Company Timeline

1946

Staples Promotional Products begins as the Nat Nast Company, a bowling shirt manufacturer in Bonner Springs, Kansas.

1971

The focus of the company shifts to corporate logoed merchandise and the name changes to Swingster.

1988

Swingster is selected as one of two official premium licensees of the United States Olympic Committee.

1995

Swingster is once again selected as a USOC licensee and the company moves into the top five of Counselor Magazine's top 25 distributors.

1998

Swingster merges with K-Products, another industry-leading promotional products company, to create American Identity.

2000

American Identity merges with Boise Marketing Services, Inc., another top logoed merchandise distributor in the industry.

2003

American Identity is named the top promotional merchandise company by the Advertising Specialty Institute and Counselor Magazine for the second consecutive year.

2007

American Identity is acquired by Staples, Inc. and becomes Staples Promotional Products.

2008

Staples acquires Corporate Express, one of the world's leading suppliers of office products to businesses and institutions. With the addition of Corporate Express Promotional Marketing to the Staples family, Staples Promotional Products becomes the largest distributor in the industry.