A "Condemned" Supplier Shares the Truth!

Much has been said lately about how businesses in our industry operate. I've covered this issue in a recent commentary; Here We Go Again... and in my "tongue in cheek" piece, Discover the Truth About Bad Companies.

There clearly are companies who operate in ways that are contrary to the traditional supplier/distributor model we are comfortable with. However, some companies are being judged by what people perceive is really happening, without an understanding of what is actually happening.

Of concern to me is how these companies are being bashed in public forums without regard to the truth. One company being unfairly judged is ADG Promotional Products. ADG has been found guilty and branded as a supplier who sells direct because of a supposed incestuous relationship with a "sister" company, Amsterdam Printing. What proof is there that they have committed this industry crime? So far, there seems to only be hearsay.

When I posted one of my 5 Great Product Ideas in 5 Minutes from a trade show, ADG was included. This set off a flurry of comments online claiming this was a company that chooses to proactively sell against a distributor. That's not accurate.

I had an in-depth discussion with Bill Mahre, the president of ADG, to find out how they actually operate.

ADG Promotional Products encompasses a family of companies: Saratoga Pens, Windmill Planners, Deerfield Collection, Adimages Drinkware and Arlington Keepsakes. Mahre took the helm at ADG five years ago with a wide range of impressive experience both in and out of our industry.

It's no secret that ADG has been the brunt of some nasty smear campaigns, incorrectly claiming they sell direct. This rumor has been around a while, and social media has given the gossip a place to flourish.