HUB Promotional Group Acquires HandStands in Seventh Acquisition

By Brendan Menapace

In a deal finalized on Dec. 21, 2018, HandStands, Salt Lake City, Utah, joined HUB Promotional Group, which is now made up of eight suppliers.

Established in 1983, HandStands was one of the first companies to bring mouse pads to the promotional marketplace. Today, HandStands offers a wide variety of products, from phone and tablet accessories to air fresheners, stress relief, lifestyle and automotive accessories.

HandStands' Salt Lake City location enhances HUB's expanding nationwide footprint. The HandStands product lineup complements the technology and lifestyle products of the HUB Group.

Strengthening the leadership team, Chris Anderson, chairman of HandStands, will become chief operating officer for HUB Promotional Group.

"I am super excited for HandStands' next chapter, and the opportunity to play a larger role in the growth and development at HUB," Anderson said. "Given the rapid evolution that is occurring in the promotional products industry, we were looking for more than just growth capital. We wanted a strategic partner to help us become an industry leader on a far more rapid timeline—and our partnership with HUB provides exactly what we have been looking for."

"I am excited to leverage the reach and resources of HUB Promotional Group for the benefit of HandStands' customers and employees," said Rodd Steuart, HandStands CEO who will continue in his position. "By teaming up with HUB, we are greatly enhancing the customer experience we are able to offer as a result of this combination of business."

"We are delighted to have HandStands join our portfolio of companies, and we welcome Chris, Rodd and their entire team to HUB," Joe Fleming, CEO of HUB Promotional Group, said. "The HandStands team has worked very hard to consistently deliver innovation and value to their customers, and their rapid growth and exceptional reputation in the industry speaks for itself. Working together, we will share and incorporate best practices across the entire company to make HUB even better for our customers. The addition of HandStands to the HUB family of companies enables us to expand our product lineup, add a production facility and expand our distribution network to be come the leading hard-good supplier in the promotional products industry."

For more information on HUB Promotional Group, visit www.hubpromotionalgroup.com. For more information on HandStands, visit www.handstandspromo.com.