Case Study
The Vernon Company: A Multi-Pillar Digital Transformation
How a Counselor Top 40 distributor modernized its operation with next-generation order entry and on-demand store technology.
220+
Account Executives
120+
Years in Business
#28
Counselor Top 40
#26
PPAI 100
Company Profile
Company
Founded
1902 · Newton, Iowa
Industry Rankings
Network
220+ Account Executives
Brikl Plan
Enterprise (Order Entry & On-Demand)
The Challenge
Like many established promotional product distributors, Vernon faced a convergence of operational pressures that legacy systems couldn't address. Order entry, follow-up, and reconciliation required significant hands-on time from account executives — time that could be spent on sales.
Product search, pricing, inventory, and order submission lived in disconnected tools with no single source of truth. As a large operation handling sensitive client data, Vernon also needed SOC 2 Type II compliant security that legacy platforms couldn't guarantee.
Traditional bulk ordering tied up capital in warehousing and inventory, limiting the company's ability to offer diverse product options without financial risk. Vernon needed a platform that could modernize order entry, eliminate inventory overhead, and scale securely across 220+ account executives.
The Solution: Two Pillars
Pillar 1
Optimized Order Entry
Vernon streamlined its internal workflows using Brikl, seamlessly integrated with ASI ESP+. This empowered its 220+ Account Executives with:
- ✓Advanced dual-search: 300K+ products via native search, plus 1.2M+ via ESP+ integration
- ✓Real-time pricing and negotiated rate visibility
- ✓Live inventory synchronization across 600+ suppliers
- ✓Direct supplier submission via PromoStandards and APIs
- ✓Intuitive order creation, duplication, and shipment tracking
Pillar 2
On-Demand Stores
Vernon shifted to a true on-demand model powered by Brikl — products are produced only after purchase, eliminating the need for inventory and warehousing.
- ✓Fully customized, client-specific storefronts
- ✓Zero-warehousing, on-demand production model
- ✓7–10 day production and fulfillment turnaround
- ✓Thousands of apparel and hard goods options
- ✓Automated decoration, fulfillment, and order routing
The Results
Rapid Store Launches
Account executives can launch client-specific stores in days, not weeks — and see sales activity within the first week.
AE Time Freed Up
Automated order processing and fulfillment removed manual touchpoints, letting AEs focus on new business instead of order management.
Zero Inventory Risk
On-demand production eliminated warehousing costs and inventory risk, while expanding the product catalog to thousands of options.
What They're Saying
“We've listened closely to the challenges distributors face — whether it's outgrowing their current system, navigating cybersecurity concerns or finding efficient e-commerce and logistics solutions. We've built a flexible system designed to adapt and scale, and we're committed to continued investment to ensure our customers and account executives have the best possible experience.”
Lisa Hubbard
VP of Sales and Marketing, The Vernon Company
“We launched a healthcare client store last month and within just over a week, sales were seeing a boost. The turnaround time and quality have been excellent and the automation frees me to focus on new opportunities.”
John Sease
Account Executive, The Vernon Company
“If we have to touch the orders, we're not successful.”
— Lisa Hubbard, on Vernon's automation-first philosophy
“Vernon saw the future of this industry before anyone else — and chose to lead. This partnership gives Vernon a strong competitive edge with next-generation order entry and on-demand technology.”
Maarten Boone
CEO & Founder, Brikl
Ready to modernize your operation?
See how Brikl can streamline order entry and launch on-demand stores for your distributorship.