PPB March 2018

Br e t Bonne t , Qua l i t y Logo Pr oduc t s I t’s hard to imagine any 16-year-old falling in love with just one job, but Bret Bonnet has only had eyes for promotional products since he was a young man. Now he’s a full-grown industry veteran who co-owns Aurora, Illinois-based distributor Quality Logo Products, Inc. (PPAI 304730), with longtime friend and company vice president Michael Wenger. “I started in this industry 19 years ago at the age of 16—I literally don’t know how to do anything else,” says Bonnet. “I started out working for a small mom-and-pop promotional products distributor who actually convinced me to leave my part- time job working at Best Buy to come join them. In my first year, I managed to sell more promotional products than all the other full-time salespeople combined. I was making more money than any 16-year- old should!” While enrolled at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, Bonnet created the foundation for Quality Logo Products with Wenger as a class project, then turned it into a full-fledged company after graduation. When he isn’t working on continuing to grow the $50 million business—which employs more than 100 people and serves major clients in the fast food, retail and insurance industries, among others— Bonnet can be found helping his wife, Niki, with her hair salon in Naperville or spending time with their 15-month-old son, Jax. “I’m also currently in the process of moving back to Naperville,” he adds. “Now that I’ve got a little one, moving closer to family is important, because what they say is true … it takes a village to raise a child.” Read on to learn more about Bonnet’s typical day at Quality Logo Products. How does this job challenge you? Every day is a challenge. The Master Promoter Bret Bonnet, co-owner and president of Quality Logo Products, has been honing his industry skills for nearly 20 years. by Jen Alexander Bret Bonnet is going back to his roots, relocating with wife, Niki, and son, Jax, to Naperville, Illinois, to be closer to family. “There is always a problemI’ve never encountered before that needs solving. It keeps my brain fresh and I love the challenge. Tome, complacency is death.” —Bret Bonnet 78 | MARCH 2018 | CONNECT