When it introduced PPAI 100 earlier this year, the Association aligned the recognition program with the strategic objectives of the promotional products industry.

Revenue growth was a significant part of the equation, but so were several other factors behind a successful promo business, including innovation. As the industry seeks to modernize, digital transformation is a key point of focus for companies of all sizes.

Businesses that don’t adapt to the times will be left behind. Innovation represents industry companies’ adoption of digital tools to ensure their customers’ experiences are efficient, secure and effective.

Below are several supplier and distributor firms that did not make PPAI 100’s original rankings or were not eligible, but match the average innovation scores of the industry’s leaders.

New Suppliers Earning High Marks

Black Forest
Headquartered in Owatonna, Minnesota, Black Forest offers live chat for distributors.

CPS / Keystone Line
Erie, Pennsylvania-based CPS / Keystone Line shows real- time inventory on its website for distributors.

Links Unlimited
Cincinnati, Ohio-based Links Unlimited scored higher than most suppliers in terms of cybersecurity practices.

MediaTree
MediaTree in Parsippany, New Jersey, reports that 100% of its infrastructure is cloud-based rather than on- premises.

Picnic Time Family of Brands
Cybersecurity remains a top priority for Moorpark, California-based Picnic Time Family of Brands, which consistently reviews vulnerability reports.

TradeNet Publishing
Gardner, Kansas-based TradeNet Publishing has made some recent upgrades to its ERP system.

New Distributors Earning High Marks

007 Marketing
With 100% of its infrastructure being cloud-based, Salt Lake City-based 007 Marketing stands well above the industry average.

Artcraft Promotional Concepts
Headquartered in Moorestown, New Jersey, Artcraft Promotional Concepts has made some recent upgrades to its ERP system.

Biggerfish
To better serve its clients from all over North America, Dallas-based Biggerfish recently updated its ERP system.

Bob Lilly Promotions
Garland, Texas-based Bob Lilly Promotions reports that 100% of its infrastructure is cloud-based rather than on-premises.

City Apparel + Merch
With Andrea Kramer – a member of PPAI’s 2023 Technology Committee – at the helm, it’s no surprise that Findlay, Ohio-based City Apparel + Merch scored well for its cybersecurity practices.

Concord Marketing Solutions
Headquartered in Glendale Heights, Illinois, Concord Marketing Solutions offers live chat customer service for end buyers.

Flywheel Brands
Hixson, Tennessee-based Flywheel Brands scored higher than most distributors in terms of cybersecurity practices.

Grapevine Designs
Cybersecurity remains a top priority for Lenexa, Kansas-based Grapevine Designs, which consistently reviews vulnerability reports.

Graphic Stylus
Houston-based Graphic Stylus reports that 100% of its infrastructure is cloud-based. The company’s creative director, Malik Hemani, is also a member of PPAI’s 2023 Technology Committee.

Haymaker Promotions
Baltimore-based Haymaker Promotions has made some recent upgrades to its ERP system.

IMAGEN
A 2023 Gold Pyramid recipient for client programs, Glendora, California-based IMAGEN offers live chat customer service.

Logotology
Richardson, Texas-based Logotology has recently updated its ERP system.

Mac Mannes
In business for 84 years, Bethesda, Maryland-based Mac Mannes stays on top of its technology, recently upgrading its ERP system.

MadeToOrder
Oakland, California-based MadeToOrder consistently applies full vendor updates to its ERP system.

Martket Branding
Canadian distributor Martket Branding, Vancouver, British Columbia, provides live chat customer service for end buyers.

North Georgia Promotions
North Georgia Promotions in Alpharetta, Georgia, received a high score for its cybersecurity measures.

Pride Products
Springfield, New Jersey-based Pride Products has made some recent upgrades to its ERP system.

Quality Resource Group
Plymouth, Minnesota-based Quality Resource Group has recently updated its ERP system.

Signet
Cybersecurity is top of mind at Memphis, Tennessee-based Signet, which consistently reviews vulnerability reports.

Social Good Promotions
Social Good Promotions in Carey, Ohio, reports that 100% of its infrastructure is cloud-based rather than on-premises.

Specialty Incentives
Denver-based Specialty Incentives offers live chat customer service for end buyers.

Whitestone
New York-headquartered, but fully remote, Whitestone was named to the 2023 Inc. 5000. The distributor has made some recent upgrades to its ERP system.

You Name It Specialties
San Antonio-based You Name It Specialties reports that 100% of its infrastructure is cloud-based rather than on-premises.