As part of Print+Promo Marketing’s 2022 Top Distributors list, we asked some of the top-ranked distributors about what their future plans look like, and trends they’ve kept their eyes on in the industry. Here, we talked to Artcraft CEO and president Judy Zimmerman — No. 32 on our 2022 list — about the company’s recent investments, and how they’ve contributed to its success in 2021.
Artcraft Promotional Concepts is crushing it. Despite a difficult labor market, the company has managed to keep most of its top employees while adding new talent. It also brought on several major new clients, with at least four more large national client programs to come for the remainder of 2022. That’s on top of a banner 2021 in which Artcraft’s expertise in large-scale kitting and fulfillment programs translated to big revenue from drop-shipped residential delivery programs during the remote-work peak.
But Artcraft, whose 2021 sales grew nearly 21% to $52 million, is only just getting started. The company is making significant investments in technology designed to better leverage its already-diverse product offering and improve the buying experience for its customers. Judy Zimmermann, CEO and president of Artcraft, believes these investments put the company in a strong position to meet the evolving needs of modern buyers.
“We’ve further integrated our print-on-demand offerings in our e-commerce platform,” she says. “Several of our client stores now allow users to purchase logo merchandise, apparel, marketing collateral and customized print material (like business cards and leave-behind notes) in one shopping cart. Clients are busy and want a simplified source. Artcraft is the one-stop shop they need.”
Seizing Opportunity: “As we move past the pandemic, we’re noticing much more client spend in ‘community event’ types of projects and items,” says Zimmermann. “‘Travel and meeting’ items will return next as Zoom fatigue grows and people recognize the value of getting decision-makers together in the same location.”
