Promo Perspectives by SAGE

Are company stores worth it? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook sits down with Chris Jordan, Distributor Sales Account Advisor at SAGE, to explore how company stores are helping distributors win more business, strengthen customer relationships, and simplify branded merchandise programs. From employee apparel and onboarding to pop-up stores, incentive programs, and franchise br...

What does Gen Z actually want from promotional products? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Anne Marie sits down with fellow Gen Z team member Emily Pritchard to discuss what makes branded merchandise worth keeping—and what ends up in the trash. From quality and usefulness to sustainability and memorable brand experiences, they share an honest Gen Z perspective on what today's consumers v...

How do custom journals become powerful brand experiences? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook sits down with Don Manchester from JournalBooks, a division of PCNA, to explore the world of custom journal sourcing and how distributors can create memorable branded experiences for their clients. Don shares insights into JournalBooks' 50+ years of U.S.-based manufacturing, the sourci...

The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet, and with the 2026 tournament coming to North America, the promotional products industry has a unique opportunity to get involved. In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook sits down with SAGE Supplier Sales Representative and soccer enthusiast Cody Smith to discuss how the World Cup impacts promotional products, branded...

Why do some promotional products become cultural phenomena while others are quickly forgotten? In this solo episode of Promo Perspectives, Nicole explores the surprising ways branded merchandise creates connection, community, and lasting emotional impact. Drawing from our LinkedIn article, "Five Swag Stories You May Not Have Heard About," she breaks down real-world examples of promotional products...

Discover how SAGE’s Information Services team helps distributors solve impossible product searches, verify suppliers, and navigate the promotional products industry with real human support. In this episode of Promo Perspectives, Nicole sits down with Kassondra and Alan from SAGE’s Information Services team to talk about live product research, supplier verification, unusual customer requests, and t...

What makes a website truly effective in 2026? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook sits down with Patty McGowan and Brittany Davis from the SAGE web team to discuss what separates an average website from a winning one in the promotional products industry. From mobile responsiveness and personalization to custom forms, branding, and customer experience, this conversation is packe...

Get a fast-paced look at the latest trends, products, and innovations shaping the promotional products industry. From low-minimum custom food service products and ultra-fast large format displays to AI-powered presentation tools, premium apparel, branded footwear, sustainable gifting, and cutting-edge promo tech, this session is packed with ideas distributors can bring directly to clients. Feature...

In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook sits down with Cat Gagliardo to explore the Co-Creative Exchange (CC|X)—one of the newest and most exciting communities in the promotional products industry. CC|X is bringing together content creators, distributors, suppliers, and industry leaders to collaborate, grow their online presence, and help move the promo industry forward. From share...

What makes the Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC) such a powerful experience in the promotional products industry? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook sits down with Arianna Johnson and Laurie Moore to talk all about WLC, from the supportive community and leadership development opportunities to the real-world skills, networking, and confidence attendees walk away with. Whether...

Discover what makes the International Leadership Summit (ILS) one of the most unique and impactful events in the promotional products industry. In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook sits down with Ellen Tucker and Jessica Gibbons-Rauch from PPAI to break down everything you need to know about this global event. From cross-border collaboration to high-level leadership conversation...

How does a supplier stay competitive on pricing, inventory, and marketing support in today’s promotional products industry? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, we sit down with Michelle, Senior Marketing Manager at BEL Promo, to break down how their team helps distributors win more business. With over 20 years of experience, Michelle shares insights into how BEL Promo maintains low minimums, st...

What makes a great Promo Live presentation—and why should you attend? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, we sit down with Amanda Carpenter, Senior Customer Experience Manager at SAGE and longtime Promo Live host, to break down what makes this virtual event so valuable for both suppliers and distributors. Promo Live is SAGE’s interactive online event held twice a year, giving distributors direc...

In this episode of Promo Perspectives, we’re diving into one of the most impactful leadership events in the promotional products industry—the PPI North American Leadership Conference (NALC). Host Nicole Cook is joined by Melissa Ralston (Chief Marketing Officer at PPI) and Danny Rosin (Co-President of Brand Fuel and Chair of the PPI Board) to break down what makes this event truly unique. From hig...

What made PPAI Expo 2026 so memorable? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook shares insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives from industry professionals who experienced the show firsthand. From exciting booth activations like the SAGE slot machine giveaway to discussions about new product features, sustainability trends, industry data, and networking across the global promotio...

Live from the SAGE Conference at the PPAI Expo, we asked attendees to share their real-time reactions to the newly released SAGE features — and the feedback was clear. In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook sits down with distributors to talk about what stood out most — from powerful AI integrations to one-click logo uploads, full-presentation branding, virtual mockups, and lifest...

What if creating realistic product mockups didn’t require five different tools and 20 open tabs? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook sits down with SAGE Creative Director Cristi Brinkman to break down the all-new SAGE Design Studio and how it transforms the mockup workflow for designers and non-designers alike. From bloated, multi-step processes to a purpose-built workflow desi...

What happens when you ask a sales team to describe brand-new SAGE features in just one word? At the PPAI Expo this year, SAGE hosted its own SAGE Conference and unveiled a powerful lineup of new features. While we were there, Nicole Cook and Senior Social Media Coordinator Anne-Marie Bolton decided to put the sales team on the spot and ask them to describe their favorite updates in one word. The r...

Thousands of members. Endless branded merch. One unforgettable Expo. In this special episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook leans into the heart of the podcast’s name by bringing you real perspectives from across the promotional products industry following the largest trade show of the year, PPAI Expo in Las Vegas. Rather than offering a single recap, Nicole gathers voices from every angl...

In this SAGE Conference 2026 session, Matt explores key trends shaping the promotional products industry and what suppliers and distributors should be paying attention to right now. From evolving customer expectations to smarter ways of leveraging tools and technology, Matt offers a forward-looking perspective backed by practical examples. This session is designed to help attendees think strategic...

At SAGE Conference 2026, Amanda delivers a practical, insight-packed session focused on helping promotional professionals work smarter, stay adaptable, and make confident decisions in a rapidly changing industry. In this session, Amanda breaks down real-world strategies you can apply immediately, from improving day-to-day workflows to thinking more strategically about growth, efficiency, and long-...

Andy takes the stage at SAGE Conference 2026 with a forward-thinking session that explores how technology, data, and smarter tools are shaping the future of the promotional products industry. This session focuses on leveraging modern solutions to streamline operations, improve visibility, and make better business decisions. Andy shares practical insights on embracing change, using available tools...

In this SAGE Conference 2026 session, Eric dives into practical strategies designed to help promotional product professionals work smarter, adapt faster, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. Eric shares real-world insights on improving workflows, leveraging technology more effectively, and making strategic decisions that support long-term business growth. From simplifying everyday...

Thinking about becoming a supplier in the promotional products industry, or looking to strengthen your presence in SAGE? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook is joined by Jonathan Webb from SAGE’s Supplier Sales team for a practical, high-level guide to getting started as a supplier and growing successfully inside the SAGE ecosystem. Jonathan breaks down what it really means to...

As the new year approaches, what trends are shaping the promotional products industry? In this episode of Promo Perspectives, host Nicole Cook is joined by SAGE Distributor Account Advisor Matt Parisi to break down what distributors and their clients are really looking for as they head into 2026. They discuss the shift from uncertainty to confidence in the market, how buying behavior has evolved o...