Supplier Promo Playbook

What separates great distributors from average ones? It is not having access to the biggest suppliers. It is knowing how to solve problems creatively. In this special panel discussion, Lisa Fosdick, MAS and Adrienne Barker, MAS sit down with four successful niche suppliers who prove that thinking differently creates better client experiences and stronger business relationships. Joining the convers...

What happens when a fast growing direct to consumer food brand steps into the promotional products industry? You get a conversation packed with innovation, logistics, personalization, and a whole lot of fresh baked strategy. In this episode of The Supplier Promo Playbook , hosts Adrienne Barker, Lisa Fosdick, and Kim Ballerene sit down with Alli Klein of Wildgrain to talk about bringing artisan fr...

Beyond the Hype Real World AI Strategies for Promo Professionals Recorded live at a special New England Promotional Products Association education event, this episode of The Promo Playbook brings together some of the promotional products industry’s leading voices for a candid discussion on how AI is already transforming sales, marketing, operations, customer service, and client experience. This wa...

What does it really take for a supplier to stand out in the promotional products industry? In this powerful episode of The Supplier Promo Playbook , hosts Adrienne Barker, Lisa Fosdick, and Kimberly Ballerene sit down with Josh Ellis , Senior Director of Media, Research, and Public Affairs at Promotional Products Association International, to unpack what suppliers of every size need to know about...

How are smart suppliers adapting as the promotional products industry evolves? Recorded live from PPAI Expo, Kimberly Ballerene takes listeners onto the show floor for conversations with leaders from Hydropeak, Sportique and Taylor Corporation to explore supplier growth, customer expectations, technology, and the future of print on demand. From relationship building to digital transformation, this...

What does it really take to grow a promotional products company from $29M to over $92M—and stay competitive in a rapidly changing industry? In this episode of The Promo Playbook , co-hosts Lisa Fosdick and Kimberly Ballerene lead a powerful conversation with Brittany David, SnugZ USA's Chief Revenue Officer. From navigating the chaos of the pandemic to leveraging AI, partnerships, and product stra...

What do the suppliers who actually win at PPAI do differently when every distributor is overwhelmed with options? Recorded live on the PPAI Expo show floor in Las Vegas, hosts Lisa Fosdick and Adrienne Barker hand the mic to Kimberly Ballerene for rapid-fire, booth-side interviews with four suppliers making noise in the promo channel. You will hear what is working right now in product differentiat...

What if the reason your marketing is not working is not your products but your foundation, your follow-up, and your message? In this episode of The Promo Playbook, hosts Lisa Fosdick and Adrienne Barker sit down with Gloria LaFont of Action Marketing to talk about what distributors actually need to do to stand out in a crowded promo marketplace. Gloria shares how she went from distributor to marke...

Ever opened an “art file” that looked fine… until you tried to print it and suddenly it turned into pixel soup? In this episode of The Promo Playbook, hosts Lisa Fosdick, Adrienne Barker, and Kim Ballerene break down why production-ready vector art is the quiet hero of the promotional products industry. They’re joined by Mark from Vector Art , who shares how offshore artwork teams can help supplie...

Are you a boutique supplier trying to get distributors to notice you without becoming “that annoying email” they delete before coffee? In this bite -sized episode, Adrienne Barker, Lisa Fosdick, and Kim Ballerene break down practical outreach strategies suppliers can actually execute, especially for small teams. They cover why regional shows can beat the big trade shows for relationship building,...

What happens when suppliers and distributors stop ghosting each other, start communicating clearly, and treat every email as if it mattered? This episode breaks down the small habits that build big trust in the promo channel. In this upbeat and real conversation, Lisa Fosdick, Kim Ballerene, and Adrienne Barker dig into the truth about supplier and distributor partnerships. The trio explores why k...

Are you heading to the PPAI Expo this January, and secretly wondering how the pros actually work this show without burning out, getting lost, or missing the good stuff? ➡️ In this energetic, no-fluff episode of The Promo Playbook, Lisa Fosdick, Adrienne Barker, and Kim Ballerine break down the ultimate supplier + distributor guide to surviving and succeeding at the PPAI Expo. From hotel strategy t...

What if you could deliver fully branded products with no minimums, no inventory, and lightning-fast turnaround? Welcome to the future of promo — where on-demand printing meets innovation. Summary In this episode of The Promo Playbook , hosts Lisa Fosdick , Adrienne Barker , and Kim Ballerene explore the rapidly growing world of on-demand printing and the game-changing MOQ of one model. Guests Elis...

