in Lake Elsinore. The move is part of IMAGEN’s growth strategy to strengthen the distributor’s presence in the region – a move accomplished by consolidating resources and operations with IMPACT and taking on that firm’s client base.

“We identified IMPACT as a distributor with a complementary book of business that wasn’t too far from us geographically,” says IMAGEN’s CEO Paul Bower. “The partnership made sense because of our shared values in quality and customer focus. Culture is crucial for us, and the IMPACT team aligned well with ours. Their strong reputation and operational excellence made it a perfect fit.”

Paul Bower, CEO of IMPACT Inc. (asi/230616)

Bower, who’s been at the helm of IMAGEN since co-founding the distributor in 2009, said the acquisition will allow the firm to grow moving into 2025 through increased product offerings and a more robust market presence. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

IMPACT Promotional Products has been in the industry since 1996 and has been an affiliate of Counselor Top 40 distributor AIA Corporation (asi/109480). Karin Cassidy, CEO of IMPACT, will join IMAGEN as its key accounts director.

“Joining forces with IMAGEN Inc. represents a natural evolution for our business,” said Cassidy. “We saw a unique opportunity to blend our strengths with a company that shares our values and commitment to excellence. IMAGEN’s outstanding reputation and proven success made them the ideal partner for this next chapter.”