Jonny Auping
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Articles by Jonny Auping
PromoWire (10/8-10/12): News And Notes From Around The Industry
PromoWire PromoWire PromoWire PromoWire PromoWire PromoWire
PPAI Research: Uneven Results Hamper Branded Merch’s Continued Growth
Growth is usually going to be measured by a topline number. If something gets bigger, then it grew. And thus, the branded merchandise industry is technically growing. According to PPAI Research’s recent bi-monthly survey, distributors grew by 2.8% in July and August compared to the same months in 2025, and suppliers grew 2.1% by the same criteria. These numbers are up ever so slightly from May and June when the growth rates were 2.3% for distributors and approximately 2.1% for suppliers.
Altitude Sickness Among The Rebels: My Year In Sustainability
The medic dispatched to the summit of the mountain at Winter Park, Colorado’s ski resort was asking me some simple questions about my creeping symptoms of altitude sickness when I realized what was about to happen. I stood up, speed walked in one direction, changed directions, speed walked to a trash can and puked about three meals worth of freneticism that felt like my body explaining to me I no longer had control.
Proof Over Promises Conference Tackled 'Urgency' Of Climate Change
Proof Over Promises Conference Tackled 'Urgency' Of Climate Change - PPAI - Promotional Products Association International
TSC Acquires “Strong Cultural Fit” As It Continues Expansion Into Midwest”
TSC (PPAI 134317, Gold), PPAI 100’s No. 46 distributor, has announced the acquisition of Kreative Marketing Kompany (KMK), a branded merch distributor based out of Solon, Ohio. The acquisition gives TSC, which is headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, its first foothold in the Cleveland area and broader Northeast Ohio market. “What makes KMK so special starts with the people,” says Sam Riden, CEO of TSC.
PromoWire (7/23-7/27): News And Notes From Around The Industry
commonsku (PPAI 552077) announced that its Archive Merch Drop raised $10,714.72 for PromoKitchen, a nonprofit organization supporting the promotional products industry, to benefit the Tee Hamilton Creators Award.
PPAI Research: Industry Shows Strongest Growth Rate In More Than A Year
It’s been more than a year of the type of growth that the branded merchandise industry isn’t exactly popping champagne over; small and technical year-over-year growth that hasn’t been enough to relieve margin pressures or guarantee profits. PPAI Research’s most recent bi-monthly survey may not have branded merch professionals opening the fridge for that bottle of bubbly, but it does reveal an uptick in growth that merch hasn’t seen in quite a while.
PromoWire (7/16-7/20): News And Notes From Around The Industry
Starline USA (PPAI 112719, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 29 supplier, has appointed Marc Mann as regional sales manager for its newly created Southeast-West territory. Mann previously spent six years with Starline covering the Midwest and recently relocated to Alabama. In his new role, Mann will be responsible for supporting customers and sales efforts in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.
Facilisgroup Announces New Head Of AI And AI Vision At Supplier Showcase
Facilisgroup (PPAI 493664, Gold), a technology-based business service provider, shared a few updates about its Syncore promo platform with attendees of its annual Supplier Showcase. Among the announcements were new products and capabilities within the realms of compliance and products search. But arguably stealing the spotlight was the focus on AI and its relation to Syncore, emphasized by Facilisgroup announcing a new head of AI.
Team On Demand Makes Calls To Action For Communities Affected By Venezuelan Earthquake
The numbers being reported out of Venezuela are staggering. To comprehend the results of two major earthquakes on June 24 as anything more than statistics is a harrowing exercise. But that’s the first step in a call to action. At least 4,490 dead At least 16, 700 injured At least 17,900 left homeless For all that tragedy and destruction that has already happened, the earthquakes have left ongoing turmoil in these communities.
WAP Sustainability Study: Who, What, Why
PPAI’s 2026 Strategic Plan – meant to affirm the Association’s mission into day-to-day purpose carried out over the next five years – includes a Priority Lane that focuses on Sustainability and Responsibility.
