Distributors Archives

Score Promotions (PPAI 529313, Standard-Base) in North York, Ontario, was among the celebrated industry companies named to PPAI’s Greatest Companies To Work For in 2024. Founded in 2011, the team has grown from three founding employees to more than 50. Last year, the company prioritized enhancing diversity to foster a variety of perspectives in the workplace. Toward that objective, it undertook new diversity hiring initiatives which helped it reach a new high of 58 percent diversity hires.

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Christl Mahfouz launched ACE Specialties (PPAI 641972, Gold) in Lafayette, Louisiana, in 2007 as the go-to source for oilfield workwear and promo products. When that industry landed on tough economic times in 2015, she regrouped and charted a new course for the business by pitching and winning the merchandise operations for President Trump’s 2015 campaign.

In addition to being a go-to source of USA-made promotional products and apparel, ACE Specialties works with a vast portfolio of Republican candidates to help them raise money through merchandise sales.

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Sidebar (PPAI 279643, Silver), a technology-forward company in Phoenix, Arizona, has been in business more than two decades. Ten years ago it launched its signature ecommerce platform to manage incentive programs and provide seamless client solutions from ordering and inventory to kitting, fulfillment and delivery.

In the years since, the company has expanded and enhanced its leading-edge tech offerings to include an intuitive analytics dashboard and reporting platform designed to collect crucial data and provide clients with real-time analytics to help them make more informed decisions. Other leading technology offerings include an employee rewards app and an augmented reality customer lead generation platform.

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Avail Swag (PPAI 229300, Gold) is a full-service soft goods and apparel screen printer and decorator, and team athletic dealer founded in 2008. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, it operates automatic screen presses and multi-head embroidery machines to satisfy the branding needs of more than 980 clients worldwide. The company is also is a minority-owned business certified by the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Councils. Accomplishments last year including building its own technology platform to save customers time and money.

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One of the most game-changing developments for Spark Branded Solutions (PPAI 793840, Silver) in 2024 was its leadership team’s participation in the Best Year Yet program, an experience that provided a structured approach to goal setting, accountability and strategic growth.

The team started the year by working with a facilitator to develop a one-page plan that clearly outlined key priorities and KPIs, ensuring that the entire team was aligned on what success looks like. The program included a monthly review process to track progress, address challenges in real-time and make necessary adjustments. By staying committed to this process, the company has been able to scale rapidly while maintaining operational efficiency and a strong company culture.

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Barker Specialty (PPAI 102001, Standard Plus) is a multi-generational, family-owned promotional marketing company in Cheshire, Connecticut. It was founded by Herb and Gloria Barker in 1951. Today, the company is led by their sons President Gerry Barker and Executive Vice President Steven Barker, joined by grandsons Max Barker, account manager, and Harrison Barker, director of strategic innovation.

Last year, Barker acquired Wolfepromo, also based in Connecticut, and promoted veteran employee Karen Heiligman as COO. The company was also named one of PPAI’s Greatest Companies To Work For in 2024 and it earned a coveted bronze medal from EcoVadis for sustainability performance.

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Spectrum Designs (PPAI 673690, Silver) is structured a bit differently than other distributors. The Port Washington, New York-based company is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit apparel customization shop that provides employment opportunities to teens and young adults with Autism and related developmental disabilities.

In 2024, the company’s social media video went viral, reaching over 28 million people worldwide and catching the attention of celebrities like Benny Blanco, Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Garner, Meghan Trainor, SZA and Ty Pennington. The buzz led to a feature on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” Its smart social media work also won inclusion on PPAI’s #Online18. In addition, a marketing campaign, “Out of the Box,” won three Telly Awards and brought in a record number of new business opportunities. The company also earned a coveted Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP) certification.

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City Apparel + Merch (PPAI 242048, Silver) has long been committed to sustainability and community engagement and its work has paid off. In 2023, the Findlay, Ohio-based company met the rigorous requirements to became a B Corporation and in 2024, it became B Corporation Certified.

In the area of technology, last year it implemented additional integrations with SAGE, Extendtech and Avalara, and converted its CMS system from CS cart to Woo, which will eventually be integrated with NetSuite. The company was also honored with inclusion in PPAI’s Greatest Companies To Work For in 2024.

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For the past two years, TK Promotions (PPAI 438499, Silver) has ranked on Inc. magazine’s annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. In 2023, the distributor ranked No. 3,841 with 122 percent growth. Last year it moved up to No. 2,255 with 231 percent growth.

The Glen Allen, Virginia-based company was founded in 2008 on the core values of collaboration, respect, commitment, drive and service. Today, the company excels at providing awards and recognition programs, branded apparel and premium gifts coupled with fulfillment, custom kit assembly, inventory management, warehousing and webstores.

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Club Colors (PPAI 135725, Gold) is a full-service branding solutions company offering personalized merchandise coupled with creative expertise and technology to create inspiring brand experiences for its clients. From its headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, the company offers a full spectrum of products along with team uniforms, kitting and fulfillment, graphic design, spatial branding, custom packaging and digital marketing.

The company counts a number of prestigious colleges and universities among its clientele including Notre Dame, Emory University, Brown University, Grambling State University, Indiana State University, Baylor University and Texas A&M.

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