Top 40 distributor Genumark (asi/204588), the largest Canadian-owned promotional products distributor, announced late Thursday that it has acquired Toronto-based distributorship Rightsleeve (asi/308922). Financial terms of the deal were not released.

“Although both companies are based in Toronto, there is virtually no overlap in client accounts. What we do share is a similar philosophy and business orientation, which focuses on a customer-first culture supported by innovation, great technology and a talented creative team,” said Genumark President/CEO Mark Freed, who placed 37th on Counselor’s most recent Power 50, a ranking of the most influential people in the promotional products industry.

Emma Freed, VP of Uniforms & Corporate Apparel, Genumark; Mark Freed, President/CEO, Genumark; Catherine Graham, President, Rightsleeve; Mark Graham, CEO/Founder, Rightsleeve; Mitch Freed, Executive VP of Sales & Strategy, Genumark.

Going forward, Rightsleeve Founder/CEO Mark Graham and President Catherine Graham will be focusing on commonsku, which they founded in 2011. Commonsku is a workflow management software solution designed specifically for the promotional products industry. The platform, along with Rightsleeve’s success, elevated the Grahams to jointly place 44th on Counselor’s Power 50.

“We have known and admired Rightsleeve founders Mark and Catherine Graham for many years and have become even closer during Genumark’s implementation of commonsku,” said Genumark’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Strategy Mitch Freed, who appeared on this year’s Counselor Hot List. “They are two of the smartest and nicest people in our industry, and as they turn their full attention to commonsku, we will work hard to preserve and grow what they have built at Rightsleeve.”

As for Rightsleeve, the distributorship will continue to work from its offices in mid-town Toronto under the direction of Vice-President/General Manager Stephen Musgrave. In a statement, Catherine Graham said that Rightsleeve’s creative agency expertise will complement Genumark’s strong company program infrastructure. “From Mark (Graham) launching the business in the spare bedroom of his parents’ house, to where we are today, it has been quite an adventure,” Catherine Graham told Counselor. “Rightsleeve is going to continue to operate as its own brand, now with the firepower and support of Genumark behind it.”

With reported 2018 North American promotional product revenue of $57.7 million, Genumark ranks 33rd on Counselor’s latest list of the largest distributors in the North American promo industry. The company’s five-year average annual growth rate is 12.2%.