A shipment of 25,000 toys and 625 bicycles worth roughly $439,000 was distributed on Thursday to organizations around the Illinois Valley for kids in need this Christmas.

Flat River Group is acquiring two Canadian companies, expanding its publishing and distribution capabilities and team, the company announced. Flat River Group, a 1st party e-commerce partner which also serves the hobby trade through its Impressions Game Distribution unit, now adds distributor and publisher Luma Imports and publisher Synapses Games. Luma Imports provides North American distribution and marketing for Horrible Guild, Bombyx Studios, Sit Down Games, Holy Grail Games, and others.

French board game company IELLO has appointed Flat River Group LLC as its exclusive distributor to the English-speaking market in the U.S. and Canada, the companies announced.  The new deal was effective January 1, 2022.  Flat River Group has been selling IELLO products to mass retailers for the past nine years; the new deal expands the relationship to other channels.  Flat River Group division Impressions Game Distribution Services handles distribution to hobby distributors.

HEILLECOURT, France, Jan. 20, 2022 – IELLO, board game publisher based in Heillecourt, France, has entrusted Flat River Group LLC (FRG) as its exclusive distributor for the United States and Canada as of January 1, 2022.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Flat River Group,” said Cédric Barbé, managing director of IELLO. “We’ve known Matt Stahlin, president of Flat River Group, for a long time. FRG’s high ambitions for our flagship King of Tokyo and Bunny Kingdom lines by Richard Garfield convinced us that we shared the same vision and strategy.”  

The distribution agreement covers the U.S. and Canada (for English language versions of the games.)

“2022 will be an exciting year, with many new releases,“ added Laurence Grau, international sales manager at IELLO, “starting with King of Tokyo Monster Box, Get on Board – which is eagerly awaited, and Distant Suns in the first semester, Animals of Baker Street, and King of Monster Island in October, a new stand alone in the King of Tokyo universe.”

“Flat River Group has sold IELLO products to mass retailers for the last nine years and we have always admired their products. We are proud to be selected as the exclusive North American English language distributor,” said Matt Stahlin, president of Flat River Group.

About IELLO

Publisher and distributor of board games, IELLO is a French company that is recognized worldwide and active on all five continents. Party games, puzzle games, cooperative games, kids’ games, strategy games – IELLO’s offering can be enjoyed by all audiences. With more than a hundred games published, including its flagship titles such as King of Tokyo, Bunny Kingdom and more recently Khôra, Rise of an Empire, the French-based publisher has become a major player on the national and international scene.

IELLO Media Contact
Vincent Capdevielleddd
IELLO
vincent.capdevielle@iello.fr | (33) 367 249 676

About Flat River Group

Established in 2011, Flat River Group has over ten years of experience as a leading end-to-end e-commerce Partner. They take their vendors’ businesses to the next level by owning their inventory and accelerating rapid sales growth, all while maintaining vendors’ brand integrity and elevating reputation. Flat River Group buys inventory, warehouses it, sells it to 15+ major e-commerce retailers, manages product listings and inventory, and fulfills dropship and distribution center orders. They are truly a unique partner, with 1st Party Seller (1P) status and best-in-class dropship capability. They specialize in partnering with consumer goods manufacturers including toys & games, pets, baby, outdoor sporting goods and more. The company is based in Belding, Michigan, US and has three other locations in Michigan, Illinois and Missouri. Flat River Group has earned the honor of being listed as one of Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 fastest growing private companies in America three times, in 2016, 2017 and 2021. For more information, visit www.flatrivergroup.com.

Flat River Group Media Contact               

Katie Kett

Marketing Manager | Flat River Group

kkett@flatrivergroup.com | (616) 794-5496 x181

An e-commerce business acceleration company acquired a tabletop games publisher. Belding-based Flat River Group said Thursday, Dec. 2, it acquired St. Louis, Missouri-based Greater Than Games, a tabletop game publisher, design house and consolidator. Founded in 2011, Greater Than Games is known for publishing games such as Sentinels of the Multiverse, Spirit Island and Medium.

This week, Greater than Games goes Flat, Asmodee partially explodes, and Carcassonne gets a fresh coat of paint.

Flat River Group announced that they have acquired St. Louis-based tabletop game publisher Greater Than Games, which had been a long-time vendor to Flat River. This is Flat River’s first purchase of a board game publisher. Last year, the company acquired wholesaler Optimum Distribution Fulfillment, and in 2019, it acquired consolidator Impressions Game Distribution Services (see “Flat River Acquiring Impressions“).

Publisher Greater Than Games has been purchased by Flat River Group, which describes itself as “an e-commerce business accelerator” and which functions as a combined distributor, consolidator, and retail partner.