Stamford, CT-based educational, health, and agricultural products manufacturer/marketer Aristotle Corp. is sewing as well as reaping: On May 31 the company acquired Otterbein, IN-based Haan Crafts Corp., a cataloger of sewing kits for schools and rival of Aristotle’s To-Sew catalog. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Aristotle had merged with educational supplies mailer Nasco International in early 2002; Nasco produces more than 25 catalogs, which sell primarily educational supplies. The Haan Crafts product line complements those of several Aristotle titles in addition to To-Sew, including Summit Learning, Hubbard Scientific, Scott Resources, and Spectrum Educational Supplies.

“It’s a good strategic fit with the other Aristotle businesses, especially the sewing businesses,” says Aristotle vice president/general manager/corporate secretary Bill Smith. “We believe we’re now the dominant player in the school sewing-kit business.”

Haan Crafts will remain in Otterbein with its existing management and other personnel “for the foreseeable future,” Smith says. For now, Aristotle has no plans to change the way Haan does business. “There can be some synergies ahead — namely in manufacturing and possibly with catalog production and mailing,” he says.

Stamford, CT-based educational, health, and agricultural products manufacturer/marketer Aristotle Corp. (Nasdaq: ARTL) has acquired Otterbein, IN-based Haan Crafts Corp., a manufacturer/marketer of sewing kits for schools. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Haan Crafts product line complements those of several other Aristotle titles, which include Nasco, Summit Learning, Hubbard Scientific, Scott Resources, Spectrum Educational Supplies, and To-Sew. Haan Crafts will remain in Otterbein with its existing management.