Why It Matters

In this  Why It Matters  conversation,  Branded Merch Network  contributor  Jeff Solomon  talks with  Kate Alavez ,  President  of  PromoShop , about leadership and doing the right thing.  PromoShop  has been a family-owned, minority-owned business since 1998. Jeff and Kate discuss the company's commitment to ethical business practices and the importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Gove...

Saved from being donated! An awesome product was saved from being donated. In this  Why It Matters  conversation,  Branded Merch Network Contributor   Jeff Solomon  talks with  Ian Rosenberger ,  Founder  and  CEO  of  Day Owl , a company doing brilliant things with an innovative product line. Jeff and Ian discussed the circular economy concept and its relevance to distributors. Ian emphasized the...

Here are some things you may not know about one of the industry's largest suppliers. In this  "Why It Matters"  conversation,  Branded Merch Network  contributor  Jeff Solomon  talks with  Natalie Sheffey ,  Director of Sustainability , and  Tommy Levin ,  Director of Sales at Hit Promotional Products. From a sales perspective, Tommy observed that distributors' responses to sustainability initiati...

In this informative  "Why It Matters"  conversation,  Branded Merch Network Contributor Jeff Solomon  talks with  Elizabeth Wimbush, Director of Sustainability and Responsibility PPAI .  Elizabeth talks about being at a crossroads and future-proofing our industry. Articles about brand fill and swag-free conferences are not happening in a void. That's reality. We need to prepare ourselves for this...

In this engaging  "Why It Matters"  conversation,  Ryan Moor , a founder of  Allmade Apparel , talks with  Branded Merch Contributor Jeff Solomon  about real-world experiences that impacted his life and business. It started with the death of a screen printer due to the long-term impact of chemicals used in screen printing.  We talk about reducing the impact of chemicals, the importance of using bl...

In this riveting  "Why It Matters"  conversation, we talk with industry icon  Jo-an Lantz , the  President  and  CEO  of  Geiger . We discuss the importance of understanding why it matters to do the right thing, which includes respecting people, society, and the planet. Good business is about profitability and Geiger shares that profit with the Geiger team.  Jo-an offers meaningful thoughts on sus...

Our industry is becoming more mindful of the impact the branded merch industry is having.  Denise Taschereau ,  CEO  and  co-founder  of  Fairware Promotional Products  is one of the leaders in this movement. In 2009 Fairware was the first B Corp Certified company in our industry. Fairware is part of  Reciprocity Road , a group of like-minded distributors committed to doing the right thing. It's e...

Raining Rose is a community-driven company that strives to be a responsible business neighbor as part of their business positioning. Kate Nash, Director of Sales, shares thoughts on Why It Matters to focus on initiatives that positively impact business and community. They consider the longer-term impact of how they produce their products. Kate also shares about Honeybees and Humans, a unique initi...

Bart Simpson, the President of Flywheel in Tenessee, talks with Branded Merch Network contributor Jeff Solomon, MAS, about Why It Matters to do things right. Their focus is not just about selling products; they want to make an impact. As members of Reciprocity Road, they are connected with like-minded distributor companies that focus on the concept of doing the right thing. These companies ARE mak...

The Why It Matters Live panel, recorded at the Specialty Advertising Association (SAAC) Expo on Thursday, August 15th, 2024, in Anaheim, California, centered around People, Planet, and Prosperity. Jeff Solomon, MAS, and Jay Busselle from the Branded Merch Network led a thought-provoking conversation featuring RJ Hagel, Global Marketing Director of Goldstar, Kate Alavez, President of PromoShop, and...

Vantage Apparel has been creating quality products for almost 50 years. In this Why It Matters video, Rob Watson, CEO of Vantage, talks with Branded Merch Network Contributor Jeff Solomon about how making things better is in their DNA. This also extends to the decoration that Vantage offers. The term Logogevity™ they have trademarked speaks to the high-quality decoration they offer. Apparel you lo...

