2 Regular Guys Talking Decoration and Personalization

Every year, ASI’s Counselor State of the Industry report gives us one of the clearest snapshots of what is really happening across the promotional products world. This week, we welcome back Theresa Hegel and C.J. Mittica from ASI to help us look beyond the headlines and break down what the 2026 numbers mean for the people actually doing the work. The industry grew in 2025, but beneath that growth...

AI makes it easier than ever to create marketing content, but easier does not always mean better. This week, Aaron and Terry welcome B2B marketing expert, print industry advocate, and author Joanne Gore to talk about how poorly used AI can strip the personality out of your marketing, blur what makes your business different, and potentially send customers looking elsewhere. We’ll explore how print...

This week, Warren Werbitt, The Print Whisperer, is back to talk about something nearly everyone in the print industry has been guilty of: making things more complicated than they need to be. Whether you own the shop, sell the work, run production, manage a team, or are simply trying to grow your career, there are always distractions pulling your attention away from what really matters. New equipme...

With Aaron and Terry away at a trade show, Cassie Green from Apparelist steps in to co-host alongside Producer Erich Campbell for a conversation all about better color, stronger workflows, and getting more from PRINTING United Expo. Their guest is Shelby Sapusek of ColorCasters, a color management consultant and trainer, G7+ Expert, and two-time PRINTING United Expo All Star. Shelby helps print pr...

Growth sounds exciting, but growing the wrong way can create more stress, smaller profits, and a business that controls your life. This week, Terry and Aaron welcome Colin Sinclair McDermott, The Online Print Coach, to explore the common mistakes print and apparel businesses make while trying to grow. Drawing from his experience running print companies, overcoming business failure, and coaching hu...

Sustainability is becoming a bigger part of doing business in the promotional products industry, but knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. This week, Aaron and Terry welcome Liz Wimbush, PPAI’s Director of Sustainability & Responsibility, to help make the topic practical and easier to understand. Liz shares how PPAI is supporting members at every stage of their sustainability journey,...

Is it time to buy a DTF printer, or are you better off continuing to outsource your transfers? In this episode, Terry and Aaron look at the decision from both sides. Terry brings the production perspective, while Aaron focuses on the numbers, cash flow, and business planning behind the investment. They will discuss order volume, staffing, available space, maintenance, turnaround time, equipment co...

The lines between commercial printing and apparel decoration are disappearing. More customers want one trusted partner who can provide everything from business cards and brochures to branded apparel, signage, and promotional products. So where does that leave today’s apparel decorator? This week, Aaron and Terry welcome print industry veteran Mark Pomerantz, founder of SalesWisdom, to explor...

As print shops grow, the problem is rarely just getting more orders. The real challenge is keeping production, inventory, shipping, and online sales from turning into a pile of disconnected systems and manual work. This week, Terry and Aaron welcome back Michael Thero of Pythias Technologies to talk about what modern fulfillment can teach every decorator. We’ll look at how automation, marketplace...

This week on 2 Regular Guys, it’s a Takeup Takeover as Erich Campbell jumps on the mic to talk with the excellent embroidery educator Lisa Shaw about their experience educating new embroiderers online and on the tradeshow circuit. Join Erich and Lisa to discuss the most common mistakes and assumptions made by beginner embroiderers, the advice they’d give to anyone just starting out, an...

This week on 2 Regular Guys, Aaron interviews Terry about one of the most common tension points in any decorated apparel business: the relationship between Sales and Production. Sales wants to keep customers happy, Production wants to keep the schedule realistic, and somewhere in the middle is a team trying to get quality work out the door on time. Terry has lived on both sides of this conversatio...

Print On Demand sounds simple: sell the product, decorate it when ordered, and ship it out. But for apparel decorators, the reality can quickly become messy if there is no system behind it. This week, Terry and Aaron welcome David Conner from STAHLS’ Fulfill Engine to talk about what is actually working in POD for small shops, decorators, and distributors. David has been involved in Print On Deman...

