Inc. Magazine published the Inc. 500|5000 list of fastest-growing companies last week, and several promotional products businesses were represented. The highest-ranking industry company to appear on the list was Aztec Awards, a San Diego distributor that came in at number 229. USB provider iClick, Seattle, was the highest ranking supplier at 1,143.
More than 25 promotional products industry companies appeared on the 2011 Inc. 500|5000 list, which ranks U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit companies based on their percentage of revenue growth from 2007 to 2010. Companies that went public or were acquired before December 31, 2010 are ineligible for consideration.
iClick first appeared on the Inc. list in 2010, and has had a three-year growth of 261 percent. “We continued our laser-focus on customer service, making sure that our existing customers had absolutely no reason to take their business elsewhere; we fine-tuned some of our promotional programs; and despite weakness in the wider world, we maintained our marketing spend,” said Lon McGowan, CEO and founder of iClick.
Other suppliers on the list include National Gift Card (#1340), Raining Rose (#2445) and SnugZ USA (#4749).
“When I first heard the news I was absolutely shocked,” said Brandon Mackay, CEO of SnugZ USA, who recently acquired 100 percent of the Salt Lake City-based company. “I could not believe that our little company from Utah was running with the big boys.”
“Our success is two fold. One, we have the best and most loyal distributors out there and two, I’ve said this a million times, our staff is hands down the hardest working, intuitive and most forward thinking crew in the business, period,” Mackay added.
Distributors also had a very strong showing on the 2011 rankings. Breaking into the Inc. 500 is Aztec Awards, marking their first appearance on the list. “Prior to 2006, Aztec Awards sold thousands of products to thousands of customers, and it was unable to grow,” said Thomas Phan of Aztec Awards. “With the new leadership team, one of the first decisions we made was to eliminate 90 percent of our products … and focus on catering to a very specific niche of the corporate market only.”
Other ranking distributors include Boundless Network (#1311), Motivators Inc. (#3545) and iPROMOTEu (#3685).
“Being on the list for the fourth time makes everyone in the Motivators family proud,” said Ken Laffer, MAS, MASI, CEO of Motivators Inc. “Our employees have worked so hard over the past four years. I’ve seen true dedication and passion from Motivators’ employees, and I’m so pleased with what we’ve accomplished.”
Cleveland-based Proforma had seven companies in their network rank in the top 5,000: Proforma Marketing Agency (#2646), Proforma Printing and Promotion (#2916), Proforma Spectrum Print Graphics (#3563), Proforma Albrecht & Co. (#4040), Promotion Consultants (#4204), Proforma Identity Marketing Group (#4243), Proforma Graphic Printsource (#4858).
“We are proud of the Proforma owners that have been recognized on Inc. 5000’s list of fastest growing companies,” said Greg Muzzillo, founder of Proforma. “The Proforma companies on this list show three-year growth of up to 87 percent. We are also pleased to have Proforma owners that have made the list consecutive years, showing Proforma is consistently growing.”
Inc. also compiled a list of the fastest-growing industries in the country. The No. 1 fastest-growing industry is real estate, with a 185 percent revenue growth for the period. Advertising and marketing was the number 7 fastest growing industry by revenue (103 percent revenue growth), and number 10 in number of jobs created (12,468).
The full Inc. 500|5000 list is available on their website. A list of the promotional products companies appearing on the Inc. 5000 appears below:
Aztec Awards – #229
Quality Logo Products – #1109
iClick – #1143
Boundless Network – #1311
National Gift Card – #1340
InkHead – #1987
LogoSportswear.com – #2017
Fastsigns – #2055
DiscountMugs.com – #2100
Raining Rose – #2445
Proforma Marketing Agency – #2646
Proforma Printing & Promotion -#2916
Impressions in Print – #3225
Eagle Promotions – #3332
Motivators – #3545
Proforma Spectrum Print Graphics – #3563
iPROMOTEu – #3685
Fine Promotions – #3853
CafePress – #3985
Proforma Albrecht – #4040
Promotion Consultants – #4204
Proforma Identity Marketing Group – #4243
The Queensboro Shirt Company – #4682
SnugZ USA – #4749
Proforma Graphic Printsource – #4858
Brenthaven – #4883
Editor’s note: Some companies may be listed on the Inc. 500|5000 under a different name and as a result may not appear on this list. Promo Marketing will update the list to reflect any new information provided.
