Following the 1 November completion of the deal, Alpha, a specialist print marketing business based in Leeds, will now be able to supply its own specialist print marketing products to A-ha!’s client network across the North East of England.

Ian Whitfield, managing director of Alpha, told Printweek the acquisition - worth an undisclosed six-figure sum - would help both businesses to expand.

He said: “[The acquisition] broadens the offerings that A-ha! has to their client base, it broadens our ability to access those clients, in both specialist print and digital marketing.

“Hopefully, it’s a win-win for everybody.”

A-ha! has retained its management in the deal, and will continue to operate as an independent business, he added, with just administrative functions such as accounting and HR being consolidated with Alpha’s own.

No jobs have been lost in the deal, and Whitfield hopes to soon expand the A-ha! team. Combined, the two companies now have around 20 staff, including Alpha’s worldwide team, and generate sales of more than £2m.

A-ha’s distribution network includes over 1,000 tourist leaflet racks over Northumberland, Cumbria, and the North East, something that has already sparked interest with clients, according to Whitfield.

“Already, in the very short space of time since we completed [the deal], there has been a lot of interest in talking about [using Alpha products on the A-ha! network].

“Historically [at Alpha], there’s been an 80-90% repeat rate, repeat clients or repeat jobs. I’m confident if we get get the opportunity to offer those to the A-Ha! client base we’ll get the same sort of results.”

Elaine Rengers, managing director of A-ha!, said: “We are delighted that Alpha wants to take A-ha! to its next phase of growth, and that we’ll have the opportunity to help them to build on the reputation and foundations that we’ve worked so hard to put in place. 

“Being able to offer a wider range of services to our clients, both print and digital, can only be good news for tourism marketing and help our clients to enhance their offerings.”