BDS Connected Solutions

What BDS Connected Solutions does

BDS Connected Solutions is a U.S. retail execution and field-services company, founded in 1984 and headquartered in Irvine, California. As of January 2026, it operates as one of six heritage brands unified under Channel Partners Solutions, LLC — alongside Apollo Retail Specialists, BT Retail Solutions, White Hawk Retail Solutions, MAG Experiential, and MAAS — forming what the company describes as the industry's first fully connected retail execution and consumer activation platform.

The company delivers end-to-end retail services across all 50 U.S. states through a national W-2 specialist workforce and a 60,000 sq ft climate-controlled warehouse in Granville, Ohio. Its service portfolio spans seven integrated modules: Experiential Marketing, Merchandising & Resets, Construction, Assisted Sales & Training, Audits & Compliance Services, Warehousing/Fulfillment/Logistics, and Break Fix & Continuity. Underpinning these modules is the proprietary Insight Center dashboard and an AI-enhanced workforce management layer that provides real-time visibility into store visits and display performance, plus predictive analytics for routing, coverage, and activation timing. The platform is positioned to convert structured execution data into operational optimization signals across merchandising, compliance, and cost.

BDS Connected Solutions serves major retailers, consumer brands, and technology companies on a quote-based, enterprise engagement model. Named customers span 30-plus logos across technology (Microsoft, Samsung, AMD, Meta, Qualcomm), retail (Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, 7-Eleven, CVS, Walgreens, Ulta Beauty, Patagonia, Tractor Supply, Fossil), telecommunications (AT&T, Motorola), consumer electronics (Bose, Canon, DJI, LG, GoPro, iRobot, Ring, Roku, Fitbit), and other sectors (Amazon, L'Oréal, Northwell). Distribution is through direct enterprise sales, and the company holds Best Buy Approved 3PL and Target Preferred Merchandising Partner designations as anchor ecosystem relationships. Channel Partners is led by CEO Jim Fulk, CFO Katie MacGillivary, and COO Andrew Catapano.

Name

BDS Connected Solutions

Legal name

Channel Partners Solutions, LLC

Website

https://bdssolutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

BDS Connected Solutions, now part of Channel Partners Solutions, LLC, delivers nationwide retail execution, merchandising, and consumer activation services to major retailers, consumer brands, and technology companies across all 50 U.S. states via an AI-powered connected field operations platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BDS Connected Solutions provides custom retail strategies, marketing solutions, and support services to brands and large companies. Its offerings span merchandising and resets, experiential marketing, construction and fixture installation, assisted sales and training, audits and compliance, warehousing/fulfillment/logistics, and break-fix services, delivered through a nationwide W-2 specialist workforce operating across all 50 states.

