ONTHEGO expands with acquisition of ZEMS Apparel

ONTHEGO, the leading online retailer and customisation platform for uniforms and sports apparel, has announced the acquisition of Australian-based manufacturing and sublimation plant ZEMS Apparel.

The acquisition enables ONTHEGO (OTG) to further the delivery of industry leading offerings and customer experience, enhancing the Canberra-based company’s provision of customised offerings in record delivery times.

Enabled by its Web2Print technology, OTG Chief Executive, Mick Spencer explained that the capability also completed the loop on the complex rapid supply chain required to execute some “very exciting nationwide top tier retail partnerships soon to be announced in later 2019”.

The deal follows on from the announcement this time last year that the Workwear Group (WWG) - a subsidiary of Wesfarmers Industrial & Safety - had acquired a significant stake in its business, backed by existing shareholders.

Since then, the company has deployed three white label platforms within Wesfarmers with the launch of Officeworks Custom Apparel instore and online in May and Workwear Group white label programs over the past 12 months.

Spencer advised this was the “next step for the company in pursuing an aggressive two fold investment strategy in technology development and analogous capability acquisition in furthering our leading customer experience pf designing products easy and having them delivered quick anywhere they are.

“ZEMS will provide us a ‘bolt on’ capability that will enable us to leverage our significant investments to date in our technology for mass customisation scale.

OTG’s ZEMS Apparel acquisition has seen OTG rebrand the Wetherill Park, NSW business as OTG Labs, with ZEMS founder Mark Harris to continue leading the Web2Print Facility.

Harris’ experience and skills will enable plans to bring the technology to life in the growth of our mass customisation, made to order supply chain model.

Commenting on the acquisition, Harris stated “OTG’s founding story and vision is was what first attracted me, after meeting the team I knew my visions of this industry could be achieved. I’m excited to join the OTG team and have my skill set taken to the next level with what is to come with this company.”

Driven by a significant upward valuation in the company, OTG has plans to open a strategic investment round in the new financial year to support its aggressive acquisition strategy and rapid growth plans.

Click here to contact ONTHEGO via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Images: Members of the OTG Labs team (top) and Mick Spencer (below).