Consumer Study: What Makes Branded Merch Worth Keeping
Home • PPAI Media • Consumer Study: What Makes Branded Merch Worth Keeping Premium Research Professional Tier Members: Use your My.PPAI login to access this Premium Research content. You may also register or reset your password at the login link. Not a Silver, Gold or Platinum member of PPAI? Contact your account manager and upgrade to a Professional tier today. Login
New Member Spotlight: Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn
Ginger Frank, Founder & CEO Poppyhandcraftedpopcorn.com PPAI 907875 How did your company get its start? In 2014, Poppy began as a small retail popcorn shop in Asheville, North Carolina. At the time, my ambitions were simple: Make delicious popcorn, hope people would come through the door to buy it, create more flexibility for myself as a single mom raising two young children, and earn enough to cover the bills while building a better future for my family.
Pride Spending Trails Peak Years But ‘Lasting Connections’ Spark Rise
Last year’s Pride Month was something of a low financially, and it was largely a reflection of the political moment. There was a significant scale-back by brands on Pride-related spending compared to recent years, and the majority of those brands pointed to the same reason.
From Apparel Partner To ‘Growth Partner,’ S&S Debuts New Rebrand
For a number of years, the company formerly known as S&S Activewear told its customers that they could “Create Your Vision” and thus bring their ideas to life when they worked with the supplier. Today, PPAI 100’s No. 2 supplier, which has announced that it will officially be known as simply S&S (PPAI 256121, Platinum) as part of a larger rebrand, has broadened the relationship that it has with its customers and everything that entails. Naturally, that tagline had to evolve.
Grossman Marketing Group Acquires Larick Associates
Grossman Marketing Group (PPAI 281988, Gold) has announced the acquisition of Larick Associates, a Port Washington, New York-based distributor with longstanding clientele in the education industry. Headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts, Grossman Marketing Group made its debut on the PPAI 100 this year, ranking as the No. 34 supplier. In 2025, it acquired New York-based distributor Cooley Group. The two companies combine for more than 200 years of operational experience.
Ball Pro Pairs Growth With Retail Brand Partnerships
Ball Pro (PPAI 112763, Gold) sits somewhere between catering to a specific clientele of end users and being at the edge of a rising trend in the branded merch industry. As the company has grown in recent years – it’s seen a rise to No. 18 in the PPAI 100 after debuting at No. 37 in 2023 and has a three-year growth trend of 127.7% – it has also partnered with a number of household and retail brand names.
Photos: International Leadership Summit Kicks Off In Brussels
PPAI kicked off its International Leadership Summit Monday in Brussel, Belgium. The tentpole event of PPAI’s global presence, ILS emphasizes the Association’s intent to expand its global voice, develop international alliances and support a more connected worldwide branded merchandise community. The event convenes global leaders and industry experts from the branded merchandise sector for three days of engaging dialogue and strategic discussions.
SAGE Database Surpasses 2 Million Products
PPAI technology partner SAGE has announced that it has officially surpassed 2 million products in its database for the first time in the company’s history. The business service provider says that amassing that number of products is more about reaching a milestone and more having the capabilities to evolve with the industry and be a resource for distributors who need a tool to find what they are looking for.
Freedom 250 Logo ‘Open To All,’ But Commercial Use Still Requires Permission
With the summer season closing in and July 4th festivities only a month away, Freedom 250 announced that it has “opened its brand to the nation,” making the official organization’s logo available without licensing fees for interested parties. Freedom 250 honors the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. “The nation’s 250th year is a celebration that belongs to every American,” says Keith Krach, CEO of Freedom 250.
