brandivate radio: Recent Episodes
brandivate radio
You know it’s time for Ep. 82 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! In this week’s Opening Shot, Bill brings back an edition of “industry quick hits,” including two folks partnering to do some wonderful things for earthquake victims in Venezuela. Then he is joined by the owner of CoasterStone | Buttons Galore, Mr. David Glenn. During their conversation they talk about trends in branded merchandise, a framework for evaluating acquisitions, and being intentional about creating opportunities for people with differing abilities. It’s an honest, candid conversation and one we know you’ll enjoy. BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 81 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In the Opening Shot, Bill shares a “Billatorial” about the proliferation of AI trends and the problems of marketers relying too heavily on all things AI. Then he welcomes the Chief Marketing Officer of PPAI, Melissa Ralston to the podcast to talk about her industry journey, marketing trends, communicating value, and the brand refresh of PPAI – and what’s to come in the future. It’s a truly insightful conversation and one we think you’ll enjoy.HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!
If it’s Friday (and it is), then it’s time for an oven-fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. To kick Ep. 80 off, Bill talks about the democratization of branded merchandise, where it’s really manifesting itself, and why access alone isn’t enough to stand out. After that, he is joined by the Vice President of Business Development at Genumark, Johanna Gottlieb. They cover some interesting ground including the challenges of working for a Canadian distributor seeking to expand their footprint in the United States, her passion for PromoKitchen, and words of advice she would give 25-year-old Promo Jo. It’s a fun and wide-ranging conversation that you won’t want to miss.This episode of Between Two Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
Oh, you know it’s time to drop Ep. 79 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In today’s opening shot, Bill takes said shot at FIFA and their ridiculous branding rules surrounding World Cup stadiums. On the plus side, some brands have really been creative while adhering to those rules showing that there’s always a creative solution to any problem. Afterwards, Bill is joined by the Plant Daddy himself, Lawrence Hanley from Desk Plants. During their conversation, they chatted about moving from corporate America to branded merch, why being unemployable might be a good thing, the magic of activations, and what the fans coming to our country are teaching us about life. It’s a truly phenomenal conversations with one of the nicest guys on the planet – and we aren’t talking about Bill.HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!
Oh, it’s time for Ep. 78 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In this week’s opening shot, Bill talks about the much-needed brand refresh from PPAI and gives his thoughts on every aspect from the typography and color to the thought behind it and the tagline. He is then joined by the Vice President of Sales at Sock101, Rachel Hoskins. During a captivating conversation, they discuss her journey in the industry, the challenges of being a niche supplier, and the increasing use of (and need for) activations. It’s a fun and thoughtful conversation and one you shouldn’t miss. BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
If it’s Friday, that means a brand-new episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. This week’s episode is different than any other episode because there is neither sponsor nor guest – it’s just Bill sharing why he’s grateful to be an American on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the United States. If you’re looking for a hard political stance, keep looking as you won’t find it here. What you will find, however, is a message of sincere gratitude and what it means to Bill to be fortunate enough to be an American.Happy 250th birthday, America!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 76 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with the guy who’s still your host, Bill Petrie. Starting off in the Opening Shot, Bill shares his experience at Rupt Summer Camp and what other events can learn from it. Afterwards, he welcomes back a friend of the show, Alex Paschal from Warwick where they take a deep dive into 100 years of his family company, the responsibility of being a 5th generation owner, and advice he would give other next-gen owners taking over an established business. As always, Alex shares some fantastic insights. HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!
Of course it’s time to drop Ep. 75 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. To kick things off, Bill has an axe to grind with some industry suppliers making the decision to no longer accept debit cards. It’s not quite a rant, but he definitely has some VERY strong opinions on the topic. After that, he is joined by the SVP of Sales at PCNA, the always dapper Mark Gammon. During their conversation, they talk about some strategies to build a great company culture, how his experience as a distributor has helped him on the supplier side, and finish with some bourbon recommendations. This episode of Between Two Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
Oh, you know it’s time to drop Ep. 74 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In today’s opening shot, Bill asks why no one seems to be buying World Cup merch and gives some possible answers. Afterwards, Bill is joined by the Executive Director of SAAGNY, John Cudahy. They discuss a wide range of topics including the challenges of managing a board, the move of Promotions East from Atlantic City to New York City, and whether private equity money is good or bad for the industry. HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!
Better buckle up because it’s time for Ep. 73 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In this week’s opening shot, Bill talks about “pre-vacation brain” and the very interesting bond between celebrations of life and branded merch. He is then joined by the Chief AI Officer at commonsku, Bobby Lehew. They discuss his journey from distributor to service provider, take a deep dive into AI and the use in the promotional products industry, and compare notes on speaking in front of people professionally. This is a great conversation and one you don’t want to miss.BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s Friday, which means it’s time for a brand-new episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. To kick off Ep. 72, Bill shares some industry quick hits of the happenings in the world of branded merchandise After that, he is joined by the Vice President of Sales for HALO Branded Solutions, Rachel Levin. During a wide-ranging chat, they discuss what she’s learned at each stop during her career, the importance of mentorship, and take a VERY interesting dive into the psychology of branded merchandise from an end-user point of view. There are some outstanding takeaways here, so get your notepad ready! HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!
You KNOW it’s time to drop Ep. 71 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast like it’s hot! This week in the Opening Shot, your host, Bill Petrie, talks about the curious move of a shoe manufacturer pivoting 180 degrees to become an AI infrastructure company – a truly bizarre story. After that, he is joined by Fossa Apparel’s Chief Revenue Officer, the one and only Kenny Ved. During a thoughtful conversation, they discuss lessons he learned being the face of a large supplier, the goals he has for Fossa, his thoughts on peer recognition, and they debate who should be on the Mount Rushmore of Comedy. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this!This episode of Between Two Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
It’s the Ides of May which means it’s time to drop Ep. 70 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In today’s opening shot, Bill talks about the branding of American institutions with the personal brand of the sitting president PURELY from a marketing (not political) perspective. After that, Bill welcomes Emily Codner from iPROMOTEu to the show where they discuss her industry journey, the need to elevate women in our industry, her thoughts on attending her first PPAI LEAD event, and why Hanson is the greatest band in the history of ever.HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!
Buckle up, buttercup, because it’s time for Ep. 69 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In the Opening Shot, a VERY fired up Bill talks about the lessons he learned the hard way about posting on social media this week. After that, he is joined by the Founder of Lemonade Creative Marketing, Nenette Gray. During a wide-ranging chat, they discuss the courage it takes to start a business, lessons she’s learned along the way, the challenges she’s faced being a black woman in an industry traditionally dominated by white males, and why mudbugs might be the greatest food on earth. It’s truly an amazing conversation with an equally amazing human, and one you’ll enjoy.BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
Happy May Day! To celebrate, let’s drop Ep. 68 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast! This week in the Opening Shot, I share my thoughts about the passing and the lasting legacy of a true industry titan, ASI’s Chairman Emeritus, Norman Cohn. Then I am joined by the Market Economist and Public Affairs Lead at PPAI, Alok Bhat and we talk about his journey to the branded merchandise space, juggling leading research and public affairs, and a sneak peek at PPAI’s upcoming Global Economic Study. Alok shares some truly fantastic insights that you don’t want to miss.HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!
It’s absolutely time for Ep. 67 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In the Opening Shot, Bill talks about the merch questions surrounding the “America250” celebration this year. After that, Josh Ellis from PPAI returns to the podcast where the conversation ranges from different leadership styles at PPAI to the new “PPAI Expert Voices” program to goals when speaking. Heck, we even touch on how he’s feeling one year into giving up adult beverages. It’s a fantastic chat and one you won’t want to miss. This episode of Between Two Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
It’s the Friday of Tax Week here in the USA, which means it’s time for a white hot episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! To kick off Ep. 66, Bill shares some of the learnings he had from the ASI Top Places to Work list – and there’s some real gold here. Then he is joined by Mitch Silver from Printable, the number three distributor on the aforementioned list. They have a fantastic conversation about the importance of company culture, how to cultivate it, and some really fantastic tactical advice to implement some of the ideas that were discussed. Oh, and don’t end the podcast early as Mitch surprised Bill with a “rapid fire” that you don’t want to miss!HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!
Buckle up because it’s time for Ep. 65 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In the Opening Shot, Bill talks about what one regional association is doing to completely flip the standard script on driving membership value – and it’s amazing. After that, he is joined by the Vice President of Sales of Charles River, Lindsey Davis. During a wide-ranging chat, they discuss working for family-owned companies, navigating the sale of a business and transitioning to working for the purchaser, and lessons in sales leadership. It’s a really engaging conversation and one that’s truly worth listening to. BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
M and a Texas-themed rapid fire at the end!HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!
You know it’s time for Ep. 63 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In the Opening Shot, Bill takes square aim at the meaning of “Made in the USA” as it relates to branded merchandise and where the value truly lies. After that, he is joined by Chelsea Williams from Spark Branded Solutions where they talk about what she looks for in building her team, the leadership qualities she emulates, and the value of having strict boundaries. This episode of Between Two Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
If it’s a Friday in March, you know it’s time for a piping hot and oven fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! To kick off Ep. 58, Bill talks about how good it is to see the branded merchandise industry move away from isolationism and closer to community and why that’s a key for innovation. Then he is joined by his good friend and owner of PBJ Merch Co., Rich Patterson, all the way from Canada. That’s right, for this episode we are going fully international! They have a fantastic conversation about building a business north of the border, but needing to rely on partners in the USA and a really deep discussion about balancing personal and professional challenges, especially as parents age. It’s an important conversation and one we all need to have more often. Don’t worry, we finish up with a Van Halen “rapid fire.”HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!
Buckle up because it’s time for Ep. 61 of the Between 2 Brands podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In the Opening Shot, Bill talks about the shift from things to experiences by Gen Z and how that impacts the promotional products industry. After that, the energy REALLY amps as Bill is joined by JQ (Jenna Quaranta) from HPG Brands. In a very open, candid, and honest conversation, they talk about her journey, what motivates her, how she prepares when speaking, and the one piece of advice she would give distributor salespeople. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this one. BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s the first Friday of March which can mean only one thing: the Ninth Annual Powerhouse Women of Promo List! That’s right, Ep. 60 is completely dedicated to recognizing the truly incredible women that are shaping the branded merchandise space for generations to come. Join host Bill Petrie and special guest Kirby Hasseman as they celebrate the contributions of truly fantastic individuals, reveal the entire list, and share a little bit about the why of each selection. If you listen to only one Between 2 Brands episode this year (and we hope that’s not the case), this is the one. HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!
It’s what’s known in the podcasting world as the “Triple F” – the Final Friday of February. When that happens, you know it’s time to drop a piping hot episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. To kick off ep. 59, Bill uses his “Opening Shot” to question the cult of In N Out Burger – a company that recently invaded his beloved town of Franklin, TN. After that, he’s joined by Tom Rauen from 1-800-Tshirts. During a fabulous conversation, they discuss his branded merchandise journey from his parent’s garage to where he is now, how he uses his restlessness to fuel innovation, why he’s not satisfied running one marathon in a day, and countless other topics. In fact, there’s BONUS CONTENT after the closing sponsor read, so definitely stay tuned for that! Truthfully, it’s a fabulous conversation and one we think you’ll enjoy. This episode of Between Two Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
It’s Friday, which means it’s time for an oven-fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. To start ep. 58, Bill steps on his soapbox during the opening shot to discuss the negative brand impact of the cumulative changes rolled out by Southwest Airlines in the past few years. After he gets that off his chest, he’s joined by Taylor Borst from American Solutions for Business where they have a winding conversation covering many topics including her industry journey, the changes she’s seen in her decade in branded merch, how distributors can get the most out of events, and managing travel while having a young family. It’s a fun and engaging conversation that we really think you’ll enjoy. HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!
It’s a very scary Friday the 13th, which means it’s time for Ep. 57 of the Between 2 Brands podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In this week’s Opening Shot, Bill does a quick lap around branded merch with a patented “Industry Roundup.” From there, he’s joined by Quinn Bui from N9ner Marketing where they talk about his journey, the shifts he’s seen in marketing and social media, living in a van full-time, and a thoughtful discussion on AI and the impact it has on the world of promotional products.BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s Friday, which means it’s time for Ep. 56 of the Between 2 Brands podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In today’s Opening Shot, Bill aims his complaints squarely at the worst month of the year – February – and shares some strategies to making this month a little less painful. After he’s done moaning, Bill welcomes Josh Robbins from Vault Promotions and Promocations back to the podcast! During their conversation they chat about Promocations, the event coming up in October, why these events matter, and so much more. And, there might be some dueling rapid fires at the end of the podcast which you really don’t want to miss. HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!
It’s the final Friday of January and time to drop Ep. 55 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast! Today your host – yes, it’s still Bill Petrie – talks about the impact of Icemageddon on the industry, his business, and his working habits. Once that bit of fun is over, Bill is joined by the Merch Girly herself, Savannah Dmytriw from Team SCG. During a fabulous conversation they talk about her entry in the promotional products industry, the development of Merch Girly, why the CoCreative Exchange (CCX) matters, and what she would like changed in the world of branded merchandise. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.This episode of Between Two Brands is brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, they are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
If it’s the Friday before “Snomageddon 2026,” then you know it’s time to drop Ep. 54 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. This week during the Opening Shot, Bill shares what his PPAI Expo was like in terms of managing schedules as well as what the week truly means for the industry. Afterwards, Bill is joined by his friend and incoming PPAI Board Chair, Danny Rosin. In a conversation that weaves in and out of many topics including goals for his stewardship of the board, how he manages being pulled in several thousand different directions at once, the PPAI Strategic Plan, and the human connection our medium provides, they get real and honest while having a few laughs – especially during a surprise round of “would you rather” at the end. HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!
It’s the Friday after PPAI Expo and time for Ep. 53 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill’s “Opening Shot” talks about the January gauntlet that is the promotional products industry and whether it’s a good or rough way to start the year. After that, Bill is joined by a favorite returning guest, Nick Lateur of Merch.ai. They have an in-depth conversation about what’s changed in the past year, things they are proud of, the idea behind the infamous yellow track suit, and even record a special “Monday” post. This is truly an insightful conversation that you don’t want to miss. BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this rose-gold level broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s time for Ep. 52 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill’s uses his “Opening Shot” to chat about the industry gauntlet that is the first two weeks of January every year and, perhaps, a way to make it a bit easier for the road warriors out there! After that little preamble, Bill is joined by the President and CEO of PPAI, Drew Holmgreen. During a fantastic conversation, they talk about his first year on the job, getting ready for a new board chair, his love of PPEF, and, of course, they could NOT avoid discussing PPAI Expo as the industry heads to Las Vegas!HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!
It’s time to drop the first Between 2 Brands episode of 2026! This week Bill shares his thoughts on goals for the coming year and a sneak peek of what he will share in his Introspective Candor blog coming Monday, January 5th. After that, he’s joined by current PPAI Board Chair and CEO of Fairware, Denise Tascherau and they talk all things service, sustainability, and advice she has for the incoming board chair, Danny Rosin. There are really some fantastic insights in this episode. This episode of Between 2 Brands is brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
It’s the Friday after Christmas and time for Ep. 50 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill’s “Opening Shot” takes on the how much work needs to be done in the promotional products industry prior to the holidays to enjoy time off DURING the holidays. After that little preamble, Bill is joined by author, teacher, and speaker extraordinaire, David Rendall. They have a great conversation about making your weaknesses your strengths, how best to stand out, the way branded merchandise can help companies differentiate, and they even talk about their biggest speaking fails – and you really don’t want to miss that! BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this rose-gold level broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s time to drop Ep. 49 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares how the podcast has evolved in the past year and what his vision is for it moving forward. After that, he is joined by the one and only Mark Graham from commonsku and they have a truly deep conversation coving entrepreneurship, the efficacy of branded merchandise, and being a truly nice guy in a very competitive business. This is much more a conversation than an interview, and we are here for it – we think you will really dig it. HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 48 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill starts off the podcast with his “Opening Shot” where he takes on the absurdity of the Pantone Color of the Year. After that little preamble, Bill is joined by the “other” industry BP, Brian Porter from Starline! During a conversation that weaves back and forth, they talk about the importance of relationships, the rising event costs for suppliers, industry volunteerism, and a little college football roundtable. Trust us, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss. BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI. The schedule for Conference Day at PPAI Expo has officially dropped and you won’t believe the truly AMAZING speakers ready to help you level up your 2026! Check out the lineup at ppai.org/schedule!
It’s time to drop Ep. 47 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week Bill shares his thoughts on the potential end of social listening brought on by AI bots. After that, he’s joined by Lisa Bibb, the Executive Director of both GAPPP and VAPPA where they discuss her journey in the promotional products industry as well as have a robust chat about the regional association community. Plus, we can’t have Lisa on without taking a deep dive into the (in)famous Promotional Products Professionals page on Facebook. You really don’t want to miss this one!HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!
If it’s the blackest of all Fridays, then you know it’s time for Ep. 46 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares the things he’s grateful for from the perspective of a solopreneur before a Promo UPFront REUNION with the one and only, Kirby Hasseman. Without getting into specifics (you’ll have to listen), the topics are wide-ranging, insightful, and always have a dash of humor. Plus, there might be a little rapid fire at the end of the podcast.A BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s Friday and time for a VERY special edition of the Between 2 Brands #podast with Bill Petrie! Why is it special? We’re glad you silently asked – it’s special because today we are having a conversation with the soon-to-be retiring President and CEO of ASI, Tim Andrews. It’s a fantastic dialog where Tim reflects on his journey before working in the promotional products industry, lessons he’s learned, what has meant the most to him, and what will miss when he’s sipping on an Aperol Spritz in Positano this summer. Tim has left an indelible imprint on this industry, and this interview is one you truly don’t want to miss. This episode of Between 2 Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 44 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares a peek behind the scenes about planning for the PromoCruise and the work it takes during the event to give it every chance to be a resounding success. After that little preamble, Bill is joined by Jill Stirnkorb from California Tattoos and she asks a bit about the “why” of Promocations and the reasons it matters before she is grilled with “Five Easy Questions” discussing joining a new company after 30 years, advice for maximizing networking events, and how sales in the promotional products industry has changed in the past several decades! BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI. NOW is the time to register for the SUPER BOWL of Promo – the PPAI EXPO! With over one million square feet of exhibit space, over 900 exhibiting suppliers, and unmatched networking opportunities, this is the one industry event you can’t afford to miss. Register today at ppai.org/expo!
It’s the first Friday of November which means it’s time for Ep. 43 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares his biggest concern about the proliferation of AI and how best to mitigate it. After that, he is joined by Matt Shucart of APS Promos where they talk about the Van Halen of merch, the bad karaoke of branding, and what piece of promo might best fit Ozzy Osbourne. Before long, Matt is subjected to five easy questions from Bill, and they get deep about what it’s like to take over for a family business and discuss why jam bands even exist. You don’t want to miss this episode.This episode of Between Two Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
It’s Halloween AND time for a spooky episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! This week, Bill kicks off the podcast by talking about the increasing distrust management seem to have in the workplace and suggests a different approach based on results. After that, Bill is joined by Jon Norris from Hit Promotional Products where they discuss his industry journey, digital transformation, PromoStandards, PromoKitchen, and maybe even some Buffalo Bills talk! It’s a very candid conversation that everyone who cares about the future of our industry needs to listen to.BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI. NOW is the time to register for the SUPER BOWL of Promo – the PPAI EXPO! With over one million square feet of exhibit space, over 900 exhibiting suppliers, and unmatched networking opportunities, this is the one industry event you can’t afford to miss. Register today at ppai.org/expo!
If it’s Friday, then it’s time for a brand-new episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! To kick off Ep. 41, Bill talks about the fragility of cloud-based internet services in wake of the major outage this past week and bids a fond “adieu” to part of the world wide web that no longer exists. Afterwards, Bill welcomes the Chief Revenue and Experience Officer at PPAI, Ellen Tucker and, frankly, she takes over by holding back her questions for Bill until she responds to Bill’s queries. It’s a fun episode and there might even be a surprise “rapid fire!” A HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!
