The Image Group Acquires Bag Warehouse, Thirsty Promo

The Image Group, Holland, Ohio, announced yesterday that it has acquired Santa Ana, California-based companies Bag Warehouse and Thirsty Promo from Mark-it Smart. According to a press release, the deal includes Mark-it Smart's Web-based sales platform.

Bag Warehouse and Thirsty Promo sell branded items directly to businesses, rather than through distributors. Jon Levine, president of The Image Group, said in a press release that The Image Group plans to expand beyond the bag and drinkware categories and provide customers a larger selection of promotional products.

"Our customers are increasingly interested in researching and procuring promotional products online," Levine said in the press release. "We believe the shift to online purchasing reflects the growing influence that millennial-aged employees are having in company buying decisions. This acquisition helps us remain ahead of that shift."

Levine added that offering more to online shoppers can make it a one-stop shop, where customers can get everything they need from one place. He also said that customers can still expect product safety compliance.

"Building on our long-standing commitment to social compliance, we've led our industry by instituting tough children's products guidelines, along with a preferred vendor policy aimed at ensuring that products manufactured by and for our company comply with stringent national and international standards," he said in the press release. "Online buyers can be assured that we've made every effort to protect their companies' hard-earned reputations against product safety concerns."

The Image Group will relocate Bag Warehouse and Thirsty Promo to its Holland, Ohio, headquarters.

For more information on The Image Group, visit www.theimagegroup.net.