SanMar (PPAI 110788, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 1 supplier, has added Stanley/Stella to its best-in-the-business selection of industry brands.

• Through the exclusive distribution partnership, the deal will add 20 new premium sustainable tees and fleece to SanMar’s offerings that spotlight the fashion-forward style and high-quality decoration that Stanley/Stella is known for in the European market.
• Founded in 2012, the Belgian brand has become a leader in blank apparel by producing on-trend styles with premium fabrications that yield intense precision decoration. The collection, launching with SanMar’s 2025 Spring new arrivals, features an assortment of the brand’s most popular unisex and women’s premium organic cotton tees and organic cotton and recycled polyester fleece in vibrant colors and heathers in a range of core and lifestyle silhouettes redesigned for the U.S. market.
• Samples from the collection will be on display at industry trade shows throughout January 2025.

“We’re always looking for that ‘good, better, best’ in our product assortment to give our customers a range of versatile options,” says Shelley Renning, vice president of merchandising at SanMar. “Stanley/Stella elevates basics in the ‘best’ category because of its level of quality, exceptional hand feel, printability and sustainability, which uniquely positions the offering in our market.”

Proforma (PPAI 196835, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 3 distributor, is hosting its annual holiday parties with special giving initiatives supporting two charitable organizations: Providence House in Cleveland, Ohio, and Joshua House in Tampa, Florida.

• Each year, these organizations create wish lists which Proforma distributes to its support center in advance of their holiday parties so that team members have an opportunity to give back.
• Representatives from both organizations attend each respective gathering and share information about their organization’s mission, vision and values.
• Providence House keeps kids safe and families together, equipping them with support to enhance stability that strengthens communities overall. Similarly, Joshua House is a beacon of hope for abused, abandoned and neglected children in the Tampa community.
• Other industry companies interested in assisting Proforma in its giving efforts can contact the organizations: Providence House, https://www.provhouse.org/donate-online and Joshua House, https://www.mygiving.net/donate/JoshuaHouse.

Vantage Apparel (PPAI 113235, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 12 supplier, has launched Distributor Experience Centers within all three of its U.S. facilities located in Avenel, New Jersey; St. Louis, Missouri; and Santa Ana, California.

• These state-of-the-art centers are designed to meet the evolving needs of distributor customers and provide an ideal space to host end-buyer meetings at no cost.
• Each center includes:
• State-of-the-art technology for presentations, live video streaming and hybrid meetings.
• Conference and meeting areas to accommodate various group sizes.
• A full showroom showcasing Vantage’s extensive collection of decorated apparel.
• A Lending Library from which distributor customers can borrow merchandise for offsite meetings and return it when finished.
• To schedule a meeting in one of the new centers, contact sales@vantageapparel.com.

Distributor Promo Direct (PPAI 462719, Gold) is offering a new giveaway initiative to help its clients celebrate “Thank Your Customers Week” which is observed on January 5-11.

• The campaign aims to support businesses in expressing gratitude to their customers while fostering stronger relationships and enhancing customer loyalty.
• Items offered include eco-friendly products, personalized drinkware and tech accessories.

“This week provides an opportunity for businesses to recognize their customers’ loyalty and contributions,” says Dave Sarro, CEO of Promo Direct. “Thoughtful gestures during this time can leave a lasting impression and help strengthen the customer-business relationship.”

IDProductsource (PPAI 384049, Silver) has presented its Annual Owners Award to Nick Blank, an employee whose unwavering commitment and exemplary work ethic have made a profound impact on the organization.

• Since joining the team, the company says Blank has consistently demonstrated loyalty, integrity and a dedication to excellence that resonates with both his colleagues and the supplier’s clients. His proactive approach and innovative solutions have not only elevated team performance but also inspired those around him to strive for greatness.
• In a news release, IDProductsource says, “His contributions have been invaluable to IDProductsource, and we are incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team. Thank you, Nick, for your relentless pursuit of excellence and for being an outstanding asset to our company. We look forward to seeing all the incredible things you will continue to achieve in the future.”

Chesapeake Promotional Products Association (PPAI 190213) inducted the Summit Group’s Michele Reed into the CPPA Hall of Fame and honored 13 additional award recipients at its 2024 Peake Awards Ceremony and Holiday Party on December 12 in Columbia, Maryland.

• The CPPA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who make outstanding and lasting contributions to the regional association as well as to the promotional products industry. Reed joins previous inductees Jim Hayes, Steve Yaniga, Hersch Wellman, Mike Harper Sr., Murray Siegel, Robert Titelman Sr., Jolie Porter, Kendra McDougal, Harold Wood, Jeffrey Franklin, Robert Titelman Jr., Dana Geiger, Cheryl Hokanson, Jay Shaplin, Cynthia Brown and Cliff Quicksell Jr.
• In addition, award recipients in nine categories were honored:
• Distributor Internal Support Person of the Year: Tracey Therres, Apex Advertising
• Supplier Internal Support Person of The Year: Jamie Pollard, SanMar
• Distributor Sales Representative of the Year: Barry Hebb, Apex Advertising
• Supplier Sales Representative of the Year: Tony Limetti, Ariel Premium Supply
• The John Bennis Memorial Multi-Line Representative of the Year: Tim Rosica, Rosica Marketing
• CPPA Rising Star: Michael Barblett, Headwear USA
• The Peake Aware (Volunteer of the Year): Tracey Therres, Apex Advertising
• Distributor of the Year: Apex Advertising
• Supplier of the Year: Peerless Umbrella
• Excellence in Promotions Campaign winners were recognized as well:
• Gold winner, Business to Business Program: Cliff Quicksell, Jr., Cliff Quicksell Associates
• Bronze winner, Internal Communication Program: Rachel Bradley, Strategic Factory
• Bronze winner, Internal Communication Program: Kendra McDougal, HALO Branded Solutions
• Silver winner, Tradeshow/Exhibit Traffic Program: Kaitlin Rygula, Sonic Promos

commonsku (PPAI 552077) has released its year-end recap featuring more than 1 million projects created through the platform in 2024.

• Additional highlights include:
• A 30% increase in projects automated through to suppliers via electronic purchase order, dramatically impacting error-free orders and speed to completion.
• commonsku customers increased overall shops usage by 30%, which included pop-up shops, company shops and marketing shops.
• 856 distributors and 130 suppliers are now on commonsku, representing one of the industry’s largest communities.
• Enhanced integrations with leading platforms like Zapier, QuickBooks and HubSpot, along with expanded ePO integrations with top suppliers such as HIT, SanMar and Cutter & Buck, ensure a seamless workflow and better connectivity.
• More than 2,000 commonsku users came together to discuss best practices, share recommendations and exchange tips for thriving in the promotional products industry.
• Upcoming features in 2025 include AI-powered recommendations, third-party ecommerce integrations with platforms like Shopify and ShipStation, and enterprise APIs to enhance enterprise resource planning, warehouse management, marketing automation and business intelligence systems.