Product overview

BDS Connected Solutions is one of five industry leaders (alongside Apollo Retail Specialists, BT Retail Solutions, White Hawk Retail Solutions, and MAG Experiential) that unified in January 2026 to form Channel Partners, the industry's first fully connected retail execution and consumer activation platform. The Channel Partners portfolio includes the core AI-powered unified platform plus six integrated service modules: Experiential Marketing, Merchandising & Resets, Construction, Assisted Sales & Training, Audits & Compliance Services, Warehousing/Fulfillment/Logistics, and Break Fix & Continuity. The platform also features proprietary Insight Center for real-time retail execution visibility. All services are connected through AI-enhanced workforce management, integrated data capture, and connected field operations enabling national-scale deployment and measurement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Experiential Marketing Immersive, high-impact experiential marketing campaigns including guerrilla activations, pop-up shops, and branded mobile tours with strategic storytelling and shareable moments, designed for consumer brands seeking audience engagement.
• Merchandising & Resets Precision retail merchandising services including planogram execution, fixture resets, product placement, and omnichannel strategies ensuring on-shelf availability and compliance for major retailers and brands.
• Construction Expert retail construction and fixture installation services including full-scale remodels, new store build-outs, and professional execution of retail design projects for retailers and brand owners.
• Assisted Sales & Training Human expertise and training services including Market Development Managers who conduct in-person training, product demos, associate engagement, and competitive intelligence for brands selling through retail channels.
• Audits & Compliance Services Trusted oversight services including store audits, surveys, planogram execution verification, and compliance initiatives ensuring store accuracy and alignment for retailers and brands.
• Warehousing, Fulfillment & Logistics Comprehensive logistics including transportation logistics, a 60,000 sq ft climate-controlled warehouse in Granville Ohio, fulfillment, packaging, assembly, and storage solutions for retail clients.
• Break Fix & Continuity Rapid response technical services for interactive retail displays including technical setup, resets, retrofits, component installations, and troubleshooting with nationwide support center for retailers and technology brands.
• Channel Partners Unified Platform An AI-powered unified retail execution and consumer activation platform combining five industry leaders into a single connected platform offering merchandising, experiential marketing, assisted sales, and retail logistics services nationwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Proprietary Insight Center gives clients visibility into every store visit and display performance
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers31 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Apollo Retail SpecialistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBDS Connected Solutions combined with Apollo Retail Specialists, BT Retail Solutions, White Hawk Retail Solutions, and MAG Experiential to form Channel Partners - a unified retail execution and activation platform. This unification is described as a generational transformation creating the industry's first fully connected retail execution platform.
• BT Retail SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the five-industry-leader unification forming Channel Partners Solutions, LLC, the first fully connected retail execution and consumer activation platform.
• White Hawk Retail SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the five-industry-leader unification forming Channel Partners Solutions, LLC, the first fully connected retail execution and consumer activation platform.
• MAG ExperientialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the five-industry-leader unification forming Channel Partners Solutions, LLC, the first fully connected retail execution and consumer activation platform.
• Best BuycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChannel Partners is a Best Buy Approved 3PL Provider, offering logistics, fulfillment, and retail execution services for Best Buy's retail operations.
• TargetcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChannel Partners is a Target Preferred Merchandising Partner, providing specialized merchandising and retail execution services.
• Retail Merchandising ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChannel Partners acquired Retail Merchandising Services, uniting 40 years of in-store merchandising mastery with the industry's most advanced field intelligence platform.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Advantage Solutions: Advantage Solutions is the largest US retail-merchandising, in-store sampling, and consumer-engagement services provider serving CPGs and retailers. Directly comparable to Channel Partners/BDS given overlapping service lines (merchandising, assisted sales, experiential) and Fortune-500 brand portfolio.
• Mosaic (formerly Acosta Sales & Marketing): Mosaic is a leading sales-and-marketing agency providing category management, retail merchandising, and consumer insights to CPGs and retailers in North America. Closely comparable given its in-store execution services, retail-data offerings, and enterprise brand roster.
• Premium Retail Services: Premium Retail Services is a national in-store merchandising and retail execution services provider serving consumer electronics, CPG, and technology brands. Comparable to Channel Partners in service mix, client types (Microsoft, AT&T-class accounts), and W-2 field workforce model.
• 2020 Companies: 2020 Companies is a US retail merchandising, assisted sales, and experiential marketing services firm with national coverage across consumer electronics and technology brands. Directly comparable in service scope (retail execution, event staffing, break/fix) and target verticals (Sony, Samsung-class clients).
• Crossmark: Crossmark is a large in-store merchandising and consumer-engagement services company serving CPGs and retailers across the US, similar to Channel Partners' merchandising, resets, and audit offerings. Comparable in scale, retail coverage, and category focus on grocery/CPG.
• SAS Retail Services: SAS Retail Services provides retail merchandising, store remodels, fixtures, and brand activations for major retailers and suppliers in the US. Closely matches Channel Partners' merchandising, construction, and assisted-sales service lines with a similar Fortune-500 client base.
• Integrity Retail Services: Integrity Retail Services is a US retail-merchandising, resets, and in-store execution firm supporting consumer electronics and CPG brands. Comparable in service offerings, technician-based field teams, and overlap on technology-vendor clients.
• Driveline Retail Services: Driveline Retail Services is a US retail-merchandising company with national field coverage serving CPG brands and retailers on resets, remodels, and audits. Directly comparable to Channel Partners' core merchandising and execution work, with overlapping client types.

Broad incumbents

• Acosta (legacy Mosaic pre-merger): Acosta (now part of Mosaic Group) is a large, diversified sales-and-marketing services provider with broad grocery, CPG, and technology-retail coverage in North America. Comparable to Channel Partners as a broad incumbent in retail execution with deeper category-management and category advisory offerings.

Others

• NielsenIQ (Activate): NielsenIQ operates an Activate retail-services arm focused on merchandising, audits, and in-store execution using its retail-data backbone. Comparable as an ecosystem participant leveraging data and analytics for retail execution services, complementary rather than directly competitive to Channel Partners' labor-led model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ChannelPartnersSolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/channelpartners
• Instagraminstagram.com/channelpartnerssolutions
• Xx.com/BDSConnected

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BDS Connected Solutions