twelveNYC (asi/347988), a certified B Corp, has joined The Peernet Group, an alliance of 17 distributors across North America representing $395 million in revenue. “We are thrilled to welcome twelveNYC to the Peernet Group family,” said Darlene Blum, CEO. She added that the company “has built a successful and disruptive business with their innovative approach and creative excellence. Their remarkable achievements and progressive mindset align with our mission to raise the bar for marketing excellence. They represent the high standards and exceptional performance that all Peernet members embody, and we are excited to have them at the table.”

An award-winning agency for the design and production of merch, twelveNYC was founded in 2005 and has an annual revenue of $58 million. Brandon Conovitz, president of twelveNYC, said the affiliation with Peernet will “provide our teams with best-in-class partners and partnerships in this space, ensuring we deliver dynamic promotional product stories for our incredible roster of clients.”

The Beefy-T T-shirt (5180) from HanesBrands (asi/59528) was recently dubbed the “best T-shirt ever” by Esquire magazine. Writer Luke Guillory said the Beefy-T “has an impeccable fit and the price is unbeatable,” adding that “this is my only blank tee, and it should be yours too.” The Beefy-T was introduced more than 40 years ago as a more robust alternative to the undershirts California surfers were printing on at the time, according to HanesBrands.

Chemical Light, Inc. has announced that it will integrate Liquid Light Glows and CGN Promotions into one line under Brighter Promotions (asi/42016), to create “the ultimate one-stop shop” for distributors. The company says the move will simplify the purchasing process, and allow the company to offer faster response times, a centralized order process and additional product releases.

DML Creation (asi/48031) in St. Jerome, QC, announces that Chris Broderick of Sequence Sports Marketing has been appointed to represent the company’s product line in southern Alberta. He joins Dennis Cranston of Aidem Marketing Group, the company’s current rep in Alberta, to better serve distributor customers in the province. National Sales Director Tony Mannucci says that while Broderick and Cranston operate separate agencies, they frequently work together to represent different supplier lines.

American Solutions for Business(ASB, asi/120075) and industry supplier, 4over, have combined efforts to create the Print 101 site. Print 101 is an educational print series designed to help learners broaden their revenue base by offering simple, online print courses.

Proforma (asi/300094), a Top 40 distributor, announces that Michael LaPlante, vice president of technology, recently sat on a series of alumni panels at Full Sail University, his alma mater. LaPlante shared with students an overview of the technology market and details about his career path, including his time at Proforma. “It’s a special thing to be able to influence students who are currently sitting where I used to be,” he says. “I hope that by hearing about all the accomplishments we have achieved at Proforma and learning about the immense opportunities out there for them, the technologists of tomorrow will be inspired to keep moving forward.”

IDProductsource (asi/62088), a supplier based in Florida, has promoted Nolan Cowsert to vice president of production and Brett Lyskowski to vice president of operations. As production VP, Cowsert will work closely with the production, logistics, and customer service teams to drive growth and success. “Since joining us in 2015, Nolan has been a valuable asset to our team, and we are thrilled to recognize his hard work with this promotion,” said IDProductsource President Katelyn Aumock. As operations VP, Lyskowski will a bring a customer-focused approach to the company’s operations, leveraging his knowledge of the market and his expertise in sales and marketing. “Brett has been a driving force behind our success, consistently demonstrating exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and technical expertise,” said Aumock.

Atkinson Consulting has launched a new Midjourney Print Creativity Newsletter, a weekly newsletter designed to provide best-practice tips for incorporating images created with artificial intelligence into print applications. The newsletter will be published every Monday beginning May 29, and readers can subscribe for $12 a month. “I believe this newsletter will be a valuable resource for our users who want to create stunning printed products using the images they create on Midjourney. Our team has put tremendous effort into creating a fun and informative newsletter, and we can’t wait to share it with our users,” said Marshall Atkinson, the decorated-apparel industry veteran who launched Atkinson Consulting.

