By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Marion’s Western Associates, a marketer of promotional merchandise with offices in Dallas, Topeka, and Marion, has purchased Wichita specialty wholesale advertising firm Tangible Advertising.

Tangible Advertising has been in business since 1989, president Gary Hilton said. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Western Associates does in-house printing and screen printing, makes signs, and offers other in-house services that will benefit Tangible, he said.

The merger will be effective July 1.

The newly merged company will be headquartered in Marion with additional offices across the country. Together, they will include offices in Council Grove; Derby; Hutchinson; Kansas City; Liberal; McPherson; Topeka; Charlotte, North Carolina; Tulsa, Oklahoma; South Carolina; and Danville, Virginia.

Western Associates president Jim Crofoot will be president. Hilton will manage the Tangible Advertising division of Western Associates.

The merger will expand the range of merchandise and services and expand Western Associates’ reach.

“Tangible Advertising has a large co-op program with some large corporations,” Western Associates co-owner David Crofoot said.

The merger will bring Western Associates a better online presence and increase online sales, he said.

The two companies had a two-day meeting Thursday and Friday so associates could discuss product lines and plans going forward as one company.