News Last Updated: February 25, 2026
In The News - February 2026
Commonsku has appointed Maria Acquarola as outside sales director. She has nearly eight years of industry experience, most recently as director of strategic accounts at Pop! Promos (asi/45657). “Maria knows this industry inside and out,” says Mark Graham, president of commonsku, “and her deep connections with distributors across the country make her the ideal person to lead our outside sales efforts as we continue to grow.”
Koozie Group (asi/40480), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has promoted Carly Jaeger to national account manager. In this new position, Jaeger will support key distributor partners and help drive strategic growth across the company’s national accounts portfolio. Jaeger has been with Koozie Group since 2015. “With her strong track record and consistently positive attitude, we are thrilled to have Carly join the national account team,” said Trish Daly, vice president of sales. “I know she’ll bring that same energy and success to her new role.”
Vantage Apparel (asi/93390), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has partnered with Fossa Apparel (asi/55141) to offer free shipping of Fossa garments to any of Vantage’s three decoration facilities in Avenel, NJ; St. Louis, MO; and Santa Ana, CA. “Our partnership with Fossa Apparel reinforces our commitment to making decoration easier, faster and more reliable for distributors,” said Rob Watson, CEO of Vantage Apparel and a member of the Counselor Power 50.
Promotional Product Professionals of Canada (PPPC) welcomes Barbara Hacio Kirby as bilingual membership manager. Kirby has experience in tourism and hospitality, client relations and member-focused service delivery, and speaks both English and French fluently. In her new role, she will be the primary contact for PPPC members, and will support onboarding, engagement and retention. “Barbara’s service-focused approach and national perspective will help strengthen our community and support continued membership growth and long-term member value,” said Jonathan Strauss, president and CEO of PPPC.
Grossman Marketing Group (asi/215205) has received an EcoVadis Gold medal, placing it among the top 5% companies assessed by the sustainability platform. “Receiving an EcoVadis Gold medal validates the investments we’ve made in environmental responsibility, ethical business practices, labor and human rights, and sustainable procurement,” said Ben Grossman, co-president and a member of the Counselor Power 50. “It also reflects the impact of programs like SwagCycle, our landfill-diversion platform that helps brands recycle, repurpose and donate excess merchandise. Third-party verification gives our clients confidence that they’re partnering with a company that backs up its values with measurable action. We know there is still more work to do, and we’re excited to continue raising the bar.”
City Bonfires (asi/45223), a Maryland-based supplier of portable mini-bonfires and s’mores kits, will appear on Shark Tank on March 4 to pitch its products to the “Sharks” behind the hit ABC series.
TBF Bags (asi/90595) has earned Vegan Certification from Vegan Action for many of its tote bag styles, which include everyday shopping bags to print-ready options used by merch brands, promotional product distributors and print shops. Each certified bag is made without any animal-derived materials and uses vegan, biodegradable components.
Ninja Transfers (asi/73060) has announced it will donate $1,000,000+ to youth education, arts and culture programs, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening communities. The funds will support more than 100 partner organizations including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation, the Franklin Institute and ASPCA.
Commonsku, a promotional products business and sales software, announced the winners of its "skummunity awards," which honor leadership, growth and generosity in the branded merchandise industry. Award recipients include Tony McNally of Vanguard Promotions (asi/350671), Mark McCormack of Identity Marketing Group (asi/229993), Sara Thompson of Ariel Premium Supply (asi/36730) and Caleb Gilbertson of Imprint Engine (asi/190620). SanMar (asi/84863), the industry's largest supplier, also received the Supplier Connected Workflow award.
The Fullarton Group (asi/509500) has announced that SanMar Canada (asi/84864) has become its new supplier partner. “SanMar Canada is a powerhouse in the Canadian apparel market and a trusted name for decades among distributors,” said Keith Addis, president of Fullarton Group. “We are excited to welcome them as a Supplier Partner and to introduce a program that will create immediate and meaningful value for our Canadian members.”
