News Last Updated: April 17, 2026
In The News - April 2026
Next Level Apparel (asi/73867) has achieved a new sustainability standard. The Counselor Top 40 supplier and 2026 Counselor Best Place to Work has joined Oritain, a forensic origin verification standard, at the "gold" level. "Integrity has always been central to how we operate at Next Level Apparel, and working with Oritain allows us to support our sourcing standards with forensic origin verification, providing our customers with greater clarity and confidence in where our materials come from, from fiber through to finished product,” said Next Level Apparel President Eric Simsolo.
Brother International (asi/12600) has launched Print+, a monthly subscription for print supplies and support for DTG printing. According to the company, the plan combines automation with comprehensive support for industrial-grade hardware.
The Authentic T-Shirt Company/SanMar Canada (asi/84864) is hosting a special Earth Month program – from now through April 30, 5% of eligible sales of its Earth Wash product line of T-shirts and fleece will be donated to Ocean Wise, a conservation organization.
The Kanata Group (asi/73520) has appointed Kevin Reiber, Marc-André Jomphe and David Kettlewell of Agence Nordiq as its multi-line representation for Quebec.
S&S Canada (asi/90703), part of Counselor Top 40 supplier S&S Activewear (asi/84358), welcomes Lena Godbout as a dedicated sales representative for the Maritimes, reporting to Ivan Marullo, director of sales for Eastern Canada. Godbout has more than a decade of sales experience.
Showdown Displays (asi/87188), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has appointed Chuck Somerville and Michael Hecktus of the Jump Group as its multi-line representation for Southwest Ontario. “Chuck and Mike bring deep industry experience, strong relationships and a shared commitment to helping distributors grow their business,” says Javier LaFontaine, vice president of territory sales for Showdown Displays. “We’re excited to partner with them as we continue to build out our Canadian support network.”
Vantage Apparel (asi/93390), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has hired Charlie Moore as sales account manager, covering South Texas and Louisiana. Moore brings roughly 10 years of experience in the industry. “Charlie knows the territory inside and out and has built great, long-standing relationships with customers across the region,” said Sean Macilvain, vice president of business development.
Proforma (asi/300094), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, is celebrating a milestone. ProStores, its suite of e-commerce software, has processed more than 2 million transactions. It’s a “powerful reflection of the value ProStores delivers,” Brian Roney, chief revenue officer, said of the achievement.
Stahls’ (asi/88984) is taking its Heat Press Pro Day on the road. Heat Press Pro Day on Tour is a traveling, hands-on education experience designed to help decorators, entrepreneurs and print professionals learn more about heat printing. Featuring in-person, half-day workshops hosted in key markets across the U.S., decorators will get direct access to STAHLS’ education team, equipment and production strategies. Learn more at stahls.com/pro-day.
ArtworkServicesUSA (asi/820124) announced that it has changed its name to aws promostack, reflecting its integrated platform and range of solutions built for the promo industry.
Imperial (asi/75945) has expanded its College Collection of headwear to 19 schools. The collection launched in October 2025 with an initial lineup of eight schools, but the program has expanded rapidly, adding 11 new schools since then.
ATTRACTION (asi/37442) reports that its Ethica brand saw 22% year-over-year growth in Q1. The line of basics, like T-shirts, sweatshirts, toques and totes, is made of sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton and rPET, and is 100% designed, manufactured and decorated in Lac-Drolet, QC, by unionized workers. “Our all-under-one-roof model takes real complexity off our distributors’ plates and shortens their timelines,” said Bruno Renaud, vice president of promotional sales. “It’s this turnkey offering, rooted in Canadian craftsmanship, that explains the growth we’re seeing today.”
Promo Direct (asi/ 300477) has introduced a new selection of eco-friendly and sustainable promo products, the distributor announced this week. The initiative is designed to provide organizations with a wide variety of environmentally conscious marketing solutions and arrives just ahead of Earth Day.
Spark Branded Solutions has joined Reciprocity Road, a collective of 14 promotional product distributor partners committed to driving business growth, fostering community engagement and promoting sustainability. Reciprocity Road leverages collective buying power, shared resources and philanthropic initiatives to create positive change within the industry and the communities it serves. “Reciprocity Road aligns deeply with our mission of creating branded merchandise that matters, and we look forward to contributing to a community focused on doing good, giving back and making a lasting impact together,” said Chelsea Williams, owner and CEO of Spark Branded Solutions.