San Antonio-based promotional products distributor You Name It Specialties (YNIS, asi/365123), the number-one company on Counselor’s 2024 Best Places to Work in promo list, has acquired Cedric Spring & Associates (asi/332750), a distributorship with a 64-year history that’s based in St. Charles, IL, near Chicago.

Financial terms of the deal between the privately held companies were not released. YNIS CEO Josh King told ASI Media that the firm, post-acquisition, is now projecting about $16 million in 2024 revenue.

Josh King, You Name It Specialties (YNIS, asi/365123), and Randy Spring, Cedric Spring & Associates (asi/332750)

The acquisition will empower YNIS to expand its reach to the Midwest and, according to a company statement, provide the Cedric Spring team with more resources, services and elevated support. This includes warehousing and fulfillment solutions, enhanced company store options and strong partnerships that YNIS holds with suppliers, executives said.

“It is an honor to all of us at YNIS that the team at Cedric Spring chose to associate themselves with YNIS,” King said in a statement.

Former jazz musician Cedric Spring founded the firm that bears his name in 1960, having previously been a Chicago district manager for promo firm The Shaw Barton Company.

His son Randy joined in 1976, becoming president upon Cedric’s retirement in 1985, according to a company history. Randy’s wife, Laurie Spring, joined the firm in 1989 as CEO and the distributorship became a certified woman-owned business, executives said. Continuing the family momentum, Cedric’s grandson, Chris Spring, came aboard in 2005 as vice president of operations.

“It is important to recognize and respect the history and legacy of the Cedric Spring & Associates organization,” said King. “There is so much the YNIS team can learn from the team at Cedric Spring.”

While the Cedric Spring name is being retired as the firm becomes part of YNIS, the Springs’ story in promo isn’t ending.

Randy Spring is becoming president of the Midwest Region at YNIS, while Chris Spring will be assisting him as the vice president of that territory. Also joining YNIS will be Jeff Schmitt, Amanda Kilinski and Haylee Meaker in varied leadership roles.

“It is an honor to all of us at YNIS that the team at Cedric Spring chose to associate themselves with YNIS.” Josh King, You Name It Specialties (YNIS, asi/365123)

“The Cedric Spring team is very excited to partner with YNIS and join in their creativity, company culture, and commitment to excellence,” said Randy Spring, noting he has known King for years through Facilisgroup, a promo software provider and partnering community to which Cedric Spring and YNIS both belong.

Founded in 1990, YNIS has earned accolades that include Distributor Partner of the Year with Facilisgroup and a Fast Track Award from the San Antonio Business Journal. The company’s culture is strong, something evidenced by its top finish in the 2024 Counselor Best Places to Work in promo rankings, with employees saying the three words that best describe YNIS are “caring,” “compassionate” and “family.”

“By joining forces with Cedric Spring, YNIS continues its commitment to strategic growth in the promotional product industry,” the company said in a statement. “Cedric Spring clients can look forward to the continuance of a relationship-based, local business model with the additional benefit of the resources of a larger organization.”