StickerYou (asi/89791), through its PromotedYou promo division, has been named a Preferred Partner for The Legacy Group, a Maryland-based industry buying collective of nine distributors in the U.S. and Canada. “Legacy distributors are known for prioritizing quality, creativity and strong supplier relationships – values that align perfectly with what we bring to the promotional space,” says Rich Corvalan, vice president of sales at StickerYou. “We look forward to supporting their members with unique products that truly stand out.”
Sportsman Cap & Bag (asi/88877) has announced that sustainable headwear brand Atlantis Headwear (asi/37380) is now an official partner of TEDx Venice. During the event, Atlantis focused on raising awareness around marine pollution caused by microplastics. As a pre-event activation, Atlantis hosted a beach cleanup and selected the Moover beanie, available through Sportsman Cap & Bag, for people to wear during the cleanup and throughout the event. Sportsman Cap & Bag also announces that Flexfit, a private label headwear manufacturer it offers, has collaborated with retired mixed martial arts fighter Robbie Lawler and MAG Agency to create a line of headwear that company says has “a stripped-back look that reflects what it means to stay great.”
Fossa Apparel (asi/55141) has been named a 2026 preferred supplier by Reciprocity Road, an alliance of 13 distributors across the U.S. and Canada. “Fossa Apparel is thrilled to join Reciprocity Road and bring our retail‑inspired designs to this incredible community," said Michelle Chen, president of Fossa Apparel.
Crystal D (asi/47759) has introduced an on-time shipping guarantee. Every purchase is now backed by the guarantee, meaning Crystal D will cover the cost of any order that doesn’t ship by the agreed-upon date. As part of the guarantee, customers must provide all required information, details and approvals at key points throughout the production process.
Pro-Ad, a 40-plus-year-old U.K.-based distributor, has received an EcoVadis Platinum rating, placing it in the top 1% of companies assessed by the business sustainability platform. EcoVadis considers a company’s environmental impact, labor and human rights record, its overall ethics, and the sustainability of its procurement.
Gildan (asi/56842), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has been included in CDP’s Leadership level for the sixth time, reflecting its environmental and climate data performance for the 2024 reporting year. Gildan received a score of A- for its 2024 climate change disclosures and was specifically recognized for its performance on Scope 3 emissions, emissions reduction initiatives, risk and opportunity disclosures and processes, and governance.
Proforma (asi/300094), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, kicked off its annual Proform-A-Service Day on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Held throughout the first quarter of the year, Proform-A-Service Day provides support center team members with a paid workday to volunteer at charitable causes and community organizations of their choice. So far, team members have donated blood at local blood drives, participated in roadside cleanups and volunteered time at animal rescue organizations.
Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has successfully achieved ISO 27001 certification, completing both Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits. Along with maintaining SOC 2 certification for the past two years, this new certification transitions the company from a moderate security position to one that is internationally compliant and globally recognized, the supplier said.
Strideline (asi/89926) has hired Michael Williams as national account manager. Williams is a 15-year veteran of the promo industry, having spent his career at AZX Sport (asi/30250). He brings a deep understanding of distributor needs, a relationship-first mindset and a creative approach to building successful national programs, according to Strideline.
Siser, a provider of heat-transfer vinyl and accessories, has added two new classes to its "Siser After Dark" education series. This month’s classes focus on combining HTV with DTF and the importance of investing in a heat press for professional results. Both classes are virtual and free to attend.
S&S Canada (asi/90703), part of Counselor Top 40 supplier S&S Activewear (asi/84358), has appointed Ryan Renaud and Michael Seaman as dedicated outside sales representatives. Renaud will cover the GTA West territory, reporting to Angelo Morra, director of sales for Ontario, and Seaman will cover the Montreal Northshore territory (including Montreal-East), reporting to Ivan Marullo, director of sales for Eastern Canada.