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.
Over the past 30-plus years, Toronto-based Genumark (PPAI 266066, D11) has served its clients with a range of promotional merchandise and corporate apparel. And its work hasn’t gone unnoticed, it has earned a “Best Managed” designation by Canada’s Best Managed Companies program for more than seven years.
Genumark has also invested in becoming a more environmentally responsible organization. It recently earned its B Corporation certification, is tracking its carbon offsets, is working with B Corp and NetZero suppliers, and will soon be auditing its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. The company has gone as far as providing sustainability education for its staff, a commitment to professional education that’s reflected in its relatively high number of employees with CAS, MAS and MAS+ certifications.
In 1951, Fred Goldner, Sr. shifted his Nashville jewelry store’s focus to promotional products, and a four-generation family business story began. Distributor Goldner Associates (PPAI 105311, D10) has grown over the years into new niches and markets. Today, alongside its Nashville headquarters, it operates offices in Orlando and Raleigh, and has been certified as a woman-owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
Goldner Associates’ strong score on employee happiness in PPAI 100 comes to it honestly. In August, a member of its human resources team shared with PPAI Media the importance it places on employee engagement and listening to their feedback.
Illinois-based HALO (PPAI 106462, D16) announced at The PPAI Expo in January that the company hit the $1 billion mark in 2022, driven by 1,800 team members in 42 offices and eight fulfillment centers worldwide. The company launched its robust sustainability program in 2019 and enrolled in the UPS carbon offset credit program in 2020. Currently 95% of incoming and outgoing domestic shipments are certified as carbon neutral, and in 2023 HALO earned an EcoVadis Silver Rating, ranking in the top 22% of companies assessed. These efforts place HALO among top-performing organizations when it comes to sustainable and responsible operations. “Our culture of ingenuity, accountability and inclusion has provided a foundation for delivering superior results,” said Jim Stutz, HALO executive vice president of sales, marketing and business development.
Harper + Scott (PPAI 626454, D10), based in New York City with offices in Guangzhou, China, has been in operation for almost a decade. Founded in 2014 by Michael Scott Cohen and Jon Alagem, the company works with a range of high-profile clients – among them Netflix, Sephora and Tim Hortons – to design, produce and deliver branded merchandise. In 2020, the distributor earned its B Corporation certification.
In February, the fast-growing company joined the Legacy Group as the buying group’s latest distributor partner, and in December 2022, it collaborated with Chick-fil-A on the release of a merchandise collection right before the holidays.