For more than a decade, SomethingInked (PPAI 492323, D11) in Nashville has served customers in the professional and minor league sports teams, sports entertainment, music, destination retail, corporate branding and more. Over the years, Something Inked has grown to more than 150 employees and supports its clients with branding, marketing, design, e-commerce and merchandise services.

SomethingInked earned its place on the PPAI 100, not only through its significant revenue growth over the past few years, but also, in PPAI’s analysis, noteworthy corporate responsibility and digital transformation efforts, and the trust it earned from its vendors, customers and peers.

Don’t let the name fool you – San Diego-based National Pen (PPAI 107176, D12) offers a broad range of promotional products via Pens.com and its global network of facilities across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. With a special focus on small businesses and personal service, the company offers a one-year quality guarantee and expert guidance from its customer care team. National Pen also gives back to communities around the world, from donating face masks during the pandemic and writing instruments to schools to partnering with local charities to donate food, clothing and other needed items. The company has also committed to become carbon neutral by 2040 by reducing energy consumption and emissions, as well as other green initiatives.

Illinois-based Overture Promotions (PPAI 288541, D11) sums up its two-fold dedication to imagination and meticulous supply chain control with the slogan “creative control freaks.” The company follows a quality control process with 14 checkpoints and employs multiple cybersecurity measures, including annual audits. Overture’s corporate social responsibility initiatives include employee resource groups supporting company culture, diversity and safety. An employee-led Green Team drives the company’s sustainability initiatives, from recycling of boxes and batteries to ensuring that overseas sources are certified for product safety, social accountability and environmental stewardship. The company also supports various charities and maintains an “Overture Family Fund” to provide grants to team members in need.

Distributor Kaeser & Blair (PPAI 103148, D12), headquartered in Batavia, Ohio, has been in operation for almost 130 years. The company was founded in 1894 as the Cincinnati Printing and Paper Products Co., in Cincinnati, and changed its name when Dutch Kaeser and Bill Blair acquired it in 1923. Members of the Kaeser family continue to lead the company today.

With more than a century in business, Kaeser & Blair and the independent salespeople it supports have built a strong reputation in the promotional products industry. And its attitude towards career educational helped the company earn high marks in PPAI 100 for its professional development.

Founded in Seattle in 2003, Kotis Design (PPAI 256795, D10) now has expanded production facilities to Ohio and Utah. Referring to themselves as “brand evangelists” the Kotis team also uses its online presence to promote its sustainability measures in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Focusing on the specifics of water reduction, energy savings and green printing, the distributor also makes sustainability part of its company culture, encouraging 72% of its employees to work remotely to reduce emissions, single use plastics and power usage.

The company’s DEI Committee is also constantly evolving in an attempt to foster an inclusive environment within the promo world. “While it may feel comfortable to work with people that look and share similar beliefs as you, there’s so much to learn and gain from those who are different,” says Jeff Becker, CEO of Kotis Design.

Positive Promotions’ (PPAI 159230, D3) growth and embracing of online tools since its founding in 1947 represents yet another example of how far the promotional products world has come over the years. The founder Irving Taxel’s son, Nelson, teamed with Madison Avenue designers in 1976 to focus on educational slide guides, relics of a different time that prompted the company to briefly change its name to “Promotional Slideguide.”

Nearly half a century later, Positive Promotions has evolved with the available technology, earning high marks for its online presence in the PPAI 100, and offering modern products. The distributor’s Facebook page has over 20,000 followers, and the distributor makes regular engaging posts on LinkedIn and Instagram. Moreover, the company has steadily grown over the past three years with its revenue growing by more than a third over that time.

The placement of Leaderpromos (PPAI 176187) on the PPAI 100 list is a testament to how a company’s focus on digital innovation and responsible decisions can fuel a distributor’s growth. In fact, “Responsibility”, “Technology” and “Growth” were all high marks for the Ohio-based company on the PPAI 100’s inaugural list.

Leaderpromos stresses its commitment to being a certified B-Corporation that focuses on sustainability throughout its supply chain. It also boasts being the “largest wholly woman-owned agency,” founded by current CEO Stephanie Leader.

Ohio-based Proforma (PPAI 196835, D13) offers an ecommerce training and certification program with education, training and tools to help its members meet evolving market demands. In addition, Proforma’s development of an automated workflow has boosted operational efficiency and enabled over 1 million orders processed through ProVision, its proprietary business management platform. These initiatives earned recognition for CEO Vera Muzzillo, who spearheaded the company’s technology expansion, as well as Michael LaPlante, Proforma’s VP of technology. “We are beyond thrilled to be recognized for our more than $25 million investment in the best business management platform in the industry and our ongoing commitment to empowering the success of our distributors through the best technological resources and tools available,” says Muzzillo.