Delivering Marketing Joy

In this episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Jade and Kirby cover a mix of marketing moments and brand behavior. Kirby shares lessons from his recent trip to Honduras with commonsku and SanMar, they break down the buzz around McDonald’s new Big Arch sandwich and the competitor videos mocking it, and they celebrate Delta’s new rule banning speakerphone audio on flights. It’s a fun conversation...

In this week's episode of Delivering #marketingjoy Katie Fortunato joins the show to discuss how to use AI in talent acquisition, how job seekers can navigate social first hiring, challenges and advantages being a woman founder, and more. Listen now!

If you want to build a stronger business, start by building stronger trust. In this video, I break down the TRUST framework and why trust is one of the most powerful drivers of long-term business success. Too many organizations focus only on short-term wins—transactions, quick sales, and immediate results. But the businesses that last understand something deeper: when people trust you, everything...

In this week's episode of Delivering #marketingjoy Britney Godsey discusses what drives modern day revenue, How AI can help leaders spend less time "in the weeds," how to start using AI, and more. Watch now!

In marketing, one interaction is almost never enough. There’s a principle often referred to as the Rule of 7 Touches—the idea that people typically need multiple interactions with your brand before they feel ready to take action. Too many businesses give up after one email, one post, or one conversation. But trust isn’t built in a single moment. It’s built through consistency, repetition, and valu...

In this episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Jade and Kirby talk about what feels like a major shift in culture and marketing: the return to real. They dive into how brands can leverage user generated content, why Gen Z is rediscovering devices like the iPod to disconnect from constant noise, the rise of homesteading as a cultural trend, and why street-style interviews are landing for brands...

In this week's episode of Delivering #marketingjoy Roger Nairn joins the podcast to discuss why most branded podcasts flop and how to prevent it, differentiating podcasts from blogs, repurposing podcast content, and more!

We live in a world where everyone is asking, selling, pitching, and promoting. But what if the real path to long-term success isn’t about taking first — it’s about giving first? In this video, I break down what I mean by the Give First Economy and why I believe it’s one of the most powerful frameworks for building sustainable success in business and life. This isn’t about being naive or generous w...

In this episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Jade and Kirby tackle a surprising topic: when you should not do branded merch. They break down why merch without a clear objective, defined customer, distribution plan, or during a PR crisis can do more harm than good. They also discuss the recent Frida Baby controversy and the importance of brand awareness and tone, plus Jade shares lessons from...

In this week's episode of Delivering #marketingjoy Nick Lateur joins the show to discuss his journey within the industry, the role of social media in branded merchandise, understanding AI in marketing, and sales leadership insights. Listen now!

Every interaction your customer has with your business is saying something — whether you intended it to or not. From your website to your email signature to the way your team answers the phone, each touchpoint is shaping perception. The problem? Most businesses think branding is just a logo. It’s not. In this video, I break down why every touchpoint tells a story — and how to make sure it’s tellin...

In this episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Jade and Kirby break down the Super Bowl commercials that hit, the ones that missed, and the marketing lessons small to mid-sized businesses can take away. They talk about the clever “Relax Your Tight Ends” ad promoting prostate testing, Kirby’s favorite Dunkin’ spot, brands trolling competitors, and why the Liquid I.V. singing toilet ad did not la...

In this week's episode of Delivering #marketingjoy Sarah Whitaker joins the show to discuss the importance of branded merchandise, challenges in the branded merch space, strategic approaches to merchandising, and optimizing the merch experience. Watch now!

The longer I’m in business, the more I realize how important gratitude really is. It’s easy to focus on growth, goals, and what’s next—but over time, business has taught me that appreciation plays a much bigger role than most people think. In this video, I share lessons I’ve learned over the years about gratitude in business—how it shapes perspective, strengthens relationships, and keeps you groun...

In this episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Jade Crider and Kirby Hasseman talk about why major brands are making bold moves in 2026. They break down Hershey’s decision to increase its marketing budget by 20 percent and lean further into influencer and digital marketing, and discuss why the rising cost of Super Bowl ads may still be a smart investment. They also introduce the idea of 2026 as...

In this week's episode of delivering #marketingjoy Jessica Fewless joins the show to discuss understanding the sales and marketing divide, the evolution of account-based marketing, identifying target customers effectively, and implementing account-based marketing strategies. Watch now!

Entrepreneurship gets talked about a lot—but the reality is very different than the highlight reel. In this video, I share 11 truths about entrepreneurship that I’ve learned through experience, mistakes, and persistence. These aren’t theories or motivational quotes. They’re real lessons about what it actually takes to build something, lead through uncertainty, and keep moving forward when things g...

In this episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Jade Crider and Kirby Hasseman talk about the power of intentional morning routines and why letting social media hijack your day can hurt focus and productivity. They also explore how trade shows can still be a powerful marketing tool when done right and why creating curated merch kits helps brands build stronger connections with their audience. A...

In this week's episode of Delivering #marketingjoy Kate Holgate joins the show to discuss navigating burnout in creative teams, the power of optimism, AI as a creative co-pilot, and more. Watch now!

This year, a handful of business books genuinely changed how I think about leadership, growth, and decision-making. In this video, I break down the ideas and themes from seven books that had the biggest impact on me in 2025—not the titles, but the thinking behind them. These weren’t just good reads. They challenged assumptions, reinforced what actually works, and helped shape how I’m approaching b...

In this episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Jade Crider and Kirby Hasseman share lessons from the PPAI Expo, often called the trade show of trade shows. They break down what clients can learn from the biggest event in branded merch, why activations were the dominant trend on the show floor, and how clearly defining your ideal customer leads to better merchandise and marketing decisions. The...

In this week's episode of Delivering #marketingjoy Javier Lozano joins the show to discuss how to unlock scalable growth, knowing when to evolve your go to market motion, predictable revenue, and more. Watch now!

In this week's episode of Delivering #marketingjoy Bryan Clayton joins the show to discuss changes in service based business, the importance of authority and discipline, and lessons in branded merchandise. Watch now!

Goals are easy to talk about—but execution is where most people fall short. In this video, let's break down three habits successful people consistently practice before, during, and after they set goals.

In this episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Jade and Kirby dig into a bold sensory marketing move from Subway — a scratch-and-sniff billboard designed to stop attention and create real connection. From there, Jade introduces her new Merch Pyramid, a simple framework for evaluating branded merchandise based on Utility, Aesthetic, and Connection — and why the top of the pyramid is where real i...