Top 40 supplier Polyconcept North America announced Tuesday that it has increased its overall capacity for decorating umbrellas by 25% -- a move that means the New Kensington, PA-based firm can provide next-day turnaround on every umbrella it carries through its SureShip service. Relatedly, PCNA now offers three-color silkscreen decoration on umbrellas – something the supplier characterized as a unique capability in the promotional products industry.

46” Manual Inversion Umbrella from Leed’s (asi/66887)/PCNA.

PCNA noted that the acceleration in decoration capacity has run in tandem with the launch of 14 new umbrellas in 2019, which brings PCNA’s total offerings in the product category to more than 90 individual styles.

“PCNA works hard to be the leading umbrella supplier in the promotional products industry,” said Chip Canner, PCNA global category director. “Our recent capacity investments reflect our continual efforts to deliver the best products and award-winning service to our customers.”

In January, PCNA added five new styles to its collection of “inside-out” inversion umbrellas. The inversion collection now includes designer patterns and a wide variety of colors, in addition to more traditional looks, PCNA said.

48” Auto Open/Close Inversion Umbrella from Leed’s/PCNA.

Meanwhile, PCNA business unit Leed’s (asi/66887) has increased its selection of umbrellas from retail brands such as Cutter and Buck (asi/47965), Stromberg (asi/89955), Slazenger and Totes, while Bullet (asi/42424), another PCNA business division, added four new styles to its collection of popular market umbrellas in January.

It would seem at least some top suppliers in the promotional products industry are keenly focused on the umbrella category at the moment. Also on Tuesday, BIC Graphic (asi/40480) announced a partnership with Peerless Umbrella (asi/76730).

With reported 2017 North American promotional product revenue of $606.3 million, PCNA ranked third on Counselor’s latest list of the largest suppliers in the industry.