Supplier S&S Activewear (PPAI 256121, S12), headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cincinnati, Ohio-based supplier TSC Apparel (PPAI 174523, S12).

Founded in 1988, S&S has grown to approximately $1.5 billion in sales. With about four million square feet of warehouse space and more than 2,000 employees, the company specializes in distributing blank sportswear, corporate apparel and accessories. It has also made significant investments in national distribution capacity and technology, and has expanded geographically with three acquisitions since 2010, including the acquisition of Technosport in 2020, one of Canada’s largest wholesale apparel distributors. TSC Apparel was established in 1976 and has grown into a national distributor of blank apparel and accessories, and now serves more than 30,000 customers.

"We saw a great affinity between TSC and S&S," says S&S CEO Jim Shannon. "We both built our business through a positive company culture, retail-brand focus and the development of relationships with employees, vendors and customers."

TSC CEO Dave Klotter adds, "We see this as an exciting next chapter for our company. Through a similar customer-centric approach, S&S will be able to build on our success that will greatly benefit our industry."

Today, S&S says its products can reach 99 percent of the U.S. within two days and 44 states in just one day. The acquisition of TSC Apparel is expected to bring it a greater depth of inventory and allow it to offer the marketplace an expanded line of products.

“We're excited to inherit such a well-established company," says Frank Myers, S&S's chief operating and financial officer. "For years, we have thought it made a lot of sense to acquire TSC, not only for both our companies, but for our industry as a whole. We are bringing together two organizations dedicated to creating a first-class customer experience."