PPAI 100

Now in its second year, PPAI 100 shines a spotlight on the branded merchandise firms that are pushing the industry forward. Promo's leading companies move the needle. They’re the trailblazers that show what the industry is capable of.

Research-backed and statistically driven, PPAI 100 was developed to shed light on what makes promo’s most prominent companies so strong and identify the traits that produce industry leaders. More than just a measure of revenue – although that represents the largest factor in the scoring matrix – PPAI 100 rankings consolidate a range of eight factors to depict the true measure of a company.

These factors include three-year growth trends and the industry’s faith in a company, tracked through SAGE Ratings for suppliers and credit ratings for distributors. Crucial elements for industry progress such as corporate responsibility and digital modernization are taken into account, as well as the strength of firms' workforces through professional development participation and employee happiness. Further, each company's marketing influence and capacity to share industry messaging is measured through its online presence.

Like the companies it tracks, PPAI 100 has not sat still. Immediately after the reveal of the inaugural PPAI 100 in 2023, PPAI sought member feedback on the initiative to insure its value and relevance to the industry. For 2024, several meaningful changes to the scoring criteria and rubric have been introduced. The most meaningful change, however, is that the list size has doubled. PPAI 100 now identifies 100 leading distributors and 100 leading suppliers.

Click through to learn more about the suppliers and distributors who are ahead of the curve in the 2024 PPAI 100, as well as the categories for which firms earned High Marks – a ranking among the best of the best in each scoring category.