As the legalization of marijuana spreads throughout the U.S. and Canada, Emperor Promos (asi/52371) is at the forefront of the emerging industry. In addition to securing exclusive VIP supplier status for cannabis-related promotional products with one of the five largest distributors in the industry, Emperor has become the first ASI-listed supplier to offer 100% hemp-derived CBD products like gummies and oils.

Steve Peters, co-founder and vice president of operations at the Lynchburg, VA-based firm, has saddled up with business partner Wes Merson to cash in on the “Green Rush.”

“Most people don’t know how to go about it, so there’s opportunity to create a presence even as a smaller company,” Peters says. “For most products in this industry, there are huge players who control most of the market. With the connections we’ve gathered over the years and manufacturing know-how, we’re able to compete on their level and beyond.”

In business for nearly a decade, Peters attributes the company’s growth to maintaining a presence in Asia. As a result, he and Merson are able to visit factories and inspect orders in person before they’re shipped out. The duo can also meet with factory managers when problems arise to create efficient and cost-effective solutions.

“Because we have an office in China, one of our core competencies is the ability to add new products quickly, which drives a large percentage of our sales,” Peters says. “Many distributors work with us because we have unique products they simply cannot find elsewhere.”