Action Plus Ideas
Action Plus Ideas is a Charlotte-based promotional products distributor founded in 1992 that designs, customizes, and fulfills branded merchandise, online company stores, custom kits, and warehousing for corporate, healthcare, education, nonprofit, and event clients across hundreds of accounts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersCharlotte, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Action Plus Ideas does
Action Plus Ideas is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based promotional products distributor founded in 1992 by Eric Lerner. The company sources, customizes, and fulfills branded merchandise for corporate, healthcare, education, nonprofit, and event clients, operating from a headquarters on Monroe Road and a showroom in Charlotte's Oakhurst neighborhood. Service lines include custom merchandise (apparel, drinkware, bags, headwear, health, office, and tech accessories), fully customizable online company stores with private URLs, custom kitting for events and onboarding, on-site warehousing and fulfillment, and design services supported by an in-house graphic artist. The company is a member of The Premier Group, an exclusive national distributor network, and maintains an active event-consultation practice spanning golf tournaments, corporate events, trade shows, and outdoor events.
The business employs approximately 25 people and is privately held and founder-owned, with Eric Lerner as CEO & Founder and Alicia Rhodes (24-year tenure since 2000) as President. Reported named accounts include Piedmont Natural Gas and Girls on the Run. The company self-describes as a "multimillion-dollar" enterprise serving "hundreds of local and national accounts."
Revenue mechanics combine one-time merchandise sales with recurring components from company-store management, custom kitting, and managed warehousing/fulfillment. Pricing is quote-based rather than published, with each account assigned a dedicated representative for white-glove service. Distribution is delivered through direct sales (account reps and phone), the Charlotte showroom, a self-serve e-commerce site, the Premier Group partner network, and event-driven channels including the Brand Together client events. The company also operates the API Cares program, donating 10% of profits to local charities since 2017, and was awarded the EcoVadis Silver Badge in 2025 alongside a published Carbon Footprint Report.
Action Plus Ideas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Action Plus Ideas
- Legal name
- Action Plus Ideas
- Website
- https://actionplusideas.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Action Plus Ideas is a Charlotte-based promotional products distributor founded in 1992 that designs, customizes, and fulfills branded merchandise, online company stores, custom kits, and warehousing for corporate, healthcare, education, nonprofit, and event clients across hundreds of accounts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Action Plus Ideas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Promotional Products and Branded Merchandise
- NAICS
- Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (459420)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Trade Show Giveaways & Event Premiums (BPAFAMAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Event Strategy & Experience Design (BPAFAGAA), Party Favors, Gifts & Custom Merchandise (HSACACAM)
Keywords
Where Action Plus Ideas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charlotte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Action Plus Ideas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Branded Merchandise Sales: Sale of custom promotional merchandise including apparel, drinkware, bags, hats, tech accessories, and event signage. Products are customized with client branding through various decoration techniques.
- Company Store Management: Providing and managing customized online company stores that serve as centralized ordering locations for client employees, saving employers time and money.
- Custom Kitting Services: Creating custom-branded kits with multiple products assembled together for events, onboarding, client gifts, and marketing campaigns.
- Warehousing and Fulfillment: On-site warehouse services keeping client inventory stocked and organized for quick and accurate order processing and fulfillment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom quotation required |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Action Plus Ideas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Action Plus Ideas is a full-service promotional marketing company and distributor of custom-branded merchandise, including apparel, drinkware, bags, hats, tech accessories, and office supplies. The company sources products, applies client branding through decoration techniques, and offers turnkey services such as online company stores, custom kitting, warehousing and fulfillment, and event-focused merchandise solutions for golf tournaments, corporate events, trade shows, and outdoor events.
Product overview
Action Plus Ideas is a full-service promotional marketing company and distributor of branded merchandise. The core offering centers on Custom Merchandise across multiple product categories (apparel, bags & totes, drinkware, headwear, health & wellness, office & tech, writing). Supporting core capabilities include Online Company Stores (centralized employee ordering platforms), Custom Kitting (assembly of branded product kits), and Warehousing (inventory management and fulfillment). Additional services encompass Design Services, Event Consultation, and specialized Event Services for golf tournaments, corporate events, trade shows, and outdoor events. The company operates as a distributor in the promotional products industry, sourcing from suppliers and decorators.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- API Cares: The company's charitable initiative that donates 10% of profits to local charities and community organizations since 2017.
