Merging Passions: Small Business M&A Meets Sustainability Through SwagCycle

I recently had the chance to combine two of my key interests—small business M&A and sustainability—through our SwagCycle initiative.

In 2021, Grossman Marketing Group acquired PCI Creative Group, a well-respected business in Stamford, Connecticut, run by sisters Anne Chiapetta and Mary Ferrara. Over the past three years, their team has continued to succeed, and we've gained valuable insights from working with them. Their experience has been a great addition to our company, helping us expand our capabilities.

During a recent inventory review at PCI, we found several hundred like-new notebooks, pens, and other office supplies branded with the PCI logo. Typically, after a merger or acquisition, items like these might be discarded because the branding is no longer current. But this is exactly the situation we had in mind when we started SwagCycle—to find useful outlets for high-quality merchandise that might otherwise go to waste.

SwagCycle’s mission is straightforward: to prevent excess promotional products from ending up in landfills by finding them new homes where they can be used, or where they can be responsibly recycled. This initiative not only helps the environment by reducing waste but also benefits organizations that can put these items to good use.

The PCI-branded items were still in Connecticut, so we connected with CASTLE, Inc., a nonprofit in Colchester, CT. CASTLE has been serving children and families in the area since 1991, offering various programs for kids from preschool through 8th grade. Their work includes before and after school care, pre-kindergarten, and school readiness programs, providing crucial support for working families.

We were able to match these unused products with CASTLE, ensuring they would be put to good use rather than being discarded. It was really satisfying to see our company become a customer of SwagCycle for this project, effectively merging two of my passions into a meaningful outcome.