Suppliers Archives

AZX Sport (PPAI 224494, Silver) has its headquarters in Tonawanda, New York, and facilities in California and Canada. With a team of more than 85 production and customer service staff, the company manufactures products domestically and in its own overseas factory specializing in a range of hard goods, such as lanyards, bags, can coolers and straws, plus headwear, socks and other products.

In 2024, AZX Sport won a PPAI Pyramid Supplier Star Award of Merit, an annual award recognizing suppliers who deliver outstanding products and services to their customers.

PPAI 100 Percentile By Category

The custom socks manufactured by Austin, Texas-based Sock Club (PPAI 692671, Silver) are 100-percent made in the USA, from the cotton to the yarn to the packaging. Since early 2024, the company has been working on its strategic workforce expansion to enhance specialization across key functions. This transformation has fundamentally reshaped its organizational capabilities and market approach. As a result, it has implemented substantial team growth, doubling its marketing and sales departments to increase market presence and customer acquisition capacity, and creating a dedicated team focused exclusively on serving and growing the company’s premium accounts.

In that time, it has also has implemented several groundbreaking digital initiatives that have revolutionized its operations, enhanced security and significantly improved the customer experience.

PPAI 100 Percentile By Category

Since its founding in 1985, Champro (PPAI 669316, Silver) has grown from a kitchen-table operation offering a small line of baseball equipment to one of the most comprehensive lines in the sporting goods industry with equipment, uniforms and custom apparel for sports from baseball to soccer to hockey and more.

The Bannockburn, Illinois-based supplier also supports youth programs in its community – such as the Teamwork Grant Program – and around the world. In 2002, the company opened the Champro School in Karsa, Ethiopia, providing an opportunity for education to more than 600 students.

PPAI 100 Percentile By Category

New to the PPAI 100 list is Kanata Group (PPAI 111063, Silver), a group of companies representing Neet Feet Custom Sandals, Kanata Blanket, Big Time Jersey and Kanata Towel. Based in Richmond, British Columbia, its product line-up is a one-stop shop for blankets, beach and sport towels, flip flops and sandals, soft home accessories and a boutique line of sports-related wearables including jerseys, headbands, armbands and scarves.

PPAI 100 Percentile By Category

This is the first year on the PPAI 100 list for Austin, Texas-based DiamondBack Branding (PPAI 655170, Gold), which has been in business since 2012 and entered the promo industry just 10 years ago. Founder William Lovelace, who started making and selling handcrafted pens in high school, transformed his skills into the business that now sells a wide selection of drinkware, barware, coolers and other gear from Igloo, Yeti, Swig and other top brands.

The company credits partnerships for the growth its experienced over the past year as well as new website implementations. This year, the company also earned A+ Supplier and A+ Decorator ratings from SAGE.

PPAI 100 Percentile By Category

Tomax (PPAI 113176, Gold) earned just over $10 million in 2024 to snag the No. 100 and final spot on our list. Earlier this year, Tomax, was one of the VIP supplier partners to win a Shining Star Award from distributor AIM Smarter. The privately owned company, located near Los Angeles, California, was founded in 1990 as a source for power banks, Bluetooth speakers, cables, adapters, Qi wireless charging, smart home devices, computer and mobile accessories, and tech gift sets.

The company says what sets it apart from other suppliers is that its primary factories deal directly with the retail channel, which grants Tomax the ability to sell brand quality promo products.

PPAI 100 Percentile By Category

PPAI 100 is an exclusive, research-backed ranking of the 50 leading distributors and the 50 leading suppliers in the promotional products industry. Companies are scored based on a variety of metrics.

In business since 1943, Sun Coast Merchandise (PPAI 113083, S12) is a leader in custom design and sourcing. The California-based supplier, which does business as Sunscope, has over 50 years of experience in custom design and manufacturing and has been sourcing and importing from locations around the globe for nearly 80 years.

Sunscope was founded in Hong Kong and expanded globally across Asia, Europe and North America. Headquartered in Commerce, California, Sunscope focuses on large scale product development, shipping to North America and across the globe.

PPAI 100 is an exclusive, research-backed ranking of the 50 leading distributors and the 50 leading suppliers in the promotional products industry. Companies are scored based on a variety of metrics.
Tekweld (PPAI 266346, S4) says it prides itself on being a cutting-edge supplier, sourcing unique items that are hard to find anywhere else. Domestically produced items are made daily while also maintaining an office in Mainland China to ensure high quality.

Last August, Tekweld brought on Gregg Szpicek as Vice President of Business Development to help scale and strategize on its growth trajectory. Well-known and respected within the promotional products industry, Szpicek will oversee the development of Tekweld’s new channels and strategic initiatives. Ray Rodriguez, the 35-year industry veteran, announced in June 2023 that he would step down from his post as VP of sales and marketing.

Tekweld continues to be involved in the industry. President Taylor Tadmor is a member of PPAI’s technology committee for 2023, advising on trends that could reshape the industry.