New Member Spotlight: B Squared
Tim Boucher, Founder & President bsqu.com PPAI 755544 How did your company get its start? B Squared was founded in the early 2000s, right after 9/11. I had been working in print and equipment sales and saw an opportunity to build something more responsive, more hands-on and more service-driven. What started as a smaller operation in Manhattan quickly evolved as our clients began to rely on us for more, especially in high-pressure environments where speed and precision matter.
CBP Issues Over $20B In IEEPA Refunds In First Month
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced this week that it has finalized $20.6 billion in tariff refunds so far for duties charged under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. These tariffs, enacted by President Donald Trump last year, were invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court in February. The first phase of CBP’s electronic refund system launched April 20.
PPAI Research: Modest Industry Growth Varies By Company Size & Position In Supply Chain
The data backs up what much of the branded merch world is likely feeling. The industry is operating somewhere far ahead of panic but only just on the edges of what could be comfortably considered stability as of late. Recent months have produced positive (if modestly so) overall growth for the industry at large, but that growth has been generally uneven. According to PPAI Research’s bi-monthly study, PPAI 100 suppliers grew by 1.1% in March and April compared to the same months in 2025.
The Things We Don’t Throw Away
The most obvious form of advertising isn’t necessarily the most effective. A billboard or TV commercial might be the first thing that comes to mind, because you know for a fact that they are trying to sell you something. But Marketing 101 will tell you that great advertising is at least a little bit subliminal.
‘A Shared Responsibility:’ PPAI 100 Distributors Rise Through Professional Development
In the 2026 PPAI 100, 25 distributors earned High Marks for Professional Development. In other words, a quarter of the PPAI 100 distributors have committed to encouraging their teams to grow through industry-specific courses and engagement. Scoring for this category includes the total number of CAS, MAS and MAS+ certified employees on each company’s roster, with added credit given for the more advanced certificates.
Australasian Branded Merch Delegates Conclude US Tour At NALC
Branded merch is international, and PPAI has recommitted to fostering the connectivity between promo on different sides of the globe. It’s right there in our new Strategic Plan, which lists “International Partnerships and Advocacy” as a Priority Lane.
Business Services Provider Sendoso Acquires Merch.co
Sendoso has announced the acquisition of Florida-based distributor Merch.co (PPAI 801093, Standard-Base). Sendoso is a business services provider that focuses on personalized gifting, helping revenue teams send shipments to locations efficiently. The San Francisco-based company previously built a fulfillment center dedicated entirely to gifting and direct mail. The acquisition of Merch.co allows Sendoso to combine its distribution capabilities with a bevy of unlocked production assets.
Supplier Growth Stories Must Account For ‘Once-In-Decade Spike’ In 2022
You’ve heard PPAI 100 talked about as a “holistic” ranking. A prominent example of that being that the list focuses on more than just revenue, also factoring in Growth as a key metric and determining factor. Building out a picture of where a company has been recently, where it is now and, potentially, where it’s going, is a fair and accurate way to understand and then begin to rank branded merch firms.
LEAD Lansing Shows How Regional Advocacy Can Elevate Branded Merch
Advocacy for the branded merchandise industry doesn’t begin and end in Washington, D.C. Increasingly, it also happens in state capitols, regional association events and local conversations where policymakers can hear directly from the businesses that make up the industry. That was the message at LEAD Lansing, hosted by the Michigan Promotional Professionals Association at the Michigan State Capitol on May 6.
‘Unrealistic:’ The Complicated Supplier Perspective Of Passing Down Tariff Refunds
“I wish I lived during precedented times.” No one knows who said it first, but it’s become something of a common refrain and joke these days, as we are so often reminded of the “unprecedented” nature of a current event. And yet, it cannot be overstated just how unprecedented the current situation is involving tariff refunds. In February, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
New Member Spotlight: Secret Swig
Codie Cartwright Co-Owner Secret-swig.com PPAI 902970 How did your company get its start? Secret Swig started with a story my mom told me after attending a concert. She shared how my youngest sister had managed to sneak a traditional flask through security, and once inside, she realized a lot of people were doing the same thing – trying to discreetly bring their own drinks into events. When she told me about it, it sparked an idea.
