Two British firms are to merge and create what could become one of the North's largest office products supply businesses.
The new group consisting of Central Stationers Limited, of Darlington, and Wallis Business Services Limited, of York, will have combined annual sales of £6.5m.
Bosses hope that figure will grow to £10m within the next five years with the company's sales network stretching right across the North of England.
Central Stationers, a provider of office furniture and stationery, has been trading in the Darlington area for 25 years and employs 13 staff.
It recently moved into new offices in Coniscliffe Road from its previous base in Grange Road.
Central's customers include schools, the NHS, the police and also a range of small to medium enterprises and blue chip companies.
Meanwhile, Wallis Business Services, which is the larger of the two firms, is entering its 43rd year and supplies stationery and office products throughout the Yorkshire region.
It has branches in York and Malton and employs 55 staff across its operation.
As a result of the move, Steve Weeks, managing director of Central Stationers, will stand aside and hand over the reins of the Darlington branch to his daughter, Joanna Kwok.
She has worked for Central for more than six years and won Young Professional of the Year in 2006, as awarded by the British Office Supplies Industry.
Mr Weeks said: "This merger will give the company better buying power, which will be seen in better prices for all new and existing customers.
"We will also now be able to service and repair all the machinery we supply with our own personnel."
Peter Wallis, who is managing director of the newly-formed group, said: "Customers will not see any change, as Central Stationers will retain their name and all the existing sales contacts will remain in place.
"The only change will be in the increasing services offered and the ability of the group as a whole to deliver products free of charge to anywhere in the North of England."