LOYALTY HOLDS POWERFUL sway over many people’s actions. It is difficult to settle for good when the best is just a little further. Loyalty will see the extra mile traveled, the extra call made and the extra cost paid. Often, it is a result of superior quality or superior service, while other times familiarity can be held accountable, and yet other people will have a simple affection toward a brand. This is the dream of any corporation: To be known of not as a source, but as the definitive source for a commodity.
Promotional Marketing’s 2007 Supplier Excellence Awards recognize the best in more than 30 categories spanning the range of promotional products. More than 50,000 promotional products distributors received a survey asking them to select whom they believe to be the leading supplier in apparel, drinkware, electronics and many more merchandise classes. So overwhelming was the response that each category includes a Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist to account for the large numbers and close competition. The results revealed distributors care not only about their favorite companies, but about their industry.
As a supplement to those suppliers selected for Excellence Awards by distributors, also included is a list of the Top 50 Suppliers, found on page 82. These companies are the largest and most successful organizations in the industry, and ones with which any distributor would do well to become acquainted. Inclusion and ranking on this list were based on the voluntary submission of 2006 promotional products revenue*, ensuring those featured are legitimately the top suppliers of advertising specialty products.
In an industry where self-promotion and branding are focal points, the winners of the 2007 Supplier Excellence Awards are masters of the craft. The suppliers on the following pages are known for being the best at helping companies to become known, and have created their own recognized brands for branding. Innovative products, excellent service, extensive knowledge and accessibility are traits universal to all of the winners, but each has managed to cultivate an even more important, and more elusive, characteristic. Each winner has been selected by its customers as the best in its field; each winner has distributors’ respect, cooperation and, most importantly, loyalty.
*Privately held companies that elected not to disclose financial information were ineligible for consideration.
Apparel—Corporate
1. SanMar
2. Vantage Apparel
3. Bodek and Rhodes
Apparel—Caps & Headwear
1. Alpha Shirt
2. Otto International
3. Paramount Apparel
Apparel—Outerwear
1. Vantage Apparel
2. Ash City
3. Charles River Apparel
Apparel—Performance
1. Vantage Apparel
2. Ash City
3. Bodek and Rhodes
Apparel—T-Shirts
1. Bodek and Rhodes
2. S&S Activewear
3. Staton Corporate & Casual
Apparel—Women
1. SanMar
2. Bella
3. Vantage Apparel
Awards
1. Jaffa/Norwood
2. Vision Awards
3. Crystal D
Badges & Buttons
1. LarLu
2. Buztronics
3. Pepco Poms
Bags—Luggage and Totes
1. Leed’s
2. Gemline
3. Air-Tex/Norwood
Bags—Paper and Plastic
1. Bag Makers
2. American Ad Bag
3. Noteworthy
Calendars
1. Triumph Calendars/Norwood
2. Beacon Promotions
3. Hotline
Clocks & Watches
1. Sweda
2. Leed’s
3. Logomark
Computer Accessories
1. Leed’s
2. DigiSpec
3. KTI Networks
Drinkware—Mugs & Tumblers
1. Moderne Glass
2. Sabina
3. Gold Bond
Drinkware—Sports Bottles & Other
1. RCC Koozie/Norwood
2. ETS Express
3. The Humphrey Line
Electronics
1. Prime Line
2. New Products International
3. All-In-One Manufacturing
Food & Drink
1. Maple Ridge Farms
2. Chocolate Inn
3. Hospitality Mints
Golf Products
1. Tee Off/Norwood
2. Gold Bond
3. Ball Pro
Health & Beauty
1. Pillowline/Norwood
2. Aloe Up
3. SafeHaven
Journals & Notebooks
1. Journalbooks/Timeplanner
2. Leed’s
3. Drummond Printing
Lanyards
1. SnugZ
2. Fields Manufacturing
3. Marathon/Prestige
Magnets
1. Magnet LLC
2. Gill Studios
3. Magna-Tel
Office & Desk
1. Leed’s
2. Bullet Line
3. Crown Products
Stickers & Decals
1. Gill Studios
2. Discount Labels
3. Stouse
Stress Reducers
1. Ariel Premium Supply
2. Prime Line
3. Pillowline/Norwood
Toys & Novelties
1. Garyline
2. Points of Light
3. Funco
Umbrellas
1. Peerless Umbrella
2. Rainkist
3. Vitronic Promotional Group
Writing Instruments
1. BIC Graphic USA
2. Sanford
3. Hub Pen Co.
Most Innovate Products
1. Leed’s
2. Prime Line
3. Logomark
Best Customer Service
1. Leed’s
2. SanMar
3. Gold Bond
Best Web Site
1. Leed’s
2. SanMar
3. Norwood Promotional Products
