American Solutions for Business (PPAI: 101656, D12), based in Minnesota since 1981, has been an employee-owned distributorship since 2000 and is a repeat honoree in PPAI’s Greatest Companies To Work For. ASB also ranks highly on PPAI’s #Online18 for its wide variety of social posts, including product spots, gift ideas, creative inspiration and charitable company news. The company’s community-building approach is also reflected in its summit events to build connections among affiliates and help them share the latest industry information and insights. ASB also promotes community service, social impact and sustainability, from a variety of eco-friendly products to its Partners For Progress program for vendors to encourage responsible, safe and sustainable sourcing.

Charles G. Brown founded APISource (PPAI 102261, D10), originally Charles G Brown, Inc., in 1965. From a starting focus on emblematic jewelry, it has grown to offer clients a wide range of services. Today, the Greenbelt, Maryland-based distributor supports its clients with branding consultation, branded merchandise and apparel, global sourcing, fulfillment and distribution, and ecommerce solutions.

In the past decade, Los Angeles-based BAMKO (PPAI 242148, D11) has seen its annual sales grow from approximately $20 million to more than $300 million, driven in part by the company’s expansion into Canada in 2020. Its focus on technology earned two PPAI Pyramid Awards for ecommerce websites, and in October, BAMKO rebranded its own website with a fresh look and logo to better reflect the company’s aesthetic and approach to helping brands grow their business through merchandise. The company has embraced remote work and creative employee engagement, earning recognition as a great place to work from PPAI and other organizations.

BDA (PPAI 109381, D14) has grown from a garage-based operation to a global business specializing in branded merchandising for leading technology companies, pro sports teams/leagues and more. Based in the Seattle area, BDA – aka Bensussen Deutsch & Associates – hosts annual Think Tank events for pro sports leagues that brings together representatives of each team to collaborate and share best practices.

Collaboration is at the heart of BDA’s culture, and the company has been recognized as a best place to work in Seattle, with generous PTO and other employee perks and benefits, including company-wide community service events. In addition, its strong sustainability efforts earned an EcoVadis Gold Rating in 2023 for its North American operations, plus a Platinum Rating in 2022 for its European offices.

In 2020, the company sold its gaming accessory division PowerA to ACCO Brands in a transaction reportedly valued at almost $400 million. That divestiture is largely the reason for BDA showing a nine-point loss in its three-year trend, and its low ranking in PPAI 100’s growth category, which considers revenue change since 2019 regardless of acquisitions or sales. The company has made several significant investments in its operations in recent years, opening new fulfillment centers in Ontario, Canada, and in The Netherlands, and acquired Dallas-based agency Idea Planet.