Springs Creative acquires bandanna maker

Springs Creative Products Group has acquired Carolina Manufacturing, the largest bandanna manufacturing company in the United States, from its parent company, Fendrich Industries.

Carolina Manufacturing was founded in 1947, providing an assortment of products to dime stores, pharmacies and other retail outlets. Fendrich Industries has owned Carolina Manufacturing since 1963.

Carolina Manufacturing focuses on textile-related products and is a leading supplier of men’s handkerchiefs under the Hav-A-Hank brand. The company provides promotional and traditional bandannas to customers and canines across the United States. The products are made in America.

The company employs about 50 people at its Greenville location.

Terms of the deal finalized Wednesday were not disclosed. The deal had been in the works for about a year, said Derick Close, chief executive officer of Rock Hill-based Springs Creative.

Close said the purchase of Carolinas Manufacturing is a good fit for both companies.

Carolinas Manufacturing, said Close, is a “21st-century textile company that understands e-commerce,” with significant retail accounts and the ability to quickly respond to requests for custom products.

The company’s domestic cut-and-sew operations become more attractive as “the complexity of doing business in China continues to escalate,” Close said.

“Our expertise in retail, licensing, digital printing, supply chain, logistics and our sourcing capabilities will provide us the opportunity to grow the Carolina Manufacturing business,” Close said.

While Carolina Manufacturing will continue to be based in Greenville, Close said the two companies will be looking for economies of scale between the two operations.

Springs Creative was founded in 2007 by Derick Close, great-great-grandson of Leroy Springs, who founded the Fort Mill Manufacturing Company in 1887, which would ultimately become Springs Industries and a major employer in York, Chester and Lancaster counties.

This story was originally published April 8, 2015 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Springs Creative acquires bandanna maker ."