Bag Makers alternative for trade distributors. Bag Makers serves asi distributors sourcing decorated bags.. Catalist is the additive trade-only source for the named consumer brand portfolio Bag Makers leaves to other suppliers. Catalist supplies bags alongside drinkware, apparel, electronics, hardgoods, kitchen, and outdoor — in one PO. For an event-bag program that bundles a tote with a tumbler and a notebook, the single-PO model removes 6+ separate POs to 6+ suppliers.
Apply to add Catalist to your line card →What Bag Makers does well
Bag specialization with broad SKU depth in one category. Hero positioning: "Bag specialist supplier."
Bag Makers works for distributors whose programs lean into owned-brand bag specialist..
Where Catalist sits next to Bag Makers
Catalist supplies bags alongside drinkware, apparel, electronics, hardgoods, kitchen, and outdoor — in one PO. For an event-bag program that bundles a tote with a tumbler and a notebook, the single-PO model removes 6+ separate POs to 6+ suppliers.
The pattern most distributors use: keep Bag Makers on the line card for bag specialization with broad sku depth in one category., add Catalist for the named consumer brand and category gaps. One PO across brands. Net 30 from order one. REST API or EDI X12 if your back office is integration-native.
Why distributors are adding new sources right now
What distributors said
"We have to babysit every order."
"For every order in the promotional products business, there are, on average, eight manual follow-up interactions between distributors and suppliers."
Side-by-side: Bag Makers and Catalist
| Feature | Bag Makers | Catalist |
|---|---|---|
| Category coverage | Bags only | Multi-category — bags + drinkware + apparel + electronics + hardgoods + kitchen + outdoor |
| Single PO across brands | Bag PO only | One PO across all SKUs and brands per program |
| Tech surface | Phone + rep | REST API, EDI X12, portal, email |
| On-time rate | 99% claim on bag orders | Scan-verified on-time rate published rolling 90-day on the distributor portal |
| Pricing | Login-gated | Distributor pricing structure public |
Comparison data sourced from each company's public hero positioning, distributor application flow, and published documentation as of May 2026. Catalist data reflects current platform capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Catalist a Bag Makers alternative?
How does Catalist compare to Bag Makers on API and EDI integration?
Can I use Catalist alongside Bag Makers?
What documentation does Catalist provide on Bag Makers-style trade orders?
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Add Catalist to your line card
Apply with your PPAI / ASI / SAGE / UPIC credentials. Same-day verification. Net 30 from order one.
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