Dressed for success: Halo, looking to grow its uniform business, acquires Wisconsin company

STERLING – Halo Branded Solutions has hit the ground running in the new year, announcing another acquisition.

Halo said it finalized a deal Tuesday to acquire Caliendo-Savio Enterprises Inc., a promotional products distributor based in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Although it's a small company, CSE has a European base in The Netherlands.

Halo declined to disclose the purchase price.

Privately held CSE was founded in 1979, by the father of current President and CEO Tom Savio. The promotions company had humble beginnings, launching with four employees who worked from their homes.

CSE's workforce has now surpassed 100, and the company also has established itself as a successful uniform supplier. Its promotional advertising work includes embroidery, digitization, laser engraving, name badges, signage, executive gifts, incentive programs and awards.

Halo said bringing CSE into the fold creates great synergies for the Sterling-based company.

"They have great expertise in the uniform business and corporate fulfillment, and we do a little in uniforms and we have a strong and growing corporate fulfillment business," said Terry McGuire, Halo's senior vice president of marketing and communications.

Halo said CSE shouldn't see any significant changes in its day-to-day operations. The New Berlin offices will remain open and there are no plans for job cuts. CSE will keep its name, but it will be marketed as CSE Powered by Halo.

"Our goal is to leverage the best practices of both Halo and CSE for the benefit of the valued clients of both organizations," Halo CEO Marc Simon said in a news release.

CSE first entered the uniform business after the service was requested by Culvers. Several restaurants are in its client base, including Arby's, Dunkin' Donuts, Noodles & Company, Cousins Subs, and Popeyes. CSE also lists blue-chip companies like Discover, Comcast, Dish TV, Nestle, UPS, Miller-Coors and GE Health Care among its customers.

Halo said the deal won't have an immediate impact on Sterling, but four acquisitions in the last year have helped position the company for the kind of growth that served as impetus for building its new corporate headquarters. The company has been in Sterling since 1953.

After several years of double-digit growth, the company has plans to create 250 jobs over the next 5 years, which would double its current workforce. Halo broke ground on the new building in April at 1500 S. Lynn Boulevard, in the Meadowlands Business Park. Everything is moving according to schedule and employees should be in the new building in early April.

"It's a very exciting time to be at Halo, and our employees understand that – there are a lot of opportunities being created internally," McGuire said.

The larger building will allow Halo to bring all of its local operations under one roof. The distribution center at 809 Antec Road in Rock Falls will be moved to the new building, which increases available space by 50 percent.

Halo said more acquisitions could be coming in an industry that has seen rapid consolidation.

"We're always looking at new opportunities to grow our business," McGuire said. "Promotional products are a $24 billion industry and growing, so it's attracting a lot of capital investment."

CSE management said joining forces with Halo will open the door to greater opportunities for growing its brand.

"Halo will support our creative capabilities and client-focused culture, while providing the resources necessary to expand our reach with our clients and key prospects," Savio said in a news release.

Halo also has operational headquarters in Long Island City, New York, to run its Michael C. Fina Recognition business, which Halo acquired last February.

KEY ACQUISITIONS

July 2015: Newton Manufacturing – specialty advertising company based in Newton, Iowa

September 2015: Harvey-Daco – promotional products distributor based in Waco, Texas

September 2016: A Branovan Company – strategic partnership with promotional products distributor based in Milwaukee

February 2017: Catalyst Marketing – creative merchandise agency based in Seattle

February 2017: Michael C. Fina Recognition – recognition and incentives company based in New York

November 2017: American Pacific Promotions, a promotional products distributor based in Livermore, California

January 2018: Caliendo-Savio Enterprises Inc. – a promotional products distributor based in New Berlin, Wisconsin