Top 40 promotional products distributor BAMKO (asi/131431) increased total global sales nearly 125% year over year in the first quarter of 2021 to about $58.87 million, according to financial data released by Superior Group of Companies, the promo firm’s parent company.

Los Angeles-headquartered BAMKO’s Q1 results included about $44.65 million in promotional products sales, as well as another $14.21 million in revenue from personal protective equipment (PPE).

While BAMKO’s PPE sales were up significantly compared to the first quarter of 2020, when the full brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic was yet to be felt, the sales channel has slowed significantly from heights seen later in 2020, Superior noted.

BAMKO’s growth came in what was a broadly successful quarter for Superior Group of Companies.

The Seminole, FL-based firm said that for the first quarter ended March 31, total company net sales – which include BAMKO and its other divisions – increased 49.4% to $140.8 million. Pretax income was $13.2 million compared to $4.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. Net income was $10.5 million or $0.66 per diluted share compared to $3.4 million, or $0.22 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2020.

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Still, BAMKO – and Superior more broadly – have not been immune to the supply chain challenges that have beset many industries, including promo.

“We, along with other companies, are navigating logistical headwinds that originated in shipping ports that are now cascading throughout the transportation and logistics ecosystem,” said Superior CEO Michael Benstock. “As a result, we ended the quarter with sizable backlogs in both our uniforms and our promotional product segments.”

BAMKO’s Q1 performance occurred during the same quarter in which North American promotional products distributors’ sales declined, on average, nearly 15% compared to the same three-month period in 2020.

Continued COVID-19 complications, a drop-off in sales of PPE, supply chain woes and pricing pressures – they all resulted in the industry-wide decline. Even so, there’s a sense that business is beginning to churn and that year-over-year growth lies ahead.

Superior and BAMKO are optimistic. “We remain enthusiastic and dedicated to continuing with our disciplined, long-term approach,” said Benstock. “It has and we believe will continue to yield sustainable organic growth in both our recurring customer base and with new customers.”

BAMKO currently ranks 19th on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest distributors in the promo industry, based on its 2019 full-year North American promotional products revenue. The new rankings, based on 2020 performance, are due out in July.