35-Year Promotional Products Veteran and Lifetime MAS Designee Launches Press Release Platform Built for the Industry She Spent a Career Serving

After 35 years working inside the promotional products industry as a family distributorship owner, Adrienne Barker, MAS, has launched PressLaunch.vip, a press release distribution platform built specifically to help promotional products distributors, suppliers, and industry professionals get the media coverage they have always deserved but rarely received.

Barker earned her Master Advertising Specialist (MAS) designation from the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) approximately 12 years ago and holds it for life, a credential that reflects both the depth of her industry knowledge and her long-standing commitment to elevating the profession. It was that same commitment, she says, that ultimately led her to build PressLaunch.

"I spent 35 years watching incredibly talented people in this industry do remarkable work and get almost no press for it," said Barker. "The promotional products industry generates nearly $28 billion a year, and most of the people doing that work have no idea how to get their story in front of an editor. I built PressLaunch because I wanted to change that."

Solving a Problem the Industry Has Lived With Too Long

The promotional products industry reached a record $27.7 billion in North American sales in 2025, according to ASI research, yet it remains largely invisible to the mainstream business press. While trade publications like PPAI's Promotional Consultant and ASI's Counselor cover the industry from the inside, distributors and suppliers rarely break through to the small business editors, entrepreneurship journalists, and regional business press that could dramatically expand their visibility and credibility.

PressLaunch addresses this gap directly. The platform combines a curated network of over 170 media contacts, including journalists and editors who cover small business, entrepreneurship, marketing, and trade, with a human-reviewed press release process that ensures every submission is polished, properly formatted, and sent to the right people. For promotional products professionals specifically, PressLaunch routes releases to a dedicated list of trade and industry contacts including PPAI, ASI, PromoWire, and Promo Marketing, alongside the broader small business and entrepreneurship press.

"This is not just news for the industry," Barker explained. "A distributor who lands a major corporate client, a supplier who wins a sustainability award, a rep who builds a niche business serving a specific community, those are stories that belong in Inc., in regional business journals, and in the hands of editors who cover entrepreneurs. We help get them there."

Built by Someone Who Lived the Problem

In addition to her 35 years in the promotional products industry, Barker is the founder of Professional Global Etiquette (professionalglobaletiquette.com), a business etiquette training and consulting firm; AuthorityAudit.vip, a visibility strategy platform for entrepreneurs; and Mannershift (mannershift.com), a professional development course and resource hub designed specifically for young professionals entering the workforce. She also created a LinkedIn Learning course on professional etiquette, is a host of five podcasts, and is the author of five books. As a SCORE-certified mentor for eight years, she has worked directly with hundreds of small business owners to help them build credibility and grow their visibility.

The platform is designed to be accessible to business owners who have never written a press release before. Users can submit an existing release or simply share their story, and the PressLaunch team handles the rest, including professional editing, SEO optimization, and distribution to the full media network.

"Most people in the promotional products world are operators, not publicists," said Barker. "They are running a business, managing client relationships, and sourcing product. They do not have time to figure out how to pitch a journalist. That is exactly what we take off their plate."

About PressLaunch.vip

PressLaunch.vip is a press release distribution platform built for podcast hosts, book authors, small businesses, and promotional products professionals. Founded by Adrienne Barker, MAS, the platform combines curated media distribution with human editorial review to help entrepreneurs and business owners build the visibility and credibility their work deserves. Submissions start at $59. Learn more at presslaunch.vip.