Richmond, Virgina — SanMar Corporation, the largest supplier of wholesale imprintable apparel and accessories in the United States, has officially celebrated the grand opening of its newest and most advanced distribution center in Hanover County, north of Richmond.
The 1.1-million-square-foot facility is now SanMar’s largest distribution hub and serves as its East Coast flagship, expanding regional capacity while strengthening the company’s nationwide network. The event welcomed more than 500 attendees, including industry leaders, customers, employees, and community partners, all gathered to see SanMar’s future of apparel distribution in action.
Automation at Scale
The new Richmond facility showcases SanMar’s first automated product-picking system, a breakthrough designed to enhance speed and precision in order fulfillment. Spanning 125,000 square feet, the automated grid uses a fleet of robotic units that select and transport products efficiently — redefining how the company serves its vast customer base.
“This facility represents a huge investment in our future, and in our customers,” said Jeremy Lott, President & CEO at SanMar. “Across the board, we’re developing new technology that enables us to better serve our partners. This warehouse is part of a nationwide optimization of our nine distribution centers. The upgrades we’re making enable us to do even better.”
Matt Kuper, VP of Global Sales and Applications at Bastian Solutions, the team behind the automation integration, added:
“SanMar’s Richmond facility marks a milestone for technological advancement for the promotional products industry. By leveraging automation at this scale, SanMar is redefining what distribution can look like — faster, smarter, and built for the future.”
Celebrating People and Partnerships
Beyond the cutting-edge technology, the grand opening event reflected SanMar’s core values of connection and community. Attendees experienced guided tours, live music, decoration demos, and activations from top retail brands.
Brian Thompson, SanMar’s Vice President of Distribution, shared his perspective after three decades with the company:
“As we’ve added locations and buildings, we’ve continued to innovate and invest in technology that improves speed and accuracy. The goal is always to keep improving so we get you the products you need, when you need them.”
