Kansas City-area promotional product firms Custom Specialties (asi/173252) and Ad Trends Advertising have merged as of March 1. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, though Custom Specialties President Pat Hughes told the Kansas City Business Journal the merger will likely bring his firm about $2 million more in revenues. Combined, the companies are expected to earn more than $10 million in revenue this year.

Ad Trends will now operate under Custom Specialties’ name, but will maintain its own office and showroom. Ad Trends President Mark Cromwell will become vice president of sales. Hughes said Custom Specialties is providing Ad Trends with more advanced technology and services, including access to Custom Specialties’ in-house apparel decoration and a web-based business management platform from the Facilis Group, of which Custom Specialties is a member.

Through the merger, Custom Specialties is adding five employees to its 28-member team, including an in-house graphic designer. Hughes told the Business Journal that the merger will make Custom Specialties one of the largest promotional products firms in greater Kansas City: “I’m really excited for the product offering for our clients I think adding the graphics capabilities in-house will really allow us to take our company to the next level.”