Oven-fresh and piping hot, it’s Ep. 40 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! To start the show, Bill shares his thoughts on the ASI Power 50 and, perhaps, offers an opinion or three about what seemed to be missing. After that, Bill is joined by Kara Keister from Social Good Promotions where they talk about being serial volunteers and the impact that has had on their careers before Bill asks Kara “Five Easy Questions.” They cover a lot of ground including why doing good in commerce matters, what she’s learned from being on the PPAI board, and how her husband bonded with Bill in Cabo. You really don’t want to miss this one!A BIG thanks to our friends at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
C Marketing. During their discussion, they discuss rebounding from losing a significant client, learning to go it on your own after being part of a family business, and why Whataburger is better than any fast-food the left coast has to offer.A BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s the first Friday of October which means it’s time for a farm-fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares his thoughts on death of the ban on noncompete clauses and why companies need to start viewing them differently. Then, Bill is joined by the Promo CMO himself, RJ Hagel, where they talk about values in business and the merits of smoking meat for therapy. After that, Bill asks RJ “Five Easy Questions” where they delve deep into industry marketing – you don’t want to miss this one! A HUGE thanks to our friends over at PPAI for sponsoring this fine broadcast. NOW is the time to register for the SUPER BOWL of Promo – the PPAI EXPO! With over one million square feet of exhibit space, over 900 exhibiting suppliers, and unmatched networking opportunities, this is the one industry event you can’t afford to miss. Register today at ppai.org/expo!
It’s Friday and time for a very special and fun episode (37 if you’re keeping score at home) of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week Bill shares his thoughts about a huge lawsuit in the branded merchandise industry and the potential impact it has for service providers moving forward. After that bit of news, Bill welcomes his son, Mitch Petrie from RadioAlabama, to talk about what it means for an organization when there’s a sudden and unexpected change in leadership before Bill asks Mitch “Five Easy Questions” about building a brand, selling to different generations, and his transition from college student to a working man.A HUGE thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, and 5-Star and A+ service, you know you can BEL Promo that!
You KNOW it’s Friday when a hot, fresh, and made to order episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast drops. To kick off the show your host, Bill Petrie, talks about the retirement announcement of Tim Andrews from ASI and the legacy he leaves behind. After that, Bill is joined by a returning guest, Brittany Frase, now from MadeToOrder. During their banter, they discuss using AI in meetings and at tradeshows before Bill asks her, “Five Easy Questions” about her transition back to the distributor side, advice she would give anyone seeking to make a job change, and why the Houston Texans should lean into their brand of losing. You really don’t want to miss this episode!A BIG thanks to our friends at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
Heck yes, it’s Friday and time for Ep. 35 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! At the top of the show, Bill talks about the BLISTERING start of the branded merchandise “silly season” including people on the move, what it means, and reverberations throughout the industry. After that, Bill welcomes Jason Nokes from PromoPulse where they talk about the need for better representation throughout the industry for business service providers and then launch into “Five Easy Questions.” Oh, and there just might be a surprise “Rapid Fire” at the end of the podcast. Okay, there IS one and you don’t want to miss it.HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!
to a true partner who delivers exactly what your clients crave – unique, custom-branded merchandise designed specifically for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
If it’s the Friday before a long Labor Day weekend, then you know it’s time to drop Ep. 33 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill talks about the 2025 PPAI board slate and shares what he feels the board might be missing. After that, he welcomes Jessica Gibbons Rauch from PPAI where they talk about the shifting needs of education in the promotional products industry before Bill asks Jessica the questions most are afraid to ask, getting to the real truth during a lightning session of “Five Easy Questions.” You don’t want to sleep on this. HUGE thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this platinum-level broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!
Served up hot and fresh just for you, it's Ep. 32 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. To kick off the show, Bill shares some very candid professional and personal thoughts about the retirement of HALO CEO, Marc Simon. Soon thereafter, Bill welcomes the CEO of eXtendTech, Dale Denham. Before launching into “Five Easy Questions,” they talk about what growth – and success – looks like for solopreneurs. Speaking of the “Five Easy Questions,” you really don’t want to miss out on the candid conversation about his time at PPAI, AI in promo, twin talk, and, just maybe, a surprise “rapid fire.”A BIG thanks to our friends at CoasterStone for sponsoring. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
It’s Friday and we are already half-way through August, so why not drop a brand-new episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares a disappointing encounter with someone in the Promotional Products Professionals Facebook group and why we all need to have more grace with companies and individuals. Soon thereafter, Bill is joined by Eric Granata from PromoPilot where they discuss Bill’s bizarre fascination with weird snack food collabs and someone who truly inspired Bill at a very young age before Eric is subjected to “Five Easy Questions.” The conversation takes many twists and turns, which makes for one fun, unusual, and enlightening podcast. A GIANT thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast! When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
If it’s Friday, then you know that means a white-hot episode of the Between 2 Brands #podccast with your host, Bill Petrie. For episode 30, we have something very special after Bill shares the ways branded merchandise pros have dramatically grown their businesses in the past three years. That something special? The dramatic return of Kirby Hasseman to dissect and discuss the ASI Top 40. The classics truly never go out of style.A HUGE thanks to our friends over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this reunion podcast. For over 90 years of family ownership, SHEPENCO has defined stability by working with every distributor to ensure that every project is a home run. Start your next project today by visiting shepenco.com!
It’s the first Friday of August which means it’s time to drop Ep. 29 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast! This week your host, Bill Petrie, shares a recent study showing that consumers are becoming increasingly negative toward the use of AI in marketing, his thoughts on what it means, and how to strike the right balance. After that bit of human authenticity, Bill welcomes the Senior Vice President at ASI, Michele Bell to the podcast where they discuss some of the most provocative stats from the just-released ASI “State of the Industry” report before Bill grills her like a cheese sandwich by subjecting her to “Five Easy Questions.” Trust us: come for the fire drill, stay for the snark. A BIG Thanks to the good strongs over at Warwick for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast. As a fifth-generation family owned and operated business, Warwick has over 25,000 SKUs including folders, calendars, signage, cards, and stunning packaging – 99% of which are made in the USA. When you’re ready to level up what you offer to clients, visit WarwickPublishing.com.
Blair, to the podcast. Before getting to the “Five Easy Questions,” they talk about some of the people they’ve learned from during their respective careers and the things in life they didn’t know were a big deal…until they WERE a big deal. Some really great insights you won’t want to miss!A BIG thanks to our pals at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When your clients are looking for custom and bespoke merchandise that turns brands into something iconic, reach out to Russ Mogell and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com!
Served up hot and fresh just for you, it's Ep. 27 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares some branded merch industry quick hits before welcoming the Master of the Multi-Line, Mike Eaton to the show. They discuss how the industry needs to change and what the true key to success in promo is. After that, Bill asks Mike “Five Easy Questions” where Bill digs deep on Mike’s comedy dream and what it takes to find success. You really don’t want to miss this fantastic, slightly NSFW, episode!Big thanks to our pals over at CoasterStone for sponsoring. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
You know Friday morning is when we drop a piping hot and oven-fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands podcast – in this case, Ep. 26! This week Bill Petrie shares what he’s learned from the milestones hit by both brandivate and Promocations this week. After that, Bill welcomes Jeff Franklin from Headwear USA to the show where they discuss how to solve the oversaturation of shows in the promotional products industry before Jeff is subjected to “Five Easy Questions.” You really don’t want to miss this episode!A HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast. For over 90 years – and four generations – SHEPENCO has defined stability in the branded merchandise space. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!
It’s Friday AND Independence Day so you know there will be fireworks galore on Ep. 25 of the Between 2 Brand Podcast! This week your host, Bill Petrie, shares some thoughts on what being an American means to him before welcoming the one, the only, Tennessee Alex Moltz to the podcast. In a reversal of format, Alex asks Bill “Three Easy Questions” before Bill regains control and shoots some Roman Candle-style questions right back at him. When we say the Fourth of July episode will bring fireworks, we aren’t kidding around!A BIG thanks to our friends over at symglass for sponsoring this fine broadcast. These game-changing glasses look and feel like glass, but are truly unbreakable. Made out of 100% sustainable materials right here in the USA, they are the luxe drinkware your client’s demand. Check out the entire line at starline.com/products/Brands/Symglass today!
It’s Friday and absolutely time for Ep. 24 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! Today Bill shares the results about a marketing survey regarding both the uses and efficacy of AI in marketing before welcoming his guest, Danny Rosin from Brand Fuel! The two marketing mavens talk about presentation skills salespeople can immediately employ to help them close more business. Afterwards, Bill asks Danny “Five Easy Questions” and they get a bit deep. There are some really good learnings here about balancing life, giving back, and music that moves. Heck, there might even be a surprise round of “Rapid Fire!”A BIG thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for low minimums, deep inventory, and 2-day production on just about every product, you know you can BEL Promo that! Visit them at belpromo.com!
It’s Friday and absolutely time for Ep. 23 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! Today Bill talks about prospecting for new business when you ARE a new business before welcoming his guest, Jeremy Picker from AMB3R Creative! During an insightful discussion, they talk about music (specifically the recent death of Brian Wilson) and what needs to change in the branded merchandise industry before Jeremy is asked “Five Easy Questions.” They get a little deep here and this is one episode you really don’t want to miss.A HUGE thanks to our friends over at CoasterStone for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for rock solid merchandise that your clients will keep – and use – for years, look no further than the home of the original absorbent stone coaster: CoasterStone! Start your next project today by emailing them at promo@coasterstone.com!
It’s Friday which can only mean that it’s time for Ep. 22 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! Today Bill kicks off the podcast with some promo industry quick hits before welcoming his guest (and friend), Terry McGuire of HALO. The main topic – before “5 Easy Questions” anyway – is tariffs where Terry has some fantastic advice for any businessperson trying to navigate these very muddy waters. Then, of course, Bill poses some very fun questions to Terry where we learn about their past, Terry’s present, and perhaps a sneak peek into his future! You really don’t want to miss this one!Thanks to our good friends over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this broadcast. When you’re ready to deliver what your clients truly desire: bespoke merchandise that feels designed just for them, email Russ Mogell and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com!
It’s Friday and most assuredly time for Ep. 21 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. To start things off, Bill shares his thoughts on his weekend in Kansas City supporting Children’s Mercy Hospital and Big Slick through the lens of the power of branded merchandise to drive engagement and donations. After that, he is joined by Ashely Colautti from Spector & Co. where they take a deeper dive into Big Slick before Bill asks her five (very) easy questions that end in a robust discussion about the branding of Taylor Swift. You don’t want to miss this one!A HUGE thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring. Whether it’s deep inventory, low minimums, Made in the USA merch, or 2-day production, there is so much good coming out of BEL Promo. Visit them at belpromo.com!
It’s the final Friday of May and time for Ep. 20 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week is all about lists. To kick off the episode, Bill shares his thoughts on why we all love lists so much before sharing a David Letterman-inspired Top 10 list. Then Bill welcomes back his former partner-in-crime, Kirby Hasseman, to discuss, debate, and dissect the entire PPAI 100 list. There might even be a list-themed rapid fire – who could possibly say?Thank you to our friends over at PromoPlacement Recruiting for sponsoring this fine broadcast. As the ONLY recruiting firm that focuses exclusively the promotional products industry, they have the insight and knowledge to help you find your next rockstar – and fast. Email them at info@promoplacementrecruiting.com today!
You bet it’s Friday and time for Ep. 19 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. Today Bill talks about the downside of AI in the workplace – especially as it relates to HR and hiring practices. Soon thereafter, he’s joined by Jade Crider of Hasseman Marketing where they discuss how to really leverage and humanize AI before she springs a round of “Rapid Fire” on Bill! Of course that’s followed by “Five Easy Questions” that, according to Jade, slapped.BIG thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For over 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – SHEPENCO has been dedicated to serving branded merch distributors with quality and fairness in addition to some amazing products. Check them out at shepenco.com!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 18 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill talks about the evolution of the CMO role and the different challenges they face today. After that bit of pontificating is out of the way, Bill is joined by Natalie O’Leary from BAMKO where they chat about who inspired them when they grew up and what drinkware best describes their brand. Afterwards, Bill asks Natalie “Five Easy Questions” to get to know her a bit bitter. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this one! A HUGE thanks to our good pals over at CoasterStone for sponsoring this Texas-themed podcast! When you’re looking for rock solid promotions that will be used, kept, and remembered, look no further than the original absorbent stone coaster from CoasterStone! Visit them at coasterstonepromo.com today!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 17 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill talks about the challenge of being sick and taking time off as a solopreneur. After that, it’s the dramatic return of the one and only Meg Erber, now of The Bark & Buoy, where they talk about her transition out of the world of branded merch and following her passions. Afterwards, Bill asks Meg “Five Easy Questions” so we can all get to know her a little better. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of Goonies talk and maybe even a “Adieu Haiku.” A BIG thanks to our friends over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this platinum-level broadcast. When you’re looking to deliver the custom and bespoke merch that your clients demand, look no further than Russ Mogell and his expert team at Seven Sourcing. They demystify custom merch sourcing and make you the hero to your clients. Email them at sales@sevensourcing.com today!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 16 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares his thoughts on Amazon considering adding tariffs as a line item to the total product cost as a marketing tool and the value of volunteerism. Once that bit of business is out of the way, Bill is joined by Josh Robbins from Vault Promotions/Promocations where they discuss taking an “Amazon approach” to adding a tariff line item for promotional products and a fun discussion about the value of mascots as it relates to brands. Afterwards, Bill asks Josh “Five Easy Questions” so we can all get to know him a little better. You’ll want to tune in to find out, once and for all, who is the champion burger maker!A BIG thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When it comes to branded merch with 2-day production, low minimums, deep inventory, and free shipping on tech and apparel products, you can absolutely BEL Promo that! Visit them at belpromo.com today!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 15 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares his thoughts on the AMAZING Gen-X End User research from ASI. After that bit of fun, he is joined by the social media legend himself, Dana Zezzo, where they talk about how they would build their ideal distributor and supplier if they stared from scratch. Afterwards, Bill asks Dana “Five Easy Questions” so we can all get to know him a little better. Heck, he might even share his secret recipe for armadillo quesadillas or rattlesnake tartare with spotted owl aioli! A BIG thanks to our friends over at PromoPlacement Recruiting. They are the only recruiting firm exclusively dedicated to the promotional products industry and will help you hire smarter – saving you time and money! When you’re ready to build your dream team, email them at info@promoplacementrecruiting.com!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 14 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill discusses a tradition unlike any other – Masters merch (and what we can learn from it)! After that bit of fun, he is joined by the Branding Badass herself, Joelly Goodson, where she flips the script and grills Bill like a cheese sandwich by asking him some direct questions! Afterwards, Bill reclaims control of the podcast and asks Joelly “Five Easy Questions” so we can all get to know her just a bit better. A BIG thanks to our good friends at CoasterStone for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for rock-solid merch for your clients, look no further than CoasterStone – home of the ORIGINAL absorbent stone coaster! Email them at promo@coasterstone.com!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 13 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares his thoughts on how the branded merchandise industry is reacting to the tariffs (hint – it’s not with a lot of grace). After that bit of volatility, he is joined by the Chief Excitement Officer of Taco ‘Bout Pins, Hillary Morris, where they chat about how to avoid epic fails and, instead, experience triumphant success when it comes to a rebranding and play a little branding game. Afterwards, Bill asks Hillary “Five Easy Questions” so we can all get to know Hillary just a wee bit better. A HUGE thanks to our good pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this epic podcast. When you’re looking to turn a great idea into something that becomes part of your client’s iconic brand, email sales@sevensourcing.com and they will help you deliver bespoke fully-custom merch without the headaches.
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 12 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares a passionate “Billitorial” on why April Fools’ Day is a garbage holiday. After that bit of business, he is joined by the new President and CEO of PPAI, Drew Holmgreen, where they chat about the branding (and rivalry) of their alma maters and marketing the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) to the industry. Afterwards, Bill asks Drew “Five Easy Questions” to get to know him better – you won’t want to miss that!A HUGE thanks to our good pals over at Shepenco for sponsoring this almost-teenage podcast! Looking for the original eco-friendly merch for any Earth Day client function, Shepenco has you covered with an amazing array of sustainable writing instruments. Visit them at shepenco.com today!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 11 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares his Spring Break experience with one of his sons and why it’s finally time for Adult Spring Break. After that bit of nonsense, he is joined by the one and only Mandi Rudd from Genumark where they talk about what gives them the most career joy before diving into those pesky “Five Easy Questions” – and we mean NO disrespect! A BIG thanks to the good strongs over at Coasterstone for sponsoring this fine podcast. When your clients are looking for rock-solid branded merchandise that will be kept and used for years to come, email David Glenn at promo@coasterstone.com and he will help you find the perfect merch solution!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 10 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill takes a look at the bizarre merch drop from New Era and Major League Baseball – and the lesson we can learn from it. After that, he is joined by Travis Powell from Blue Phoenix Branding where they take a deep dive into the branding of movies and the overall movie-going experience before Travis is subjected to “Five Easy Questions” that you do NOT want to miss! A BIG thanks to our pals over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine podcast. When your clients ask you for merch available, with low minimums, epic decoration, and two-day production, you can tell them “I can absolutely BEL Promo that!” Check out all the fantastic merchandise options at belpromo.com today!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 9 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill is joined by the one and only Kirby Hasseman where they unveil the 2025 PowerHouse Women of Promo list! This is easily the favorite podcast of the year and the most fun to record. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this episode. A BIG thanks to our friends over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine podcast. When you're ready to elevate yourself from just a "promotional products distributor" to a true partner who delivers exactly what your clients crave – unique, custom-branded merchandise designed specifically for them – reach out to them at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 8 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill talks about brand loyalty when the product you seek is experiencing scarcity and no longer a premium due to insane pricing. Afterwards, Bill is joined by Dana Geiger from The Premier Group where they talk about common challenges brands face, the biggest hurdle that distributors have to overcome to successfully market their businesses, and Bill’s “dream guest!” As is our custom, Bill asks Dana some awkward “Five Easy Questions” that you do NOT want to miss!A BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI for sponsoring this fine podcast. Speaking of podcast, did you know that PPAI just launched season 1 of their new podcast, “Voice & Force”? Well, you do now and the completely bingeable first season covers PPAI 100! Head over to ppai.org/podcast to listen!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 7 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill does a quick industry news roundup where he discusses the “Stanley vs. Stanley” lawsuit and the fact that PPAI Expo was officially a waste-free event! Afterwards, Bill is joined by David Shultz from commonsku where they talk about how the promotional products industry is handling tariff uncertainty and what inspired Bill to take up (gulp) running. As is our custom, Bill asks David some awkward “Five Easy Questions” that aren’t to be missed...and there might be a rapid fire at the end!A BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI for sponsoring this fine podcast. Speaking of podcast, did you know that PPAI just launched season 1 of their new podcast, “Voice & Force”? Well, you do now and the completely bingeable first season covers PPAI 100! Head over to ppai.org/podcast to listen!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 6 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. This week, Bill goes on a rant about specific social posts that slam branded merchandise suppliers and why those posts accomplish nothing. After that, Bill is joined by Alex Paschal from Warwick where they talk about specific professional lessons they’ve learned that have helped them in their personal lives and what they have learned from role models (and what they hope to teach). Plus, Bill asks Alex some awkward “Five Easy Questions” that you don’t want to miss.A HUGE thanks to our friends at CoasterStone for sponsoring this fine broadcast! With a combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, and unmatched value, CoasterStone will help you make a rock-solid impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 5 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares his thoughts on DOGE as it relates to the promotional products industry why this makes LEAD from PPAI more important than ever. After that, Bill is joined by Lindsay Bons from IDLine to talk about the importance of building strong business relationships and tactfully bridging the age gap. Plus, as always, Bill asks Lindsay “Five Easy Questions” to get to know her a bit better.A BIG thanks to our good pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. It’s 2025 and time to elevate your offerings with fully custom branded merchandise. Russ Mogell and his team will demystify the custom overseas sourcing process and make YOU the hero of their brand story. Email them at sales@sevensourcing.com today!
Time for Ep. 4 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares some thoughts on tariffs and how toxic the conversation has become and how the fact that Super Bowl ads come out make the gameday experience “less than.” After that, Bill is joined by Brett Schaffer from Soapbox to talk about the most memorable Super Bowl ads – both good and bad and how each of them is integrating AI into their everyday businesses. Plus, as always, Bill asks Brett “Five Easy Questions” to get to know him a bit better.A HUGE thanks to our friends at Artwork Services USA for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the right partner to help you hit your 2025 goals, AWS is ready to work with you. Whether its Virtual Assistants, ERP solutions designed for the promo industry, or even an entire website, AWS has you covered. Visit them at artworksolutionsusa.com today!
