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.

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.

HH Global (PPAI 769028, D2), a worldwide distributorship headquartered in Illinois, represents thousands of brands in 90 countries. With its creative production and procurement technologies, the company enables clients to track spending, measure performance and reduce waste. Services include digital asset management, custom web storefronts for multiple languages and currencies, custom client dashboards and more. Sustainability is also a key focus, with significant achievements in carbon reduction for clients, as well as reduced emissions and electricity use year over year. Most recently, HH Global received approval of its net-zero targets for greenhouse gas emissions from the Science Based Targets initiative.

Kirkland, Washington-based Image Source (PPAI 195193, D10) supports its clients through a range of branded merchandise and apparel services. The distributor has also taken great strides in making it easy for customers to choose sustainable options, with a range of locally and ethically sourced goods from socially responsible vendors. In fact, the company is planting one tree for every order it receives in 2023, a project that has it on track to remove 300 tons of carbon from the atmosphere.

Image Source’s environmental and social responsibility efforts, as well as its emphasis on professional development, have earned it plaudits in PPAI 100.

Headquartered in the Chicago area with 10 offices across the U.S. and Canada, IMS (PPAI 143612, D12) provides marketing solutions at every stage, from planning to the point of purchase in store and online, as well as support behind the scenes. The company’s proprietary MerchTech suite helps clients identify and measure engagement, performance and more, and the company won a 2023 Pyramid Award from PPAI for technology (ecommerce websites). Sustainability initiatives at IMS include recycling and waste reduction, efforts to eliminate plastic packaging and reducing carbon emissions through the use of electric vehicles. By performing a materials audit, IMS was able to reduce plastic use for one client by more than 25,000 pounds, as well as reducing overall costs.