2021 Top Distributors: How American Solutions for Business Grew Sales by 18%

As part of Print+Promo Marketing's 2021 Top Distributors list, we asked some of the top-ranked distributors about how they fared during the first year of the pandemic, their thoughts on the industry, their future plans and more. Here, we talked to Justin Zavadil of American Solutions for Business, the No. 5 company on our 2021 Top Distributors list.

American Solutions for Business finished 2020 with $385.8 million in total sales—an 18% increase over 2019. Justin Zavadil, the company’s president, said PPE “more than made up for” reduced print and promotional sales, as did ASB’s retail business comprising mainly big box stores, which boomed during the pandemic. But when we asked Zavadil how his company grew its sales by nearly $60 million in the midst of a global economic downturn, he was unequivocal: “The best and most flexible employees and sales associates in the industry,” he said.

The key word, there, is flexible. Zavadil said that mindset has long been central to ASB’s operations, guiding the company’s overall strategy from the senior leadership level down. It’s what enabled ASB to adapt quickly in 2020 and emerge stronger than ever in 2021. “I don’t think that anyone had ‘global pandemic’ as one of their threats they were planning against,” said Zavadil. “The ability to change directions quickly and stay flexible will remain one of our core values.”

Outlook: With each business decision, ASB’s goal is to do the right thing for the right reason, said Zavadil. Does it make sense for them and will it ensure they’re the last one standing? The company plans to open a new, 60,000 square foot distribution center in late 2021, and it will continue to explore new markets. And as it navigates the inventory and logistics challenges now facing the industry, it will continue to lean on communication and relationships while embracing technology, data and digitally enabled productivity enhancements.

“We are on the brink of another industrial revolution,” said Zavadil. “The pandemic has created—or better yet, enabled—a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. At ASB, we make sure we look at every crisis as an opportunity. What can be gained from how the world has changed and how can we best position ourselves to be ready for the changes in our customers’ needs? Our team is focused on the changing workplace of our customers and how we can be the best non-threatening partner for them.”

View the full 2021 Top Distributors list (including a list of the fastest-growing distributors and top distributors by product category) here, or click here for stats, trends and analysis from the list.