Access Pass & Design of Sparks is getting deeper into the business of supplying concert tours through its acquisition of the printing division of a Minnesota company.
The company said last week it acquired Tour Supply INK, the printing division of Tour Supply Inc. of St. Paul, Minn.
Access Pass & Design makes back-stage passes for concerts and sports events. It also makes wristbands for crowd-control and accessories such as custom lanyards.
Seth Sheck, chief executive officer of Access Pass, said Tour Supply INK has been a competitor in the back-stage pass business and also has sold custom-printed drumheads for performers and has developed banners and backdrops for concerts.
"The acquisition increases our market share in the concert tour-pass world," he said. "I have persistently pursued this opportunity from the moment Tour Supply opened their pass-printing division."
Discussions got serious in January during a trade show for the tour and event-planning professionals. Access Pass & Design acquired the art files, equipment and key personnel developed by Tour Supply INK.
Both companies are privately held, and terms were disclosed. The Liberty Group of Nevada LLC, a business brokerage in Reno, advised Access Pass & Design on the deal.
Along with the acquisition of the printing division of Tour Supply Inc., Acess Pass is negotiating a strategic distribution partnership with executives of Tour Supply itself.
That company sells supplies such as wireless equipment, gaffers tape and batteries to touring acts.
"We share the same client base and working together from a cross-marketing platform always made sense to me," Sheck said. "It's a perfect marriage."
Access Pass & Design was launched in Sparks in 2002. It has about 20 employees in northern Nevada.
