Advertising Specialty Institute

Aly Banholzer and Marshall Atkinson of ShirtLab talk about why artificial intelligence is a competitive advantage for the decorated apparel and branded merch industries.

Alissa Succi of Counselor Top 40 supplier Koozie Group (asi/40480) shares valuable insights gleaned over nearly 30 years in the promo industry.

The client experience executive for Score Promotions (asi/321353) shares how he went from a teenage warehouse worker for a distributor to a trusted partner for Fortune 500 companies.

ASI’s Michele Bell and Nate Kucsma take a deep dive into key insights on the international market from the 2026 Ad Impressions Study.

Today’s end-buyers are looking for more than just logos on a product: they’re looking for a full branding service that fits into their overall marketing strategy. On today’s podcast, Lizz Riedy, content marketing specialist at STAHLS' (asi/88984) explains how to speak to that need and how to adopt the “merchandiser mindset” needed to secure orders. Spoiler alert: It’s a lot easier than you think.

Proforma CEO Vera Muzzillo and Chief Strategy Officer Michael Roney discuss how one of the biggest distributor deals in promotional products history came together and why Safeguard was such a strong fit for the Counselor Top 40 distributor.

Lisa Hu, the founder of Lux & Nyx (asi/88973), shares her journey from a career in corporate finance to the CEO of her own brand, with product in both promo and high-end department stores – plus, what it means to her to sell work bags designed by women, for women.

Mark Pomerantz of SalesWisdom shares his tips on how to build a better sales program.

The CEO of PromoDirect discusses the company's growth from print catalogs to a full-service distributor for the digital age

Counselor’s Sara Lavenduski and Hannah Rosenberger discuss three important takeaways from the new data and what it means for promo companies doing business in Canada.

Walter Miska, new brand president of Counselor Top 40 distributor Fully Promoted (asi/384000) and Andrew Titus, president of United Franchise Group (UFG), discuss their vision for the franchise following some key leadership shakeups.

Dilip Bhavnani, chief operating officer at Counselor Top 40 supplier Sunscope, discusses the War in Iran and its impact on promo.

Counselor editors chat with leaders at three of the companies on the 2026 list to determine what makes them such great places to work.

The CEO of Red Swag made what could've been a dull job something memorable using print and promo.

Michelle Chen of Fossa Apparel (asi/55141) discusses macro forces affecting sourcing and the supply chain, and how she and her team stay in step with consumer and retail trends.

Julie Schneiderman of EcoStiks talks about sustainable merch, a new spin on brand activations, the “Skip the Lid, Savor the Moment” movement and more.

The VP of Swag at Radar Promotions discusses how she and her team can offer (almost) anything a campaign might require.

As he embarks on his new role, Mittal shares why ASI’s culture stands out, where he sees opportunity in a complex supply chain and how technology – especially AI – can help unify the promo ecosystem.

ASI’s Nate Kucsma and Hannah Rosenberger dive into the key findings from the just-released 2026 Ad Impressions Study, which highlights the continued effectiveness and impact of promotional products.

Andrew Kelly of Overture Promotions and Laura Smith of Storm Creek share their reactions to the study that measures promo’s carbon impact against other advertising mediums and discuss what the industry must do to keep the positive momentum going.

Lutz discusses how he found his place in print and promo and grew his brand's niche.

The Counselor editors recap all the highlights from ASI’s signature southwest trade show.

Ashley Roberts, content director of Printing Impressions, talks about some of the biggest trends in commercial printing right now and how promo distributors can leverage opportunities in the space.

Jimmy Bryant talks about how he launched his nature-inspired apparel and accessories brand that’s sold in every REI store across the country.

Counselor editors taste-test fun snacks and discuss sales ideas for spring and summer campaigns.

Compass Industries President Mike Levy joins Promo Insiders to discuss how the third-generation family business built its product niche and how it tackles industry relationship-building today, both with retail manufacturers and promo distributors.

