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.

Kansas City-based SLWM (PPAI 446276, D11) was formed through the July 2022 merger of established distributors SupplyLogic, LLC and WebbMason Marketing. Later that year, investment firm Gallant Capital Partners acquired the combined company, further supporting its tech-enabled marketing services. SLWM’s expertise includes print, digital and creative, point of sale and branded merchandise.
The investment SLWM has received is reflected in the high marks it earned in PPAI’s ranking for the industry’s faith in the company and for its technological accomplishments.