Promo Perspectives by SAGE

In this episode, we're joined by SAGE's Vice President of Marketing, Billie Forman, to dive into the world of marketing with a large team. This episode serves as a powerful counterpoint to our recent discussion on marketing with a small, limited team. Billie, with 18 years of experience at SAGE and a deep understanding of the promo industry, shares invaluable insights on: The advantages of a diver...

In this episode of Promo Perspectives, we're joined by his friend William Rubsamen of Whirlix Design to discuss marketing strategies for small businesses with limited marketing teams. Many distributors in the promotional products industry operate with small teams, often with owners or their family members handling marketing efforts. This episode aims to provide practical tips, tricks, and insights...

On this episode of Promo Perspectives, we're joined by special guest Nicole Cook, SAGE's Senior Brand Marketing Manager, to dive deep into the world of brand marketing for the promotional products industry. Nicole breaks down what brand marketing truly is (hint: it's more than just a logo!) and shares actionable steps for distributors and suppliers to define their unique brand identity. Learn abou...

Are you a promotional products supplier or distributor looking to boost your online presence and grow your business? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, SAGE's Senior Marketing Coordinator, Gabe Gotay, dives deep into the essentials of building, executing, and growing a successful digital marketing strategy. Gabe breaks down the process into three key phases: Build: Learn how to set clear, meas...

In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Jenna Quaranta, a significant force in the industry who's made multiple appearances on the PPAI Online 18 over the years. Jenna shares her incredible journey, from her early days at AlphaBroder to her current role as Director of Sales and Training at HPG, where she coaches over 100 people a week through her own sales academy. Discover how her unique...

Ever wonder what goes into the high-quality video content that earned SAGE a spot on the prestigious 2025 PPAI Online 18 list? In this episode of the Promo Perspectives Podcast, we're pulling back the curtain on the process and workflow of video production with SAGE's talented producer, Lafonso Brown! Following up on our previous discussion about videography philosophies, Lafonso dives deep into t...

SAGE recently secured the #1 spot on the PPAI Online 18 for our outstanding social media performance, and a big reason for that success is our video content! In this episode, Lafonso shares his incredible journey into video production and dives into fundamental principles that will help promotional product suppliers and distributors create compelling visuals, even on a budget. In this episode, you...

On this episode, Anne-Marie Bolton, SAGE's Senior Social Media Coordinator, shares the secrets behind SAGE's #1 ranking in the PPAI Online 18, highlighting their successful content mix and engagement tactics. Learn about SAGE's four content pillars – Cultivation, Celebration, Education, and Innovation – and how they guide their award-winning social media presence.   This episode covers: Developing...

In this episode, the final installment of our series on fulfillment, we are joined by a special guest from the supplier side: Nick Marconi, Inside Sales Account Executive at S&S Activewear, now combined with AlphaBroder! Get an exclusive look into the massive operation behind one of the industry's largest apparel suppliers. Nick shares insights on how S&S and AlphaBroder operate as a "hous...

In this episode, hosts Gabe Gotay and Patrick Harvot continue their deep dive into fulfillment, joined by special guest Jack Meese, Sales Manager at Print One Inc. Discover how Jack revolutionized his fulfillment process by transitioning from cumbersome spreadsheets to efficient SAGE Stores. Tune in to learn about: The "aha!" moment: Why SAGE Stores were a no-brainer for Print One and their client...

In this third episode of our series on fulfillment, hosts Gabe Gotay and Patrick Harvot are joined by special guests Jill Houston and Michael Barber from Corporate Pride. Get a real-world look at how a successful distributorship sets up and manages company stores and tackles fulfillment challenges. Jill and Michael share: 👕 An in-depth example of a new-hire apparel store, including budget codes a...

Following up on the main episode's discussion, Gabe and Patrick tackle the crucial topic of inventory management. They break down the pros and cons of holding inventory versus not holding it, discuss the impact of order minimums, and explore when and why you might consider working with a third-party logistics (3PL) warehousing company. Then, they clarify the differences and similarities between SA...

Join SAGE's Gabe Gotay and Patrick Harvot as they kick off a multi-part series on mastering order fulfillment for your promotional products business. In this introductory episode of Promo Perspectives, learn the crucial first steps: gathering customer requirements, identifying pain points, and understanding different store setup options. Discover how to create efficient online ordering platforms t...

Join us for a special episode of the Promo Perspectives podcast featuring an insightful conversation between David Natinsky, President of SAGE, and Jonathan Strauss, President & CEO of PPPC (Promotional Products Professionals of Canada). Discover the fascinating history and evolution of the partnership between SAGE and PPPC, and how this powerful collaboration benefits the Canadian promotional...

We sit down with Lane Hokanson, Global Marketing Manager at Goldstar, to discuss sustainability and the future of promotional products. Discover how Goldstar is prioritizing planet-friendly practices with their "Made Better" initiative, their journey to earning key sustainability certifications (FSC, GRS), and their goals for reducing their carbon footprint. Lane also shares valuable insights on h...

Get an insider's look at the evolution of SAGE with Andy Evans, a 15-year SAGE- veteran. Learn about the key technological shifts, client relationship strategies, and industry trends that have shaped our success.

Get a rapid-fire update on the latest SAGE features in this bite-sized episode of Promo Perspectives!   We highlight key enhancements, including: AI-Powered Presentation Wizard: Instantly create personalized client presentations. New Presentation Gallery Layout: Modernize your product showcases. Client Text Messaging: Streamline communication within SAGE CRM. Enhanced Product Data: Suppliers can n...

Dive into purpose-driven promo! Kara Keister of Social Good Promotions shares how to connect commerce with impact, focusing on sustainability, transparency, and giving back. Learn how to make a difference with every order.

Dive into the future of promo! This episode of Promo Perspectives explores sustainability and responsibility in the promotional products industry. Learn actionable strategies for environmental responsibility, social equity, product life cycle management, and transparency. Featuring insights from Kara Keister of Social Good Promotions and resources from PPAI. Discover how to build a sustainable bus...

Josh Ellis and Colet Williams from PPAI return to Promo Perspectives to discuss their brand new podcast: Voice & Force! Named after their mission to be the voice and force to advance the promotional products marketplace, PPAI's new audio offering was created to help level up your business. All five episodes of the debut limited series, Leading PPAI 100, are available everywhere you get your po...

Brad Gooch of Ideal Incentive shares more insights on using Sage Store Solutions to build a successful promo business. This episode covers real-time inventory, tackling shipping challenges, the importance of valuing your time, the B2B advantage, and why knowing your worth is crucial for the industry.

This episode features part one of our interview with Brad Gooch of Ideal Incentive, discussing how to leverage SAGE Stores to grow your promotional products business. Brad shares insights on overcoming common distributor fears, effectively positioning stores with clients, and creative applications beyond traditional product ordering. He also explores how the "Amazon effect" has changed client expe...

In this episode, we talked about how to use online stores to lock in customer relationships, streamline the ordering process, and boost your revenue in 2025.

In this episode of Promo Perspectives, we dive deeper into the world of government relations with Chris Lamond, a seasoned lobbyist from Thorn Run Partners. Following our previous discussion on the critical role of GRAC, we explore the intricacies of lobbying on Capitol Hill.

In this episode of Promo Perspectives, we delve into the critical role of the Government Relations Action Committee (GRAC) in advocating for the promotional products industry on Capitol Hill. Join us as we discuss GRAC's history, its current priorities, and the recent reorganization under PPAI Media. Our esteemed guests, Dana Porter, VP of Information Services at SAGE, and Josh Ellis, Publisher &a...