Distributor The Image Group (PPAI 103424, D10), based in Holland, Ohio, has been in business since 1981, and built its reputation serving clients in health care and health-related institutions, as well as the secondary education market and heavy industry and automotive related businesses. Its reach expanded with its 2017 merger with Target Marketing, bringing new technological know-how to the combined firm.
Along with its Ohio headquarters, the company has offices in Richmond, Cleveland and Ann Arbor.

In PPAI 100’s measure, The Image Group’s approach to responsibility earned it high marks. A focus on safety and social compliance has a been a pillar of the organization, one that it has maintained as its grown over the years.

Founders Bret Bonnet and Michael Wenger initially started Quality Logo Products (PPAI 304730, D10) in Bonnet’s basement in 2003 when the two were still struggling college kids. Growth has obviously been significant since those days and is a high mark for the Illinois-based distributor, along with “Online Prescence”, “Technology”, “Employee Happiness” and “Industry Faith.”

Quality Logo Products has succeeded with a customer-first approach, providing free digital mockups and will refund 110% of the difference if a customer finds a better price elsewhere. As you might have expected, with nearly a million separate customers served, they moved out of the basement long ago.

Founded in 1902 by F.L. Vernon, The Vernon Company (PPAI 109323, D11), has a long history in the promotional products industry. Now under its fourth generation of family leadership, the company has grown to support customers in a wide range of businesses from its Newton, Iowa, headquarters. It’s also been an active supporter of the promo industry as well. The late Bill Vernon, father of current President and CEO Chris Vernon, MAS, is a past board chair of PPAI – then the Specialty Advertising Association International – and an inductee into the Association’s Hall of Fame.

Along with its support of its staff professional growth, as recognized in its PPAI 100 ranking, The Vernon’s Company’s emphasis on education extends to the Promotional Products Education Foundation as well. It established a William F. “Bill” Vernon Named Scholarship with PPEF, for outstanding students with parents working in the promo field.