News April 02, 2019
Starline USA Announces Partnership with JanSport
Starline USA, the U.S. division of Top 40 supplier Starline (asi/89320), has forged a new partnership that will enable the Grand Island, NY-based firm to bring JanSport products to the American promotional products market.
JanSport is a global manufacturer of backpacks and outdoor gear that has been in business for more than 50 years. JanSport items that Starline will provide include the Big Student Backpack, Cool Student Backpack, Fifth Avenue Fanny Pack, Driver 8 Backpack and more.
Cool Student Backpack.
Fifth Avenue Fanny Pack.
“JanSport has stood apart as one of the most iconic brands in retail for the past 50 years, from its inception as an outdoor/adventure brand, to becoming the go-to backpack for multiple generations,” said Starline SVP of Sales & Marketing Brian Porter. “They are long overdue to join the promotional marketplace and we are ecstatic to be the company they’ve chosen to do so with.”
According to a company history, JanSport was founded in 1967 by three friends in Washington state. They set out to – and succeeded – in making backpacks that could withstand the difficult conditions of adventures on Mount Rainier. “Students from the University of Washington quickly discovered JanSport hiking packs and started using them to keep their books dry in the rain,” Starline said in a statement. “The company then began to tailor their line to include products suited for the demands of everyday life.”
With reported 2017 North American promotional product revenue of $33.7 million, Starline ranked 40th on Counselor’s latest list of the largest suppliers in the industry.