Top 40 distributor AIA Corporation (asi/109480) hosted its second Supplier Summit in Chicago last month, providing attendees with a forum for engaging, educational and collaborative discussion. Thirty-six members from AIA’s Platinum MVP and top 12 supplier community joined AIA leadership for the event.

AIA Corporation CEO Matt Gresge

AIA CEO Matt Gresge opened the summit with a review of AIA’s strong 2019 performance, which included growing its sales at twice the industry average. Various AIA leadership team members discussed how suppliers can become more engaged with AIA by participating in marketing programs that offer cooperative brand-building opportunities to increase product awareness and customer preference. There was also a “day in the life” presentation led by AIA owners that offered an inside look at the challenges facing distributors today.

“The goal of the AIA Supplier Summit is to create an intimate forum where we provide our supplier partners with an inside look at AIA and identify new and better ways to help them grow their businesses,” Gresge said in a press release. “This only happens when all parties take the time to step back, listen to each other and ideate together. In today’s fast-paced, quickly changing world, this is easier said than done. The summit ensures this happens, and the result is tangible – stronger relationships and thriving businesses.”

Participant feedback was positive, with Aaron Gunderson, senior vice president of sales for Top 40 supplier The Magnet Group (asi/68507), saying, “The Supplier Summit was a great two days of transparency and collaboration, bringing focus to growing together. When we strategically get to the heart of our businesses, opportunities present themselves for everyone involved – the AIA Supplier Summit fosters that.”

With reported 2018 North American promotional product revenue of $189.8 million, AIA Corporation ranked 13th on Counselor’s latest list of the largest distributors in the industry.