2023 Top Distributors: Stats, Trends and Analysis

It's an easier time to be a distributor than it was in 2020 or 2021, but that doesn't mean it doesn't require hard work, tenacity, and creativity. Over the last few years, distributors have had to learn difficult lessons about how to not only allow their businesses to thrive, but in some cases just stay afloat in the tumultuous promotional products industry. Staffing issues, inventory problems, these have all contributed to a complicated industry.

However, plenty of distributors have shown that they have what it takes to tackle those issues head-on, as we've seen within the ranks of the 2023 Print & Promo Marketing Top Distributors list.

This year, the big news came from the top two distributors, 4imprint and HALO, respectively, topped the $1 billion marks with HALO reporting 22% growth to hit $1,007,000,000. 4imprint stood at the top after spending last year in third place, with just over $1.1 billion in revenue, thanks to 44% year-over-year growth.

The rest of the pack isn't too far behind. This year's No. 3-ranked distributor, Proforma, topped the $600 million mark, and others like BDA and American Solutions for Business hovered around that half-billion milestone, too.

On the topic of growth, the fastest-growing company that submitted their information was Brands Marketing Inc., based out of Stony Plain, Alberta. Up there in the Great White North, Brands Marketing Inc. reported 164.9% year-over-year revenue growth from 2021 to 2022. Four of the top 25 fastest-growing companies reported growth of 100% or more.

Keep reading for more stats and analysis, or download the 2023 Top Distributors list here to see the full Top 75 ranking. As always, we hope this feature provides a good snapshot of the print and promo industry overall.

Part of the data also includes what product segments each distributor saw the most growth in. Of the companies surveyed, apparel showed up 31 times, pointing to trends like print-on-demand and other apparel trends growing in the promotional products space. Specifically, custom apparel was the most commonly reported category in the top 75.

Nine of the top 75 distributors listed hospitality and travel as a top-three sales vertical, indicating a return to normality since COVID-era shutdowns.

Health care was listed 48 times as a top vertical among the top 75 distributors, followed by education with 24 mentions.

Within the 2023 Top Distributors resource, you'll also find interviews with executives from top-ranking distributors, such as HALO, Proforma, and more.

For more stats and analysis, the complete ranking, profiles of some of the year's top promotional products distributors and more, download the full list of 2023 Top Distributors List here.