Christy and Brian Floriani, owners of BUKU Branded, talk about why they’ve chosen to devote 100% of the net profits from their distributorship to advancing literacy in America.

Liz Haesler, chief merchandising officer at PCNA and a member of the ASI Promo for the Planet advisory board, says that buyers are no longer asking why sustainability matters and instead want specific proof points and verified impact data.

Nick Friedman, co-founder of multimillion dollar moving company College Hunks Hauling Junk and the keynote speaker at ASI Fort Worth 2026, explains how building trust helps his company stand out in a crowded market.

Have you ever thought about decorating with patches and emblems, but weren’t sure where to start? Consider this podcast your crash course on how to get started. Today we’re joined by Lizz Riedy, Content Marketing Specialist at STAHLS' (asi/88984), who’s explaining everything you need to know. We’ll cover new and trending patch and emblem styles, popular products to decorate and explain how simple it is to start doing – even if you never have before.

The owner of WHOOPLA (asi/522701) explains how the distributor brought print into the fold and how it executes creative kit ideas for customers.

ASI Media’s Sara Lavenduski and Tara Lerman talk about the current situation with the levies and how trade relations with the U.S. have shifted in recent months.

Tej Shah, CEO of Counselor Top 40 distributor Overture Promotions, explains how hyper-focusing on client needs and challenges can be the key to building a thriving promo brand.

Co-hosts Cassie Green and Theresa Hegel chat with Elisa Pavan about the Italian headwear brand and the importance of incorporating sustainable practices at every stage of production.

The Counselor Top 40 supplier recently acquired Confection 360, and Stier explains how its high-speed etching process is expanding the company’s offerings.

The national sales manager for Canadian distributor Logic Group traces his history in print and promo and his company's full suite of services

ASI Media’s Sara Lavenduski and Hannah Rosenberger reflect on three energetic days in sunny Florida that kicked off a new year of sales.

Co-hosts Theresa Hegel and Cassie Green talk about working with industry suppliers and decorators to create custom podcast merch, welcoming Jeremy Morillo of Stanley/Stella for a discussion about the sustainable apparel company.

ASI Media’s editors forecast the year in promo, from tariffs to AI to their prediction for Product of the Year.

Kate Vanmarum, sales representative for The Promo Addict Inc., discusses finding the right (literal) flavor profile for a campaign and pairing it with creative packaging.

Sterling McKinley of Clarity AI Solutions, a speaker at the upcoming ASI Show in Orlando, discusses AI’s capabilities as a powerful and essential assistant for small and medium businesses.

The owner of Full Throttle Marketing Powered by Proforma says the best thing a distributor can be for a client is a pain reliever.

Personalized accessories – Counselor’s 2025 Product of the Year – have made waves by turning promo’s smallest items into major vessels for personal expression and brand engagement. Tommy Gomez, senior director of creative strategy at Brilliant (asi/), joins Promo Insiders to talk through the trend and why it’s made such an impact.

Lindsay Hampson of ThisRock explains why sustainability is a must-have for promotional products distributors of all sizes and how taking simple steps to measure and mitigate environmental impact can help to save money and increase business.

Proctor, the keynote speaker at ASI Orlando in January, offers her top tips for brand relevance and connecting to target audiences in a crowded marketplace.

Jay Busselle and Jeff Solomon of Branded Merch Network visit the show to look back on the inaugural summit and share a sneak peek of what’s planned for next year.

In this episode of Promo Insiders, international trade and policy expert Babak Hafezi discusses modern supply chain challenges, the recent Supreme Court case on tariffs and what the future of trade could mean for promo.

Lauren Davis and Sean Doherty of Box Genie explain the emotional impact of a well-designed unboxing experience and explore some current trends in packaging.

In this episode of Promo Insiders, ASI Media editors break down some of their favorite “merch in the wild” stories of the past few weeks.

The president of GBS BrandConnect traces his career from print beginnings to full-service present.