Cutter & Buck Canada (asi/47967) has promoted Jamie Trowbridge to the new role of director of national sales. She will be responsible for leading sales at the company and partnering with clients that include corporate distributors, department stores, e-commerce retailers, on- and off-course golf retailers, licensed sports specialty retailers, and team and award dealers. Trowbridge joined the company in 2018.

NC Custom (asi/44900), a Top 40 supplier, has been chosen by Premier Group Network as the recipient for this year’s Paul Smith Supplier Performance Award for suppliers with revenue above $50 million. The award annually goes to a Premier Group Supplier that exemplifies excellence in the areas of quality products, marketing support, internal customer service support, outside sales support, problem resolution and management support. Some of NC Custom’s top initiatives that led to success included its dedication to U.S.-based manufacturing and customer service, the acquisition of Fresh Beginnings, and increased capabilities in product lines. “We are honored to receive this recognition from Premier Group,” said Chris O’Connor, vice president of sales at NC Custom. “Premier Group and NC Custom have enjoyed a long history working together. We will continue to strive to grow our relationship with the Premier Group and its distributors.” Premier Group Network is a partnering and networking organization for suppliers and distributors in the promo products industry.

Outdoor Cap Company (asi/75420), a Top 40 supplier, has announced that its JUNK Brands division has partnered with Dr. Betsy Grunch, MD, FAANS, FACS, a neurosurgeon known as @ladyspinedoc on TikTok. Dr. Grunch, who offers educational healthcare and wellness content on social media, began using sublimated performance headbands from JUNK under the disposable caps she wore at the hospital during the pandemic – a practice she has continued to this day. Her story is now featured on Outdoor Cap’s blog.

Sportsman Cap & Bag (asi/88877), a Top 40 supplier, has paired with Imperial Headwear, a go-to brand for golf enthusiasts, to offer 20 new styles. “Imperial’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship is second to none,” said Dan Saferstein, president of Sportsman. “Not only are they a trusted brand with a long history in the industry, but Imperial is also the headwear choice for golfers. We’re excited to add such an in-demand brand to our roster.”

Pop! Promos (asi/45657) has been named “Creative Partner of the Year” for the sixth time by Top 40 distributor Nadel (asi/279600) at the distributor’s annual sales event in April. Pop! Was recognized for its industry-leading virtuals, pitch decks and 3-to-1 artist-to-salesperson ration. “Nadel is one of the most creative organizations in our industry. To be honored by such an elite group means a lot to us,” said Erin Reilly, CEO of Pop! Promos. “We spend every day finding new ways to make our customers look like rock stars, and we know that creativity is key.”

Outdoor Cap (asi/75420), a Top 40 supplier, welcomes Quinn Bui of N9ner Marketing as the multi-line rep covering Hawaii and Nevada. Bui has a decade of experience in the industry, with roles in customer service, art and design, and trade shows, as well as social media and video marketing. Along with his fiancé Jenny and dog DinDin, Bui lives out of his van and will be traveling across Nevada and Hawaii meeting with clients.

HALO (asi/356000), the largest distributor in the promo industry, has promoted Kimberly Sandifer to chief human resources officer. Sandifer has three decades of HR and business experience, having worked previously at Chubb, Ulta Beauty and CAN. Most recently, Sandifer led HALO’s HR business partner team and worked shoulder to shoulder with HALO’s previous CHRO. “Over the past two years, Kim has established great credibility with the executive team, and we have been intentionally developing her to take over when the time was right,” said Marc Simon, CEO. “Kim will lead a department she helped to build. I couldn’t be more pleased to have her as my partner.”

IMAGEN Brands (asi/93990), which is part of Top 40 supplier Koozie Group (asi/40480), has hired Brock Spurrell to the company’s sales team. He reports to Jackie Walker, national sales manager. Spurrell joins IMAGEN Brands as a regional sales manager for the Southwest territory, covering Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. “We’re delighted that Brock has joined our sales team,” says Lisa LeMond, vice president of sales and service at IMAGEN Brands. “He brings over 10 years of regional and national sales management experience that will be valuable in helping us to accelerate our brand awareness, develop relationships, and continue to serve the needs of our distributor customers.”