Growth puts revenue numbers into context. After all, a company generating considerable but stable revenues is on a different footing than one whose earnings are lower but rapidly climbing.
Furthermore, growth figures can reveal a lot about management’s mindset and strategy, giving valuable insights on what the coming few years will be like at a firm.
In the survey used to score the 2024 PPAI 100, a company’s performance from 2020 to 2023 was broken down into two segments: Revenue trends are considered as both a whole number and as a percentage rate of growth or decline. The percentage factor acted as a counterweight to ensure that the largest corporations didn’t dominate the rankings on the basis of their size alone.
In a change from the inaugural rankings, the Growth category in this year’s PPAI 100 is based on the 2023 revenue of the overall parent company as it exists now compared to the 2020 revenue of all of the companies that are now part of the parent company. The goal is to reward companies for new revenue brought into the industry. (Business acquired through mergers and acquisitions is already accounted for in the 2023 Revenue category.)
These firms didn’t make the 2024 rankings but matched or exceeded the average growth rate of PPAI 100 suppliers and distributors from 2020-2023.
New Suppliers Earning High Marks
An Illinois-based supplier specializing in distinctive name-brand products in a plethora of categories, Indigo increased revenue by 50% from 2020-2023.
Nearly 100 years old, the Pennsylvania-based supplier of calendars, notebooks and other paper products grew in revenue by 27.3% from 2020-2023.
New Distributors Earning High Marks
Founded in 1967 by Greek émigré Chris Bouzounis, the Ohio-based distributor showed revenue growth of 63% from 2020-2023.
Celebrating its 30th year in operation, the family-owned business in Springfield, Missouri, grew in revenue by 46.7% from 2020-2023.
A Certified B Corporation, British Columbia-based Fairware increased revenue by 56.7% from 2020-2023.
Family-owned and operated for more than 40 years, Flywheel Brands in Hixson, Tennessee, showed revenue growth of 50% from 2020-2023.
The certified women- and minority-owned company in Tempe, Arizona, nearly tripled its revenue from 2020-2023. Great Impact grew by 153% over the three-year period.
The Georgia-based distributor experienced explosive growth from 2020-2023, increasing revenue by 1,446.8%.
Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Martket Branding grew in revenue by 89% from 2020-2023.
Women-owned and operated, the Ontario-based, sustainably focused distributor more than doubled its revenue from 2020-2023.
Launched in 2001, the Phoenix-based distributor increased revenue by 117% from 2020-2023.
Focused on “community-oriented organizations,” the Los Angeles-based distributor increased its revenue nearly 11 times over from 2020-2023.
Established in 1991, Oklahoma-based SmithDryden achieved revenue growth of 37.6% from 2020-2023.
Earning PPAI 100 High Marks in the Growth category for the second year, Social Good Promotions in Carey, Ohio, nearly tripled its revenue from 2020-2023.
A certified women-owned business, the North Dakota-based firm grew in revenue by 39.2% from 2020-2023.
Founded 50 years ago, the Dallas-based distributor increased revenue by 77.9% from 2020-2023.
Corrigan is a news editor at PPAI.
