Counselor’s exclusive ranking of the suppliers with the most revenue in the promotional products industry.

Edwards Garment Co.

(asi/51752)

The Kalamazoo, MI-headquartered supplier rises two spots thanks to a 41% revenue increase that CEO/President Jose Gomez attributes, in part, to a robust inventory position that was bolstered by strategic nearshore sourcing from Mexico and Central America. Well-stocked, Edwards capitalized on ample demand.

Beyond inventory depth, new products and a revamped approach to sales and marketing also helped Edwards score “dozens of new programs where large/medium-sized distributors got multi-year contracts and/or where they had a contract and switched to us from an incumbent brand,” Gomez says. A rise in sales of custom-created apparel also boosted business.

Last year, Gomez earned a promotion from president to president/CEO as longtime company leader Gary Schultz stepped back from the CEO role and became chairman.