The 2016 Top 50 Distributors: No. 3, American Solutions for Business

Each year, Print+Promo provides the definitive ranking of the Top 50 Distributors in the industry. As part of this issue, we feature exclusive interviews with the CEOs, presidents and owners of our top five companies. The full Print+Promo 2016 Top 50 Distributors list can be found in our November issue.

No. 3: American Solutions for Business (ASB)
Answers provided by Justin Zavadil, executive vice president

What was your company’s biggest accomplishment over the last year?

Justin Zavadil: The biggest accomplishment we’ve achieved over the past year is record sales growth [in the double digits]. We continue to grow more than 10 percent year-over-year because of the commitment from our wonderful sales associates and home office staff.

What is your company’s top priority for 2017?

JZ: To grow our employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) share value. ASB is 100 percent employee-owned and everything that we do is centered around growing the value of our company and our ESOP value. We have a number of strategic goals that all impact this main goal.

What do you think is the biggest challenge for distributors in our industry, and how can we work toward a solution?

JZ: Our biggest challenge is staying relevant in a changing marketplace. Our strategies to grow our company and stay relevant are all geared around our customers and our sales associates. We need to constantly be retooling and reinvesting in our offerings so we can provide our sales associates the things they need to differentiate themselves from the competition and provide their customers exactly what they need. ASB wants to be able to be prepared to provide our customers with products and technology even before they know they need it or want it. Those offerings include things that will solve their problems and improve their business. We need to be the problem solvers.

What is a great piece of advice you personally received? Did you have occasion to put it to use?

JZ: Pick your battles. I put it to use every single day. There are always fires to put out and some are more important than others. You don’t always have the bandwidth or stamina to solve them all. I need to be able to focus on the right problems. I have an amazing team that I work with and I have complete confidence in them. That makes the job much easier.

Give us a glimpse of who Justin Zavadil is outside the office. Where would people most likely find you when you’re not at work?

JZ: When I am not traveling for work, you can often find me at home with my wife, Alisha, our 2.5-year-old daughter, Willow, our 7-month-old Great Dane puppy, Winston, and our three horses. Because I am on the road a good amount, I cherish every moment I get with my family. We have fun on our little hobby farm. Right now we are considering adding a flock of sheep to the mix this coming spring.