NEPPA Presents: AI Strategies for Promo Professionals

Beyond the Hype Real World AI Strategies for Promo ProfessionalsRecorded 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 was not a conversation about futuristic theory. It was a practical, honest look at how real promo professionals use AI tools every day to save time, streamline workflows, reduce friction, strengthen customer relationships, and stay competitive in an increasingly automated world.Panelists included Brittany Godsey of Gold Bond, Jason Ortega of Charles River Apparel, Hallie Moore of PromoCorner and Bay State, and Javier Menendez of Walker Clay. The panel was moderated by Emily Codner of I Promote You and Abby Burke of Walker Clay.The conversation dives into: → AI tools for sales, prospecting, and CRM automation. → How suppliers are using AI to reduce operational bottlenecks. → AI meeting note takers and workflow automation. → Social media content creation and maintaining an authentic brand voice. → AI safety, hallucinations, and cybersecurity concerns. → The future of AI sales agents in the promo industry. → Why human relationships still matter more than ever.One major takeaway from the panel was this: AI is not replacing strong promo professionals. It is helping them eliminate repetitive tasks so they can spend more time building relationships, creating strategy, and delivering better client experiences.The panelists also explored how quickly AI is evolving and why professionals who learn to adapt early will have a major advantage over those who ignore it.Whether you are a distributor, supplier, marketer, or sales professional, this episode offers practical ideas you can start using immediately.Key Takeaways→ AI can dramatically reduce administrative workload and speed up workflows.→ Meeting transcription and AI note takers are becoming one of the easiest entry points into AI adoption.→ AI works best when combined with human oversight, strategy, and relationship building.→ Sales teams are already using AI for prospect research, meeting preparation, and customer insights.→ The future of the promo industry will belong to professionals who combine technology with authentic human connection.Featured AI Platforms Mentioned→ ChatGPT → Claude → Fireflies.ai → NotebookLM → Microsoft Copilot → Gemini → ReplitConnect with the PanelistsBrittany Godsey Gold BondJason Ortega Charles River ApparelHallie Moore PromoCorner & Bay StateJavier Menendez Walker ClayListen and SubscribeConnect with NEPPA on their website https://neppa.com/If you enjoyed this episode of The Promo Playbook, be sure to subscribe, share with your promo industry peers, and stay ahead of the curve as AI continues reshaping the future of branded merchandise and business strategy.