Still think self-promos are just giveaways? Think again. In this new Supplier Promo Playbook episode, hosts Lisa Fosdick, Adrienne Barker, MAS, and Kimberly Ballerene break down the hot topic of spec samples — the powerful marketing tools suppliers use to showcase their products with a distributor’s logo, open doors, and drive real sales. 🔥 Highlights → What a self promo actually is and why every...

Why should distributors take a chance on boutique suppliers or retail brands? In this insightful episode of The Promo Playbook , hosts Lisa Fastig , Kimberly Miller Ballerene , and Adrienne Barker, MAS break down the real value of working with smaller, creative suppliers and established retail brands entering the promotional products space. They share first-hand experiences on what makes boutique...

Are you still faxing purchase orders, emailing spreadsheets, or chasing inventory updates? Then this episode is your wake-up call. Summary → In this masterclass edition of Promo Playbook , hosts Lisa Fosdick , Adrienne Barker, MAS , and Kimberly Miller Ballerene welcome Amy Rabideau , MAS , VP of Client & Community Engagement at Antera Software and Vice Chair of PromoStandards , to demystify o...

Are your terms, invoices, and credit checks fueling growth—or starving cash flow? In this episode of Promo Playbook , Lisa Fosdick, Adrienne Barker, MAS, and Kimberly Miller Ballerene delve into the financial aspects of running a successful supplier business. They share practical strategies for onboarding distributors, establishing clear credit protocols, and safeguarding your cash flow without co...

Are your samples and virtual mockups speeding up orders—or silently slowing them down? In this Promo Playbook episode, Lisa Fosdick, Adrienne Barker, and Kim Miller Ballerene team up to reveal the real levers behind faster closes in the promo channel: smart sample strategy and dialed-in virtuals. They clarify the three sample types (blank, random, spec), when to use each, blind vs. distributor shi...

Are your onboarding and credit processes protecting your cash flow—or putting your promo business at risk? In this Promo Playbook mini-bite, hosts Lisa Fosdick, Kimberly Miller Ballerene, and Adrienne Barker, MAS unpack the financial side of running a promotional products supplier business . We cover the practical steps that keep your accounts receivable healthy and your margins strong, from creat...

Thinking of jumping into trade shows without a plan? You might be setting your brand up for wasted time and money. In this episode of Promo Playbook , Lisa Fosdick, Kimberly Miller Ballerene, and Adrienne Barker, MAS, unpack everything suppliers need to know about navigating promotional product shows—national expos, regionals, end-user events, and even the new wave of cruise-style networking exper...

Confused about how the promotional products industry really works? In this episode of the Supplier Promo Playbook Podcast , hosts Lisa Fosdick , Adrienne Barker, MAS , and Kimberly Miller Ballerene break down the layered structure of the promo world. From the many types of suppliers to the evolving distributor landscape to the rise of tech and AI-driven platforms, you’ll learn how each “slice of t...

In this episode of the Supplier Promo Playbook , co-hosts Lisa Fosdick and Adrienne Barker, along with MAS team member Kimberly Miller Ballerene , founder of The Promo Playbook and a respected leader in the promotional products industry, tackle one of the most crucial—and often misunderstood—aspects of supplier success: pricing. Together, they explore the real mechanics of setting profitable price...

What makes one promo supplier stand out while others struggle to get noticed — even with a great product? In this powerhouse episode of Supplier Promo Playbook , co-hosts Lisa Fosdick and Adrienne Barker, MAS , are joined by Kimberly Miller Ballerene , founder of The Promo Playbook and a longtime force in the promotional products space. Together, they delve into the fundamentals of establishing a...

Thinking about selling to top promo distributors like HALO, Geiger, or Proforma? Wondering what buying groups or franchise networks expect from suppliers? In this must-listen episode of Supplier Promo Playbook , hosts Lisa Fosdick and Adrienne Barker , along with guest Kim , break down what it really takes to work with national distributor groups, buying networks, franchise systems, and enablement...

What happens when a successful consumer product tries to enter the promotional products space — and why do so many suppliers underestimate what it takes? 📝 In this kickoff episode of Supplier Promo Playbook , hosts Lisa Fosdick and Adrienne Barker, MAS pull back the curtain on what it really means to become a supplier in the promotional products industry. With real-life stories, decades of insigh...