Down Right Merchandise and Overcast Merch Unite to Form Armada

Independent merchandise companies Down Right Merchandise and Overcast Merch have merged to form Armada, with a view to taking on major label-owned merch companies such as Bravado, which is owned by Universal Music Group.

The new company:

• Armada’s combined client roster includes artists such as Thrice, Tom Morello and Owl City; Death Row Records; creators such as The Bear’s Matty Matheson; and non-music brands such as Everyday Astronaut and Grillo’s Pickles.

• Armada will offer e-commerce infrastructure, branding expertise and physical merchandising.

• To date, Down Right and Overcast have collectively distributed more than $30 million in payouts to clients, and currently service more than 250 stores.

• Armada is headquartered in Boston, with a production facility in Long Beach, California.

What they said:

• Andrew Doyle, Co-Founder of Overcast: “We see enormous potential in our combined forces and expertise. We share common values and a history of building from the ground up, and we complement each other perfectly. Armada will have greater ability to support more creative projects in branding and merchandising at a time when merch and e-commerce are becoming essential parts of any public figure or performer’s business.”

• Seamus Menihane, CEO and Co-Founder of Down Right: “Inherently, music is a relationship-based business. We knew about each other and realized we could do more if we teamed up. The geographic spread and connections, plus our strengths in physical production and D2C commerce, means we’ll be able to serve more people in more ways together. It just made sense.”