BDA (PPAI 109381, D14) has grown from a garage-based operation to a global business specializing in branded merchandising for leading technology companies, pro sports teams/leagues and more. Based in the Seattle area, BDA – aka Bensussen Deutsch & Associates – hosts annual Think Tank events for pro sports leagues that brings together representatives of each team to collaborate and share best practices.
Collaboration is at the heart of BDA’s culture, and the company has been recognized as a best place to work in Seattle, with generous PTO and other employee perks and benefits, including company-wide community service events. In addition, its strong sustainability efforts earned an EcoVadis Gold Rating in 2023 for its North American operations, plus a Platinum Rating in 2022 for its European offices.
In 2020, the company sold its gaming accessory division PowerA to ACCO Brands in a transaction reportedly valued at almost $400 million. That divestiture is largely the reason for BDA showing a nine-point loss in its three-year trend, and its low ranking in PPAI 100’s growth category, which considers revenue change since 2019 regardless of acquisitions or sales. The company has made several significant investments in its operations in recent years, opening new fulfillment centers in Ontario, Canada, and in The Netherlands, and acquired Dallas-based agency Idea Planet.
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.
The race to become the first billion-dollar company in promotional products ended in a tie, with both HALO and Wisconsin-headquartered 4imprint (PPAI 107200, D15) topping the milestone in 2022. However, it was the ecommerce giant 4imprint who narrowly posted the stronger earnings, at just north of $1.1 billion.
The company’s digital-first approach, which largely eliminates the need for individual salespeople, has long been a disruptive force in the industry, but more distributorships have sought to emulate its model. 4imprint’s greatest strength may be its marketing efforts. As the industry’s largest advertiser, 4imprint is the closest thing to a household name distributor among end-buyers, and its campaigns undoubtedly help keep promo top of mind for the greater public.
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Boundless (PPAI 267078, D11) has grown substantially in the past year, announcing the acquisition of a Minnesota-based distributor and several high-profile executive hires, including a new CEO, in early 2023. The company touts its “people-to-people culture,” with a focus on intentionality, having fun and doing the right thing, and team members are known as “Boundies.” The company’s Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging committee outlined an action plan to support a respectful workplace with an atmosphere of respect and culture of accountability. Fueled by these values, Boundless was again named to PPAI’s Greatest Companies To Work For in 2023.
Practical technology and employee consideration are two factors that placed AIA (PPAI 101364, D12) on the inaugural PPAI 100 list. It graces the lists wit high marks in “2022 Revenue”, “Technology” and “Employee Happiness.”
The Wisconsin-based distributor was named as one of Promo’s Greatest Companies To Work For in 2023. The company is persistent in its commitment to innovating in small ways that help their partners and customers significantly. Last year, AIA enhanced its Most Valued Partner Central platform, providing distributors with increased supplier information and benefits. “We’ve doubled the amount of data points from suppliers in order to get extremely granular with the benefits they provide,” said Matt Chenault, AIA’s director of supplier relations.