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S&S Activewear alternative

S&S Activewear Alternative for Promotional Product Distributors

Catalist supplies 560+ named consumer brands the end client recognizes — and sits alongside S&S Activewear in your line card, not in place of it.

S&S Activewear alternative for trade distributors. S&S Activewear serves apparel-focused asi distributors (post-alphabroder merger oct 2024). Catalist is the additive trade-only source for the named consumer brand portfolio S&S Activewear covers narrowly. Catalist sits next to S&S Activewear in the line card and supplies the hardgoods, drinkware, electronics, and outdoor categories S&S doesn't carry — with the same modern API surface.

Apply to add Catalist to your line card →

What S&S Activewear does well

Apparel speed and tech surface. Hero positioning: "Speed, scale, technology."

S&S Activewear works for distributors whose programs lean into 100-plus mostly mid-tier apparel brands. recent alphabroder merger expanded reach..

Where Catalist sits next to S&S Activewear

Catalist sits next to S&S Activewear in the line card and supplies the hardgoods, drinkware, electronics, and outdoor categories S&S doesn't carry — with the same modern API surface.

The pattern most distributors use: keep S&S Activewear on the line card for apparel speed and tech surface., 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

"When I entered this business over 20 years ago, I had personal relationships with supplier reps. That's rare now and valued by me. I choose to do business with suppliers that respond to me and treat me like they value my business."

— Kim Williams Stiller, Williams & Associates (asi/360450). ASI Counselor State of the Industry 2025 — Choosing Suppliers

"I need quick, accurate responses. I need transparency and for vendors to do what they say they will."

— Jenn Klemm, Brand Consultant, Boundless (asi/143717). ASI Counselor SOI 2025

Side-by-side: S&S Activewear and Catalist

Feature S&S Activewear Catalist
Brand portfolio 100+ apparel brands, mid-tier mix 560+ brands across drinkware, hardgoods, apparel, electronics, outdoor, kitchen
Tech surface REST API + EDI REST API, EDI X12, portal, email
Category coverage Apparel + softgoods Multi-category — softgoods, hardgoods, drinkware, electronics, outdoor, kitchen, office
Onboarding Online registration + resale cert ASI / PPAI / SAGE / UPIC same-day verification
Pricing Fully gated Distributor pricing structure public; exact numbers post-login

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 S&S Activewear alternative?
Yes. Catalist sits alongside S&S Activewear in a distributor's line card as the source for 560+ named consumer brands across drinkware, apparel, electronics, kitchen, outdoor, and hardgoods. The application uses standard PPAI / ASI / SAGE / UPIC credentials and verifies same-day.
How does Catalist compare to S&S Activewear on brand portfolio depth?
Catalist supplies named consumer brands the end client recognizes — Cuisinart, NutriBullet, Champion, Igloo, Under Armour, LEATHERMAN, Corelle, Rubbermaid, and more — across the categories S&S Activewear doesn't carry.
Can I use Catalist alongside S&S Activewear?
Yes. Catalist is designed as an additive source to your existing supplier mix, not a replacement. Most distributors keep S&S Activewear on the line card and add Catalist for the brand and category gaps. Net 30 terms apply from order one, and onboarding does not require switching off S&S Activewear.
What documentation does Catalist provide on S&S Activewear-style trade orders?
Every order ships with a brand-direct manufacturer invoice and chain-of-custody record. Documentation is delivered in the distributor portal at b2b.catalistai.com. Compliance documents (ESG, PFA, FLA) are available on request for the brands that publish them.

Other supplier alternatives Catalist covers

SanMar alternative

Catalist sits next to SanMar in the line card and supplies the named consumer brands SanMar doesn't carry — dr…

4imprint alternative

Catalist is a wholesale source for distributors, not an end-buyer storefront. Bring 4imprint's catalog gap (na…

HPG alternative

Catalist gives the same multi-brand consolidation HPG offers, plus a REST API, EDI X12, and same-day-verificat…
See all wholesale supplier alternatives →

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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