Time for Ep. 3 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares his thoughts on the passing of Fred Albrecht and some very questionable (and irritating) email marketing practices before being joined by Brittany Frase from HIRSCH where they discuss shedding bad industry energy and who Bill’s promo grandpa (i.e., mentor) is in the industry. Plus, as always, Bill asks Brittany “Five Easy Questions” to get to know her a bit better.A HUGE thanks to our friends at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 92 years – and four generations – SHEPENCO has defined stability in the branded merchandise industry. When your clients have a need for the best writing instruments available, visit shepenco.com!
Time for Ep. 2 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares the best and worst parts of his week in Las Vegas before being joined by Josh Ellis from PPAI where they discuss the value of consumer branding on children’s toys and how one might handle the first week in a new job. Plus, as always, Bill asks Josh “Five Easy Questions” which were…uncomfortable.A HUGE thanks to our friends at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. Beyond the deep inventory and low minimums, BEL Promo is now offering 2-day production on a large number of their fabulous merchandise. Head over to belpromo.com to learn more! 2-day production? Yeah, you can BEL Promo that!
That’s right, it’s Ep. 236 and the FINAL Promo UPFront #podcast…EVER! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie share the reasons why they decided to end their run – as well as their podcasting plans for the future, discuss one more Promotional Products Professionals post on Facebook that was anything but professional, Kirby surprises Bill with some questions that might surprise you, Bill rounds up one last “rapid fire” so he can tell Kirby he’s wrong, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring. When you’re ready to show your clients something more – like merchandise that’s thoughtfully curated for their unique brand – email Russ Mogell and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
And here we go with Ep. 1 of the Between 2 Brands podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. This week Bill shares some thoughts on the end of the Promo UPFront podcast and his plans for this new piece of content before being joined by the one and only Nick Lateur from Merch.ai discussing topics that range from rebranding the Gulf of Mexico to how restaurant branding influences eating habits on the road. Plus, as always, Bill asks Nick “Five Easy Questions” which you do NOT want to miss.A HUGE thanks to our friends at CoasterStone for sponsoring this inaugural broadcast! When you’re looking for rock-solid branded merchandise that’s unmatched in quality, durability, and gorgeous edge-to-edge decorating, look no further than CoasterStone. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com to start your next project today!
It’s Ep. 235 and the first episode of the Promo UPFront #podcast in 2025! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the education available at PPAI Expo, discuss the 2024 most overrated marketing trends according to CMO’s, grade Netflix on their NFL broadcast debut, bring back “rapid fire” with a battle of restaurant chains you might frequent when you travel, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends over at AWS. If you’re looking for a trusted partner that will transform your business in 2025, look no further than AWS. Heck, you can even visit with them in person at PPAI Expo by heading to booth 2754!
It’s time for Ep. 234 of the Promo UPFront #podcast and it’s also the final episode of the year! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the biggest stories of 2024, share end of the year book recommendations, applaud a fantastic feel-good story from Kaeser & Blair, discuss planning big events around big games, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our pals over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. They have something HUGE in the works and can’t wait to share with all the promo world on January 15, 2025. If it’s from BEL Promo, you know it’s going to be amazing!
It’s the final Friday before the holidays so you know it’s time to drop Ep. 233 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the hiring of Drew Holmgren as the new President and CEO of PPAI, ASI shares the 2024 Product of the Year, Knoss Apparel announces that it will close by the end of the year, and they share some “Santa Dad Jokes” to get everyone in the holiday spirit!A HUGE thanks to our friends over at PPAI for sponsoring this award-winning podcast! If you don’t want “promo fomo,” there is still time to register for the PPAI Expo. Head over to ppai.org/expo and get registered today!
If it’s Friday, then it’s time to drop Ep. 232 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the Pantone Color of the Year and the surrounding hoopla on the annual reveal, the efficacy of Amazon getting into the automobile sales business, KFC “rocks” a new promotion on their famous chicken bucket, Kirby gets quizzed on how long he could survive only drinking certain beverages, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends at ArtworkServicesUSA (AWS). For 24 years, AWS has been the trusted industry partner for complete back-office and innovative technology solutions. They are ready to help you transform your business in 2025 – visit them at booth 2754 at PPAI Expo or head over to artworkservicesusa.com to learn more!
Baby, it’s cold outside which means it’s time to drop Ep. 231 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the big move at American Solutions for Business which kicks off the BMSS (Branded Merch Silly Season) and make some predictions for what might be announced in the coming weeks, discuss an interesting Australian law that will ban social media access for children under 16, applaud Virgin’s use of AI to combat scammers, opine on what to do when a rebrand falls flat (we’re looking at you, Jaguar), and so much more!GIANT thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast! When you’re looking to turn your next idea into something truly iconic for your brand, look no further than the team at Seven Sourcing as they completely demystify the direct overseas sourcing process. Email them at sales@sevensourcing.com today!
It’s the blackest of all Friday’s, so you know it’s time to drop Ep. 230 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about weird email habits that need to stop immediately, Hasseman Marketing celebrates 20 years in business, people are up in arms about an orange juice packaging redesign, Bill and Kirby share things they are thankful for in the branded merchandise industry, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends over at Shepenco for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast! For over 90 years – and four generations – they have been the pillar of stability in the industry by caring about your success. Visit them at shepenco.com today!
It’s the last Friday before Thanksgiving, so you know it’s time to drop Ep. 229 of the Promo UPFront #podcast. This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the proposed tariffs by the president-elect and how to manage potential pricing implications with your clients, share some practical tips for advance planning with PPAI Expo on the horizon, discuss how one social media platform is allowing users to reset their algorithms to better tailor feeds, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to the good-strongs over at PPAI for sponsoring this fine broadcast! Don’t forget to make plans to attend the 2025 edition of “The Pitch” taking place Monday, January 13 at 3:30 PM PT in Mandalay Ballroom J!
It’s the Ides of November and absolutely time to drop Ep. 228 of the Promo UPFront #podcast. This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about how to best maximize your most important piece of digital real estate, why one might attend one large industry trade show in January over another, the biggest heart in the industry makes a huge impact on hurricane relief, a toy manufacturer has a “wicked” marketing problem, the return of rapid fire, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our pals over at Logo Mats for sponsoring this fine broadcast. NOW is the time to speak with your clients about utilizing bold, bright, and colorful winter floor mats for the coming season. Visit Logo Mats at logomatsllc.com to see all the amazing options!
You know it’s Friday when a fresh-from-the-oven episode of the Promo UPFront #podcast is delivered piping hot direct to you! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the recent branded merchandise recall involving HALO and how it’s a blueprint for handling similar situations, the impact of a potential breakup of Google forced by the U.S. Department of Justice, specific rules outlined for passenger compensation when air travel goes awry, a ridiculous study paid for by your tax dollars regarding large passenger vehicles, and so much moreA HUGE thanks to our good friends over at ArtworkServicesUSA for sponsoring this fine broadcast. AWS builds websites that skyrocket your conversion rates as evidenced by their 2024 gold pyramid award. Schedule your free demo to ensure your website works FOR you in 2025 by visiting artworkservicesusa.com today!
It’s the first Friday of November which means it’s absolutely time for Ep. 226 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! Today hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie handicap the potential candidates for the next President & CEO of PPAI, Chilis creates sales through some marketing genius (and what we can learn from it), Kirby gives some fantastic advice for following-up after an end-user show, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast! When you’re looking for a trusted partner that will not only demystify custom direct importing but help you turn your client’s brand into something truly iconic, email Russ Mogell and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com!
It’s Friday which means it’s time for Ep. 225 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! Today hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the disparity in spending on election promo, missed merch opportunities at tourist attractions, ways to remove friction (both internally and externally) to help fuel growth, the efficacy of flying cars, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends over at Logo Mats for sponsoring this world-class broadcast! When your client needs point-of-purchase floor mats that are bright, bold, and durable, visit logomatsllc.com to see all their amazing product offerings!
If it’s Friday, then you know it’s time to drop a brand-new episode of the Promo UPFront #podcast! For Ep. 224, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie dissect the ASI Power 50 list, discuss the credit card processing fees charged by suppliers, ponder if putting more resources into print make good business sense, opine on whether rebranding a product truly impacts sales, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our pals at PPAI for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you register for the PPAI Expo in January, make sure you sign up for the LEGENDARY PPAI Expo party! Until December 5, 2024, your cost is only $50 so snag your ticket for the best networking at PPAI Expo!
You bet it’s time for Ep. 223 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie wish an industry icon and friend, Paul Kiewiet, Godspeed as he approaches retirement, share some strategies to ensure you have an amazingly profitable fourth quarter of 2024, opine on the value of Home Depot forcing management to spend a day working in the retail stores once per quarter, more fun in the Promotional Products Professionals Facebook page, share a TRUE Marketing Genius of the Week, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends at AWS. For 24 year they have helped both suppliers and distributors reach new heights through innovative technology-driven solutions and virtual assistant programs. To learn how AWS can dramatically help your business grow, visit them at artworkservicesusa.com today!
Of course, it’s time for Ep. 222 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss PPAI’s Leadership Development Conference event in Dallas and share some key takeaways, applaud the promo do-gooders who are helping folks in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, ponder about how and what to communicate to clients in relation to the longshoreman’s strike, share their thoughts on Pink Floyd selling their music catalog (as well as band name and likenesses) to Sony, the return of “Party in the Back,” and so much more!A HUGE thanks to Russ Mogell and his team at Seven Sourcing. When you’re looking to take your idea and turn into something iconic for your client’s brand with fully custom merchandise, email them at sales@sevensourcing.com!
Heck yes, it’s time for Ep. 221 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie share some thoughts on the purchase of AIA by iPROMOTEu, how each would approach fixing Tupperware after their recent Chapter 11 filing, discuss board leadership shift taking place at PPAI, have a giggle (or two) at an Australian ad campaign to help people overcome “poo paranoia,” and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine podcast! When it comes to lowest minimums, the deepest inventory, 5-Star and A+ service, and simplified pricing…yeah, you can BEL Promo that! Visit them over at belpromo.com!
You bet your sweet bippy it’s time for Ep. 220 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week the original good-time player-men (Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie) talk about the Koozie Group/Tervis partnership and how it may impact the promotional products industry, share some trends for CMOs, dig deep into a fascinating Return to Office study, ponder why a formerly secret government agency would launch a public podcast to recruit talent, hope that new podcast deals result in a mega-payday, and so much more! A HUGE thanks to our friends over at Logo Mats for sponsoring this fine broadcast. NOW is the time to get your clients “winter ready” with mats that will help keep facilities clean and safe while showcasing a brand. Head over to logomatsllc.com to see all the fabulous mats – all made in the USA – today!
Heck yes, it’s time for Ep. 219 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about valuing self when sharing services, discuss an interesting study showing people are increasingly feeling ignored by advertisers, debate whether an iconic company should go through with their rebranding plans, ponder the ramifications of the tipping culture entering the world of collegiate athletics, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to PPAI for sponsoring this fine broadcast! NOW is the time to register for the amazing PPAI Expo! Taking place January 13 – 16, 2025, there is no better way to start your year than by attending the premier show in the promotional products industry. Head over to ppai.org/expo to register today!
You KNOW it’s time for Ep. 218 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie share strategies to disconnect and maintain mental health, discuss the importance of resurrecting the concept of boredom, laugh at the silliness of the viral TikTok trend of essentially robbing a bank using your own account, Kirby blind ranks the top five foods to eat while watching football, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing. With over 25 years of experience, they completely demystify direct custom overseas sourcing and helps you turn your next idea into a truly iconic brand. Shoot them an email at sales@sevensourcing.com to get started today!
It’s 5150 time which means we are dropping Ep. 217 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie review how PPAI manages elections to the board, discuss the efficacy of a musical “artist” securing the naming rights to a college football stadium, share strategies on how to handle a nightmare order, Bill interviews Kirby about the new book he wrote with his dad, and so much more!A big thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. They are running a free freight/free setup special on four of their most popular writing instruments – simply head over to shepenco.com and click on the “specials” tab for all the details!
Time for Ep. 216 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the dynamic duo discuss overcoming digital marketing fatigue, invasive hotel room searches for conferences, whether glass cases protecting items from theft at stores creates consumer friction, a deep dive into who would win the bizarre competitions on “The Ocho,” and so much more!A BIG thanks to our pals at Hirsch for sponsoring this fine broadcast! They are the perfect combination of quality, innovation, and credibility! Check them out at hirschpromo.com!
If it’s Friday, you know it’s time to drop Ep. 215 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the promo pair dig deep into the amazing ASI End-Buyer survey, discuss whether tradeshows should take place over a weekend, finally debate whether cold calling is alive and well or as dead as the dodo, and so much more – you can’t even imagine how much more. A BIG thanks to our friends over at Logo Mats for sponsoring this fine broadcast! For 20 years, Logo Mats has provided a thankful industry of indoor, outdoor, and point of purchase mats that are bold, bright, durable, and made right here in the USA! Visit them at logomatsllc.com today!
Friday mornings mean one thing and one thing only: time for a brand new, oven-fresh episode of the Promo UPFront #podcast! For Ep. 214, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss the surprising acquisition of alphabroder by S&S Activewear and what it may mean for the industry, Elon Musk wages war (and files lawsuits) on potential advertisers, the myth of “made in China” meaning inferior merch, promo superstar Mandi Rudd launches an amazing project outside the branded merchandise space, dissecting an article suggesting the four things high performers do every Friday, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our pals at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast! When you’re looking to demystify custom merchandise sourcing, hit up Russ Mogell and the experts at Seven Sourcing. You can email them at sales@sevensourcing.com and turn your client idea into truly iconic merchandise for your clients.
You know it’s time for ep. 213 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the perfect marriage of Sweeter Cards and Maple Ridge Farms, the branding implications of Southwest Airlines moving away from open seating, the backlash for Google’s “Gemini” commercial, the short and long-term efficacy of marketing clickbait, the “Marketing Genius of the Week,” and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends at Certified Marketing Consultants for sponsoring this fine broadcast! Whether your looking to grow by acquisition, understand the value of your business, or someone to help you navigate the sale of your organization, the expert team at Certified Marketing Consultants is poised to help! Email them at info@certifiedmarketing.com today!
Of COURSE it’s time for ep. 212 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie review Bill’s experience at the ASI Show and the Counselor Awards, more silliness in the Promotional Products Professionals Facebook page, whether educational webinars are impactful, the overreach of the International Olympic Committee when it comes to enforcing fake merch, the “Marketing Genius of the Week,” and so much more! A BIG thanks to our good friends at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast! When it comes to the lowest minimums in the industry, the deepest inventory, 5 star and A+ service, and simplified pricing, yeah, you can BEL Promo that! Visit them at belpromo.com.
You know it’s Friday when Ep. 211 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie drops! This week the dynamic duo talk about the big news of Dale Denham departing PPAI, Sticker Mule mixes business with politics and has predictable results, Greece considers a six-day work week to grow the economy, the intended and unintended impact of Amazon’s Prime Day, Bill asks Kirby for advice on things to do in Chicago, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our good friends at Hirsch for sponsoring this fine broadcast! As one of the most forward-thinking organizations in the industry, Hirsch continues to innovate with the introduction of their ColorMAX decoration on the three top selling JBL speakers and the debut of tasc performance activewear in the promotional products industry. Visit them at hirschpromo.com or, if you’re in Chicago, booth 1248.
If it’s Friday (and it is), then you know it’s time for Ep. 210 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss how the dichotomy of the current economic perception and whether you should discuss it with your clients, the efficacy of Netflix turning vacant department stores into entertainment centers, share strategies for selling through a sales slump caused by uncertainty, review the most effective TV ads so far in 2024 and what, if any, lessons can be gleaned from that information, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends at Logo Mats! If you’re headed to ASI Chicago, stop by booth 1113 to see all the transformative merchandise made right here in the USA – including several new products your clients will love!
Even though it’s a holiday weekend, it’s time for Ep. 209 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the new PPAI website and a missed opportunity, lessons from communication failures, Bill shares a little about his first vacation in a decade, HIT Promotional Products makes a HUGE hire, advice for getting back into work-mode after a vacation, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking to turn your next client idea into something that becomes truly iconic, reach out to the team at Seven Sourcing at sales@sevensourcing.com.
You darn well know it’s time for Ep. 208 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about industry media and the difference of reporting news and creating conversations, the inherent friction of updating phone apps, wonder if we are in a “promotion recession,” discuss a MASSIVE sports retirement, bring back rapid fire, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends over a Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast! With four generations of family ownership over 91 years, Shepenco defines stability in an era of change. Head over to shepenco.com today!
You know it’s time for Ep. 207 of the PromoUPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie celebrate officially eclipsing the amount of episodes of unScripted by listening to congratulatory messages from some VERY important Americans, talk about obscene room charges from hotels and how one clever supplier avoided them, discuss “telephoneaphobia” for people under the age of 40, debate the merits of a bill in New York State that would restrict children’s access to social media, and so much more! A BIG thanks to our sponsor in BamBams who continue to change the game by working smarter, better, and faster to better serve distributors. Check them out at bambams.com!
Oh yes, it’s time for Ep. 206 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss how suppliers can better support the marketing efforts of multi-line reps, Apple’s ingeniously simple way to reduce burnout, talk about the lessons learned from Bill’s recent health scare and diagnosis, how entrepreneurs can plan a vacation where they can fully unplug, play a vacation-themed rapid fire, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends at Logo Mats for sponsoring today! They want to celebrate their appearance (#53 if you’re scoring at home) on the PPAI 100 by giving you 10% off on your next mat order. Simply use the code “Promo UPFront” on your next PO!
It’s Fri-yay and time for Ep. 205 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the efficacy of instituting “Friday Hours” over the summer, the difference of making purchases on a small vs. big screen, dive into Dr Pepper eclipsing Pepsi as the number two soft drink by way of a case study in branding, opine on why so many big music acts are canceling tours, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast! When you’re looking to turn your next idea into an iconic brand with custom sourced merchandise, look no further than Seven Sourcing. Email them at sales@sevensourcing.com.
Buckle up, buttercup, because it’s time for Ep. 204 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie tackle the GQ opinion piece on what they call, “the end of merch,” discuss international perspectives on the U.S. promotional products industry, ponder the future with S&S Activewear deploying robots in distribution centers, opine on the Indy 500 banning political branding on cars, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends over at Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast! As a fourth-generation family-owned business, Shepenco defines stability. Check out shepenco.com for your next writing instrument project!
It’s time for Ep. 203 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie take a deep dive into PPAI 100 lists, take a critical look at the recruiting practices in the industry, ponder how to create a world record in promo, shed some light on micro advertising campaigns, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our pals over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When a client asks you if you can create branded merchandise that’s available, cost-effective, and magical, feel confident in saying, “Yes! I can BEL Promo that!”
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 202 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the importance of PPAI L.E.A.D and what it’s like to advocate for the promotional products industry, discuss how Gemline has rebranded as a “public benefit corporation,” chat about how the NFL is going deeper into the world of streamed content, ponder whether a legendary metal band has tarnished their brand due to continual drama, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our pals at BamBams who are ALWAYS changing the game. How about no set-up charges for variable data as an example? Head over to bambams.com to see this and other ways BamBams is always changing the game!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 201 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the ASI and PRINTING United Alliance merger, discuss the importance of understanding that you’re not for everyone, take a deep dive into the rebranding of Boy Scouts of America which leads into a thoughtful conversation about how focusing on inclusion can result in a win for everyone, and so much more!A big thanks to our sponsor, Logo Mats! For 20 years, Logo Mats has been creating indoor, outdoor, and point of purchase mats that are bold, bright, durable, and made right here in the USA. Visit them at logomatsllc.com.
Kirby and Bill celebrate a milestone by interviewing each other and ask questions they’ve never posed before!A big thanks to our sponsor in Seven Sourcing. When you're ready to help turn a great idea into something truly iconic for your client's brand, email Russ Mogell and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s the last Friday of April and time for Ep. 199 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie take a deep dive into the PPAI “Cool Stuff List,” discuss a bizarre movie promotion with an NBA player, applaud the FTC ban on noncompete agreements, delve into language and the lost art of reading people, have a little musical rapid fire during the party in the back, and so much more!BIG thanks to our pals at Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When it comes to stability and dedication to the promotional products industry, you’d be hard pressed to beat Shepenco. Visit them at shepenco.com.
