Utah Business Magazine recently presented Jordan, Utah-based SnugZ USA (PPAI 112982, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 7 supplier, with its 2024 Green Business Award.

• The award, a collaboration between the magazine and Rocky Mountain Power, celebrates Utah companies and individuals who make the state a greener place.
• In the past year, SnugZ set the groundwork for continuous improvement in environmental sustainability, social responsibility and corporate culture. Its recently released ESG (environmental, social and governance) report, Elevated Together, highlights initiatives such as recycling more than 2,100 pounds of e-waste and 18 tons of cardboard in 2023, installing an 8,000-gallon alcohol storage tank to save 750 metal drums from landfills annually, and donating more than 25,000 items to local schools and charities.
• In addition, SnugZ has switched to recycled cardboard for all shipping boxes and plans to add nearly 30 new sustainable and eco-conscious products in 2025. The company also recently celebrated flawless results in its GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and Social Compliance audits.

Gold Bond (PPAI 113974, Gold), PPAI 100’s No. 23 supplier, has added Ben Drysdale, CAS, as its new strategic account manager.

• Drysdale will oversee key accounts, bringing a wealth of experience and a proven track record of sales success to the team. With more than five years in the promo industry, he has held various roles, including quality technician, sales intern, customer service representative and business development.
• In 2023, he was honored as Top Sales Rep in recognition of his exceptional contributions and dedication to excellence.

“We are thrilled to have Ben join our team,” says Brooke Standefer, national sales manager at Gold Bond. “His industry knowledge and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our mission to provide top-quality brand connections with outstanding service to our clients.”

Facilisgroup (PPAI 493664) leaders and distributor partners recently gathered in Boston, Massachusetts, for a two-day event focused on strategic insights and peer-driven growth.

• The Top Executives event, held in partnership with preferred supplier Gemline, PPAI 100’s No. 11 supplier, at its Boston-based headquarters, featured a factory tour, where attendees gained behind-the-scenes insight into Gemline’s operations.
• Attendees also engaged in distributor-led sessions covering a range of topics such as apparel on demand, self-promotion marketing, client acquisition and custom overseas product manufacturing.

“We were thrilled to host Facilisgroup and nine of their great partners,” says Jason Kissell, vice president of sales at Gemline. “The discussions over the two days were engaging, insightful, and productive. We learned a lot about the daily issues facing distributors, and it will make us a better partner going forward.”

Chipply (PPAI 810551), an e-commerce platform for team stores, has added Rhyen McFarland as its new marketing manager.

• With seven years of experience in the promo industry, McFarland brings an extensive background in marketing, sales and customer service. In this role, she will lead Chipply’s marketing initiatives alongside Chris Lynch, focusing on deepening customer engagement, enhancing brand visibility, and supporting Chipply’s continued growth and innovation in the e-commerce team store space.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rhyen to the Chipply team,” says Grace Schettler, senior vice president of sales at Chipply. “Rhyen’s expertise in both marketing strategy and industry-specific customer engagement makes her a perfect fit for our fast-paced environment. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of her work as she helps shape our brand and elevate our customer experience.”

Aware (PPAI 835662), an Amsterdam-based global traceability solution for the fashion and textile industry, has partnered with Baichuan Resources Recycling. Baichuan, located in Quanzhou, China, manufactures recycled polyester yarns and fabrics, and specializes in dope dyeing, an eco-friendly coloring process where color pigments are added to the polymer before it is extruded into yarns.

• The collaboration represents a significant advancement in providing global brands with fully traceable, environmentally responsible textile solutions, including all necessary data to validate sustainability claims, from the origin of the recycled plastic bottles to the final textile product.

“Together, Baichuan and Aware will provide a transformative solution that combines Baichuan’s premium recycled products with Aware’s live tracking and verification system, ensuring that all delivered products are 100 percent verifiable with real, authenticated data,” says Rogier van der Velde, co-owner of Baichuan.

“Circularity starts with traceability. We are thrilled to collaborate with Baichuan, a company that shares our vision of a more sustainable textile industry,” says Koen Warmerdam, co-founder and brand director of Aware. “Together, we are establishing true end-to-end transparency, empowering brands to make responsible choices while ensuring their sustainability claims are authentic and verifiable.”