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AIA’s Sales up 30% as Firm Moves to New Headquarters

The Top 40 promo distributor said revenue is $144 million through the year’s first three quarters.

Through the first three quarters of 2019, Top 40 promotional products distributor AIA Corporation (asi/109480) said it has increased total gross booked sales 30% over 2018 to $144 million. In announcing the results Thursday, the Wisconsin-headquartered firm noted that its third quarter sales were up nearly 21% year over year to $52 million.

Meanwhile, AIA said it started the fourth quarter off by relocating from Neenah, WI to a new 22,000-square-foot headquarters in Appleton, WI. “Growth is a driving force behind AIA’s decision to move,” the company said in a statement. “The new office, which AIA moved into this month, provides space for AIA’s growing team, design features to encourage collaboration among employees and AIA’s business owners, a centralized location to attract top talent, [and] modern design and amenities.”

AIA Corporation CEO Matt Gresge

As for full-year 2019 sales, AIA said that it’s set a brisk pace that could see the annual revenue goal of $210 million exceeded. AIA’s 2018 promo revenue was $189.8 million, so reaching the $210 million goal would represent a 10.6% year-over-year revenue rise.

Business intelligence tools, a continually updated technology platform that streamlines order entry/management, an owner success team that provides business/sales coaching, marketing supports and signing up more AIA-affiliated owners have all contributed to the 2019 sales success.

“These investments are moving AIA and our business owners ahead of the industry. And we’re not stopping,” said Matt Gresge, CEO of AIA. “This year, we’ve launched a new sales training program and hosted our inaugural Supplier Summit event, all of which will continue in 2020 and beyond.”

So far in 2019, Gresge noted that 15 new distributors have joined AIA. Additionally, nearly half of all AIA business owners have experienced positive growth this year, while 82 distributors have grown sales by 10% or greater over 2018. In addition, 48 AIA business owners have exceeded or will exceed $1 million in gross sales this year, the company said. “The success we’ve achieved in 2019 reinforces our commitment to supporting the growth of our business owners,” said Gresge.

With reported 2018 North American promotional product revenue of $189.8 million, AIA ranked 13th on Counselor’s latest list of the largest industry distributors. The firm’s five-year average annual growth rate is 7.4%.