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 198 of the Promo UPFront #podcast. This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie – who is recording from the Caribbean – discuss LinkedIn’s foray into influencer marketing, chat about the impact of events on the promotional products industry, Nike goes all in on Olympic advertising, Fanatics focus on creating a Comic-Con style event for sports, and so much more!HUGE thanks to our game-changing pals at BamBams who, well, are always changing the game! Check out their new self-promo site that makes it easier than ever to help grow your sales at bambamsselfpromo.com.
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 197 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss the HALO data breach and how well it was (or wasn’t) communicated, debate how to make returning to the office work for both employers and employees, skewer the communication from Dunkin’ regarding the fulfillment challenges for the viral “DunKings” merchandise, Kirby advocates for elections to be held next month, and so much more!BIG thanks to our pals at Logo Mats for sponsoring this fine broadcast! With the vibrant, bold, and durable colors, Logo Mats has the perfect indoor, outdoor, and point of purchase mats for any client. Even better, use the code “Promo UPFront” and receive 10% off your order through April 30, 2024! Help them celebrate 20 years by visiting them at logomatsllc.com today!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 196 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss the harm done to brands pulling April Fools’ Day pranks, debate whether Supplier Star awards impact buying decisions, chat about the major change in realtor compensation, ponder whether campaigning for awards negatively taint the recognition, have a little party in the back, and so much more! BIG thanks to our pals at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast! Russ Mogell and his team demystify overseas custom merchandise sourcing and help you turn great ideas into iconic brands, email them at sales@sevensourcing.com!
It’s the last Friday of International Women’s Month so you know Ep. 105 of the Promo UPFront #podcast is going to be revealing the annual list of Powerhouse Women of Promo! That’s right, this week Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie share their sixth annual list of the amazing and creative women that are pushing the promotional products industry forward be they suppliers, distributors, or service providers! Help us celebrate these fantastic women who are doing truly phenomenal things.A HUGE thanks to our friends at BEL Promo for sponsoring this podcast. When it comes to a supplier that delivers on the promises of low minimums, simplified pricing, deep inventory, and 5-Star/A+ Service, look no further than BEL Promo. Yeah, you can BEL Promo that!
You bet it’s time for Ep. 194 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss the value (and the cost) of large distributor national sales meetings, the continued invasion of the subscription model, whether Glassdoor should continue to allow anonymous comments about employers, how a restaurant brand changing soft drink affiliation might impact customer behavior, and so much more!A GIGANTIC thanks to our good pals over at BamBams for sponsoring this game-changing podcast. Speaking of changing the game, that’s something BamBams is always doing! From being the industry made-to-order experts to creating a dedicated website to make ordering self-promos easier for distributors (bambamsselfpromo.com), BamBams is always changing the game.
Julius Ceasar was told to “beware the Ides of March.” However, when Ep. 193 of the Promo UPFront #podcast drops on the very same day, the only thing to be afraid of are candid opinions! Today hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie take a deep dive into the new PPAI membership structure, discuss how the potential ban of TikTok will change influencer marketing, share some mega trends in marketing – and what you need to do about them, giggle about google having issues with Wi-Fi in their new building, Kirby endures a St. Paddy’s Day edition of Rapid Fire, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends over at Logo Mats who have a HECK of a deal for Promo UPFront listeners. Simply put the code “Promo UPFront” on your next PO between now and March 29, 2024, and they will take 10% off your order! Yes, it’s just that simple! Check all their fine merchandise out at logomatsllc.com today and take advantage of that offer!
It’s Friday before we lose an hour of sleep which means the time has come to drop Ep. 192 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie carefully and thoughtfully dissect the PPAI #Online18 list, dig into one of the reasons behind so many big names in promo making equally big moves, dive into the default font change from Microsoft, and so much more!A big thanks to our good direct sourcing buddies at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast! Russ Mogell and his team demystify the overseas sourcing process and help you turn a great idea into an iconic brand. Email them at sales@sevensourcing.com today!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 191 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss the impact of Donald Trump’s new merch, the “Florida Man Games” and how we might adapt them for PPAI Expo, a fast-food restaurant testing surge pricing, Wal-Mart purchases television maker Vizio for reasons that might not be obvious, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends over at Shepenco. In a business climate where change is the norm, it’s wonderful to have the stability of over 90 years in your corner when it comes to branded writing instruments. Visit them at the redesigned Shepenco.com today!
It’s Triple F Day – the Final Friday of February – which means it’s time for Ep. 190 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie applaud ASI for removing the paywall that blocked their amazing editorial content, whether the new “Sun Day Red” brand will perform for Tiger Woods and Taylor Made, debate how to answer when someone asks how your business is going this year, ponder how entertainment companies are trying to both reach audiences while monetizing their content, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our game-changing pals at BamBams! From being the made-to-order experts to buying a premium cooler company instead of simply partnering with them, BamBams is always changing the game – for the better. Their new frictionless self-promo site is a perfect example, and you can experience that for yourself by visiting bambamsselfpromo.com!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 189 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie take a deep dive into the branded merchandise tie in with the Super Bowl, dissect the good, the bad, and the WTF ads during the Big Game, ponder if the payment of “exposure” is enough for providing services, wrap up the final PPEF picks for good, and so much more!A big thanks to our pals at Logo Mats! They have some fantastic new and vibrant products just waiting to be decorated with your client’s brand! Check them out at logomatsllc.com today!
It’s Friday morning, so you know it’s time for Ep. 188 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss a very interesting advertising approach to the Super Bowl by Miller Lite, take a hard look at the marketing tactics of one Taylor Swift at the Grammy Awards, debate the efficacy of Meta seeing to label images created by AI, Bill takes some time to really get to know Kirby by asking him the questions others are too afraid to ask, the boys make some Super Bowl prop bets – and make our predictions for the game, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this award-winning podcast! With over 25 years of overseas sourcing experience, the team not only demystifies custom product sourcing, but they will also help you turn a great idea into an iconic brand. Email them at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s Friday morning which means it’s time for Ep. 187 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie are joined by Rupt founders (and Merch All-Stars) Jason Lucash and Mike Szymczak! Today the quotable quartet discuss whether promotional products suppliers should put their brand on merchandise, ponder the question of restaurants catfishing prospective patrons, laugh about the over-holidization of America, Mike and Jason endure a round of “Rupt Rapid Fire,” and so much more!A big thanks to Rupt for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast! When you’re ready to experience truly insane merchandise that’s 100% crafted from recycled materials, visit rupt.com. You truly won’t be sorry you did.
It’s Friday morning which means it’s time for Ep. 186 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about managing the work week after the big trade show in Las Vegas, whether putting an NFL playoff game on a streaming service is good for the product (and the fans), the growing issue of “AI Washing,” give a huge shout out to multi-line reps (who may be the hardest working group in the industry), and so much more!A GIANT thanks to our friends at BEL Promo for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast! With low minimums, deep inventory, and the lowest pricing for printed, in stock merchandise, BEL Promo is one to watch. Visit them at belpromo.com. BEL Promo: Just Watch Us!
Ready to roll the dice on ep. 185 of the Promo UPFront #podcast live from BamBams booth at the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas? Of course, you are! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the biggest tradeshow in the promotional products industry – education, great booths, surprises, and a few other topics, Bill receiving the PPAI Icon Award for Distinguished Service, welcome back the return of “rapid fire,” and so much more!A big thanks to our sponsor in BamBams for hosting us at their booth. When you’re looking for custom, made to order merchandise, look no further than BamBams. Also, be sure to check out their BRAND NEW web-to-print platform at bambamsselfpromo.com!
Absolutely it’s time for ep. 184 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week, co-hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss the efficacy of safe air travel (looking at you, Boeing), the end of an era as Nike parts ways with Tiger Woods, how best to avoid “quitters Friday,” Bill shares an epic Top 3/Bottom 3 – Las Vegas Experiences edition, the final (sort of) picks for PPEF, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our sponsor in Logo Mats. If you’re going to be in Vegas, stop by booth 2333 to see their amazing mats as well as some really cool new products. You won’t be sorry you did!
Yes, it’s time for ep. 183 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Haseman and Bill Petrie! This week the co-hosts discuss suppliers closing up shop for the holidays – and the post in the Promotional Products Professionals group on Facebook that ignited the conversation, share some really insightful tradeshow tips for new and seasoned attendees alike, ponder the five threats that need to be taken seriously according to PPAI Research, make the final football picks for good for PPEF, and so much more!A big thanks to our friends at Shepenco for sponsoring. As you’re writing down your goals for 2024, make sure you’re doing it with a writing instrument from Shepenco! They would love to see you in Las Vegas at the PPAI Expo – just stop by booth #5405 and let them know Bill and Kirby sent you!
It’s time for the final Promo UPFront #podcast for 2023! In this episode (#182 if you’re counting), co-hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss a new round of supply chain issues and whether it’s time to push the panic button, dissect the biggest marketing fails of the year and the lessons we can learn from them, ponder whether wearable tech is making a comeback, Bill shares his Top 3/Bottom 3 New Year’s Eve foods, football picks for PPEF and so much more!A HUGE thanks to Logo Mats for sponsoring this broadcast. Help them celebrate 20 years in business by visiting them at ASI Orlando (booth 921) and PPAI Expo in Las Vegas (booth 2333)! Of course, you can always visit them at logomatsllc.com!
It’s time for Ep. 181 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! In this special pre-Christmas episode, co-hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss Time Magazine doubling down on live events, explore some “interesting” posts in the Promotional Products Professionals Facebook page, finally share some 2024 business trends, Kirby shocks Bill with a holiday-based Top 3/Bottom 3, PPEF football picks for good, and so much more!Big thanks to our friend Bruce Jolesch and PXP Solutions for sponsoring this fine broadcast! They are ready for all your apparel decorating needs in 2024 – simply call Bruce at 214.226.3105 or email him at bruce@pxpsolutions.com.
You bet it’s time for Ep. 180 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week co-hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the Pantone Color of the Year, discuss narrowing your focus when it comes to content creation, debate the merits of the New York Times hiring an AI Editorial Director, reveal the Marketing Word of the Year, make football picks for good, and so much more!Big thanks to our friends at Evans for sponsoring this fine broadcast. As they continue to make the lives of their distributor partners as easy as possible, they invite you to be part of what makes Evans great by visiting evans-mfg.com.
Yes! It’s (finally) time for a delayed Ep. 179 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! Today co-hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss the reason for the break in consistency last week, dive into the ASI article wondering why promo is growing slower than GDP, dissect the Oxford word of the year, share their football picks for PPEF, and so much more!HUGE thanks to our friends at Shepenco. They have acquired the equipment of Dixon Promo (a division of Dixon Ticonderoga) which will allow additional decoration capacity and better finishing pencils for the promo world! Visit them at Shepenco.com today!
Of course it’s time for Ep. 178 of the Promo UPFront #podcast. This week Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about how to maximize your December, share thoughts on some promo industry quick hits, the backlash of Sports Illustrated using AI, debate the Merriam-Webster word of the year, share some football picks for good, and so much more!Big thanks to our friends at LogoMats for sponsoring this fine broadcast! Creatively designed and expertly built in the USA, LogoMats are insanely effective in capturing the attention of your target audience. See them at ASI Orlando (#921) or PPAI Expo (#2333)! Or, visit them at logomatsllc.com!
Yes, it’s time for Ep. 177 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! In this VERY special Black Friday edition (where Black Friday isn’t mentioned at all), the hosts discuss the brilliant VistaPrint/Ryan Reynolds collaboration, share some industry quick hits from the past few weeks, debate whether F1 damaged its brand with the race in Las Vegas, opine on some really ingenus marketing campaigns and sponsorships, make football picks for good with a very special guest, and so much more!A big thanks to our sponsor in Evans. Even as they work diligently to make the lives of their distributors easier, they also focus on amazing merchandise that’s used, kept, and remembered. To see all their amazing product offerings, head over to evans-mfg.com.
Time for Ep. 176 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie focus on gratitude by sharing things they are thankful for both in and out of the promotional products industry. They also chat about irritating marketing practices, make football picks for PPEF, and much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends at Kanata Group for sponsoring this fine broadcast. Whether it’s amazing towels, cozy blankets, or gorgeous footwear, Kanata IS comfort. Learn more at kanatapromo.com.
Time for Ep. 175 of the Promo UPFront #podcast – live from the Caribbean Sea! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about how the second PromoCruise is unfolding mid-event, chat about legislation that might kill airline rewards programs, debate the use of multi-line reps over direct factory reps in light of a recent decision by Spector, express curiosity over the odd development feature from Tinder to allow friends and family to weigh in on potential matches, PPEF football pics for good with a special guest, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends from Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast. Strong, stable, and reliable: those are the three words that come to mind when you think of Shepenco. Don’t your clients deserve that level of trust? Visit them at Shepenco.com.
You bet it’s time for Ep. 174 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the second PromoCruise and what’s easier – and more difficult – about planning it, discuss whether NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) is working for advertisers or not, debate the branding of Halloween, chat about the Executive Order signed by Joe Biden this week regarding government regulation of generative AI, make football picks for good, and so much more!A GIANT thanks to our friends over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast! Russ Mogell and his team really demystify direct custom sourcing and help distributors create “wow” and “aha” moments. If you’re looking to avoid off the shelf solutions for something that’s off the wall, email Seven Sourcing at sales@sevensourcing.com.
Bam! Time to drop Ep. 173 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the mummies of merch review the ASI Power 50 list – and share a few suggestions, discuss whether it’s too difficult to become B-Corp certified, praise the CEO of Coca-Cola for thinking differently about marketing spend, chat about how to build a preferred supplier list, PPEF football picks for good (and how you can join in the fun), and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our pals at Logo Mats for sponsoring this spooky podcast. They live by their tagline of “stand out where others blend it” by providing truly vibrant indoor, outdoor, and point-of-purchase mats that will help any brand get noticed. Learn more at logomatsllc.com.
You know it’s time for Ep. 172 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the hosts with the mosts talk about the value of an end-user event, debate the impact of Koozie Group and Imagen Brands combining as one organization in 2024, ponder if United Airlines has finally made boarding a plane efficient, wonder if anyone would really enjoy drinking their beer through a silicone glizzy, and so much more!Big thanks to our friends at PXP Solutions for sponsoring this fine broadcast. They are ready to help you with all your apparel decorating needs – simply call the owner, Bruce Jolesch, at 214.226.3105 or email him at bruce@pxpsolutions.com.
You bet it’s time for Ep. 171 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the impact of the return of commercial jingles (or, should we say, singles), whether the trend of all things pumpkin spice has (finally) run its course, the seismic shift of Jon Norris leaving Starline for Hit Promotional Products, what to think about the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of Pioneer Balloon, PPEF football picks for good, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our pals at Evans Manufacturing for sponsoring this fine podcast. As a supplier that has built their entire business into making the lives of their distributor partners easier, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not using them regularly. Check out all their fine merchandise at evans-mfg.com.
You’re darn tootin’ it’s time for Ep. 170 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss the big bombshell of Ashely McCune leaving Facilisgroup, debate the merits of a lawsuit against food looking unrealistic in advertising, marvel at how Netflix is doubling down on merchandise, wonder how Lyft dropped the customer service ball after a rider forgot his cat after a rideshare was complete, football picks for good, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our sponsor in Shepenco. With a 90-year history in the promotional products industry, they define stability. To see all their amazing merchandise, visit them at shepenco.com.
You bet it’s time for Ep. 169 of the Promo UPFront Podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss the PPAI Icon Award Winners for 2024 (which may or may not include one of the hosts of this fine broadcast), the anatomy of the spin starring Apple and USB-C, Netflix sending its final red envelope and what that means for the company, a VERY controversial top three/bottom three, football picks for PPEF, and so much more!A big thanks to our sponsor, PXP Solutions. They are ready to help you with all your fourth quarter creative apparel decorating needs – simply email the owner, Bruce Jolesch, at bruce@pxpsolutions.com or give him a call on his cell phone at 214.226.3105.
That’s right, it’s time for Ep. 168 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about one of the strangest merchandise collaborations ever, discuss whether it’s time to send after-work happy hour into the sunset, Bill interviews Kirby about the launch of his new book “Hitting the Target” and demands answers to the tough questions others are too afraid to ask, ponder if 8-minute long songs will survive in the streaming economy, pick football games for good, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. They work with distributors just like you to demystify the direct custom sourcing process and would love to help you create “wow” and “aha” moments for your clients. Email them at sales@sevensourcing.com today!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 167 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! Today hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss (over)using AI in marketing, Kirby wraps up his experience at commonsku’s skucamp in Austin, debate the merits of Gannett hiring a reporter to ONLY cover Taylor Swift, the real reason McDonald’s is doing away with self-serve soft drinks, week 2 of PPEF football picks for good, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our good pals over at Evans for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking to work with a supplier that always has your back, look no further than Evans.
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 166 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! Today hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the PPAI Rising Star list, discuss the efficacy of streaming services leveraging email addiction to retain subscribers, share the ways content creators are revolutionizing marketing (and how to apply them to your business), debate whether a plane contaminated with a biohazard should be ever put back into service, launch the second year of football picks to benefit PPEF, and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends over at Kanata Group for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the most comfortable, cost-effective, and impactful merchandise solutions, head over to kanatapromo.com.
Yes, indeed it’s time for Ep. 165 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! On this hard-hitting Labor Day edition hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the big industry hiring of Charity Gibson at Proforma, debate the merits of hopping on the spiked-everything bandwagon, review passive/aggressive phrases that some suggest need to be removed from communications, muse on the use of robo taxis, and so much more!A BIG thanks to PXP Solutions for presenting this fine broadcast. They are poised to help you finish the year strong with creative decorated apparel. Call Bruce Jolsech at 214.226.3105 or email him at bruce@pxpsolutions.com to get started today!
It’s crossover time on Ep. 164 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! That’s right, Mark Graham and Bobby Lehew from commonsku join regular hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie to discuss the value of the new position of Director of Sustainability and Responsibility at PPAI, take a deep dive into the power of merchandise to identify beliefs – and whether distributors have a moral obligation regarding what is imprinted on products, examine the interesting ASI statistic of growing sales for large online distributors while there is a decline at smaller, boutique operations, debate whether malls are back with a rise in sales, Bill asks everyone to weigh in on his most recent Top Three/Bottom Three, and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends at Tervis for sponsoring this once-in-a-lifetime podcast! If you follow Tervis on both commonsku and LinkedIn before August 31, 2023, they will waive the set-up charge on your next order! You can also check out all their legendary drinkware at tervispromos.com.
Heck yes, it’s time for Ep. 163 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! In this white-hot episode, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss how to properly celebrate PPAI’s Promotional Products Work Day on August 24, say goodbye to a retiring industry legend in Mike Szymczak, debate whether Facebook intentionally creates divisiveness with their algorithms, go off on the trend of posting anonymously, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our pals at Shepenco for sponsoring this world-class broadcast. Shepenco defines stability in the promotional products industry, and they would love to work with you to create impactful promotions for your clients. Check them out at Shepenco.com.
It’s “back to podcast” time as we drop Ep. 162 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week co-hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie debate if distributors should be concerned about suppliers raising prices, whether the investment in the United States by Canadian supplier Spector & Co. makes sense, how they each prepare to create consistent content, the delicious irony of Zoom (and other tech companies) “ordering” employees back to the office…and if that’s the right approach, the dramatic return of Bill’s Top Three/Bottom Three, and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends at Evans for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking to make your distributor life easier, head over to evans-mfg.com as the entire company ethos and culture is built around removing friction and making it easy to work with them.
Oh yes, it’s Friday which means one thing and one thing only: time to drop ep. 161 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss the ASI Counselor Awards, the importance of branded merchandise when launching a new sports league in the United States, share products that have made them more productive, odd brand collaborations and why some work where others fail, the trend of using celebrities to give people bad news, and much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends at Logo Mats for sponsoring this fine broadcast. They will be celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2024 and have rebranded to celebrate that milestone. To learn more about their amazing merch – and to meet Lenny the Lizard – head over to logomatsllc.com!