Branding Without Borders
They say the world is smaller than it has ever been due to the connectivity of technology and the relative ease of travel. That said, it’s still pretty darn big. We still live where we live, and people tend to do business with who and what they are comfortable with. Naturally, that can keep a lot of industries local or regional. The more time you spend around the branded merch world, though, you’re going to hear that, fundamentally, it’s a relationship industry.
PPAI Research Temperature Check: How Do End Buyers Perceive Branded Merch?
Sitting at the top of PPAI’s recently debuted five-year strategic plan is a goal and a vision: to establish and showcase that branded merch is the premier marketing channel that Powers Lasting Connections. And yet still that does not preclude the fact that it exists within a larger marketing ecosystem.
‘Scrolling Isn’t Strategy:’ Flywheel Brands Debuts MerchButler.AI
You’ll hear a lot of superlatives used to describe AI platforms.
Fey Industries Acquires Promopet And The Bandana Factory
Fey Industries, parent company of Fey Promo (PPAI 113944, Silver), PPAI 100’s No. 89 supplier, has announced the acquisition of the Promopet and The Bandana Factory brands from Jackson, Wisconsin-based supplier WOVIN Brands (PPAI 113213, Standard-Plus). Fey Promo plans to integrate the acquired brands into its operational and e-commerce platforms, move equipment and inventory into its Edgarton, Minnesota operation and expand the product assortment.
New Member Spotlight: LogoCup
Jon Thacker Sales Rep PPAI 899820 How did your company get its start? LogoCup was founded by the same company that brought custom printed, low minimums to the box category: BoxUp. BoxUp's founder saw an opportunity to bring this same commitment to using digital technology to transform the humble paper cup into a promotional powerhouse. What led your company to enter the promotional products market? No one truly understands product use cases like the PPAI promo resellers.
HALO Bolsters Its Executive Team With 3 New Hires
(PPAI 106462, Platinum), PPAI 100's No. 2 distributor, has announced the appointments of Erin DeCesare as chief product and technology officer, Ameed Mallick as executive vice president of the seller platform and Michael Snyder as vice president of uniforms. DeCesare joined HALO in January. She brings extensive experience leading product and technology organizations through periods of scale and transformation.
Theranos Whistleblower, Trend Expert To Take Stage At NALC 2026
PPAI's North American Leadership Conference is curated to prepare the branded merchandise industry for tomorrow. NALC 2026, which takes place May 12-14 in San Diego, combines executive networking with content to create insights for navigating some of the most complicated business questions facing the industry today and into the years to come.
ASI Names New CEO With Background In Technology Platforms
Exactly six months after announcing the pending retirement of CEO Tim Andrews, ASI has now announced his successor. Ashish Mittal will take over leadership of the company beginning April 1, the day after Andrews' official retirement, having spent 23 years with the company. Siblings Matthew Cohn and Stephanie Cohn Schaeffer, third generation stewards of ASI, are now co-chairs of the ASI board. Norman Cohn transitions into the role of chairman emeritus.
Cintas To Acquire UniFirst
Cintas Corporation (PPAI 303547, Gold), PPAI 100's No. 92 distributor, has announced it will acquire UniFirst, a supplier of uniforms, workwear and safety equipment, for $5.5 billion. Cintas previously made two other offers to acquire UniFirst, The Wall Street Journal reported. Revenue for Cintas' fiscal 2026 third quarter ending February 28 was $2.84 billion compared to $2.61 billion in last year's third quarter, an increase of 8.9%.
Olympic Pin Trading Sparks Big Interest In Merch Staple
Pin trading is an Olympic tradition that dates back even further than the torch lighting. Since 1900, when athletes, officials and members of the media began swapping official pins for being involved with the Games, participants and spectators have spent the two weeks at the international sporting showcase amassing their ever-growing collections. At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Coca-Cola sponsored the first official pin trading center. This year, Warner Bros.
