It’s Friday and time for Ep. 85 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In the Opening Shot, Bill reflects on a very tough week as he shares some thoughts on the passing of both Rob Watson and Dolly Parton – and the one thing that truly binds them together. After that, he welcomes retired industry legend, Mark Shinn. In a wide-ranging discussion, they talk about his past life running a multi-line firm, what retirement looks like, the meaning of volunteerism, why donating to PPEF matters, and even a bit of Washington Huskies and Texas A&M Football talk! 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!

We are firmly in the dog days of summer, but it’s Friday and that means it’s time for an oven-fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. To get Ep. 84 rolling, Bill talks about the potential renaming of PPAI and shares his candid thoughts about what it might mean for the industry. Afterwards, Bill is joined by the Vice President of Sales of StickerYou, Rich Corvalan. They take a deep dive into the importance of relationships in a technology-driven era, the value of a support system when facing a health crisis, and even a look into the future of the industry using a branded crystal ball. 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 [email protected] today!

Heck yes, it’s time for Ep. 83 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! In today’s “opening shot,” Bill talks about the ASI Counselor Awards in Chicago and the importance of recognizing the individuals and companies that were honored. After that, he’s joined by the fabulous Maria Corpuz, founder and owner of Bel Merch. During a fascinating conversation they discussed how her background in slinging tour merch helped shape her views on the industry, the inspiration behind her company name, why distributors should be scheduling activations now, and even a deep discussion on the greatness that is Arrested Development. Trust us, this is one episode you do not 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!

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].

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!