It’s Friday and time for ep. 160 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! Today hosts Kirby Hasseman & Bill Petrie share some quick-hit industry news items from the week, give kudos to the suppliers who communicated plans if the UPS strike had happened, laugh at the ridiculous rebranding of Twitter, marvel and the unique marketing of “Barbenheimer,” debate the direct marketing of Prime Energy drink to kids, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at PXP Solutions for sponsoring this fine broadcast! They would love to help you with all your apparel decorating needs and you can contact the owner, Bruce Jolesch, directly at 214.226.3105 or at bruce@pxpsolutions.com!
It’s Friday and time for ep. 159 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss whether there is a need for a summer industry trade show, SAG-AFTRA asking creators to not cross the picket lines, staffing realignment at PPAI, whether body art is good for business, share their top three/bottom three virtual meeting platforms, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. Russ Mogell and his team work with distributors to demystify the custom merchandise importing puzzle. When you’re ready to stop selling off the shelf and start selling off the wall merchandise solutions that get a “wow” moment, email them at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s Friday and most assuredly time for ep. 158 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! Today hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the branding phenomenon that is Amazon Prime Day, chat about the game-changing events from Promocations and what’s in store for the future, ponder whether advertising in a video game makes sense, debate the efficacy of a company mission statement, and so much more!
A GIANT expression of gratitude to our friends at Evans for sponsoring this award-winning broadcast. They are honored to have been nominated for a PPAI Supplier Star Award and would love your vote. You can cast your ballot for them by visiting ppai.org/supplierstar. Plus, if you’re going to be in Chicago for the ASI Show, stop by booth 200 and they will show you how working with Evans will make your life easier!
It’s Friday and time for ep. 157 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! Today hosts Bill Petrie and Kirby Hasseman talk about Kanye West and Dov Charney teaming up to save the Yeezy brand, debate whether Threads will finally kill Twitter, the efficacy of the flying car that was recently approved by the FAA, ponder whether renting clothes when traveling will help the environment, laugh at the proposed “enhanced” games, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at Kanata Group for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the best towel value in the industry, look no further than our friends at Kanata Towel. If you’re going to be at ASI Chicago, visit them at booth 331. If you’re not, head over to kanatatowel.com to see their amazing line of towels!
It’s Friday and time for a piping hot episode of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! For episode 156, the List Lieutenants take a deep dive into the inaugural PPAI 100 list and share their takeaways, debate the relative merits of a new hot dog condiment from Pepsi, share preparations for the first PromoQue, ponder whether habitual napping stimulates brain activity, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at Logo Mats for sponsoring this fine broadcast! To celebrate America’s 247th birthday, they are offering 10% off your ENTIRE mat order for the month of July. Simply email your order to orders@logomatsllc.com and mention “Promo UPFront!” It’s really just that simple!
It’s Friday morning, which means it’s time to drop ep. 155 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! Today the Field Marshalls of Fair Labor discuss the business lessons gleaned from Bud Light losing their “top dog” designation in domestic beer sales, share thoughts on what to think about the potential Teamsters strike at UPS, tips on handling clients when a supplier suddenly closes, and the relative merits of faking one’s own death to get attention.
A HUGE thanks to PXP Solutions for sponsoring this fine podcast. They have HUGE decorating capacity and wildly creative ways to exceed your expectations. Learn more by calling the owner, Bruce Jolesch, at 214.380.1883 or emailing him at bruce@pxpsolutions.com.
Ka-BOOM! Time for Ep. 154 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Emperors of Embroidery talk about the possible death of the NFT as a promotional product, discuss how the long-distance commute has been redefined, discuss the retail brands arms race among suppliers, share ideas how to maximize marketing budget, Kirby teases a topic for next week, and much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at Evans for sponsoring this fine broadcast. As a company solely focused on making the lives of distributor partners easier, Evans does things the right way. Visit them at evans-mfg.com today!
Bang! Pow! Wow! It’s time for a fiery ep. 153 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the promo pair talks about the importance of PPAI Legislative Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.), dive deep into how branded merchandise can be used for good, discuss whether the giving a company a rating on the 5-star system means anything, Bill goes on a rant about the evolution of the “tip economy,” and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends at Shepenco for sponsoring this award-winning podcast! With over 90 years in business, you know the folks at Shepenco do things right. Visit the newly redesigned Shepenco.com to experience a company that always does it the right way.
It’s Friday and time for ep. 152 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week, the Doctors of Decoration talk about the branding nightmare that is MAX (previously HBO MAX), discuss the class-action lawsuit against Delta Airlines for “greenwashing,” applaud the recipients of PPAI 2023 Women of Achievement and share some awards they would like to see, marvel at the salaries for team mascots, and much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends at Logo Mats for sponsoring this fine broadcast! For the month of June, they are offering distributors 5% off your total mat order if you mention the Promo UPFront Podcast! Don’t hesitate and get those orders in today!
It’s Friday and time for ep. 151 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the power pair of promo talk about the ASI investigative report on a large apparel supplier’s response to using banned fabric and the concerns of importing, Adobe’s entry into the emerging power of AI, how the space you work in influences creativity, the return of a “Party in the Back” game, and so much more!A huge thanks to our friends at PXP Solutions for sponsoring this fine broadcast! If you’re looking for fantastic apparel decorating, email Bruce Jolesch at bruce@pxpsolutions.com or call him at 214.380.1883!
It’s Friday and time for ep. 150 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! In this sesquicentennial broadcast, the courage boys talk about Tesla beginning to advertise, the battle over who owns “Taco Tuesday,” disagree over the relative merits of the upcoming PPAI 100 list, struggle to understand the point behind Apple’s digital version of your own voice, and so much more!A BIG thanks to Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine #podcast. With decades of experience, the team at Seven Sourcing will work with you to demystify direct custom sourcing and ensure you get those “wow” and “aha” moments from your clients. Drop them a line at sales@sevensourcing.com today!
It’s Friday and time for episode 149 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the admirals of artificial intelligence talk about the value of being named one of the “best places to work” by PPAI, take a deep dive into two AI programs (ChatGPT and MidJourney) and how they are impacting marketing and branded merchandise, debate the relative merits online reviews and how they influence buying patterns, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our good pals over at Evans for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking to make your distributor life easier, look no further than Evans. Visit them at evans-mfg.com.
It’s Friday and time for ep. 148 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Staff Sergeants of Swag share some final thoughts on the PromoCruise, review some authorized and unauthorized merch surrounding the coronation of King Charles III, dive deep into the arresting statistic that being isolated is as harmful to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends at Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast. They are the ORIGINAL sustainability company in the promotional products industry and have been for 90 years. Visit Shepenco.com to see all their amazing eco-friendly products!
It’s Friday and time for a special edition of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! If you’re wondering why this episode is special, it’s because they recorded it on a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean while on the inaugural PromoCruise. Not surprisingly, they discuss the networking aspects of the event, chat about how to work remotely while at a networking event, Kirby is asked to give one-word impressions of several PromoCruisers, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our sponsor in Promocations! If you’re ready to be part of a game-changing networking event happening November 4 – 9, 2023, then PromoCruise 2 is for you! Check out all the details at promocations.com/promocruise or send an email to relax@promocations.com!
It’s Friday which means it’s time to drop episode 146 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week, the Earls of Earth Day talk about the importance of sustainability and how to make it matter for clients, discuss why it’s critical to hire to buy your time back, debate whether podcasts are great sources for news, share why a creative voice in your organization is a must, and so much more! Huge thanks to our pal Bruce Jolesch at PXP Solutions. He and his team would LOVE to show you why so many people use PXP Solutions for their contract decorating needs. Reach out to him at 214.380.1883 or bruce@pxpsolutions.com.
It’s Friday and time for ep. 145 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Captains of Cash Flow talk about some lessons learned planning a game-changing industry networking event, share strategies to grow sales even when clients are cutting budgets, discuss both NPR and PBS leaving Twitter over being labeled “State Controlled Media,” debate the current value of LinkedIn, and giggle over the profane brand fail from Wal-Mart.A HUGE thanks to our friends at Evans for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re tired of the wheels flying off when working with other suppliers, it’s time to make your life easier by working with Evans and visiting www.evans-mfg.com.
It’s a VERY Good Friday when you drop ep. 144 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman & Bill Petrie on the promo world! This week the original good-time player-men talk about how Swifties aren’t happy with Taylor Swift’s the quality of Taylor Swift’s tour t-shirts, the marketing of underwear subscriptions from Shinesty, the value (and challenges) of brands celebrating Pride Month, the ridiculous branding (and rebranding) of Twitter by Elon Musk, and so much more!HUGE thanks to our friends at Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast! They are celebrating International Pencil Day through April 28, 2023 with an amazing special. Email Alex Moltz at alex@shepenco.com for details!
It’s the last Friday of March and time to drop ep. 143 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Defenders of Design & Decoration talk about branded pothole repair in South Africa, whether stability in corporate branding equates to being a market leader, making “meat” out of the DNA of an extinct species and how to brand it, debate the value of Japan regulating “stealth marketing,” and so much more!A BIG thanks to our friends at PXP Solutions for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you need amazing apparel decorating and equally amazing service, call Bruce Jolesch at 214.226.3105 and he – along with his team – will be happy to make you and your clients look fantastic!
It’s the first Friday of spring which means it’s time to drop ep. 142 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Earls of Embroidery debate whether it matters that Patagonia returned to promo, discuss a VERY confusing visitor campaign from Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada, muse on the merits of a class action lawsuit against a large sports-themed restaurant for false advertising, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. They are experts in custom overseas merchandise sourcing and have demystified the process to help distributors achieve that “wow” they desire from their clients. To learn more, email them at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s Friday AND St. Patrick’s Day which can only mean it’s time to drop ep. 141 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the warriors of women’s empowerment dedicate the entire episode to the women in the promotional products industry that inspire them with their business savvy, creativity, and overall badassery!A HUGE thanks to our friends at Hirsch for sponsoring this podcast. Help them donate money to Homes for Our Troops by emailing them at marketing@hirschpromo.com. For EVERY email they get with the word “donate” in the subject line and your favorite Hirsch product in the body, they will donate $10 to that amazing organization. Only one donation per email address and emails must be received before 11:59 PM CT on Monday, March 20, 2023.
It’s Friday which means it’s time for ep. 140 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the promo pair take a deep dive into the #Online18 from PPAI, debate four influencer marketing trend predictions for 2023, share why Toblerone isn’t so Swiss any longer and how it relates to their branding, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends at Evans Manufacturing – now part of HPG! They work tirelessly to make the lives of their distributor partners easier. To learn more, head over to evans-mfg.com!
It’s time for episode 139 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Vice Admirals of Vacation talk about how Snugz USA responded to challenges arising out of their acquisition of Sweda, engage in a robust discussion on doctors charging patients for emails (and how it relates to our over connectedness as a society), debate the value of advertising on MLB uniforms, and so much more!HUGE thanks to our friends at Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast! Visit them at the newly redesigned Shepenco.com to see all of their amazing, eco-friendly products!
It’s Friday and most certainly time for the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the warlocks of the website talk about Twitter stiffing a promo company to the tune of $400k and how to handle when clients stop paying, debate the merits of the new “Meta Verified” program and what it means for social media, Bill lists six things he hates about your website and shares what you can do to fix them, ponder if Netflix’s “Full Swing” will do for golf what “Drive to Survive” did for Formula 1, and so much more!HUGE thanks to our friends at PXP Solutions for sponsoring this fine broadcast. The owner and President of PXP Solutions, Bruce Jolesch, would love the privilege of working with you and the clients you serve. To learn more, call him directly at 214.380.1883 or email him at bruce@pxpsolutions.com.
You’re darn tootin’ it’s Friday which means it’s time for Ep. 137 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Bill Petrie and Kirby Hasseman! This week the Barons of Big Game Advertising talk about the good, the bad, and the WTF of Super Bowl LVII commercials, Bill opens up about the final weeks of preparation for the inaugural PromoCruise, share some of the amazing and important work the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) is doing, share some thoughts on the passing of branded merchandise legend Steve Friedman, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our sponsor in PromoPulse! If you’re a distributor and looking to amp up your sales in 2023, head over to promopulse.io/amp for a turnkey marketing solution that will yield immediate results!
It’s Friday and time for episode 136 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Captains of Corporate Sponsorships talk about Bill’s induction into the Promotional Products Association of the Mid-South Hall of Fame, the change in commercials for the “Big Game” (and share what they would do with $6.5M for marketing), dissect the forecasted 2023 digital marketing trends from Forbes, share an amazing shift in communications called branded caller ID, and so much more! A HUGE thanks to our friends at Evans, now part of the HPG family of brands. When you’re ready to make your life easier as a distributor, head over to evans-mfg.com!
It’s Friday and time for episode 135 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Deacons of Decoration muse on Vistaprint’s new reseller program and how it may (or may not) threaten the traditional distributor model, have a robust discussion regarding leadership fatigue and Mike Michalowicz’s way to combat it, consider the merit of McDonald’s going tipsy to target late night customers in New Zealand, ponder whether free WiFi is an incentive to change airline loyalty, and so much more!A huge thanks to our friends at Shepenco who are doing more than simply talking about sustainability, they are doing something about it. Head over to the newly redesigned Shepenco.com to learn more!
It’s Friday and time for a white-hot episode of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Captains of Confections discuss M&M’s shelving their “spokescandies” because of internet backlash, ponder whether large distributors announcing their sales volumes matter, dive into how “finding the who” is critical to sales growth, check in on the progress of goals, share some VERY hot takes on a post on the Promotional Products Professionals Facebook page where someone is unhappy with SAGE adding diversity filters to supplier searches, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends at PXP Solutions for sponsoring this broadcast. As a decorator that is fervently committed to the success of their distributor partners, they would love the privilege of working with you. Contact the owner, Bruce Jolesch, at 214.380.1883 or bruce@pxpsolutions.com today!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 133 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Field Marshalls of the follow up talk about their takeaways from recent tradeshows, share tips on how to best follow up after a huge event, ponder the impact of ChatGPT on content creation, muse on the proposed ban on any alcohol-related branded merchandise in Scotland, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends at Hirsch for sponsoring this fine broadcast! If you’re at ASI Fort Worth next week, visit them at booth #724. If not, visit them at hirschpromo.com to see all of their amazing retail brands and how you can leverage them to grow your business!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 132 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the power pair of promo recording LIVE at the Evans booth at PPAI Expo and discussed the acquisition of Evans by HPG with company President Alan Vaught, pondered whether the Federal Trade Commission should ban non-compete agreements, mused on the value of getting an MBA, and shared their thoughts on Las Vegas and PPAI Expo 2023!Platinum-level content wouldn’t be available to you without the great support of our friends at Evans who always strive to make the lives of their distributor partners easier. Visit them at evans-mfg.com today!
It’s Friday and time for episode 131 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Dukes of Decorating talk about getting ready for PPAI Expo in Las Vegas, share REAL tips to make the most out of the experience, discuss whether to hire a virtual or in-person employee, share their personal words for 2023, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends at Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast. If you’re in Las Vegas next week, visit them at booth #5405 and help them celebrate 90 years in business!
It’s the last Friday of the year and time for episode 130 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the purveyors of promo talk about how they would run the marketing department at Southwest airlines after their difficult week, give their thoughts on ASI’s Product of the Year, ponder if we are at the beginning of a return to supply chain normalcy, share the top three worst brand fails of 2022, and so much more!A huge thanks to our friends at PXP Solutions for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you want to effectively communicate through creatively decorated apparel, call Bruce Jolesch at 214.380.1883 or email him at bruce@pxpsolutions.com.
It’s time for an eggnog-level Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! Today the holiday heroes talk about the branding of Santa, their holiday traditions as children and how they compare to what they are now, share their choices for the three worst Christmas songs, unveil their top five favorite Christmas movies, Kirby takes a quick holiday quiz, and so much more!A huge thanks to our friends at PXP Solutions for sponsoring. As the premier contract decorator in the United States, they want to remind you to have a healthy, safe, and prosperous 2023!
It’s time for ep. 128 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the dynamic duo shares their Mount Rushmore of brands, weigh in on how several states are banning TikTok from government-issued phones, dissect the new Twitter Blue logo (and Twitter Blue itself, Bill quizzes Kirby on prices in 2002 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Las Vegas hosting PPAI Expo, and so much more!Huge thanks to our friends at Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast! If you’re heading out to trade shows in January, make sure to see them in Orlando (booth #1211) and Las Vegas (booth #5405)! You can also visit them at Shepenco.com!
It’s Friday and time for episode 127 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Deacon’s of the Dictionary talk about the meaning of the Pantone Color of the Year, discuss Danny Rosin’s blog arguing that old school awards are dead, share the Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year for 2022 – and suggest words that might have been better choices, reveal the winner and loser of football picks for good, and so much more!A HUGE thanks to our friends at Evans for sponsoring this award-winning broadcast. Even though it’s December, there is still time to get thank-you gifts to out to those who have helped you this year and no one makes it easier than Evans. Visit them at evans-mfg.com!
It’s the first Friday of December which means it’s time for episode 126 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman, Bill Petrie, and special guest host, Josh Robbins! This week the Captains of the Cruise broadcast directly from a floating city and talk about how distributors can maximize sales in December, share some very timely travel tips, discuss bizarre copyright infringement case involving a dog toy, make the final football picks for PPEF, and so much more!HUGE thanks to Promocations for sponsoring this podcast. Suppliers, there are a few spots left on the inaugural PromoCruise taking place April 24-28, 2023. Don’t miss out on this ground-floor opportunity! Send an email to relax@promocations.com or visit www.promocations.com to get more information!
It’s the blackest of all Friday’s which means it’s time to unleash episode 125 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie on an awaiting marketing world! This week the Tank Commanders of Turkey discussed the ASI Power 50 list, an interesting merch marketing approach from Denny’s, the failure of the TikTok influencer campaign, share things they are both grateful for this Thanksgiving, make football picks for good, and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our friends at PXP Solutions for sponsoring this fine broadcast. They still have capacity to help you with your apparel decoration needs so call the owner, Bruce Jolesch at 214.380.1883!
It’s the Friday before Thanksgiving and time for episode 124 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Bill Petrie & Kirby Hasseman! This week the Warlocks of Wideband talk about a recent article about fixing promo’s brandfill problem – and offer some additional solutions, ponder if it’s worth advertising in outer space, applaud the way ASI is rolling out their annual Power 50 list, get excited about a Thanksgiving side dish in canned, drinkable form, make their weekly football picks for PPEF, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our promo pals at Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast. Have you visited the new Shepenco website? Well, if not, you need to head over to Shepenco.com right now and see how their amazing tools can help you with your business!
It’s Friday and time for episode 123 of the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! Today the Quartermasters of Q3 Sales Results talk about the encryption attack against industry service provider Essent, review the ASI Q3 sales report from ASI, discuss the mental hangover from the mid-term elections, chat about the current pickleball craze, do some football picks to benefit PPEF, and so much more!
Platinum-level content wouldn’t be possible without the support of amazing partners like Evans Manufacturing. During the stressful holiday season, they have made it easier than ever to express gratitude through thoughtful gifts. Check out their entire line at evans-mfg.com!
It’s Friday and time for episode 122 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Raconteurs of Raking Leaves talk about the Chicago Bulls partnering with Klarna on in-seat merchandise delivery during games, opine on the value of video games as it relates to business focus, ask how we can get past the hate on social media after (yet another) snit on the Promotional Products Facebook page, make football predictions to benefit PPEF, and so much more.
A HUGE thanks to our friends at PromoPulse for sponsoring this pumpkin-spice level #podcast. NOW is the time to partner with PromoPulse on their amazing AMP automating marketing platform, because if you sign up now your first 30 days are FREE! Email Jason Nokes at jason@promopulse.io to get started today!
It’s the last Friday before Halloween which means it’s time to drop episode 121 of the Promo UPFront Podcast on the marketing world! Today the Captains of the Kit Kat talk about the rebranding of Hirsch, discuss the ramifications of Adidas dropping Ye (Kanye West) as a partner – and Bill goes on an epic rant, ponder when the right time is to start a goal, do a little Gambling for Good for PPEF, and so much more!
BIG thanks to PXP Solutions for sponsoring this spooky podcast. Bruce Jolesch and his team are ready to help you reduce your stress by working with you to plan for apparel gift giving this holiday season. Contact Bruce at 214.380.1883 or bruce@pxpsolutions.com.
