Distributor Custom Specialties, LLC, in Overland Park, Kansas, has merged with Blue Springs, Missouri-based distributor Ad Trends Advertising, Inc. (UPIC: ADTRENDS). The two companies will work under the Custom Specialties name with the fulfillment services and company stores residing in Overland Park. Their combined 2016 sales revenue is expected to surpass $10 million.

The combined company will maintain offices and showroom space in both Overland Park and Blue Springs. Custom Specialties President Pat Hughes will remain the head of the company, while Ad Trends President Mark Cromwell will serve as vice president of sales.

“Ad Trends has a great reputation in the Kansas City metro area for providing comprehensive branded merchandise and marketing solutions,” says Hughes. “The idea of adding Mark and his team to the best collection of people we’ve ever had at Custom Specialties is very exciting. This will allow us to increase our product offering to our existing client base as well as market Custom Specialties brand to a much broader scope of potential clients.”

Cromwell adds, “The culture at Custom Specialties is very similar to that at Ad Trends. We seemed like a great fit for each other early on, and as we made progress we started realizing both companies and our clients will benefit from the combined entity. By combining the companies’ strengths and having offices on both sides of the state line, will provide a huge benefit to our clients and personnel.”