The 4th of July is when we Americans celebrate our independence, our freedom. As you prepare your celebrations, let me encourage you to reflect on these two questions: Are you truly independent? Are you truly free? Most distributors with whom I speak don’t seem very independent. They seem to be bound by all of the…
Read MoreCanada’s New Tariffs List Includes Ballpoint Pens, Postcards and More
The newest rounds of retaliatory tariffs from Canada announced yesterday point directly at a few items with direct ties to the promotional industry, like ballpoint pens.
Read MoreMassive Philadelphia Counterfeit Busts Include Fake YETI Tumblers and Bogus Luxury Watches
Though Boston also covets the crown, we here in Philadelphia will always deem our turf “the cradle of liberty.” Fortunately, for Philadelphians, that freedom does not extend to lawbreakers, though, and its U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have proven productive this year, recently announcing their successful suppression of counterfeit peddlers. Their efforts netted…
Read MoreTraffickers Use Fake World Cup Trophies, Apparel to Smuggle Drugs
On June 22, 14 shirts designed to look like the Colombian national team’s uniform were seized by police at the international airport in Bogotá. These weren’t just normal jerseys, however, as authorities discovered that traffickers had dissolved approximately five kilograms of liquid cocaine into the shirts…
Read More2018 Top 50 Distributors: DiscountMugs.com’s Tech Investments, Outside-Industry Leadership
Coming in at No. 6 on our 2018 list, with approximately $210 million in promotional products sales, was DiscountMugs.com. We spoke to David Giacomini, chief marketing officer for the distributor, about what sets the company apart, the company’s goals moving forward and tech’s ever-increasing role in the promo business…
Read More2018 Top 50 Distributors: BAMKO Rises on Acquisitions, Company Culture
BAMKO made one of our largest climbs this year, jumping from the No. 32 spot in 2017 to the No. 17 spot in 2018. We interviewed Phil Koosed, president of BAMKO, to find out how the company grew its sales, as well as his thoughts on outside competitors and the millennial customer…
Read More2018 Top 50 Distributors: BrandVia’s Big Year, Bigger Plans
Making a big leap for our 2018 list was BrandVia Alliance, which jumped from No. 31 last year to No. 23 this year. Jim Childers, president of BrandVia Alliance, shared his thoughts on success, technology’s role in the industry and the company’s goals for 2018 and beyond…
Read More2018 Top 50 Distributors: Taylor Corporation Prepares for Promo’s Future
Taylor Corporation earned the No. 5 spot on our list this year with $238 million in promotional products sales. We interviewed Mike Giachetti, vice president of promotional marketing for Taylor Corporation, about the role of millennials in promo, the impact of tech and what makes Taylor Corporation a top distributor…
Read More2018 Top 50 Distributors: For Proforma, Relationships Are Top Priority
Proforma nabbed the No. 3 spot on this year’s list, with nearly $369 million in promotional products sales. We spoke to Greg Muzzillo, founder of Proforma, about industry acquisitions, the company’s future and outside competition facing promo companies…
Read More2018 Top 50 Distributors: HALO Branded Solutions Makes a Big Leap
At $415 million in sales, HALO Branded Solutions made a large leap in 2018, jumping from No. 4 in 2017 to No. 2 this year. Jim D. Stutz, executive vice president for HALO Branded Solutions, spoke to us about business challenges, consolidation and the company’s 2017 accomplishments…
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