Image Source

What Image Source does

Image Source is a Kirkland, Washington-based, full-service branded merchandise agency founded in 1997-1998 that designs, sources, customizes, and fulfills promotional products, apparel, kitting, and e-commerce storefront programs for corporate clients. The company serves more than 4,000 brands across at least 11 verticals, including enterprise technology (Microsoft, Amazon, Xbox, Dropbox, Boeing), education (University of Washington, Washington State University), government (King County), hospitality, construction, senior living, and consumer brands, delivering custom kits, awards, event merchandise, and employee gifting solutions through account-manager-led direct sales and its PromoPlace.com e-commerce channel. A differentiating layer is the THRIVE sustainable merch sub-brand and the One Order One Tree program (104,893 trees planted in Tanzania via ForestNation since 2023), which together with the EcoVadis Bronze Medal and PPAI Top-100 ranking (#23 in 2026) position the firm as a sustainability-credentialed distributor.

Revenue is generated primarily on a quote-based, transaction-by-transaction model tied to product cost, decoration, kitting, and fulfillment, supplemented by professional services in design and program management. Distribution combines direct field/inside sales for enterprise accounts with a self-service e-commerce showroom and the Reciprocity Road alliance of 13 North American distributors for collaborative buying and reach. The company is privately held, founder/management-owned with no disclosed outside funding, and transitioned leadership from founder Brian Haner (d. 2024) to longtime partner Thomas Goos as President & CEO, with Tom Havens added as VP of Sales in 2026 to drive the next phase of growth.

Name

Image Source

Legal name

Image Source, Inc.

Website

https://imagesourceteam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Branded Merchandise Agency Services

NAICS

Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAFAMAA

Branded Merchandise & Corporate Gifts

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Promotional Products & Sales Promotion Services

Keywords

• Branded merchandise agency
• Promotional products distribution
• Corporate gifting solutions
• Custom apparel decoration
• Promotional fulfillment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirkland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Branded Merchandise Sales: Core revenue stream from selling customized promotional products, apparel, and branded merchandise to corporate clients. Transaction-based sales with project-based pricing for custom kitting and fulfillment.
2. Design Services: Design consultation and creative services for brand identity application to merchandise, included as part of full-service offering
3. Fulfillment Services: Order fulfillment, warehousing, and distribution services for client merchandise programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Image Source is a full-service B2B branded merchandise agency that sources, designs, customizes, and fulfills custom promotional products, apparel, custom kits, e-commerce stores, and recognition awards for corporate clients. The company manages end-to-end merchandise programs spanning creative design, decoration, warehousing, kitting, and distribution, complemented by sustainability-focused offerings through its THRIVE program and tree-planting initiative.

Product overview

Image Source is a full-service branded merchandise agency with over 25 years of experience, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered around customizable promotional merchandise. The core offering encompasses Branded Merch, Custom Kits, Fulfillment, Apparel & Uniforms, E-Commerce & Pop-ups, Design Services, Events & Tools, and Awards & Recognition. The company also operates a sub-brand called THRIVE Sustainable Merch focused on eco-friendly products. Services include curated Product Showrooms via PromoPlace, seasonal Lookbooks, and a Corporate Portfolio of completed projects. The agency model combines creative design services with product sourcing, customization, and fulfillment capabilities to deliver end-to-end branded merchandise solutions for corporate gifting, employee recognition, events, and marketing campaigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thrive: Image Source's sustainability initiative and sustainable merchandise program focusing on eco-friendly products, responsible production, and environmental stewardship.
• Thrive25

Products and services

• Branded Merch
• Custom Kits
• Fulfillment Services
• Apparel and Uniforms
• E-Commerce and Pop-Up Stores
• Design Services
• Events and Tools
• Awards and Recognition
• THRIVE Sustainable Merch Program
• One Order One Tree Reforestation Initiative

