As first reported Friday in a PPB Newslink Breaking News alert, distributor NewClients Promotional Marketing (PPAI 107225), headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, has acquired distributor EBSCO Creative Concepts (PPAI 104781), a division of EBSCO Industries.

"We are excited to welcome EBSCO Creative Concepts and their 28 associates into the NewClients family," says Jeff Hall, executive vice president and principal at NewClients. "ECC has a tremendous following of associates and clients. NewClients looks forward to supporting their team through our award-winning support, technology platforms and combined network of sales associates across the country."

NewClients will maintain sales, operations and fulfillment roles in Birmingham, as well as continue to support their clients' charities within the region.

Birmingham, Alabama-based EBSCO Industries includes more than 20 businesses, including IMAGEN Brands, parent company of suppliers Crown Products (PPAI 113430) and Vitronic (PPAI 114197).

Tim Colllins, president and CEO of EBSCO, says, "While ECC and IMAGEN Brands have always operated independently of one another, EBSCO made the decision to focus solely on the supplier side of the promotional products industry. We believe that this focus will give both ECC and IMAGEN Brands the best opportunity to continue their solid track records of growth. EBSCO underwent an extensive search for the perfect partner for our ECC associates and clients, and NewClients quickly rose to the top of the list. NewClients has similar business values to EBSCO and we took comfort in knowing our associates and customers would be given the tools and support to continue their great success. EBSCO is proud to have been a part of ECC's history."

Teki Hall, chair and CEO of NewClients, adds, “NewClients has set some aggressive growth goals that will allow us to support larger corporate clients across the United States. We are not only growing through acquisitions, we are driving future growth by investing in improving the client buying experience. Our success is only attainable by hiring the best and brightest minds and ECC has some of the top folks in the business. We look forward to supporting, Trey Schaefer, vice president/general manager – Southeast, and his entire team with the best business development, technology and marketing tools available anywhere.”