It’s time for episode 120 of the Promo UPFront Podcast! This week the bad boys of branding recorded LIVE in Atlantic City and discussed the #promotionseast show from SAAGNY, the Hasseman Marketing End User show and how to build one for your distributorship, self-destructing promo for sustainability, Kirby takes a quiz about Atlantic City, gambling for good, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at Shepenco for sponsoring this award winning #podcast. When you’re ready to work with a supplier that truly gets the point, visit Shepenco.com.
Darn tootin’ it’s time to drop episode 119 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Barons of Black Friday talk about the future of PromoKitchen after the departure of founder Mark Graham, an employee who got canned for turning off his computer camera, the value of REI dumping Black Friday for good, the bizarre branding of the NFL’s cancer awareness campaign, gambling for good for PPEF, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our pals at Evans for sponsoring this platinum-level #podcast! When you’re looking for a promotional products supplier that’s dedicated to making the lives of distributors easier, head over to evans-mfg.com!
It’s the first Friday of October and time for episode 118 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Rear Admirals of Retail talk about what it means to clients for an organization to be a Certified B Corp, ponder if promotional distributors are giving bad advice to clients as it relates to apparel decoration, dissect the relationship between retail and promo, make their weekly football picks for PPEF, and so much more!
A giant thanks to our very good friends at Blue Generation for their sponsorship of this fine broadcast. When your clients are looking for fashion forward apparel like the UNTUCKED collection, visit bluegeneration.com.
It’s the last Friday of September which means it’s time for episode 117 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the platoon leaders of the podcast talk about Apple Music taking over sponsorship of the halftime show at “The Big Game,” A huge brand fail from Central Michigan University, the viability of podcasting as a content marketing vehicle, the impact of sleep deprivation on high school kids and what one state is doing about it, weekly football picks for PPEF, and so much more!
Huge thanks to our friends at PXP solutions who are poised and ready to help you reduce your stress by working with you to plan for apparel gift giving this season. Contact PXP President Bruce Jolesch at 214.380.1883 or bruce@pxpsolutions.com.
It’s a Triple F Day (First Friday of Autumn) which means it’s time to drop episode 116 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the admirals of awards share an inspired promo project and why it’s good to take the time to be creative, congratulate the 2023 PPAI Icon Award winners, discuss how to plan for event attendance and avoiding FOMO, chat about some interesting promo collaborations, reveal their weekly football picks for PPEF with a guest picker in Josh Robbins from Vault, and so much more!
Let’s give a big thanks to our friends at Shepenco for sponsoring this award-winning broadcast. When you’re looking for creative, cost-effective, and memorable merchandise for your clients, visit Shepenco.com.
It’s Friday which means it’s time for episode 115 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the commanders of the keyboard discuss why the recycled Fast Company article about promo makes little sense, share ways they both relieve stress during the work day, applaud the Brand Together event from Brand Chain for fostering collaboration over competition, make their weekly football picks for PPEF (and share how you can get involved), and much more!
Platinum-level content like this wouldn’t be possible without the support of great companies like Evans. Distributors, if you’re looking to make your lives easier, look no further than our friends at Evans. Check them out at evans-mfg.com!
It’s Friday and definitely time for episode 114 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the captains of condiments talk about the idea and execution of the Heinz “Vintage Drip” apparel campaign, discuss how Apple has reversed course and will now sell online advertising, dive deep into creating a next generation customer experience and how that could look, share their picks for week 2 of their football pick ‘em competition, and much more!
HUGE thanks to our friends at Blue Generation for sponsoring this autumn-inspired podcast. When you’re looking for amazing autumn apparel like fully custom sublimated hoodies, micro fleece outerwear, and fashion-forward UNTUCKED shirts, look no further than Blue Generation!
It’s Friday which means it’s time to drop episode 113 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Lieutenants of Lemonade talk about employment volatility in social media companies and what it means, the State and Regional Sales Report from ASI, whether it’s truly a goal if accomplishing it requires outside help, the ingenious Chipotle Water Cup candle and lessons marketers can learn from it, share a contest between the two where the loser will donate $100.00 to PPEF, and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our friends at PXP Solutions for sponsoring this holiday podcast. When you’re looking for a decorator that you can trust and will go the extra mile, give PXP Solutions a call at 214.380.1883 – you won’t be sorry you did!
It’s (already) the last Friday of August which means it’s time to drop episode 112 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the purveyors of poutine talk about the new PPAI Board slate and something they both feel is missing, the exhaustion over the continual outrage over everything, the candidate for the best promotional product ever – and a fun little game to go along with it, share a couple of teases for the next episode, and so much more!
Platinum level content like this wouldn’t be possible without the support from amazing companies like Hirsch Gift. Whether it’s retail brands, an impactful give-back program, or just the knowledge of working with an amazing group of people who truly care about your success, Hirsch Gift has got you covered. Check out all their amazing merchandise at hg-promo.com.
It’s Friday morning which means it’s time for episode 111 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Field Marshalls of the FTC talk about the surprising closing of Tri-Mountain, whether influencer marketing is a fad or here to stay, when and how small suppliers should consider hiring multi-line reps, discuss a possible solution for where the value is when it comes to promotional products (manufacturing vs. design/decoration), and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends over at Shepenco for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast. As a 4th generation owned and operated business that STILL sells exclusively to promotional products distributors, they truly care about the success of every client. Visit them at Shepenco.com.
It’s Friday morning which means you know it’s time to drop episode 110 of the most popular podcast in the promotional products industry: Promo UPFront with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the purveyors of promo discuss the ASI Counselor Awards with a focus on a specific category, where and how they consume news, how to apply lessons from the sharing economy to strengthen business relationships, how PPAI is changing the game by including end users, and so much more.
Huge thanks to our magical friends at Evans who are dedicated to granting the wishes of distributors. Head over to evans-mfg.com to learn more or email their customer service genies at info@evans-mfg.com to see how they can grant YOUR distributor wish!
It’s the first Friday in August and time for episode 109 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the platoon leaders of promo discuss how CEO’s are cracking down on swag, applaud HALO for being inclusive in hiring key senior executives – and how DEI has a branding problem, hand out some tips on time management, discuss the change at PPAI with Bob McLean leaving and the promotion of Alan Peterson, and much more!
A HUGE thanks to Blue Generation for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for fashion-forward apparel that combines style, comfort, quality, and cost-effectiveness, look no further than Blue Generation. To see their UNTUCKed collection – and all their amazing styles – visit them at bluegeneration.com.
You know it’s Friday when Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie drop ep. 108 of the Promo UPFront Podcast! This week the mavens of marketing talk about the continued movement of associations hiring promotional professionals into key roles (we’re looking at you, John Cudahy), muse on whether product placement in content works, debate the merits of receiving texts from advertisers, applaud the Coors Light/Patrick Mahomes workaround to sell beer, and discuss the best ways they have embarrassed their children.
Platinum level content like this wouldn’t be possible without the good people at PXP Solutions. If you have a large order that requires many different colors, look no further than PXP Solutions and their digital squeegee. Learn more at pxpsolutions.com!
When it’s Friday during the dog days of summer there’s only one way to keep it cool: drop episode 107 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the captains of clickbait talk about how to share bad news with clients, Lindsey Davis and new her role at PPAI, the relative merits of clickbait as a marketing tool, what it means for advertisers now that Budweiser is no longer the exclusive alcohol sponsor of the Super Bowl, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast! When it comes a supplier that cares about YOUR success, you’d be hard pressed to do better than Shepenco. If that weren’t good enough (and it is), when you put the code “SHEPENCO22” on your next order and Shepenco will hook you up 10% free goods or free GROUND shipping!
It’s Friday which means it’s time to drop episode 106 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the dynamic duo of drinkware talks about the very bold (and NSFW) marketing strategy of the “new” Radio Shack, whether the paywall model for content works, the changes at brandivate and what the future looks like for the organization, the value of Moonpie sunscreen and other unexpected collaborations, and much more!
HUGE thanks to Evans for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast. At Evans, they have created an entire ecosystem to make the lives of their distributor partners easier. Learn more at evans-mfg.com!
It’s the Friday of a short holiday week and there’s no better way to usher in the weekend than dropping episode 105 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the promo pair remember Brian Jolin who passed away from colon cancer on Wednesday, talk about Mastercard dropping an album featuring up and coming music acts, give tactical advice on how to help your clients steer their brand though inflation, shame Burger King for their “gift” to an employee who hadn’t missed a day in 27 years, marvel at the partnership of Red Cross, Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, and amazing merch to drive blood donations, and so much more!
Today we give a huge thanks to our friends at Blue Generation for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for colorful apparel that truly pops, look no further than Blue Generation.
The correct way to kick off a long weekend is to drop episode 104 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Field Marshall’s of Fireworks talk about the launch of Better Business University, chat about the amazing influencer kit from SAAGNY and Promotions East, dive into the launch of Promocations, ponder the efficacy of KFC’s “finger sporks,” and so much more!
Patriotic content like this wouldn’t be free without support of great companies like PXP Solutions. From screen printing to embroidery to scented ink to digital squeegee, PXP Solutions will work with you to decorate apparel that will get your client noticed.
It’s the first Friday of summer and there’s no better way to beat the heat than by listening to episode 103 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Sultans of Summer talk about Kraft rebranding their iconic Macaroni and Cheese, discuss Biff Tannen (actor Tom Wilson) selling a VHS copy of “Back to the Future” for $75,000, review the worst return to office strategy out there (and Bill admits he was wrong about something), chat about a large University located in Columbus, Ohio trademarking the word, “the,” laugh at the ridiculousness of French’s Ketchup popsicle, and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our friends at Evans for sponsoring this fine broadcast. Due in large part to giving distributors their time back, Evans has been nominated for a Supplier Star award – vote for them by visiting ppai.org/supplierstar.
It’s time to drop episode 102 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the captains of the coastline talk about the rebranding of former McDonald’s restaurants in Russia, preach the power of promotional products on vacation, define the difference between marketing and promotion (they are not the same), debate the merits of the 4-day work week, muse about Velveeta-scented nail polish…and share other collaborations they never want to see, and so much more!
Platinum-level content like this wouldn’t be possible without the support of our friends at Shepenco. They truly have a writing instrument for every occasion. Even more, use the code “Shepenco22” on your next order for free goods. You can email Alex Moltz at alex@shepenco.com for details and even some random samples!
It’s time to start a new century with episode 101 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the fans of the freshwater lobster talk about Tito’s vodka offering grants for small businesses, applaud MiPPA for their intentional DEI work, discuss focusing on mission and vision statements when doing a brand refresh (great work Gold Bond), muse on increased marketing budgets while consumer confidence wanes – and how it presents opportunities in promo, debate whether they have found the dumbest promo product ever in the Hoagie Holder, and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our friends at Hirsch Gift for sponsoring this fine broadcast! Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to see how you can win a Raycon Power Speaker Ultra! To get a second chance to win, simply share this podcast (June 10, 2022 only) on your social feeds with the hashtag #RockinWithRaycon!
It’s an EPIC edition of the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie as they drop episode 100 right in front of your naked, steaming eyes and ears. Today the Centurion’s of Consistency talk about beer-flavored charcoal from Miller Lite, discuss the invention of edible tape to stop burritos from leaking, chat about Michelob Ultra capitalizing on a viral picture for their marketing (including merch), muse about how Canva is changing the graphic design game, wonder about the efficacy of an interestingly-shaped cereal designed to kickstart uncomfortable conversations, a special version of the theme song composed by Jason Nokes that you MUST hear, the return of either/or during the “party in the back” and so much more!
We wouldn’t have made it 10 episodes, let alone 100, without amazing sponsors like our pals at Blue Generation. Not only do they have an amazing sense of style and fashion that allows them to live at the apparel intersection of retail and promo, but the people behind the brand are also equally fabulous. When you’re ready to level-up your apparel game, visit bluegeneration.com – you won’t be sorry you did.
It’s time for episode 99 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman & Bill Petrie. Today the duo of decoration talk about the implications of Pepsi ending their relationship with the Super Bowl halftime show, ponder if marketing on Twitter is worth the effort, have a very candid and personal discussion about mental health in the workplace, chat about 40% of employees want to leave their jobs after only six months, wonder how to celebrate episode 100 of this very broadcast, and so much more!
Platinum content wouldn’t be possible without the support of companies like PromoPulse. Their AMP marketing platform is the perfect vehicle for distributors looking to get their message delivered in a stunningly beautiful way. Learn more at promopulse.io/amp – you won’t be sorry you did.
There’s no time like the present to drop episode 98 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie on an eager world! This week the promo pair talk about Nike bringing back Mars Blackmon and whether it’s a smart marketing move, share some lessons learned from Joe Rogan – with one they REALLY agree with, look at reasons someone might want to fire a customer, get excited about the virtual industry concert to support PPEF, and so much more!
Patriotic content like this wouldn’t be free without the support of great organizations like Shepenco. Not only do they have amazing cost-effective merchandise, the people behind the brand are second to none. To view their awesome offerings, head over to Shepenco.com. If you want some random samples or free good, email Alex Moltz at alex@shepenco.com – you won’t be sorry you did.
There’s only one way to avoid bad luck on Friday the 13th and that’s by listening to episode 97 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the promo pair talk about the blog Bill wrote calling on the industry to be intentional about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), discuss when (if) companies grow too large to adequately service their clients, muse on being intentional about surrounding yourself with people to make you better, chew on how Zoom (and any company) can succeed after the pandemic, and much more!
Platinum-level content like this wouldn’t be available without the support of fabulous companies like Evans Manufacturing. No supplier in the promotional products industry makes it easier for distributors – period. Head over to evans-mfg.com to learn more.
There’s only one way to nurse a Cinco de Mayo hangover, and that’s by listening to episode 96 of the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Barons of Branding talk about Apple being called out for producing work from home electronics while mandating the return of employees to campus, Bill goes on a rant about a social media post bashing the people behind the excellent work of PromoStandards– and Kirby agrees with him, discuss how exhibitors are really bringing value to speed dating events and how that might shape the future of tradeshows, applaud Google for bringing digital marketing education to the masses, Bill forces Kirby to complain about things in a very fun Party in the Back, and so much more in this action-packed podcast!
Platinum content like this wouldn’t be free without the sponsorship of amazing organizations like Blue Generation! When your client needs specific apparel hues like berry, cactus, salmon and just about every color of the rainbow, look no further than Blue Generation. To learn more, visit them at bluegeneration.com.
There’s only one way to celebrate the final Friday of April 2022: by dropping episode 95 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the taskmasters of twitter talk about whether Elon Musk purchasing twitter is good, bad or meh, take a deep dive into the trend of simplicity in branding and ways you can create it in your own organization, discuss a brilliantly flawsome marketing campaign from Burger King, and much more!
Platinum-level content like this wouldn’t be possible without the support of amazing organizations like Evans Manufacturing. When you’re looking for a supplier that as mastered the art of making things easy, look no further than Evans! You can visit them at evans-mfg.com.
On this Earth Day we celebrate dropping episode 94 of the carbon-neutral Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the knuckleheads of naming rights talk about mid-scale retail brands coming to promo, ponder selling naming rights to just about everything (and suggest some potential opportunities for Kirby), discuss whether the subscription model for media/entertainment has jumped the shark in light of the dramatic Netflix subscriber loss, share how they feel when people publicly announce they are leaving social media, and so much more!
Environmentally friendly and platinum-level entertainment wouldn’t be possible without support from amazing companies like Shepenco. As summer approaches, don’t forget about patriotic pencils for community events, historical sites/museums, and candidates for local elections. Plus, use the code “SHEPENCO22” on your next order for free good or email Alex Moltz at alex@shepenco.com for random samples!
Holy Hole in a donut Batman, it’s episode 93 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman & Bill Petrie! This week the defenders of decorated merchandise discuss the Promotional Products Work Expo virtual end-user show from PPAI, applaud a brilliant and timely marketing campaign by Krispy Kreme, ponder if it’s a good idea to partner potentially NSFW marketing with a global cause, take a deep dive into the biggest recruiting mistake – and how to rectify it, giggle with an appearance of the Party in the Back, and so much more!
Platinum content like this wouldn’t be possible – and certainly not for free – without the sponsorship of our good friends from Brentwood Line. Don’t settle for flimsy and wafer-thin camp chairs! Instead, head over to brentwoodline.com to see their amazing of camp chairs that will last years and not just weeks!
Oh, you know it’s a Friday when episode 92 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie drops! This week the Rear Admiral’s of the Rebrand talk about, well, the rebranding of Jack Nadel International to “Nadel,” discuss why the resurgence of record collecting is important to marketing, take a deep dive into the value of marketing in the metaverse, share whether they would use Uber for booking travel, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at Blue Generation for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast. When your client is seeking specific colors like sage, aqua, salmon, safety orange, sangria, maize, or a host of other hues, Blue Generation has you covered. Simply visit bluegeneration.com to see how they have a tint, shade, and tone for every lifestyle.
No fooling around, it’s time for episode 91 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! Today the promo pair talk about why brands should avoid pulling an April Fool’s joke on their audience, applaud PPAI for (finally) introducing a content marketing category for the Pyramid Awards, discuss how a personal brand can take a huge hit by making an even bigger public mistake (they’re looking at you, Will Smith), cheer the great efforts by PromoCares group to help the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, debate the merits of Coors Light marketing beer-flavored lollipops, and more!
HUGE thanks to our friends over at Brentwood Line for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast. For a no-headache solution for high-quality coolers, blankets, camp chairs, and camo merchandise, visit brentwoodline.com!
It’s already the first Friday of spring and episode 90 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie is here to welcome you to the warmer weather this weekend. Today the Maven’s of Motion Pictures debut a new series called “You’re in Charge” where they take on a troubled business and share how they would try to save it and to kick it off they take a hard look at AMC Theaters. Other topics include the challenges and opportunities of Starbucks phasing out paper cups in the United States and Canada by 2025 and Netflix moving to prohibit the sharing of passwords (good luck with that).
We couldn’t provide platinum-level content for free without the friendship and support of good people like our friends at Tervis. Beginning April 1, they are running a Q2 special on the 20 oz. and 30 oz. famous stainless steel Tervis tumblers: priced below EQP, no setup charge, and low MOQ. Head over to tervispromos.com beginning April1 for all the details
It’s Friday and time to drop episode 89 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie on a few eager listeners. This week the Sultans of Shenzhen talk about the trend of consumer brand tattoos, ponder how the shutdown of both Shenzhen and Guangong will further stretch the supply chain, share a golden rule of client communication, opine on Dov Charney’s (LA Apparel) bankruptcy filing, and dig deep into Coca-Cola’s “Starlight” flavor and how it might damage their brand, and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our pals at Shepenco for sponsoring this fine podcast. Remember, if you use the code “SHEPENCO22” on your next order, you’ll receive FREE GOODS! For all the details, email our good friend Alex Moltz at alex@shepenco.com!
It’s Spring Break and time to drop episode 88 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week, the promo pair share the great work PPEF is doing, talk about the Tee Hamilton Scholarship from PromoKitchen, discuss the value of understanding the attributes of and marketing to your ideal client, muse on how brands are responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ponder what brands they want to go viral after Vaseline did in March after over 150 years in existence, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our pals at PromoPulse and their amazing amp marketing services for sponsoring this amplified podcast.
It’s the first Friday of March which means it’s time for a VERY special edition of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! That’s right, in celebration of National Women’s Month the podcasting pair reveal their annual list of Powerhouse Women in Promo by sharing their choices for most creative woman, trailblazer, woman they would hire to run a company, and many more categories!
A HUGE thanks to Blue Generation and their fabulous apparel collections for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast!
That’s right, it’s time again for the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. On episode 86 the Field Generals of Fiscal Year Sales talk about the recently released ASI 2021 distributor sales figures, take a deep dive into Dale Denham’s #Online18 annual list of influencers in the promotional products industry, debate when it’s time to push back against a client when it comes to creative work, ponder how many hours a week a successful salesperson is truly “working,” and so much more!
A huge thank you to PromoPulse and their AMP suite of marketing services for sponsoring this platinum-level broadcast!
It’s Friday and time for your weekly dose of platinum-level broadcasting better known as the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the promo pair talk about PPAI’s Direct 2 You virtual event coming up on 2/22/22, chat about building a business midlife from Seth Godin & Gary Vaynerchuk, review the best, worst, and WTF ads from the Super Bowl, share how to follow Tillamook’s lead by creating branded merch drops for your clients, and so much more!