Everybody Loses
Real quick before we start: You can subscribe here. And I’d love it if you took a second to think of a person who’d be into this sort of thing and send it to them, so they can think about subscribing too. Artist: Baptiste Régnier (Unsplash) Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling (2026) by Danny Funt Genre: Investigative sports journalism tackling the most pressing issue touching sports now and going forward.
Victoria MacKenzie-Childs
Victoria MacKenzie-Childs, co-founder of New York-based home décor supplier MacKenzie-Childs (PPAI 883723, Standard-Base), passed away on March 4. She was 77, according to PEOPLE. A San Francisco native, MacKenzie-Childs earned a Master of Fine Arts from Alfred University in New York, The Citizen reported. She and her husband, Richard MacKenzie-Childs, co-founded the brand in 1983.
New Member Spotlight: In2Green
The company was founded in 2006 on the principles of sustainability, which still continue today. The business eventually shaped to offer custom throw blankets and pillows. What led your company to enter the promotional products market? We started receiving requests for custom branded throws. Knitting in the branding as part of the custom design is our unique value proposition, because it has an elevated feel compared to an embroidering stock.
Koozie Group Appoints New Chief Commercial Officer
Koozie Group (PPAI 114187, Platinum), PPAI 100's No. 11 supplier, has announced the appointment of Patrick Reininger as the company's new chief commercial officer. He joins the Clearwater, Florida-based company after a two-year stint as CEO of Proactive Dealer Solutions, which was acquired by Better Car People. Koozie Group says that in his role as chief commercial officer, Reininger will be tasked with leading marketing, sales, strategic partnerships and revenue operations.
Where Conversations Shape Careers
It isn't just what you'll see. It's who you'll meet. At The PPAI Expo, relationships aren't just made - they're transformed. And if business is built on relationships, promo's largest and longest-running trade show is where the strongest ones begin. In the span of a few days, you're in the same rooms and the same aisles with thousands of people who speak your language. The colleagues, partners and future collaborators who can shape your year, and maybe even your career.
Warwick Publishing Celebrates 100 Years Of Family-Owned Business
For Warwick Publishing (PPAI 114154, Gold), 2026 represents a big round number, one that very few companies are fortunate enough to reach: This year, PPAI's No. 66 supplier celebrates its centennial. But not only did the St. Charles, Illinois-based firm reach 100 years, it did so while remaining family owned and operated. Warwick Publishing is now in its 5th generation, currently owned by Alex Paschal, the company's CEO and a 2023 PPAI Rising Star.
Employment Law Trends To Watch In 2026
Everyone can agree that 2025 was a tumultuous year. While there wasn't the expected legislative activity from Congress, the Trump administration enacted a lot of major changes impacting employers and employees. Meanwhile, several states took advantage of their unified legislatures and/or the trends from the Trump administration to pass legislation of their own. Here are some trends we're noticing and thoughts to help you prepare for what is ahead in 2026.
This Company's New Year's Resolution? Make Promo Hungry For Food Gifts
Chip and Coco are the newest mascots in the promotional products industry, set to embark on many adventures throughout 2026 and beyond. In one dreamscape, you'll find them kayaking through a chocolate river; in another, they're sailing a chocolate ocean on a giant bar of chocolate. The swirl of red, mocha and vanilla evoke calmness and whimsy, transporting you to a lazy summer of yesteryear, when you only needed sunshine and a snack to bring a smile to your freckled face.
Brian Stahl, Co-Founder Of STAHLS'
Brian Stahl, co-founder and longtime operations leader at Michigan-based supplier ' (PPAI 189660, Standard-Plus), passed away on November 22 in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was 79, according to Andrews Mortuary. Born and raised in the Detroit area, Stahl carried a lifelong commitment to service, discipline and integrity.
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