Products and services
- Custom Merchandise
Quantifiable outcome
- Tote bags generate over 5,700 impressions per year with 87% of consumers keeping them for their utility, delivering over 1,000 impressions per dollar spent
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Action Plus Ideas
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Action Plus Ideas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Action Plus Ideas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- The Premier GroupcoreExclusive group of the most reputable and qualified distributors and suppliers in the promotions industry. Members are committed to working together to grow and support each other's businesses through trust-based personal relationships and strategic alliances. Located across the country.
- API CarescoreCorporate social responsibility initiative where Action Plus Ideas donates 10% of profits since 2017 to local charities, schools, and community organizations including ALS Association, Humane Society, Learning Help Centers of Charlotte, Habitat for Humanity, and many others.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Action Plus Ideas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SanMar: Industry-leading wholesale supplier of imprintable apparel and accessories. Like alphabroder, SanMar sits upstream of Action Plus Ideas as a key supplier — useful peer for understanding the supply-side economics API navigates.
- alphabroder: One of the largest wholesale distributors of imprintable apparel and accessories in North America. Operates upstream of Action Plus Ideas in the value chain as a supplier, making it a relevant incumbent comparator and ecosystem partner.
Direct peers
- Safeguard: Large network of distributors offering promotional products, printing, and branded merchandise. Comparable in business model and product mix, though structured as a franchised/distributor network.
- Boundless (formerly Brandvia): Mid-market promotional products and branded merchandise distributor with comparable event, kitting, and company-store capabilities. Closest scale-comparable peer for a regional player like Action Plus Ideas.
- 4imprint: One of the largest promotional products distributors in North America, offering branded merchandise across apparel, drinkware, bags, and tech accessories. Directly comparable business model (B2B promotional product distribution) but at materially greater scale and with public-company financial transparency.
- HALO Recognition: Large-scale promotional products and branded merchandise distributor serving enterprise clients with company stores, kitting, and fulfillment — virtually identical service stack to Action Plus Ideas' online company stores, custom kitting, and warehousing offerings.
- BDA (Bancorp Display Assets / BDA Merchandise): National promotional products and branded merchandise distributor with deep event and sports-merchandise expertise (similar golf/sports tournament focus). Provides direct competition for Action Plus Ideas' specialty golf event services.
- Identity Links: Regional promotional products distributor offering custom branded merchandise, kitting, and event solutions. Comparable operating model and customer segments (corporate, nonprofit, education).
Emerging players
- Gemline: Promotional products supplier/distributor with focus on bags, drinkware, and tech accessories. Comparable in product-category mix to Action Plus Ideas' core merchandise lines and useful as a category-overlap peer.
Regional players
- Cutter & Buck: Premium golf apparel and corporate apparel brand with strong presence in golf tournaments and corporate gifting — overlapping with Action Plus Ideas' golf tournament merchandise vertical and apparel customization capabilities.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Action Plus Ideas social profiles
Digital presenceAction Plus Ideas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Action Plus Ideas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Action Plus Ideas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Action Plus Ideas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Action Plus Ideas
What does Action Plus Ideas do?
Action Plus Ideas is a full-service promotional marketing company and distributor of custom-branded merchandise, including apparel, drinkware, bags, hats, tech accessories, and office supplies. The company sources products, applies client branding through decoration techniques, and offers turnkey services such as online company stores, custom kitting, warehousing and fulfillment, and event-focused merchandise solutions for golf tournaments, corporate events, trade shows, and outdoor events.
Is Action Plus Ideas a public or private company?
Action Plus Ideas is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Action Plus Ideas founded?
Action Plus Ideas was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Action Plus Ideas based?
Action Plus Ideas is headquartered in Charlotte, United States, in the North America region.
How does Action Plus Ideas make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Branded Merchandise Sales are the primary driver. The others are company Store Management, custom Kitting Services and warehousing and Fulfillment.
Who are Action Plus Ideas's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SanMar and alphabroder. Direct peers are Safeguard, Boundless (formerly Brandvia), 4imprint, HALO Recognition, BDA (Bancorp Display Assets / BDA Merchandise) and Identity Links. Gemline is listed as an emerging player. Cutter & Buck is listed as a regional player.
Does Action Plus Ideas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Action Plus Ideas.
What industry is Action Plus Ideas in?
Action Plus Ideas's product category is Promotional Products and Branded Merchandise. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAMAG, Trade Show Giveaways & Event Premiums, with a secondary code of BPAFAGAA, Event Strategy & Experience Design. Its NAICS code is 459420 and its SIC code is 7310.