News Last Updated: May 19, 2026
In The News - May 2026
Gemline (asi/56070), a Counselor Top 40 supplier and certified B Corp, has been awarded an EcoVadis Gold rating, placing parent company The Gem Group among the top 5% of companies assessed globally by EcoVadis over the past year. “This is an important milestone for our company and a meaningful validation of the work our team has done to embed responsibility and accountability throughout our business,” said Frank Carpenito, president & CEO of Gemline and a member of the Counselor Power 50.
Showdown Displays (asi/87188), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has appointed LJ Consulting, led by John Gillard and Rye-Leigh Spicer, as its multi-line representation for Atlantic Canada, including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
S&S Activewear (asi/84358), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has launched ApparelSoft IQ, a machine-learning powered proprietary intelligence layer designed to anticipate customer demand and optimize inventory decisions. The software was developed by S&S’s data science team and has been in production for more than six months.
SanMar (asi/84863), the largest supplier in promo, has been named a 2026 US Best Managed Company. The program, sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, recognizes private American companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people, as well as maintaining financial performance and governance. The Counselor Top 40 supplier this year earned the distinction of Gold Honoree, which honors companies that have been recognized as a Best Managed Company for four to six years.
Sock Club (asi/88072), a 2026 Counselor Best Place to Work, has joined Reciprocity Road as a Preferred Supplier Partner for 2026. “We feel that Reciprocity Road’s values of entrepreneurship, quality, and giving back align with our startup spirit, high quality socks, and Give Back Program, so it’s a natural fit,” said Domonic Valdez, director of enterprise sales at Sock Club.
The Ampersand Group (asi/123051) has entered into a strategic partnership with a retail firm in Canada to offer merch programs, printing, packaging, custom e-commerce platforms, kitting and fulfillment, and office supplies to customers across the country. “We’re seeing a clear shift in how companies approach branded merchandise and print,” said Todd Mellon, president and CEO of The Ampersand Group. “They want simplicity, speed and consistency across every touchpoint. This partnership allows us to bring a more connected, turnkey solution to Canada, backed by the distribution and technology clients expect today.”
Storm Creek (asi/89879) was one of three Minnesota companies honored in the fourth annual Meaningful Capitalism Awards, an initiative that recognizes privately held businesses that achieve strong financial performance while making a measurable difference in the lives of employees, families and communities. “Recognition like this really takes a driven team and partners who push us to do more,” said Teresa Fudenberg, CEO of Storm Creek and a member of the Counselor Power 50 list.
Fully Promoted of Southern NH, part of Counselor Top 40 distributor Fully Promoted (asi/384000), has moved to a larger facility in Bedford, NH. The new space features a significantly expanded showroom and production area. “Our new space represents opportunity,” said owner Sal Calautti.
ePromos (asi/188515), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, has earned an EcoVadis Silver rating, a distinction that included particularly high scores in the Ethics and Ethics Policies sections. The Silver recognition also represents a step up from the EcoVadis Bronze rating ePromos earned in 2025 when the company first began the process. "This recognition reinforces that sustainability is part of how we work, support our clients, and continue to grow," CMO and co-owner Christine Puglisi said.
The Vernon Company (asi/351700), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, recognized top account executives across its sales team at its annual National Sales meeting. Award recipients are as follows: Account Manager of the Year: Burke Buchanan; Team Player Award: Mindy Benson; Reaching New Heights Award: Kay Thomson and Bill Porter; Rising Star Award: Adam Worrel; Driven to Succeed Award: Stella Brock; Industry Award: Mitchell Barker; Grit & Growth Award: Jennifer Crowder; Humanitarian Award: Luke Sigle.
Imperial Headwear (asi/75945), carried by Counselor Top 40 supplier Sportsman Cap & Bag (asi/88877), was named the number-one headwear brand for private and resort golf facilities by the Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM). This marks the ninth consecutive year the brand has earned this recognition. The results are based on AGM’s annual membership study, where Imperial earned 36% of total votes, compared to the next closest brand at 13% of votes.
The Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors has announced the winners of the 2026 NAUMD awards. Counselor Top 40 distributor BAMKO (asi/131431), Counselor Top 40 distributor Cintas (asi/162167), Counselor Top 40 supplier Workwear Outfitters (asi/98258), OOBE Apparel Design Group (asi/ 297810) and Lands’ End (asi/ 250566) all received awards across categories like entertainment, lodging, retail and more.