Last week, Aaron and Terry opened up the conversation around niche market ideas for DTF printers, and as usually happens with a good 2 Regular Guys topic, they only made it through a handful of the ideas. This week, Erich Campbell jumps in with Terry while Aaron is away at DAX Tampa to keep the conversation going. They’ll pick up where the first show left off and explore more niche market opportun...

DTF printing has opened the door to more opportunities than ever, but trying to serve everyone can quickly turn into a race to the bottom. This week, Terry and Aaron bring back one of their most popular topics, Niche Market Ideas, with a special focus on DTF printing professionals. We’ll talk through real niche opportunities we’ve seen in shops, events, and travels, plus fresh ideas decorators can...

DTF can be a great opportunity for decorators, but success is not just about buying a printer and hoping the rest works itself out. This week, Terry and Aaron take a practical look at what really goes into a profitable DTF workflow, from artwork and RIP settings to ink, film, powder, curing, pressing, and the support needed when things do not go as planned. This host show will focus on the real-wo...

Spectrum Designs Foundation is proving that growth and purpose can go hand in hand. This week on 2 Regular Guys, we’ll be joined by Tim Howe, Chief Operating Officer of Spectrum Designs, to talk about the incredible momentum behind their nonprofit social enterprise and the mission that drives it. From opening a new franchise in Pensacola, Florida, to launching its third East Coast shop in Hackensa...

This week on 2 Regular Guys, Aaron takes you inside the recent Kornit Konnections event with exclusive interviews from several large print shops sharing what they’re seeing in the decorated apparel industry right now. From changing customer expectations to new ways shops are creating value, these conversations offer a real-world snapshot of where the market stands today. Aaron also shares his bigg...

This week, we welcome back Jay Busselle of Branded Merch Network for a recap of the 2026 Sustainable Merch Summit and a deeper look at what apparel decorators, promo pros, and print shop owners need to know right now. We break down the biggest lessons from the event, what brands are really asking for, and how sustainability is shaping modern marketing conversations. More importantly, we talk about...

Previously, we talked about what “value” really means in your business. This week, we answer the question everyone is really asking. How do you actually turn that value into pricing that works? If you’ve ever felt unsure about what to charge, worried about raising your prices, or found yourself looking at competitors for answers, you’re not alone. In this episode, we break down why so many busines...

Sustainability is everywhere right now, but for most apparel decorators and promo professionals, the big question is simple: what actually matters, and how do you turn it into something that grows your business? This week, we’re joined by Jay Busselle and the media partners behind the 2026 Sustainable Merch Summit to break it all down. We talk about what people are really trying to figure out when...

This week, it’s just the guys and producer Erich Campbell tackling a problem we’re seeing way too often. Shop owners investing lots of money into equipment and then asking the most important question after the fact… what should I charge? If you’ve ever struggled with pricing, felt unsure about your numbers, or found yourself looking at competitors and guessing, this episode is for you. We break do...

This week, we welcome back Dean Biscan to talk about a powerful opportunity many apparel decorators and promo shops are overlooking: employee appreciation and retention programs. While your customers are struggling to retain good people, there’s a real opportunity for you to step in as a strategic partner rather than just another vendor. Dean shares why this is becoming a major focus for businesse...

This week on 2 Regular Guys, we’re joined by Stephanie Young of Sostephaniesays to talk about one of the biggest opportunities in apparel decoration right now, adding mixed media to your lineup. From embroidery to vinyl to sublimation and beyond, Stephanie shares how combining techniques can elevate your products, increase perceived value, and open the door to higher profits. We’ll also dig into w...

AI is everywhere right now, but most small business owners are still asking the same question: how do I actually use it in my day-to-day work? In this episode of 2 Regular Guys, Aaron and Terry talk about practical, real-world ways AI can help apparel decorators and product professionals save time without replacing the craftsmanship and relationships that make great businesses work. From documenti...

Most people assume digital advertising is the more sustainable marketing choice. But a new industry study suggests the story might be more complicated. This week on 2 Regular Guys, we welcome Theresa Hegel, Executive Editor for Special Projects and Sustainability at ASI, to discuss the findings from a major CO₂ impact study commissioned by ASI and PPAI. The research looked at the carbon footprint...