Distributors Archives

Last year marked substantial changes for the leadership team at Image Masters (PPAI 172738, Gold) with the promotions of Adam Saxon, MAS, to president and Kaylee Shields, MAS, to chief sales and marketing officer.

The Merced, California-based company also made significant progress in its digital transformation efforts, which greatly enhanced its efficiency and security. It also successfully transitioned to a nearly paperless operation, moving most records to secure digital storage. To strengthen its cybersecurity, the company implemented routine training for employees to help them identify and respond to potential threats, and it improved security measures with enhanced access controls and regular data backups to protect critical business information.

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A newcomer to the PPAI 100, Imprint Engine (PPAI 562487, Gold) has been building momentum over the past few years, even landing on the Inc. 5000 ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

The Brooklyn Center, Minnesota-based company credits its growth to the continued expansion of its global infrastructure as well as its technology-driven approach to branded merchandise and corporate gifting. The firm has enhanced its proprietary platform to better serve enterprise clients, allowing for more seamless customization and distribution of promo products.

Imprint Engine has also invested heavily in cybersecurity, spending around $50,000 a year to ensure systems are up to date, which CEO Caleb Gilbertson considers as merely the cost of doing business.

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Juice Marketing (PPAI 626763, Silver) credits much of its growth in 2024 to a few key accomplishments including securing an $888,000 project for a major client’s flagship event, launching an online marketing portal for Juice merch which streamlined and elevated client and vendor gifting and driving 38-percent year-over-year revenue growth with its top client and 76-percent growth with another top-five client.

The Kirkland, Washington-based distributor also expanded into a new office with more than double the workspace and set the stage for future growth, and turned a $8,500 investment on an in-house, custom-designed hoodie self-promo campaign into $177,000 in sales, a return 20 times the investment. Last year, the company was also named one of PPAI’s Greatest Companies To Work For.

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In 2009, Joe McEuen Jr. and Dave Helfrich launched MyBrandPromo (PPAI 611273, Gold) in St. Louis, driven by a shared vision of originality and teamwork. Fueled by the motto “We are better and smarter as a team,” they built a culture rooted in fun, creativity and trust. Clients like Fireball Whisky, Estee Lauder, Whataburger and the NHL took notice. Today, the firm’s success is grounded in core values, such as gratitude and accountability, backed by smart tech, strong relationships and a whole lot of hustle.

Named one of promo’s Greatest Companies To Work For, MyBrandPromo has automated client application and payment processes, elevated product compliance procedures and implemented cybersecurity training.

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In 2024, Perfect Promotions (PPAI 318936, Silver) earned a Gold medal from EcoVadis Gold for sustainability performance and an ISO 14001 certification. These recognitions not only strengthened the company’s commitment to sustainability but have directly contributed to business growth, expanding opportunities with existing clients and attracting new partnerships and like-minded talent.

The company has also continued optimization of its paperless operations and the integration of new digital tools to enhance efficiency, communication and customer experience. It transitioned away from supplier catalogs in 2018 and went paperless internally in 2021. Today workflows are further streamlined by implementing cloud-based project management and order-tracking systems. In addition, a new program, Purposeful Picks, implemented last year aims for team members to include at least one sustainable option in each proposal.

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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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