A huge thanks to our friends at Shepenco and their eco-friendly product line for sponsoring this fine broadcast!
It’s Friday and time to drop episode 84 of the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie on an eager world! This week the marketing mavens talk about Jason Lucash leaving HUB Promotional Group and his legacy in the promotional products industry, discuss the insane growth of Amazon and their amazing marketing revenue, banter about M&M’s morphing their mascots for inclusivity, ponder about the “Love Cloud,” chat about Super Bowl NFTs, laugh at the prop bets for the big game, and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our friends at PromoPulse and their amazing AMP marketing services for sponsoring this guacamole-level podcast!
It’s Friday and time for episode 83 of the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Barons of Badges talk about whether it makes sense to have a storefront for your promo business, dissect the new nickname for the Washington Football Team, marvel at Peloton selling $100M in branded apparel in 2021, discuss the genius of Oscar Mayer’s horizontal efforts into the skincare market, Bill brings back rapid fire during the Party in the Back, and so much more.
HUGE thanks to our friends at Blue Generation for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast.
And JUST like that it’s time for episode 82 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Barons of Branded Merch talk about the new AR tool from SnugZ, the amazing growth of entrepreneurship coming out of the “great resignation,” amazing statistics about email marketing, Amazon opens up a physical apparel store in California, the Ohio State men’s basketball team band together to profit from the Name, Image, Likeness opportunity for student athletes, Kirby grills bill on his favorite decade – the decadent 80s, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at PromoPulse and their amazing AMP marketing service!
Let go! It’s time for episode 81 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. Today the Tank Commanders of the Tom Show talk about the business road back to normal, impact from the skucon virtual conference from commonsku, the relationship between pro football players and branding, custom merchandise from the video game industry, Bill quizzes Kirby on regional terms from the United States, and so much more!
Platinum level content like this wouldn’t be free for your listening and viewing pleasure without great sponsors like our friends at PromoPulse and their fabulous AMP marketing services.
Live in front of your naked, steaming eyes it’s episode 80 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the professors of promo were live from the PPAI Expo in fabulous Las Vegas and discussed the similarities and differences of this edition of Expo, and end-user (and virtual) version of Expo coming out soon, running a business while attending a conference, the return of corporate casual, we learn a little about Bill’s preferences when visiting Las Vegas, and so much more!
This episode was made possible by the good folks at Shepenco and their amazing line of writing instruments!
It’s Friday which means it’s time to drop episode 79 of the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Sergeants of Swag talk about continually evolving environment which creates many challenges for in-person trade shows, discuss the phrases that have been voted to be banished in 2022, evaluate the promotional products “silly season” of acquisitions, mergers, and promotions, share everything you need to know to get ready for PPAI Expo this year, Bill pins Kirby down on how he will eat when he’s out of town, and so much more!
HUGE Thanks to our friends at Blue Generation for sponsoring this platinum-level broadcast. If you’re going to be at PPAI Expo in Las Vegas next week, stop by their booth (#3243) to see their fashion-forward approach that will help you grow your sales!
It’s episode 78 – and the final episode of 2021 – of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. Today the promo pair keep it brief with a discussion of how to maintain consistency when outside forces like illness strikes, how to plan for an Expo when the environment is changing so rapidly, and not a lot more thanks to Bill’s “mystery” virus.
A special thanks to all of you who take the time to listen to us each and every week – you’ll never know how much it truly means to us so, thank you.
It’s a Christmas Eve edition of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! Today the Majors of Merriment discuss the challenges PPAI Expo faces in January, wax poetic about the ASI Product of 2021, debate crypto and NFT’s as they relate to the future of promo, discuss branding trends you’ll see in 2022, a fabulous party in the back, and so much more!
This tinsel-level podcast is sponsored by Bill and Kirby’s education session at PPAI Expo.
Well, well, well…it’s already time for episode 76 of the Promo UPFront podcast with Bill Petrie and Kirby Hasseman! Today the promo pair talk about PPAI pulling the plug on Promo Connect, debate an article from LinkedIn that states you don’t have a brand until people buy your merch, opine on Pantone releasing their annual “Color of the Year” for 2022, debate Kirby’s take on how elements impact his sports viewing experience, Bill is challenged to pick a mascot for brandivate during the Party in the Back, and so much more!
A HUGE thank to our friends at Blue Generation for sponsoring the Very Peri podcast!
It’s Friday and truly time for a platinum-level broadcast as we drop episode 75 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie for your listening pleasure. In today’s packed edition, grandpa Kirby and Bill talk about the recent promo recall from HALO and how they deftly handled a product safety issue, the podcasts (other than this one) in the promotional products industry to give a listen, how a mass layoff via zoom went horribly awry for better.com, how to mitigate the burnout we are all feeling due to the supply chain challenges, Kirby makes Bill walk off the show during a holiday-themed “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at PromoPulse for sponsoring this podcast.
It’s the first Friday of the last month of the year which means there’s no better time to drop episode 74 of the Promo UPFront podcast! This week Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss some amazing new research from PPAI on the impact of promotional products, whether being paid in bitcoin is becoming commonplace, how Bud Light is using promo to embrace the sense of smell, Lush cosmetics leaving social media out of concern for the mental health of their audience, an eco-friendly alternative to plastic made from salmon….stuff, Kirby quizzes Bill about alternative career paths, and so much more!
This platinum-level content wouldn’t be free without the support of good strongs like our friends at Soapbox!
It’s a Black Friday edition of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! In episode 73, the Lieutenants of Leftovers talk about the comeback of live music and what it means for promo, they have very efficient takes on a bunch of promo topics in a new segment called, “Petrie’s Promo Round Up Quick Hit Holiday Week News for People,” talk about the headaches of companies with hybrid workers, discuss the perils of branding your workplace a “family,” we all get to know holiday Kirby during the “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our friends at Soapbox for sponsoring this tryptophan-inducing broadcast!
Like a turkey from a helicopter, it’s time to drop episode 72 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. Today the Giblet Generals give thanks for the things in and out of promo they are thankful for, discuss the trend of celebrities leveraging content marketing, wonder if fully custom cheese foreshadows the future of promo (yes, you read that right), chat about whether work communication “after hours” should be illegal, Kirby drills Bill with a difficult overrated/underrated segment during the “party in the back” and so much more!
A HUGE expression of gratitude to our friends at Blue Generation for sponsoring this tryptophan-level broadcast!
Oh, you KNOW it’s time for episode 71 of the Promo UPFront podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about PPAI’s Promopalooza event during EXPO, Wendy’s changing their name to “meat” in reaction Facebook’s parent company going with Meta, whether one bad movie (or piece of content) can ruin a brand, the genius of Arby’s French fry infused vodka, we find out which people in the industry Kirby would like to work for in the promotional products industry, and so much more!!
Huge thanks to our friends at PromoPulse who want to help you AMPlify your sales with their AMP email service!
It’s Friday and time for episode 70 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the promo pair take a deep dive into the ASI Quarterly Sales Report, discuss Cameo’s acquisition of Represent and what it means for Promo. Edwards Garment rebranding Bishop Custom to Edward X, Pabst Blue Ribbon wanting to deck your pad with free merch, Kirby delivers a very fun (and promo heavy) Party in the Back, and so much more!
Huge thanks to our friends over at PromoPulse and their FABULOUS AMP email service for sponsoring this platinum-level (and free) broadcast!
It’s a Halloween podcast TAKEOVER for episode 69 of the Promo UPFront Podcast! In this “rated M for Mature” show, the Kirby Lasso and Bill Kent get out their crystal balls to predict the future of promo, look for ways some distributors thrived during the pandemic, share what PPAI is doing to help alleviate the pressures on the supply chain - and how you can get involved, the lawsuit against Pop Tarts that puts everyone’s brand promise at risk, Bill confuses Kirby with crap British candy during the “Party in the Back” and so much more!
Huge thanks to our presenting sponsor in Soapbox. Without their support, content like this wouldn’t be free! FACK!
It’s Friday and most assuredly time to drop episode 68 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie on an eager audience! This week the Maven’s of Marketing dissect the ASI Power 50 list of the most influential people in promo, wrap up Kirby’s end-user show from last week, discuss the QR Code backlash at restaurants, debate Bill’s assertion that “Sales is dead,” review the efficacy of hybrid events, Kirby grills Bill like a cheese sandwich on a live-music themed Party in the Back, and so much more!!
Big thanks to PromoPulse and their game-changing AMP email service for sponsoring this pumpkin spiced level #podcast
It’s time for episode 67 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the dynamic duo talk about mavericks in the promotional products industry, debate whether it’s time to have end-user shows again, share their favorite non-promo podcasts, Bill wants us all to get better acquainted with “autumn Kirby” during the Party in the Back, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at PromoPulse and their AMAZING amp email service for sponsoring this crispy-leaf-level broadcast.
It’s Friday morning which means one thing and one thing only: time to drop episode 66 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Head Honchos of the Hoodie talk about the data breach at Next Level apparel – and the very casual response from the company, the great social media crash of 2021 and the impact on businesses, being intentional with a morning routine, the greatness that is smoked sweatpants from Arby’s, Kirby grills Bill on the best TV shows of all time during the “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
We couldn’t post this premium-grade content for free without the support of great sponsors like Soapbox Marketing Communications!
As the crisp autumn air greets us this morning, episode 65 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie is hot, fresh, and ready for you! This week the Captain’s of Company Culture discuss the skucamp in-person event, choose their distributor agency dream team, ponder if there are some positives to emerge from the supply chain crisis, share tips on creating a company culture when your personnel is remote, Bill challenges Kirby to define his musical “absolutes” during the Party in the Back and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our pals at PromoPulse and their AMP email service for sponsoring this leafy podcast!
It’s the first Friday of autumn which means it’s time for episode 64 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie to drop like falling leaves! In this episode the Earls of Espresso share an important message from PPAI President and CEO Dale Denham, discuss the amazing industry lifetime achievement award winners, give tips on what they do to pull themselves out of the seemingly endless amount of negativity in the world, thoughts on Webb Company rebranding to Mixie, discuss the amazing accomplishments of commonsku as they celebrate their 10 year anniversary, Kirby creeps Bill out in a very dark “Party in the Back,” and so much more!!
HUGE thanks to our friends at Logojojo for sponsoring this arabica-powered podcast. We couldn’t java better partner!
It’s Friday and time for a VERY spicy episode 63 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the supporters of suppliers discuss President and CEO of PPAI Dale Denham’s eloquent message to distributors on supplier treatment during the supply chain crisis (with Kirby and Bill adding some sharp commentary), whether the federal vaccine mandate will be good or bad for businesses, pieces of advice they disagree with, Facilisgroup’s new name for their internal software, Bill takes Kirby on an afterschool trip through time on a very special Party in the Back, and so much more!
Huge thanks to the have strongs over at PromoPulse for sponsoring this slightly bitter podcast!
It’s been a short week, but Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie still found time to record episode 62 of the Promo UPFront Podcast! This week, the Lieutenants of Labor Day share ideas on how they would make the in-person PPAI Expo in January both safe and effective, the continuing importance of the PromoCares #SleepIn4Good campaign, whether the end of federal unemployment benefits will help close the service gap, strange – yet real – naming rights/sponsorship in athletics, the widening gender gap in college and what the data suggests, Kirby has Bill play virtual bartender for half of the promo industry, and so much more.
A HUGE thanks to our pals over at Soapbox Marketing Communications for sponsoring this pillow-level podcast!
Time to start off your long weekend by listening to episode 61 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Field Marshalls of the Flotilla discuss Hurricane Ida relief efforts – and how you can help, the PPAI Rising Stars list, how to create a competitive advantage during a crisis, what employers need to change to attract (and retain) talent, Bitter Bill makes an appearance and gives a Public Service Announcement, Kirby navigates some truly funny words in the English language during the Party in the Back and so much more!
We are so appreciative of our friends at Hirsch Gift for sponsoring this three-day weekend podcast!
You wanted the best, but they didn’t make it so here’s what you get instead: episode 60 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Sergeants of the Selfie talk about the sustainability of cotton tote bags, whether the Notre Dame mascot is offensive, how promo can help increase vaccination rates, the relative merits of a selfie museum, what attributes make the perfect concert t-shirt, Kirby delivers a parable, Bill gets to pick new names during the “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
Huge thanks to our friends at PromoPulse and their gorgeous AMP email service for sponsoring this helium-level podcast.
Damn straight it’s time for episode 59 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Sergeants of Surcharges discuss (in varying detail) the new PPAI board slate, the issues of the supply chain and how the looming shipping surcharges are exacerbating the situation, the bold office move by Brand Fuel, the SUPER cool Puma & Kool-Aid mashup, the encouraging Q2 2021 numbers for distributors, a retro “back to school” themed Party in the Back, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at PromoPulse for sponsoring this electric podcast!
It’s Friday and time for your weekly dose of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the boys of summer talk about Bill dropping off his twins at college, whether digital sustainability is the next wave in promo, the impact of requiring COVID 19 vaccinations for businesses and events (warning: white-hot opinions here), the repercussions for small businesses as the USPS hike prices while reducing services, the new Barbie celebrating front-line workings, Kirby quizzes Bill on board games during the Party in the Back, and so much more!
Huge thanks to our friends at PromoPulse for sponsoring this college-level podcast!
It’s Friday and time to drop episode 57 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie on an demanding public! This week the Field General’s of Gaming talk about the PromoCares Sleep4Good initiative, how they would approach a client seeking “adult” products, why employees are eager to accept reduced benefits to continue working from home, whether there is a bachelor’s degree bias among employers, the McDonald’s Australia promotion with Sony PlayStation that never was, the return of rapid-fire with a college mascot themed Party in the Back, and so much more! This truly is the mullet of all podcasts!
A huge thanks to our friends at J.Charles for sponsoring this okra-level broadcast!
Stop, drop, and roll – it’s time for episode 56 of the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Sergeant’s of Strategic Foresight share the first things they would if they were taking over the job of CEO of PPAI, the new concept of a “business shower” to celebrate accomplishments, the importance of talking about mental health in the wake of Simone Biles pulling out of the Olympics, whether job titles matter or not, Kirby makes Bill squirm during the “Party in the Back,” section of the broadcast, and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our friends at PromoPulse and their amazing AMP email service for sponsoring this platinum-level broadcast!
It’s time for a poppin’ fresh new episode of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! In episode 55, the Brigadier General’s of the “Free Britney” movement discuss PPAI’s announcement of Dale Denham taking over as President and CEO of the organization, whether it’s time for distributors to reinvest in PPE, if sports are better with athletes on “juice,” 10,000 misprinted Britney Spears t-shirts, Bill has Kirby admit to his “book of firsts” during the Party in the Back, and so much more!!
A HUGE thanks to our pals at Promo Marketing Power Meetings for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast!
It’s the second annual brandvocate week and there’s no better way to invite you all to celebrate with us than by sharing the fourth installment of the What the Hell are We Doing podcast with brandivate Co-Founders, Kelsey Cunningham and Bill Petrie. In this episode, the power pair of promo reflect on the past year, things they’ve learned, how it feels to start year two, and even try some VERY bizarre potato chips from Japan. Watch, listen, and let us know what you think!
Dropping like dogecoin, it’s episode 54 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Captains of Crypto talk in-depth about the ASI Counselor Awards, the importance of keeping the promotion of content fresh, where people go wrong with branding, whether distributors or suppliers are responsible for elevating promo, Bill has to make some VERY difficult decisions during the Party in the Back, and so much more!
Huge thanks to our friends at PromoPulse for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast!
It’s Friday and time for a piping hot Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Generals of the July Vacation talk about the Supreme Court decision that will finally allow NCAA athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness – and what it means for the world of merchandise, the rapid rise and fall of Clubhouse, whether content marketers should post on holidays or not, the key characteristics to look for in a new employee, Bill stumps Kirby during the Party in the Back, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our pals at PromoPulse for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast.
It’s the launch of a holiday weekend which means there’s no time like the present to drop episode 52 of the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman & Bill Petrie. This week the Barons of the Barbecue talk about Vistaprint handling the rebrand of the Washington Football Team, people insulating themselves (and their clients) from the realities of the new economy, Tasty’s co-brand with Hamburger Helper (and the giant opportunity for promo), new “perks” to entice workers, their ideal Independence Day barbecue meals, a Cobra Kai-themed Party in the Back, and SO much more!
HUGE thanks to our friends at J.Charles for sponsoring this roman-candle level broadcast.
It’s Friday and time for an explosive episode of the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! Today the Field Marshalls of Fireworks talk about a survey that determined the most patriotic brands in America, how the pandemic has shifted the messaging in promo, commonsku’s product sustainability summit, the truly fabulous Ted Lasso merchandise produced by Warner Brothers, blow it up with a cherry bomb of a “Party in the Back” and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our friends at Promo Marketing and the Power Meetings for sponsoring this red-glared rocket-level podcast!
It’s Friday and time for episode 50 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Admirals of Advocacy talk about PPAI’s Virtual L.E.A.D. that took place this week, Kirby’s pet peeve about pet peeves (yes, you read that right), Netflix opens up a merch shop which just might be the future of swag, the “great resignation” that’s taking place as quitting rates soar, Kirby REALLY confounds Bill during a rousing Party in the Back, and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our friends at Hirsch Gift for sponsoring this milestone podcast!
You know what time it is without anyone telling you: episode 49 of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the head honchos of hard seltzer talk about the HUGE moves around the world of promo, ASI has an in-person show in Austin, summer vacation plans for the hard seltzer honchos, a robust discussion about the changes to the PPAI Pyramid Awards, the long-awaited return of “rapid fire” during the Party in the Back, and so much more which really does make this the mullet of all podcasts!
Special expressions of gratitude (or, thanks, as it were) to our friends at PromoPulse and their amazing AMP email service for sponsoring this platinum-level broadcast.
It’s the first Friday of June and time for the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman or Bill Petrie! This week the power pair of promo start off by sharing some personal news this week – Kirby becoming a grandfather and Bill saying goodbye after the passing of his dad, con artists targeting promo distributors (and how to avoid becoming the next statistic), whether airlines are right to ban booze on flights due to unruly behavior of a few, blending personal and professional life on social media, the abject disaster of the New Era “local market” MLB caps, a tip of the promo hat to Mary Jo Tomasini who was named PPAI Woman of Distinction, Kirby rattles Bill with a food-themed “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends over at J.Charles for sponsoring this booze-free podcast!
It’s Friday and time for a VERY special edition of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Field Marshalls of Frozen Pizza talk about the brand new DiGiorno pizza merchandise – and what swag Kirby would recommend for restaurants in his town, whether the ASI Chicago in-person event is too soon, what suppliers might want to do with all of the hand sanitizer sitting on shelves, the things they changed during the pandemic that they will keep doing after, Bill quizzes Kirby on the animals he could beat unarmed during the Party in the Back, and so much more.
What makes this episode so very special? The fact that it’s sponsored by our good pals over a PromoPulse and their AMP email service for distributors!
It’s Friday morning which means it’s time for one thing and one thing only: a brand-new episode of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Captains of Commencement talk about which promo people they would like to hear graduation speeches from, whether people hate the office or the commute, ransomware attacks on the rise and what to do about it, how to handle those clients that pay at the rate of a tree sloth, a terse promo public service announcement, Bill walks off the show during the Party in the Back, and so much more!
HUGE thanks to our good pals at PromoPulse for sponsoring this fine broadcast!
It’s Friday and time for a WHITE HOT edition of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the promo pair have some very strong opinions as they discuss the HALO rebrand, people calling-out their “partners” on global supply chain issues, an Ohio hospital suing a Fully Promoted franchisee for PPE fraud, the marketing problem wrapped in the vocal minority and assumed symbols of hate, we get to know Kirby on a deep level with the return of rapid fire, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at PromoPulse for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast!
It’s Friday and time for an agave-fueled Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Mavens of Mescal discuss how Google is saving $1B annually by setting new office hour policies – and how the world may not look as familiar as we thought when the pandemic is finally over, the decision of Visstun to leave the promotional products industry (sort of), the “commonsku kerfuffle” on the Promotional Products Professionals Facebook page, the recent proliferation of food options in promo, a PPAI Expo/Vegas-themed Party in the Back, and so much more.
A special thanks to our friends at J.Charles for sponsoring this “spicier than a habanero” podcast.
