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SanMar alternative

SanMar Alternative for Promotional Product Distributors

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

SanMar alternative for trade distributors. SanMar serves apparel-heavy asi and ppai distributors. Catalist is the additive trade-only source for the named consumer brand portfolio SanMar leaves to other suppliers. Catalist sits next to SanMar in the line card and supplies the named consumer brands SanMar doesn't carry — drinkware, electronics, outdoor, kitchen.

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What SanMar does well

Apparel breadth and distribution-center coverage. Hero positioning: "Your Uniforming Authority."

SanMar works for distributors whose programs lean into owned brands (port authority, district). no named retail brands on the hero..

Where Catalist sits next to SanMar

Catalist sits next to SanMar in the line card and supplies the named consumer brands SanMar doesn't carry — drinkware, electronics, outdoor, kitchen.

The pattern most distributors use: keep SanMar on the line card for apparel breadth and distribution-center coverage., 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

"The universal principal among our customer base is they want quality products and they want retail brands they have heard of."

— Jeremy Parker, Co-founder, Swag.com. ASI Counselor, March 2024 — The Secrets Behind Bringing Retail Brands to Promo

"Demand for the hot retail brands is like a snowball going downhill, faster and faster."

— Anthony Fullenkamp, Inside Sales Manager, Links Unlimited. ASI Counselor, March 2024

Side-by-side: SanMar and Catalist

Feature SanMar Catalist
Brand portfolio Owned (Port Authority, District) + apparel mid-tier 560+ named consumer brands (Cuisinart, NutriBullet, Champion, Igloo, Under Armour, LEATHERMAN, Corelle, Rubbermaid)
Tech surface EDI on request REST API, EDI X12, portal, email — pick the workflow that fits
Onboarding Credit app + resale cert + phone qualification Apply with your ASI / PPAI / SAGE / UPIC — verified same day
Pricing Fully gated Distributor pricing structure visible publicly; exact numbers post-login
Order minimums Standard supplier minimums per SKU Drop-ship of one supported across the catalog
Terms Net 30 after credit approval Net 30 standard from order one

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 SanMar alternative?
Yes. Catalist sits alongside SanMar 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 SanMar 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 SanMar doesn't carry.
Can I use Catalist alongside SanMar?
Yes. Catalist is designed as an additive source to your existing supplier mix, not a replacement. Most distributors keep SanMar 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 SanMar.
What documentation does Catalist provide on SanMar-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

S&S Activewear alternative

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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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