PPAI 100 supplier Starline (PPAI 112719, Platinum) has promoted longtime executive Brian DeBottis to chief revenue officer, elevating a 20-year company veteran to lead its sales strategy.

DeBottis has risen through the ranks at the hard goods supplier, beginning as an office manager before moving into regional sales and later national account leadership, where he worked closely with some of the industry’s largest distributors. Most recently, he served in a senior accounts role.

CEO Mason Lapsker said the promotion underscores the company’s commitment to developing talent internally. President Jeff Hassler added that DeBottis’ customer-first mindset and leadership style position him to strengthen the supplier’s client experience.

In addition to his work at Starline, DeBottis has served as both director and treasurer of the Michigan Promotional Professionals Association.

Cincinnati-based commerce platform Brikl (PPAI 803362, Standard-Base) has launched an integration with print-on-demand platform Printful (PPAI 885793, Standard Base), expanding the reach of on-demand merchandising for distributors with access to more than 1,000 customizable products.

Brikl said the integration embeds Printful’s catalog directly into Brikl-powered distributor stores, enabling users to build assortments, apply decoration and route orders without holding inventory. Products span apparel, drinkware, bags and home goods, with decoration methods including embroidery, direct-to-film, direct-to-garment, sublimation and all-over print.

Printful combines its in-house production capabilities with a network of more than 100 global fulfillment partners, allowing orders to be routed automatically based on location, product type and capacity.

For distributors, the integration centralizes product selection, pricing and fulfillment, while maintaining control over margins through real-time cost visibility. The platform also supports global shipping and minimum order quantities as low as one, aligning with broader demand for flexible, zero-inventory business models in branded merch.

Brikl said the integration is available to all customers, further strengthening its position as a scalable, on-demand infrastructure for program-based selling and e-commerce-driven growth.

Philanthropic industry non-profit PromoKitchen (PPAI 652237, Standard Base) has named Jamie Fritz of Promote Creative as the 2026 recipient of the Tee Hamilton Creators Award, recognizing a creative professional whose work reflects the late industry leader’s commitment to innovation and mentorship.

The all-volunteer group, which focuses on education and mentorship in the merch industry, presents the award annually to support emerging creatives willing to challenge convention and invest in their professional growth.

Fritz, an owner and art director known for her design-forward approach, was selected from a competitive pool of applicants for her vision and commitment to elevating creativity within merch.

“This award inspires me to continue pushing boundaries, educating others and helping promo professionals see what’s possible when creativity is treated as an essential part of the process rather than an afterthought,” says Fritz. “I’m incredibly grateful to PromoKitchen for trusting me to carry forward and honor this piece of Tee’s profound legacy.”

The award’s $2,500 scholarship is intended to fund education and career development opportunities, from courses and tools to industry events. Established in memory of Tee Hamilton, a founding PromoKitchen contributor, the award honors a legacy defined by bold thinking and a refusal to accept the status quo, while encouraging the next generation of industry innovators.

Adams Headwear by Whispering Pines (PPAI 215465, Standard Base) has announced that Sean Grue and Nathan Corey are the company’s new owners, marking a transition for the established headwear brand. The company is known for its focus on quality, craftsmanship and customer relationships, with a strong presence in the resort, golf, promotional products and outdoor markets.

Vantage Apparel (PPAI 113235, Platinum) has introduced custom woven tapestry blankets as the latest addition to its print-on-demand platform, expanding its push into premium, personalized products.

The Avenel, New Jersey–based PPAI 100 supplier says the made-in-the-USA blankets convert customer artwork into textured keepsakes using a jacquard weaving process, where images are woven directly into cotton yarn rather than printed on the surface. The approach delivers a softer, more durable product with a higher-end, retail-inspired feel.

Available in two sizes and produced with single-piece ordering, the blankets align with Vantage’s broader strategy around on-demand fulfillment and e-commerce integration, giving distributors more flexibility in company stores and program-based selling.