With a storied history that traces back to the 1970s, JDS Industries has grown by expanding its warehouse locations and product selection to become one of the personalization industry’s foremost suppliers.
“Businesses in our industry are being asked to do more than ever,” says Kyle Alexander, marketing director at JDS Industries. “They’re serving more markets, offering more decoration methods, and turning orders around faster while managing inventory and costs.”
The company, he says, has continued to expand its offerings while staying true to the lineup that helped it establish its name.
Whether it’s awards, drinkware, apparel decoration, signage, or personalized gifts, the goal is to “give retailers more ways to serve their customers through one trusted partner,” Alexander adds.
With a massive network of 13 warehouses, including its main location in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, JDS has expanded its footprint on both coasts, plus several locations in the Midwest and Southwest.
Choosing New Products
Currently, JDS’s offering sits at more than 25,000 products, with more incoming. With that massive an inventory, Alexander says it’s important for the company to choose products that best serve retailers rather than just fill the cache.
“We focus on making investments that help our customers grow, serve more markets, and stay competitive,” he adds. “If we can make their businesses a little easier or create new growth opportunities, that’s where we want to invest.”
In recent years, that’s meant expanding the scope of retailer supplies from promotional products to decorated apparel tools like direct-to-film (DTF) supplies and blanks like hats and canvas bags. Alexander points to changes at the retail level that are directly affecting product growth and expansion.
“What’s been most interesting is how our customers are evolving,” he says. “Businesses are looking for partners that can support a broader range of products and decoration methods.”
Rather than staying within a single category, many retailers, he says, are expanding into complementary products that fit naturally with what they already offer.
“It’s less about replacing their core business and more about creating additional opportunities for the customers they already serve,” Alexander notes.
Creating Opportunities with Existing Resources
Outside of decorated apparel and accessories, another focus area for JDS Industries’ products has been an expansion of UV-printable goods, engravable products, and customizable tumblers. That’s because retailers who work with JDS already have the equipment to personalize these goods, so it’s just a matter of upselling to their end customers and refining techniques they’re already familiar with.
“Products like Laserable Leatherette, Polar Camel, and UV-printable materials allow shops to expand into new markets without completely changing how they operate,” says Alexander. “Whether it’s corporate recognition, home decor, or promotional products, these product lines create additional opportunities to increase average order value while serving a broader range of markets.”
Alexander says there are also other opportunities for retailers who have the capacity to make moderate investments, especially with technologies like DTF printing.
“It gives businesses a relatively low-cost way to expand into products like hats, patches, and apparel without making a significant equipment investment,” he adds.
Positioned as a Partner
With the wide breadth of wholesale suppliers in the personalization industry, JDS leans on its product knowledge as a large part of what sets the company apart from other big players.
Alexander says JDS employees take pride in being product experts, which is likely reinforced by the company’s overall culture and structure. In early 2025, JDS announced that it was 100% employee-owned through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
With that engaged workforce, Alexander says one of the biggest focuses right now is helping retailers take the often nerve-racking step of investing in new markets or equipment, rather than upselling them without good cause.
“Our goal is to make that transition as easy as possible,” he adds. “That starts with knowledgeable people who understand the products, inventory businesses can count on, and educational and marketing resources that help shops get started with confidence. As an employee-owned company, every one of us has a vested interest in helping our customers succeed, and we believe that mindset comes through in the way we serve them every day.”
Into the Future
Alexander says JDS sees a continued demand for premium goods that “combine functionality with customization.” Those premium products include UV- and DTF-printed goods, which also help meet demand for shorter turnarounds and durability.
“As customer needs evolve, we’ll continue investing in the products, inventory, technology, and support that help businesses stay competitive,” Alexander adds. “What won’t change is our commitment to helping our customers grow.”
By continuing to listen, adapt, and invest in the areas that matter most, JDS will remain a trusted partner for years to come, he notes.