Quantifiable outcome

• Companies using branded merch achieve up to 8x less carbon impact per memorized impression compared to digital advertising (ASI-PPAI study)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Forest NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for tree planting initiative in Tanzania. Since 2023, Image Source plants trees for every order received through Forest Nation's reforestation program, creating sustainable livelihoods for local families and women in tree nurseries. As of January 2026, over 100,000 trees have been planted through this partnership.
• UPSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPS carbon neutral shipping partnership. Image Source ships via UPS carbon neutral method, supporting reforestation, landfill gas destruction, wastewater treatment and methane destruction projects. Carbon offset process is certified by The CarbonNeutral Company and verified by Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS).
• Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated the Brian Haner Scholarship in partnership with PPEF to support promotional product industry employees and their children in college. Initially funded with $10,000 to be dispersed as $1,250 merit-based scholarships over 8 years. Image Source also presents scholarship funds to PPEF.
• Mary's PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partnership supporting Mary's Place mission to ensure no child sleeps outside. Mary's Place helps thousands of women and families move from homelessness into stable housing in King County through emergency shelters.
• Food LifelineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partnership with Food Lifeline which distributes over 282,000 meals daily to people facing hunger in Western Washington through a network of food banks, shelters and meal programs.
• Children's Miracle Network HospitalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals which raises funds for 170 member hospitals providing 32 million treatments annually to children across the U.S. and Canada.
• Planet Water FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Planet Water Foundation providing safe drinking water, hand washing and hygiene education to impoverished communities in Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Since 2009, Planet Water has completed over 2,000 community projects in 32 countries.
• Fair Labor Association (FLA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs an FLA collegiate licensee, Image Source is committed to learning from FLA's rigorous standards and improving working conditions for people who make clothes and products bearing university logos.
• Reciprocity RoadcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorImage Source is a founding member of Reciprocity Road, an entrepreneurial alliance of 13 merch distributors across North America sharing vision, philanthropy, creative collaboration, and larger buying power for client savings.
• The North FaceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrand partner offering sustainable outdoor apparel and gear merchandise options for Image Source clients seeking quality branded products.
• NikeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrand partner providing premium athletic apparel and merchandise options for corporate branding programs.
• YetiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrand partner offering premium drinkware and outdoor coolers for branded merchandise programs.
• MiirminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSustainable drinkware brand partner providing eco-conscious merchandise options for branded programs.
• NomadixminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSustainable brand partner offering eco-friendly towels and textiles made from recycled ocean plastic. Members of 1% For The Planet and Climate Label Certified.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HALO: One of the largest independent branded merchandise and uniform companies in North America, serving enterprise clients across tech, financial services, and consumer brands with end-to-end sourcing, decoration, and fulfillment — directly comparable to Image Source's full-service model and enterprise customer base.
• 4imprint: Publicly traded direct marketer of promotional products serving SMB and enterprise customers through catalog and online channels. Direct competitor in the same promotional merchandise category with significantly larger scale, providing a useful public-market benchmark for the branded merch agency model.
• ePromos Promotional Products: Top-10 U.S. promotional products distributor offering custom branded merchandise, apparel, and fulfillment to enterprise and mid-market clients. Operates in the same PPAI 100 league as Image Source with comparable service scope.
• Brandable: Full-service branded merchandise agency specializing in custom promotional products, corporate gifting, and kitting for enterprise clients. Comparable service offering, similar enterprise target customer, and competing for inclusion on PPAI 100 Distributors rankings.
• National Pen: Long-standing direct promotional products company offering custom writing instruments, apparel, drinkware, and gifts to SMB and enterprise segments. Overlaps with Image Source on product categories and target use cases (corporate gifting, marketing campaigns).
• Crestline: Mid-to-large promotional products distributor providing custom branded merchandise and corporate gifts with strong fulfillment infrastructure. Competes with Image Source for enterprise accounts and PPAI list placement.
• Quality Logo Products: Top-ranked U.S. promotional products distributor with a heavy digital and e-commerce orientation. Direct competitor in the PPAI 100 with overlapping supplier relationships (Nike, Yeti, etc.) and a similar mix of enterprise and mid-market clients.

Broad incumbents

• Polyconcept / PCNA: One of the largest global promotional products groups, supplying branded merchandise through multiple distributor channels. Functions as both a competing distributor (PCNA) and a major upstream supplier ecosystem to agencies like Image Source.

Others

• SanMar: Largest U.S. wholesale supplier of imprintable apparel and accessories, providing blank inventory to decorators and agencies including Image Source. More of a supplier ecosystem partner than direct competitor, but shapes the economics of branded apparel programs Image Source delivers.

Emerging players

• SwagUp: Tech-enabled corporate swag and gifting platform offering curated kits, online stores, and global fulfillment for SMB and mid-market clients. Represents the emerging digital-first model that could pressure traditional agencies like Image Source on price and self-service convenience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbIcOIxSdx4Whm0HchUbCtQ?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/imagesourceteam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/image-source-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/imagesourceteam
• Xx.com/ImageSource

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Image Source