News Last Updated: July 29, 2026
In The News - July 2026
Ballpix Ltd. has named Chris Curran commercial agent for the Americas for its My Gilbert Rugby segment, which offers on-demand personalization services for Gilbert-branded rugby balls. Curran's background includes, most recently, more than a decade at PRINTING United Alliance and NAPCO Media working in printing, automation and commercial strategy.
Spacecraft Product Lab (asi/ 88411) has expanded its U.S. production capabilities through the acquisition of a domestic manufacturing and decoration facility in Los Angeles. The move expands the company’s in-house manufacturing resources, now offering enhanced embroidery, screen printing, fulfillment, warehousing, kitting and quality control.
Starline (asi/89320), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has named Marc Mann as regional sales manager covering the Southeast-West territory. Mann, who worked for Starline for six years covering the Midwest previously, will now cover Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. “We are so excited for Marc to rejoin Starline in this newly created territory,” said Brian DeBottis, chief revenue officer.
Transfer Express (asi/91804), part of Stahls’ (asi/88984), has expanded its online offering with the introduction of custom patches and emblems. Customers can choose from embroidered, woven, printed, leather, PVC, silicone, chenille and dimensional 3-D options, along with specialty finishes to add texture, depth and durability. Minimums are as low as 12 pieces.
Haptica, a media brand from Cologne, Germany-based WA Media, has released a 28-page booklet filled with compelling arguments for the strategic use of promotional products in marketing. Drawing on recent studies, the publication demonstrates why promotional products are so effective. It’s available as an e-book and, on request, as a customizable print edition. Download the booklet here.
Ninja Transfers (asi/73060) has announced an upgrade to its free AI Background Remover. According to the company, the upgrade delivers cleaner edges, sharper detail and press-ready cutouts from a single upload. The tool is built to reduce prep work and cut down on manual fixes. With the upgraded tool, creators dial in the exact result they want before sending a design to press.
Showdown Displays (asi/87188), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has appointed Simon Brunet, Michel Ciarlo and Zoé Brunet of Agence S10 as its multi-line representation in Quebec. “Continuing to expand our representation across Canada is an important part of strengthening the support we provide our distributor partners,” said Javier LaFontaine, vice president of territory sales for Showdown Displays. “Agence S10 has an excellent reputation throughout Quebec, and we’re excited to partner with Simon, Michel and Zoé as we continue growing our presence in the region.”
Crystal D (asi/47759) has made its second disbursement of charitable donations through its Legacy Gallery award series, co-sponsoring the building of a well in South Sudan. Other donations helped support the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, the International Rett Syndrome Foundation and 4 Paws for Ability. The Legacy Gallery, created in 2023 to honor the memory of Crystal D’s late founder Chuck Dahlgren, is a collection of 10 crystal award designs. For every award purchased, 20% of the product price is distributed equally to the four charities.
Koozie Group (asi/40480), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, said its Garyline Cubbie rPET bottle with straw lid (46524S) has advanced to the top 32 in the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Coolest Thing Made in Florida contest. Voting in this round of the competition is open until July 28, and supporters can vote once a day.
Branded Merch Network has created “Roadside Attractions,” an original education video series for promotional products buying group PromoEQP, featuring industry veteran Rod Brown. The five-part series explores the decisions, relationships, defining moments and lessons that shape the industry. The first episode will be released in August through PromoEQP’s digital channels.
BamBams (asi/38228) will be launching The Shoezie Collection at ASI Show Chicago next week. Made in Texas from double-insulated foam, the shoe-inspired beverage insulators are available in low-top and high-top styles to fit 12-ounce cans, slim cans and most bottles. The collection also features Shoezie Smart, an optional NFC chip embedded in the sole that connects users to websites, video and other online content with a simple tap.
Brand Revolution has acquired DDMC Event Design, the company announced last week. The deal marks the global creative agency’s fourth major acquisition. In March, the firm acquired fresh id, a promotional products provider with offices in Germany, London and Hong Kong.
Facilisgroup, a promotional products industry software provider and partnering community, has appointed Liam Conlan to the position of SVP of Technology & head of AI. Conlan will oversee the company’s AI strategy, R&D and technology road map.
Botanical PaperWorks (asi/41273) announces that co-owner Kayla Kannwischer is now director of strategic initiatives. In her new role, she will spearhead long-term strategy, product development, systems and innovation.
Karst (asi/239105) in Charleston, SC, is celebrating 30 years in business with a yearlong '90s nostalgia-themed campaign called “Unsupervised Since 1996.” Founded by Gerald Karst, a retired Charleston firefighter and former Charleston Naval Shipyard nuclear foreman, the distributor is now led by his stepdaughter, CEO Michelle Harris, and is women-owned and WBENC-certified, and offers brand strategy, sourcing, fulfillment, activations, program management and more. “What I figured out, kind of by accident, was that the way I was approaching it – leading with strategy and design instead of catalogs – wasn’t how the industry was operating,” says Harris. “Once I found the people who were doing it that way, I realized we had a model worth scaling.”
Akran Marketing (asi/115329) recently hosted a timed shopping spree to encourage team members to work smarter and faster under pressure. The goal was to teach them how to cope with the stress that can arise from client demands, such as short delivery times, quick response times and tight budgets. The event took place at St. Laurent Shopping Centre in Ottawa, and each participant was given a mall gift card and just one hour to spend it. "I was thrilled with the outcome of the event," noted Raman Agarwal, president and CEO of Akran. "Our success relies entirely on our team members."
BDA (asi/137616), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, has become an Official Licensee for Epic Games' "Fortnite," an ecosystem with a variety of experiences where players can play, create and hang out with friends. By managing initial ideation and design through product development, fulfillment, logistics and compliance, BDA says it will deliver “high-quality, authentic gear that resonates with millions of 'Fortnite' fans around the globe.”
Logomark (asi/67866), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has announced the promotion of Tommy Lee to regional sales manager for southern California. Lee joined the company in 2006 in a sales support role before moving to inside sales later that same year. Most recently, he served as a strategic sales representative. "As I approach my 20th anniversary with Logomark, I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had to grow within the company," said Lee. “My focus is simple: Be a trusted resource for our distributor partners, help them uncover new opportunities and demonstrate why Logomark is a supplier they can confidently rely on. I look forward to building strong relationships throughout southern California and helping our customers succeed.”
Printify, a print-on-demand platform, has launched a sustainability guide to help customers design and print apparel with the planet in mind. The resource explains how material selection, printing methods and production partners influence both product quality and environmental impact. It also highlights sustainable options like organic cotton, recycled materials and water-based inks.
Proforma (asi/300094), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, has been named a Northeast Ohio Top Workplace. Top Workplaces are determined through an employee engagement survey that gathers feedback directly from employees about their experiences. The survey found that 95% of participants believe Proforma is headed in the right direction, operates with strong values and would highly recommend working there; 97% expressed confidence in the leadership team.
Charles River Apparel (asi/44620) has hired Ben Drysdale as a strategic account representative, supporting national account and buying groups. Drysdale has nearly six years of experience in the industry and a background in account management, strategic partnerships and customer engagement.