Keepsake Products USA (asi/ 64180) has launched a new collection of TripleCore White Corrugated boxes. According to the supplier, TripleCore White delivers a fully upgraded construction featuring a clean white edge on the interior and exterior.
Siser North America has launched SiserStore.com, enabling the brand to sell directly to customers via a redesigned website. “Over the last year, we’ve heard an increasing demand from our customers who want to purchase directly from Siser,” said Brett Murray, senior VP of Sales for Siser North America. “With the dominance of online shopping and an industry that looks radically different than it did just five years ago, we concluded it was time to introduce an official Siser Store.”
Prime Line (asi/79530), a division of Counselor Top 40 supplier S&S Activewear (asi/84358), has added Paige Millard as an outside sales representative, supporting key accounts across the West Coast. “We are focused on putting a winning team on the field, adding industry veterans who can truly enhance the customer experience,” said Eric Levin, general manager of Prime Line. “Paige brings decades of experience and relationships to Prime.”
Starline (asi/89320), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has added Jackson Medina as regional sales manager. He will oversee sales efforts across Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Colorado. “We’re excited to welcome Jackson to the Starline team,” said Brian Porter, chief revenue officer at Starline and a member of the Counselor Power 50. “His energy, industry knowledge, and commitment to service align perfectly with our values, and we’re confident he will make an immediate impact across his territory.”
Infinity Product Group (IPG; asi/62578) supported Auburn University Outreach Global as a bronze sponsor of its fifth annual Global Community Day Festival. IPG contributed product donations to support fundraising and community engagement efforts at the March 28 festival, held at the Opelika SportsPlex Amphitheater in Opelika, AL.
World Emblem (asi/98264), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has debuted NFC smart patches through its Hero’s Pride brand. The near-field communication emblems and patches will enable users to share URLs and contact information securely, replacing the need for physical business cards and other ID, according to the company.
iPROMOTEu (asi/232119), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, announces that “A Woman’s View,” its initiative for educational content and programming for women in promo, will host the second part of its “AI Innovations” webinar series on Wednesday, May 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Panelists Bille Forman, vice president of marketing at SAGE, and Britney Godsey, CRO at Gold Bond (asi/57653), will discuss using AI to prospect, turn data into actionable sales insights, discover new opportunities and more. Register here.
Full Line Specialties (asi/199688) welcomes Laurie Gibbs as a senior project manager and Pam Mulvey as a senior account manager. Gibbs has nearly 30 years of industry experience and will contribute to growth strategy in Atlantic Canada, while Mulvey has almost two decades of experience and will help with expansion in Ontario.
Promotional Source (asi/301292) is now a certified woman-owned business, and has begun the formal process of obtaining certification from Women Business Enterprises Canada Council.
Vantage Apparel (asi/93390), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has hired Jerry Chierchio as sales account manager, covering the Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and South New Jersey regions. He began his career in 2014 at alphabroder (now part of Counselor Top 40 supplier S&S Activewear; asi/84358) as an inside strategic account executive, managing national accounts including Counselor Top 40 distributors iPROMOTEu (asi/232119) and Geiger (asi/202900). He then transitioned into an outside sales role, managing the Eastern Pennsylvania territory.
iPROMOTEu (asi/232119), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, hosted its Bring Your Child to Work Day at its Wayland, Massachusetts, and Appleton, Wisconsin, offices. The firm welcomed staff members’ children for a full day of activities centered around career awareness, creativity and collaboration. “Opportunities like Bring Your Child to Work Day reinforce the importance of connection and community that are foundational to iPROMOTEu’s core values,” said Tammi Ouillette, VP of Human Resources. “When you see the workplace through a child’s eyes you remember why you love what you do and today reminded our team of our shared purpose.”
Brady Corporation, parent company of Promovision - Powered By Brady (asi/79898), has acquired Honeywell’s productivity solutions and services. The deal expands Brady’s capabilities to include data capture and workflow solutions. Promovision says it will also help foster long-term value for distributors, particularly at the intersection of branding, identification and tracking.
SanMar (asi/84863), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has announced it will be the presenting sponsor of Seattle’s Beat the Bridge for Breakthrough T1D for the second time. The charity race benefits Breakthrough T1D, a global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization. “As a local and national sponsor, we’re committed to supporting a cause that affects so many individuals and families,” said Jennifer Larson, chief people officer at SanMar. “Partnering with Breakthrough T1D allows us to support meaningful research and show up in a way that reflects who we are – people who believe connection and action can make a real difference.”