Many of us are passionate about product sourcing, but we often find ourselves frustrated by the challenges of driving change. In this 'Why It Matters' conversation, Branded Merch Network contributor Jeff Solomon explores this vital topic with Robert Fiveash, President and Co-Owner of Brand Fuel. We discuss domestic production, concerns about China, and other factors that impact our businesses. Rob...

"We've realized in society and our business world that we need to operate in a world of we versus just about me." This riveting conversation on "Why It Matters" with Kathy Cheng, President of Redwood Classic Apparel, is filled with thought-provoking nuggets. Kathy's family story, company history, and principles of people, planet, and prosperity are inspiring. This conversation has many pearls of w...

Some companies have doing the right thing in their DNA. Gordon Sinclair is one of them. It was a pleasure to connect with their Director of Sales, Heidi Urban, who has a passion for sustainability causes. In this Why It Matters conversation, we discuss the evolution of better-made products. There is a trend to buy fewer quality products that recipients will appreciate receiving. Why would a compan...

Discover Why It Matters with some intriguing insights about Warwick Publishing from Alex Paschal, a fifth-generation family member now leading this well-established, beloved company. With a rich history and a strong reputation, Warwick is a go-to source for many. Alex has a background in chemical engineering and a keen understanding of environmental issues. Warwick strongly believes in doing the r...

Heather Smartt , formally the  Global Director of Product Development and Sustainability , now  Global Head of Goldstar , discusses the global steps  Goldstar  takes to create better, responsibly sourced products. This is crucial because it's what discerning buyers are demanding. It's not just good business; it's a necessity. Goldstar has innovative products and resources to help you sell them. Le...

Upcycling and recycling made easy! SwagCycle is an innovative company that saw a need and developed a simple process for repurposing and recycling products. Ben Grossman shares why it matters to have this process in place to keep products out of landfills and create a more sustainable environment for the branded merch industry. Enjoy this engaging conversation and learn how any company can take ad...

In this on-location conversation from the California coast, Daniel Rufenacht, CEO of bluesign, shares how throwing stones at a window as a child opened the door to his experience with chemicals. The lesson his dad taught him directed his life's course. This beautiful location is appropriate because the ocean and the things we appreciate are slowly being destroyed. Get a glimpse into "Why It Matter...

Hillary Morris, Chief Excitement Officer, Pin Guru, Mom of the Year, and Excellent Wife Award Winner at Taco 'Bout Pins, shares a blast of energy taco 'bouting Why It Matters to do things differently and do good stuff. "Slapping a logo on a product is old and outdated. We need to think outside the box." Hillary will inspire and fire you up about how creativity and giving back is a business win. Le...

It's a Team effort! In this conversation with Sterling Wilson, the President of Pop! Promos shares his passion for why it matters to do things right and how that impacts his business on many levels. Much of their excellent work is driven by their Team's desire to make a difference. Sterling shares some jewels here! Take a few minutes and enjoy the conversation. Learn more about Pop! Promos here: ...

Brianna Mazze, EP, the VP of Compliance and Sustainability for St Regis, offers her thoughts on why it matters to St Regis and why it should matter to distributors to sell responsibly sourced products. It's a new day, and end-user buyers are asking for better products. Brianna shares a personal story of her experience working at a community event with Tito's Handmade Vodka, which offers qu...

Enjoy this thought-provoking, honest conversation on Why It Matters with Peerless President Dan Edge. Get Dan's take on RPET and why it may not be as good for the environment as we think. We discuss takeaway points from PPAI's Product Responsibility Summit and offer insights on selling better branded merch. Learn more about Peerless here:  peerlessumbrella.com/ #sustainability #brandedmerch #makei...

Doug Jackson, the President and "Product Visionary" of Storm Creek Apparel, shares "Why IT Matters" to create a quality, sustainable product and the steps they take to make it happen. Learn more about Storm Creek here: https://www.stormcreek.com/ #sustainability #sustainableapparel #brandedmerch #brandedapparel Released on Mar 19, 2024