It’s the Friday before Cinco de Mayo so you know it’s time for a tequila-soaked Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Officers of Oaxaca talk about distributors reporting Q1 sales down 15% from 2020 – and what Q2 might look like, Kirby’s Better Business University, how to treat credit card processing fees as it relates to clients, the podcast hosting battle between Apple Podcasts and Spotify, reinvention during the pandemic, a Cinco de Mayo themed rapid-fire during the “Party in the Back,” and so much more!!
Muchas gracias to our friends over at PromoPulse or sponsoring this spicy margarita-level podcast!
It’s Friday morning which means it’s time for your weekly dose of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Majors of Mezcal talk about FedEx entering the world of promotional products (sort of), work from home injuries, Untuckit’s partnership with PCNA, Miller Lite’s genius “Vax Time Tees,” Norm Hullinger leaving alphabroder for Bella+Canvas, an epic “Party in the Back” where Kirby explores Bill’s bizarre love of footwear, and so much more!
A huge thanks to one of the true innovators in the industry for sponsoring this fine broadcast: PromoPulse!
It’s Friday which means it’s time for the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Mavens of Marketing talk about brand crushes they have in the world of promo, Patagonia saying goodbye to the promo world by no longer allowing additional branding on their apparel, the Fiat/Google co-branded line of cars – and how to make client partnerships work for your company, the problem of consuming content, the return of rapid fire with a minor league mascot-themed Party in the Back, and so much more!
Huge thanks to the good strongs over at PromoPulse for sponsoring this ever-so consumable content.
It’s Friday and time for a spirited version of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Captains of Career Shifts talk about the big moves in Promo from Charles River Apparel and HALO Branded Solutions, “Salty Bill” joins “Bitter Kirby” on some hot takes regarding everything being offensive, the April Fools rebranding of Numo to Kalendar Group – and if it went too far, evaluation of our Q1 2021 goals, the return of “Fill in the Blank” during the Party in the Back, and so much more!
Huge thanks to our friends at J.Charles for sponsoring this exemplary broadcast and always exhibiting excellence!
It’s the first Friday of April and time an oven-fresh Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Caped Crusaders of Crystal Awards talk about using promo to help drive vaccines, how global supply chain issues are challenging the promotional products industry, disagree over the reposting of content, the greatness that is the makeup kit mashup from Elf Beauty and Chipotle, a superhero-themed party in the back, and so much more!
A big thanks to PromoPulse for sponsoring this dynamic broadcast!
It’s the first Friday of spring and time for your weekly edition of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Vikings of the Vaccine talk about the amazing work done by SwagCycle to repurpose unwanted promo, when it’s time to commit to in-person events, Lori Bauer joins iPromoteU after more than two decades at Koozie Group, fighting through “imposter syndrome,” a movie-reboot “party in the back,” and much more!
Huge thanks to our promo pals at PromoPulse for sponsoring this platinum-level broadcast!
Heck yes, it’s Friday which means it’s time for the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the Sergeants of Spring Break talk about the trend of debranding, working proactively with your clients as there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, whether the 8-hour workday is dead, the challenges of leadership, food-based “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
This podcast wouldn’t be available without the gracious sponsorship and support of our friends at PromoPulse!
It’s Friday and time for a Spring Break edition of the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the duo of Daytona talk about the negative impact to Independent Contractors (regardless of industry) if the PRO Act is signed into law as currently written, Disney+ getting the pivot right, COVID one year later, whether the days of dressing to impress are over, what Major League Baseball teams plan to do with unused bobbleheads from 2020 (and what they would do with leftover bobbleheads of promo people), a no-wrong-answer “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
A big thanks to our good pals over at PromoPulse for sponsoring this palm tree level podcast!
It’s the first Friday of Women’s History Month which means it’s time for a VERY special Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! In this episode – an annual favorite – they discuss the many Powerhouse Women in Promo (distributors, suppliers, and service providers), the Tee Hamilton Creative Scholarship from PromoKitchen, Zoom fatigue, paying for Twitter “superfollowers,”ASI Promo Insanity, a woman-themed “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
A special expression of gratitude to the good strongs at J.Charles for sponsoring this podcast! #ASIPromoInsanity #podcast #brandivate
It may have been a minute, but it's time for episode 3 of the What the Hell are We Doing? Podcast with Kelsey Cunningham and Bill Petrie. In this episode, they share some of the challenges of launching a company during the pandemic including struggling with cash-flow, how to handle a non-paying client, creating content to drive sales, and much more....including sampling some crazy flavors of sunflower seeds.
Huge thanks to lorieaton.com for sponsoring the podcast and providing some truly fabulous apparel from Callaway.
It’s the final Friday of February which means it’s time for the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week the warlocks of weather talk about keeping a small business open during a severe and prolonged weather event, how best to treat and employee who resigns, a very unfortunate diversity training misstep from Coca-Cola (yes, even worse than the one on “The Office”), when it’s time to phase out PPE, the problem of multitasking in Zoom, what they are looking forward to with warm weather on the horizon, a pizza-lovers Party in the Back, and so much more!
Big thanks to our friends at PromoPulse for sponsoring this slushy-level broadcast!
It’s a deep freeze episode of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the winter warriors talk about the amazing Sustainability Impact Report from Redwood Classics, the death of the snow day, Tinder launches a line of products, balancing supplier meetings with making distributor sales, McDonald’s uses promo to hype their entry into the chicken sandwich wars, a frozen-food themed rapid fire during the “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
Huge thanks to our friends at PromoPulse for sponsoring this snowman-level podcast.
It’s the Friday before Valentine’s Day and there’s no better way to celebrate love than to listen to the latest Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Barons of the Bromance talk about how the “Buy American” executive order will impact the world of promo, if either would go back to college to get their MBA, the rebranding of a racially insensitive pancake company, a full review of Super Bowl ads, a “Party in the Back” full of fisticuffs, and so much more!
Huge thanks to our friends at PromoPulse for sponsoring this heart-shaped podcast!
You bet it’s time for a triple-F (First Friday of February) edition of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Barons of the Big Game talk about Bob McLean being named interim president of PPAI, the advantages and disadvantages of virtual award ceremonies, the efficacy of data mining as a business model, the questionable genius of the mask/Bluetooth earbuds mashup, “Big Game predictions” (may want to stay tuned in to the very end for that one), a Party in the Back that has to be seen to be believed, and so much more!
A huge thanks to our friends at J.Charles for sponsoring this fine broadcast!
It’s Friday and time for your weekly dose of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman & Bill Petrie! This week the Promo Pair talk about how the new Clubhouse app can benefit the promo industry, major brands not advertising during the Super Bowl, what they liked – and didn’t like – about Dale Denham’s “Online 18” list, the amazing (and philanthropic) Bernie Sanders inauguration merchandise, the ridiculousness of the baseball hall of fame voting, a majorly fun “Party in the Back,” and much more!
A huge thanks to our friends at AIM Smarter – and their amazing diversity initiative – for sponsoring this week’s chairman-level #podcast. #brandivate
Plausibly live in and in front of your naked, steaming eyes, it’s time for a brand-new episode of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they talk about the cautious return of regional in-person shows, Bill’s experience at PPAI Direct-2-You, leveraging improv skills to help communicate, a Michigan marijuana dispensary using promo to promote health, the injection of private equity money into S&S Activewear, a crazy party in the back, and more!!
Huge thanks to our good friends over at PromoPulse for sponsoring this fine broadcast!
It’s a cold Friday but it’s time to warm up with a hot and fresh Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they talk about commonsku’s skucon virtual event, whether fatherhood will change as a result of the pandemic, Burger King’s not-so-bold rebrand, the greatness that is Cobra Kai on Netflix, Kirby brings in a STRONG game for the “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
A warm expression of gratitude to PromoPulse for sponsoring this hot-cocoa level podcast!
It’s Friday and time for a brand-new edition of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the dynamic duo discuss attending in-person tradeshows, firing the engine back up after time off, Budweiser trolling soccer goalies, what to expect at the PPAI Direct-2-You virtual EXPO, the brilliant KFC gaming console, Kirby gives out promo awards during the “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
Huge thanks to our friends at J.Charles for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast!
Look, let’s be honest – you’re likely hungover from saying sayonara to 2020 which means we have ZERO expectations you’ll listen to this brand-new Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie before noon today. However, when you do listen, you can hear them talk about what the second round of stimulus means for the promo industry, they get out the crystal ball to share what they see ahead for the industry and beyond in 2021, make some wheels-off predictions, and so much more!
Huge thanks to the good strongs over at PromoPulse for sponsoring this first podcast of 2021!
You’ve opened all your presents, you’ve quietly spiked your coffee with Bailey’s, and it’s time for our Christmas gift to you: a brand new Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they chat about the Bic Graphic/Koozie Group acquisition of Imagen Brands, dissect Promo Year 2020 by sharing things that surprised them, the WTF moment of the year, best pivot, say goodbye to those who have left us, and the moments & people that inspired them, and an EPIC Party in the Back where Kirby chooses his favorite secular Christmas song using a 16-song, single elimination format! This is one you won’t want to miss – and this time we mean it!
HUGE thanks to PromoPulse and LogoMats for sponsoring this candy cane and eggnog level podcast!
It’s one week until Christmas Day, so why not listen to the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie while shopping – or wrapping – those last-minute gifts?!?! This week they talk about how Pantone FINALLY got the color(s) of the year right, the importance of awards as tools of validation, the challenge of repeating content, AIM Smarter forming a diversity council, the Cleveland Baseball Team selling offensive merchandise while changing their name, Kirby brings in a STRONG “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
Huge thanks to the good strongs over at PromoPulse for sponsoring this candy cane level podcast!
It’s Friday and time for the sort of famous, always notorious, Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the Duo of December talk about the tragic passing of Tee Hamilton, industry leader Jeff Lederer saying goodbye to alphabroder/Prime, how each of them are using December to their advantage, the differences between starting and running a business during a pandemic, the lessons they think they will have learned from 2020 when looking back in five years, a holiday-movie themed party in the back, and so much more!
Big thanks to our pals at PromoPulse and Bel Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast!
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the brand-new edition of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie is so delightful! This week they talk about the shipping challenges disrupting the supply chain, the continual evolution of content marketing, whether custom branded Oreo’s are a threat to or the future of promo, the debate over the changes to a classic holiday Hershey Kisses commercial, the sauciest moment of the year as the McRib from McDonald’s returns – with a cause, a holiday cocktail themed “party in the back,” and so much more!
HUGE thanks to PromoPulse for sponsoring this Big Mac level podcast!
It’s a Friday – and tryptophan induced – Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie, this week they talk about the people in promo they are thankful for, reimagining productivity during the pandemic, whether sharing side hustles are good or bad, Arby’s deep fried turkey pillow, a great topic from Javier Melendez about being punished for caring about a brand, the return of the original rapid fire during the “party in the back,” and so much more!
Huge expressions of gratitude to our friends at PromoPulse and Pro Towels for their sponsorship of this fine, fine broadcast!
It’s the Friday before we all shove as much uncommon yardbird down our grateful gullets so you know it’s time for the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week they talk about the departure of Paul Bellantone and what’s next for both Paul and PPAI, the importance of a morning routine, business – and gift – planning for a second shutdown, Lou Weisbach re-enters the promo space, “brand hijacking” by social media bots, a “would you rather” party in the back, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our good pals at commonsku for sponsoring this pumpkin pie level podcast!
It’s Friday the 13th in 2020 which means there’s only one way to survive this day: a brand-new Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week they talk about the proliferation of doom and gloom promo predictions for 2021, branding becoming more important than an organization’s true product (Tesla tequila anyone), an update on the presidential promo wars, whether companies believe in cause marketing or are simply “checking a box,” brands that need to enter the promo space, a fun “Party in the Back,” and so much more!!
A huge thanks to our friends at PromoPulse and Pro Towels for sponsoring the fine broadcast!
It’s the first Friday of November and time for your weekly dose of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they take a deep dive into the PPAI Expo Reimagined schedule, certification for masks, KFC shaves Colonel Sanders for Movember, musicians connecting – and making ends meet – via promo, luxury scratch & sniff t-shirts, the much-anticipated return of “fill in the blank,” and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends over at commonsku for their sponsorship of this podcast that has all 11 of the original herbs and spices!
It’s the Friday before the scariest day of the year (not Halloween – election day) so you know it’s time for a steaming hot new Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they talk about the shipping delays everyone will face the remainder of the year, Burger King’s reusable packaging (and the promo opportunities), in-person events, planning for 2021, the ASI Power 50, breaking a rut, and so much more! Plus, you don’t want to miss Kirby’s INSANE knowledge on display during the “Party in the Back!”
Huge thanks to the patriots over at PromoPulse for sponsoring this fine broadcast.
It's Friday and time for you to stop what you're doing (yes, right now) and watch/listen to the brand-new Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman & Bill Petrie! This week the promo pair talks about Hormel's "breathable bacon" face mask, the Q3 distributor sales reports from ASI and PPAI, Kirby has a challenge with a supplier and their communication, quitting social media, and so much more!!
A huge and sincere thanks go out to our friends at commonsku and PromoPulse for sponsoring this fine broadcast.
It’s a freaky Friday which means it’s time for a fresh episode of the Promo UPFront podcast with Kirby Hasseman & Bill Petrie! This week they talk the Biden fly swatter, UCLA vs. Under Armour, reacting to harsh – and anonymous – criticism, planning a virtual event (and PPAI’s virtual Leadership Development Workshop), Kirby drops an “F-Bomb” rendering this podcast PG-13, and so much more!
Huge thanks to our friends over at PromoPulse for sponsoring this candy-corn level podcast!
Somebody get us a doctor! It’s Friday and most certainly time for your dose of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman & Bill Petrie!! This week, they talk about the increase in in-person events, devaluing the sales process by being too nice, the new commemorative coin being sold via the White House gift shop, the newsworthiness of virtual sales meetings, the tragic death of Eddie Van Halen, a movie-themed “party in the back,” and so much more! We are so excited, we might as well jump!
A huge thanks to our friends at commonsku for sponsoring this red, white, and black striped podcast.
It’s Friday and time for (another) PG-13 rated Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they have WHITE hot takes on the speed of campaign merchandise, PPAI Expo going virtual, the name change for BIC Graphic, the “interesting” new Pantone color, the outcome of the PPAI Board election, a new game for the “party in the back,” and so much more! Buckle up for this one, folks.
Huge thanks to our friends over at PromoPulse for their sponsorship of this fiery #podcast!
It’s Friday morning and time for your weekly dose of the mullet of all podcasts: Promo UPFront with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they discuss the promo distributor indicted for fraud, the Netflix docudrama, “The Social Dilemma,” volunteer burnout (and how to say no gracefully), the brilliant Miller Lite “cantenna” marketing campaign, a “get to know Bill” party in the back, and so much more!
Huge thanks to the positive good strongs at commonsku for sponsoring this fine broadcast!
It’s Friday which means it’s time to stop everything you’re doing and listen to the latest Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they talk about the controversial label in Patagonia shorts, the launch of Red Goldfish: Promo Edition by Roger Burnett and Stan Phelps, the introduction of an ad-supported phone from AT&T, making sure marketing is in alignment with sales, the new desktop Facebook, the greatness that is Cobra Kai on Netflix, a fun “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
Big thanks to PromoPulse for sponsoring this fine, PG-13 rated #podcast!
It’s the Friday of a short week so you know it’s time to get your day started right with the Promo UPFront Podcast hosted by Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they talk about the acquisition of Webb Company by HPG, embracing boldness in a time of crisis, Bill’s blog on the pros and cons of videoconferencing, the US Air Force crowd sourcing for uniform ideas, Kirby brings the heat during the “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
A thankful tip of the cap to the good goods over at commonsku for sponsoring this fine, mulleted podcast.
It's the Friday before the long Labor Day Weekend so while you're pretending to work, why not listen to the mullet of all podcasts: Promo UPFront with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie!! This week the promo pair talk about the PPAI Rising Star list, dangerous ingredients in some hand sanitizers, Walmart taking on Amazon Prime, whether the pandemic has finally killed the printed catalog, an EPIC party in the back, & so much more!
Go ahead, treat yourself, and listen to this cherry-wood level podcast before you fade into the three-day weekend!
It's Friday and time for the mullet of all podcasts: Promo UPFront with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they talk about the excellent article by Joel Schaffer on PromoCorner calling out the lack of diversity in the promo industry - and what we can do about it, people getting (unjustifiably) upset about the proposed PPAI board slate, how to set goals in the middle of so much uncertainty, the continual challenge of working from home, Kirby shares his product of the week, and the ever-popular party in the back!
HUGE thanks to our friends at commonsku for sponsoring this diamond-level podcast!
It's Friday and time for a steaming hot fresh edition of the Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman & Bill Petrie! They are TRULY back this week and talk about more drama on the Promotional Products Professionals page where Bill "may" have been involved, does a realist actually exist between the optimist and pessimist, QR Codes making a strong comeback in the food service industry (and the promo/print opportunities there), trusting your team while on vacation, Bill has a FANTASTIC Party in the Back that everyone in the promo industry needs to hear, and so much more.
Big thanks to Hasseman Marketing's Masterclass for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast
Need a cure for the quarantine blues? Look no further than the mullet of all podcasts: Promo UPFront with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they talk about the PPAI survey for the second half of they year, they argue whether a realist exists, zoom lighting issues - including a live one Bill has to deal with, the importance of managing client expectations, how college town distributors can survive with the possibility of football being canceled, sports they are - and aren't - watching during the pandemic, Kirby shares his Promo Product of the Week, the always-popular Party in the Back, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to the good strongs over at commonsku for their sponsorship and support!
It's episode 2 of the "What the Hell are We Doing?" Podcast with brandivate Managing Partners Kelsey Cunningham and Bill Petrie talk about creating a logo, marketing during the pandemic, and sample some "ass kicking" hot sauce flavors.
It’s Friday at 7:00 AM CDT which means it’s time for the mullet of all podcasts: Promo UPFront with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they dig deep into the promotional industry’s first in-person tradeshow since the onset of COVID-19, the hospitality industry’s shift as they try to survive, maintaining sanity during insane times, being careful with your brand, the “party in the back” dedicated to the 300th episode of Delivering Marketing Joy (and how well Kirby REALLY knows his show), and much more!
No sponsor this week, but we encourage you to support another industry hit by the pandemic – local music – by attending Jolin’s Music is Medicine Livestream Concert on August 15th. HUGE shout out to Brian Jolin and Danny Rosin for putting this together!
It's Friday and most definitely time for the mullet of all podcasts: Promo UPFront with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week they talk about the incredible State of the Industry report put out by ASI, the reopening of LA Apparel, obsessing over content analytics, CES canceling their tradeshow and what it means for PPAI Expo, Kirby shares his product of the week, and much more!
Big thanks to our friends at commonsku for sponsoring this fine broadcast!
In this inaugural edition of the "What the Hell are We Doing?" Podcast, brandivate Managing Partners Kelsey Cunningham and Bill Petrie talk about staring a business in a pandemic, discuss brandvocate week and give out a few awards, and Bill does his annual taste test of wacky flavors of Lay's Potato Chips.
It's Friday and time for a brand spanking new edition of the Promo UPFront Podcast - the mullet of all podcasts - with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they talk about brandvocate week and using promo to launch a company, the ASI Food Bank Drive, the success of online conferences, the ASI Counselor Awards from home, a new game debuts during the party in the back, and so much more. Buckle up!
Huge thanks to our friends at Goldstar for their sponsorship and support!
It's Friday morning and time for a brand new Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! Today they talk about Zoom fatigue and if it's a real thing, the (second) shut down of Los Angeles Apparel due to COVID-19 code violations, the potential removal of TikTok by the United States, wearing masks in public, athletic masks, the party in the back, and so much more! And, yes, you can actually hear both hosts this week!
A huge thank you to commonsku for sponsoring this soon-to-be award winning broadcast!
It's Friday and time for your FIRST dose of the weekly Promo UPFront Podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie. This week they talk about the launching of brandivate - the new company started by Bill Petrie and Kelsey Cunningham, the branding problems of the Washington Redskins, the importance of marketing with promo during these "unprecedented" times, what back to school might look like, the party in the back, and much more!
Huge thanks to commonsku and Vault Promotions for sponsoring this non-award winning podcast! Also, a shout out to the amazing Jason Nokes from PromoPulse for that sweet theme music!
The AMAZING Promo UPFront Podcast original theme music written and performed by the one and only, Jason Nokes from PromoPulse!