About Freemiums – 75+ Years of Premium Expertise

Our Story

Mission-Driven & Donor-Focused

At Freemiums, we create custom, high-impact premiums that elevate direct mail campaigns and deliver measurable results — all at competitive prices. With 75+ years of experience, we're known for designing meaningful thank-you gifts that inspire donors and support some of the nation's most recognized nonprofits.

Founded in 1951 by Herb and Gloria Barker, Barker Specialty grew from selling branded shirts and buttons into a full-service promotional marketing company. Now in its third generation, the company continues to thrive on the same values it was built upon — integrity, hard work, and genuine care for people.

Freemiums is Barker Specialty's dedicated division for nonprofit direct mail, combining decades of industry expertise with deep knowledge of what drives donor engagement and response.

75+

Years of Excellence

3

Generations of Leadership

1,000+

Nonprofits Served

197%

Average Campaign ROI

What We Do

End-to-End Premium Capabilities

From concept to mailbox, we handle every aspect of premium development and delivery.

Creative Development

Custom premium concepts tailored to your campaign goals, target audience, and organizational mission. Client artwork review to build brand awareness.

Sourcing & Production

Expert procurement through our global network of vendors, freight forwarders, and overseas partners. Rigorous quality control on every project.

Fulfillment & Delivery

Individually poly-bagged, kitted, and mail-ready. Machine-insertable solutions that lower lettershop costs and meet postal regulations.

Why Organizations Choose Us

Premiums That Drive Response

✓ Creative, mission-aligned premium concepts
✓ Deep direct marketing and production expertise
✓ Strategies proven to increase engagement and response
✓ Collaborative planning that drives revenue, strengthens brands, and builds donor loyalty
✓ Machine-insertable solutions that lower lettershop costs and improve efficiency
✓ USPS-compliant designs that keep production efficient and on schedule

Meet the Team

The People Behind Freemiums

Experienced professionals dedicated to making your campaigns successful.

Harrison Barker

President

harrison@freemiums.com

Harrison Barker serves as President of Freemiums, where he focuses on growth, innovation, and building lasting partnerships across the nonprofit and direct-mail fundraising space. He also helps lead Barker Specialty Company, a 75-year-old promotional marketing company, with a focus on strategy and transformation. Earlier in his career, Harrison was a Manager at Deloitte, bringing experience in consulting, operations, and organizational transformation to Freemiums.

Gerry Barker

Senior Advisor

gerry@barkerspecialty.com

Gerry Barker brings four decades of promotional marketing experience to Freemiums. He has been with Barker Specialty Company since 1986 and today serves as its President, helping grow the family business through a relentless focus on relationships, creativity, and service. At Freemiums, Gerry brings his deep product knowledge, sourcing expertise, and decades of industry experience to help clients find creative solutions that deliver results.

Jill Ludwig

Sales & Marketing Executive

jludwig@freemiums.com

With two decades of experience, Jill Ludwig specializes in building multi-channel marketing campaigns, brand strategies, and custom promotional product solutions for agencies and their clients. She earned her degree in Public Relations and Spanish from Quinnipiac University, bringing a strong foundation in strategic communication to every engagement — driving meaningful connections and sustained client loyalty.

Patrick Breault

Director of Production & Operations

patrick@freemiums.com

Patrick Breault brings over 12 years of production, logistics, and graphic design experience to the Freemiums team. He works closely with our network of vendors, freight forwarders, and overseas partners in the procurement, planning, production, and shipping of all projects to ensure quality control and timely deliveries. Our clients benefit from his creativity and expertise in design and product development — he is often called upon to assist in the design and development of a client's premium. Patrick has expanded services to offer client artwork review to better build brand awareness.

75

Years

of Branding Excellence

News & Milestones

Barker Specialty Celebrates 75 Years

Barker Specialty Company proudly celebrates its 75th anniversary — decades of creativity, growth, and partnership in the promotional products industry. Founded in 1951 by Herb and Gloria Barker, the family-owned business has grown from a small operation into a full-service promotional marketing company serving clients across the country.

"This milestone is a reflection of the incredible clients and employees who have supported and believed in us throughout the years. We're deeply grateful for every relationship that's helped shape Barker Specialty into what it is today." — Gerry Barker, CEO

The company has been recognized with multiple honors including: Greatest Companies to Work For, Top 50 Distributors of Promotional Products in the USA, Top 20 Best Places to Work, and Family Business of the Year.

Trusted by Leading Organizations