PBN 2024 Fastest Growing Companies Awards
$50 MILLION AND ABOVE:
1. ParsonsKellogg LLC
CEO (or equivalent): Thomas Kellogg III, president
2023 Revenue: $97.4 million
2021 Revenue: $57.3 million
Revenue growth: 70.1%
WHEN SPORTING GOODS industry veteran Thomas Kellogg III founded ParsonsKellogg LLC in 2001, he leveraged his strong industry relationships to position the company as a partner for corporate distribution for premier brands such as Nike Inc., Titleist and Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. golf products, as well as to provide co-branded merchandise to corporations such as Bacardi Ltd., Buick, NBC and Accenture PLC.
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Learn MoreOver the years, as ParsonsKellogg’s client list and brand offerings have expanded, the East Providence-based sports marketing and promotional products provider has continued to explore growth opportunities. Those include inking partnerships with premium brands, including Patagonia Inc., Peter Millar, YETI Holdings Inc. and Helly Hansen.
The efforts have resulted in a jump in revenue from $57.3 million in 2021 to $97.4 million in 2023 – a 70.1% increase.
In 2019, the firm acquired Kangaroo Crossing, a Nike team dealer, and created a new division within the company servicing schools and clubs for uniforms and fan gear. A year later, ParsonsKellogg established PK Health, a division providing branded merchandise to the health care industry, followed by the launch of Corporate Gear in 2021, which has become ParsonsKellogg’s fastest-growing division, providing e-commerce solutions to corporations seeking high-end branded merchandise.
“We are the go-to brand partner in customer engagement and a top 50 distributor of promotional products, nationwide,” said Joy Cook, ParsonKellogg’s vice president of finance. “With our unique vendor relationships, we deliver superior promotional products and services at competitive prices. We ensure the experiences of our clients – whether they are a big name in corporate America or the shop around the corner – are efficient, easy and rewarding.”
In the past two years, ParsonsKellogg signed a deal with Rhode Island businessman Chad Mellen to purchase his company, Knack Bags Inc., bringing Mellen on board to serve as managing director of the firm’s recently launched Knack Bags division. Additionally, the firm relaunched its 24-on-Tour corporate gifting division, which seeks to create experiences that make recipients feel recognized, appreciated and motivated, featuring themes such as sun and sand, snow and ski, and city and sound.
“Innovation is everything in an industry where no one company has more than 4% of the market share,” Cook said. “You have to be able to set yourself apart from the competition because there is a lot of it. While we are a hybrid workforce, we are all in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday for in-person meetings and strategy sessions. We depend on our cross-department collaboration to ensure all new initiatives are seamless.”
Cook also said that while people may not think selling promotional products is important work, ParsonsKellogg does. “It’s important to its employees and their families. It’s important to the local charities that we love to support,” she said.
Along with partnering with local charities, including United Way of Rhode Island Inc., Amos House, Providence After School Alliance, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Rhode Island Reach Out & Read, ParsonsKellogg is a member of Patagonia’s One Percent For the Planet initiative. That program is a global movement of more than 1,200 companies in 48 countries that donate at least 1% of annual sales to environmental organizations committed to sustainability initiatives worldwide.
Kaley Adua, ParsonsKellogg’s director of sales, says that despite working with some of the biggest brand names, the firm retains a cozy feel where excellent work is not only noticed but celebrated.
“We work with big-name brands and customers every day but still have a small-company feel,” Adua said. “I do not see us ever losing that, no matter our size. Here, if you do an excellent job, it gets noticed. We have a history of carving out roles for people when they deserve them and I love that. At the end of the day, we do not want to be everything to everybody. We want to play to our strengths and work with best-in-class clients that can benefit from our unique access to best-in-class products.”