From PPAI Josh Ellis Publisher & Editor-in-Chief 06.25 The Time Is Now “IT’S ABOUT TIME.” That was the opening sentence of PPAI Media’ article announcing the 2025 PPAI 100 on Feb. 19 – a clue about how the scoring rubric was set to change in Year 3. Time, after all, is the most precious currency any of us has in life, and arguably business. This year’s PPAI 100 recognized the value of our time by doubling the weightage assigned to Innovation. The category is a reflection of each company’s digital transformation efforts in the never-ending quest to make promotional products a more efficient industry, friendly to customer experience. As a measure of member firms, PPAI 100 has always been about more than revenue. It takes many factors into account, including the pace and scale of each company’s growth, the strength and happiness of its workforce, its marketing efforts, the faith that business partners place in it, commitment to corporate responsibility and, yes, technological improvement. And from the beginning, the intention of PPAI 100 was to de-emphasize the importance of revenue alone over time by strengthening the weight of other categories. Last year, the Responsibility category saw its points double. This year, Innovation. These represent two of the five key pillars in PPAI’s strategic plan. They are: • Drive member and community value. • Ensure economic sustainability and scalability. • Elevate corporate social responsibility in the industry. • Facilitate the industry’s digital transformation. • Be the voice of the industry. A ranked list designed to celebrate corporate leadership, PPAI 100 will always reward the businesses that are out in front on progress that is good for the whole of our industry. And it will always evolve to address promo’s future advancement. From year to year, volunteers suggest adjustments to our survey questions to ensure they remain on the leading edge. In time, the scoring categories themselves may change, as your representatives on PPAI’s Board of Directors update the Strategic Plan to bolster the industry moving forward. This – along with the scoring for revenue growth over a three-year window – will continue to create significant movement for companies on the list from year to year. It is not set in stone. For 2025, 19 suppliers and 25 distributors made the list which were not included in 2024. This included two companies that didn’t even exist three years ago – distributor Spark Branded Solutions and supplier Rupt – but which have built intentions of industry leadership into their foundation. For the first time, a non-profit is included in the rankings, Spectrum Designs. This one-of-a-kind company is profiled as one half of our twin cover stories, beginning on Page 54. Also for the first time, a new company appeared poised to threaten for the No. 1 spot. Since the first PPAI 100 in 2023, SanMar has ranked as the No. 1 supplier, and 4imprint as the No. 1 distributor. At the risk of a spoiler, I will tell you that S&S Activewear – now integrated with alphabroder, which it acquired last year – still does not crack the No. 1 spot for suppliers. But, as told in the S&S cover story beginning on page 38, there seems to be real competition coming in the future. After all, the point of PPAI 100 as a whole is to strengthen our companies and the industry for tomorrow. Our medium will face the pressure of competition and challenges moving forward, as it always has. Our businesses will be tested by one another as each grows and improves. We’ve gotten through it all before. But tomorrow is a new day. Let’s all follow the leaders and grow together. The time is now. Our medium will face the pressure of competition and challenges moving forward, as it always has. Let’s all follow the leaders and grow together. 4 • JUNE 2025 • PPAI
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