Kansas City-based SLWM (PPAI 446276, D11) was formed through the July 2022 merger of established distributors SupplyLogic, LLC and WebbMason Marketing. Later that year, investment firm Gallant Capital Partners acquired the combined company, further supporting its tech-enabled marketing services. SLWM’s expertise includes print, digital and creative, point of sale and branded merchandise.
The investment SLWM has received is reflected in the high marks it earned in PPAI’s ranking for the industry’s faith in the company and for its technological accomplishments.

Headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia, distributor Smart Source (PPAI 313388, D10) operates across the U.S. through 19 branch offices. It offers its clients a range of brand management business solutions, including business process outsourcing, creative services, printed products and promotional merchandise.

The company works with both international and domestic clients, and has developed a reputation for successfully integrating and growing customer relationships by leveraging its brand sourcing. Through this and some strategic acquisitions, it has realized substantial growth and expansion in recent years.

For more than a decade, SomethingInked (PPAI 492323, D11) in Nashville has served customers in the professional and minor league sports teams, sports entertainment, music, destination retail, corporate branding and more. Over the years, Something Inked has grown to more than 150 employees and supports its clients with branding, marketing, design, e-commerce and merchandise services.

SomethingInked earned its place on the PPAI 100, not only through its significant revenue growth over the past few years, but also, in PPAI’s analysis, noteworthy corporate responsibility and digital transformation efforts, and the trust it earned from its vendors, customers and peers.

Staples Promotional Products (PPAI 108945, D15) marked a year of growth in 2022. The Kansas-based distributor, a subsidiary of the office retail giant Staples, announced in December the creation of what is thought to be the market’s first sustainable procurement platform, in conjunction with EcoVadis, a leading business sustainability ratings provider. The company recycles 98.8% of waste material from its decoration and fulfillment facility, and 84% of its U.S. shipments are carbon neutral. Staples Promotional Products was also named to PPAI’s Greatest Companies To Work For 2023, boasting employee benefits like flex hours, wellness reimbursement and paid parental leave.

It’s been an active year for Stran (PPAI 161542, D10). Summer of 2022 saw the Massachusetts-based distributor expand into the South by acquiring the assets and business of Texas-based distributor Trend Brand Solutions. Then Stran kicked off 2023 by announcing the acquisition of T R Miller, including its 20,000-square-foot distribution and processing center. It’s no surprise to see “Growth” as a high mark for Stran, as their Q1 revenue report showed a nearly 30% increase in revenue over 2022.

Illinois-based Overture Promotions (PPAI 288541, D11) sums up its two-fold dedication to imagination and meticulous supply chain control with the slogan “creative control freaks.” The company follows a quality control process with 14 checkpoints and employs multiple cybersecurity measures, including annual audits. Overture’s corporate social responsibility initiatives include employee resource groups supporting company culture, diversity and safety. An employee-led Green Team drives the company’s sustainability initiatives, from recycling of boxes and batteries to ensuring that overseas sources are certified for product safety, social accountability and environmental stewardship. The company also supports various charities and maintains an “Overture Family Fund” to provide grants to team members in need.

Distributor Kaeser & Blair (PPAI 103148, D12), headquartered in Batavia, Ohio, has been in operation for almost 130 years. The company was founded in 1894 as the Cincinnati Printing and Paper Products Co., in Cincinnati, and changed its name when Dutch Kaeser and Bill Blair acquired it in 1923. Members of the Kaeser family continue to lead the company today.

With more than a century in business, Kaeser & Blair and the independent salespeople it supports have built a strong reputation in the promotional products industry. And its attitude towards career educational helped the company earn high marks in PPAI 100 for its professional development.

Founded in Seattle in 2003, Kotis Design (PPAI 256795, D10) now has expanded production facilities to Ohio and Utah. Referring to themselves as “brand evangelists” the Kotis team also uses its online presence to promote its sustainability measures in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Focusing on the specifics of water reduction, energy savings and green printing, the distributor also makes sustainability part of its company culture, encouraging 72% of its employees to work remotely to reduce emissions, single use plastics and power usage.

The company’s DEI Committee is also constantly evolving in an attempt to foster an inclusive environment within the promo world. “While it may feel comfortable to work with people that look and share similar beliefs as you, there’s so much to learn and gain from those who are different,” says Jeff Becker, CEO of Kotis Design.