Between 2 Brands Podcast

Buckle up because it’s time for Ep. 65 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In the Opening Shot, Bill talks about what one regional association is doing to completely flip the standard script on driving membership value – and it’s amazing. After that, he is joined by the Vice President of Sales of Charles River, Lindsey Davis. During a wide-ranging chat, they discuss working for family-owned companies, navigating the sale of a business and transitioning to working for the purchaser, and lessons in sales leadership. It’s a really engaging conversation and one that’s truly worth listening to. BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.

You know what time it is! That’s right, time to drop ep. 64 of the Between 2 Brands podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week in the Opening Shot, Bill shares some industry quick hits – and we do mean quick. Then he’s joined by the one and only Brittany David from SnugZ. They have a fantastic chat covering a wide range of topics including transitioning from service provider to supplier, her time on the PPAI board, and her thoughts on the demands put on suppliers during show season. Heck, there might even be a few references to Texas A&M and a Texas-themed rapid fire at the end! HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

You know it’s time for Ep. 63 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In the Opening Shot, Bill takes square aim at the meaning of “Made in the USA” as it relates to branded merchandise and where the value truly lies. After that, he is joined by Chelsea Williams from Spark Branded Solutions where they talk about what she looks for in building her team, the leadership qualities she emulates, and the value of having strict boundaries. This episode of Between Two Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!

If it’s a Friday in March, you know it’s time for a piping hot and oven fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! To kick off Ep. 58, Bill talks about how good it is to see the branded merchandise industry move away from isolationism and closer to community and why that’s a key for innovation. Then he is joined by his good friend and owner of PBJ Merch Co., Rich Patterson, all the way from Canada. That’s right, for this episode we are going fully international! They have a fantastic conversation about building a business north of the border, but needing to rely on partners in the USA and a really deep discussion about balancing personal and professional challenges, especially as parents age. It’s an important conversation and one we all need to have more often. Don’t worry, we finish up with a Van Halen “rapid fire.” HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!

Buckle up because it’s time for Ep. 61 of the Between 2 Brands podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In the Opening Shot, Bill talks about the shift from things to experiences by Gen Z and how that impacts the promotional products industry. After that, the energy REALLY amps as Bill is joined by JQ (Jenna Quaranta) from HPG Brands. In a very open, candid, and honest conversation, they talk about her journey, what motivates her, how she prepares when speaking, and the one piece of advice she would give distributor salespeople. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this one. BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.

It’s the first Friday of March which can mean only one thing: the Ninth Annual Powerhouse Women of Promo List! That’s right, Ep. 60 is completely dedicated to recognizing the truly incredible women that are shaping the branded merchandise space for generations to come. Join host Bill Petrie and special guest Kirby Hasseman as they celebrate the contributions of truly fantastic individuals, reveal the entire list, and share a little bit about the why of each selection. If you listen to only one Between 2 Brands episode this year (and we hope that’s not the case), this is the one. HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

It’s what’s known in the podcasting world as the “Triple F” – the Final Friday of February. When that happens, you know it’s time to drop a piping hot episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. To kick off ep. 59, Bill uses his “Opening Shot” to question the cult of In N Out Burger – a company that recently invaded his beloved town of Franklin, TN. After that, he’s joined by Tom Rauen from 1-800-Tshirts. During a fabulous conversation, they discuss his branded merchandise journey from his parent’s garage to where he is now, how he uses his restlessness to fuel innovation, why he’s not satisfied running one marathon in a day, and countless other topics. In fact, there’s BONUS CONTENT after the closing sponsor read, so definitely stay tuned for that! Truthfully, it’s a fabulous conversation and one we think you’ll enjoy. This episode of Between Two Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for an oven-fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. To start ep. 58, Bill steps on his soapbox during the opening shot to discuss the negative brand impact of the cumulative changes rolled out by Southwest Airlines in the past few years. After he gets that off his chest, he’s joined by Taylor Borst from American Solutions for Business where they have a winding conversation covering many topics including her industry journey, the changes she’s seen in her decade in branded merch, how distributors can get the most out of events, and managing travel while having a young family. It’s a fun and engaging conversation that we really think you’ll enjoy. HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!

It’s a very scary Friday the 13th, which means it’s time for Ep. 57 of the Between 2 Brands podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In this week’s Opening Shot, Bill does a quick lap around branded merch with a patented “Industry Roundup.” From there, he’s joined by Quinn Bui from N9ner Marketing where they talk about his journey, the shifts he’s seen in marketing and social media, living in a van full-time, and a thoughtful discussion on AI and the impact it has on the world of promotional products. BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for Ep. 56 of the Between 2 Brands podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In today’s Opening Shot, Bill aims his complaints squarely at the worst month of the year – February – and shares some strategies to making this month a little less painful. After he’s done moaning, Bill welcomes Josh Robbins from Vault Promotions and Promocations back to the podcast! During their conversation they chat about Promocations, the event coming up in October, why these events matter, and so much more. And, there might be some dueling rapid fires at the end of the podcast which you really don’t want to miss. HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

It’s the final Friday of January and time to drop Ep. 55 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast! Today your host – yes, it’s still Bill Petrie – talks about the impact of Icemageddon on the industry, his business, and his working habits. Once that bit of fun is over, Bill is joined by the Merch Girly herself, Savannah Dmytriw from Team SCG. During a fabulous conversation they talk about her entry in the promotional products industry, the development of Merch Girly, why the CoCreative Exchange (CCX) matters, and what she would like changed in the world of branded merchandise. This is an episode you don’t want to miss. This episode of Between Two Brands is brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, they are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!

If it’s the Friday before “Snomageddon 2026,” then you know it’s time to drop Ep. 54 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. This week during the Opening Shot, Bill shares what his PPAI Expo was like in terms of managing schedules as well as what the week truly means for the industry. Afterwards, Bill is joined by his friend and incoming PPAI Board Chair, Danny Rosin. In a conversation that weaves in and out of many topics including goals for his stewardship of the board, how he manages being pulled in several thousand different directions at once, the PPAI Strategic Plan, and the human connection our medium provides, they get real and honest while having a few laughs – especially during a surprise round of “would you rather” at the end. HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!

It’s the Friday after PPAI Expo and time for Ep. 53 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill’s “Opening Shot” talks about the January gauntlet that is the promotional products industry and whether it’s a good or rough way to start the year. After that, Bill is joined by a favorite returning guest, Nick Lateur of Merch.ai. They have an in-depth conversation about what’s changed in the past year, things they are proud of, the idea behind the infamous yellow track suit, and even record a special “Monday” post. This is truly an insightful conversation that you don’t want to miss. BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this rose-gold level broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.

It’s time for Ep. 52 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill’s uses his “Opening Shot” to chat about the industry gauntlet that is the first two weeks of January every year and, perhaps, a way to make it a bit easier for the road warriors out there! After that little preamble, Bill is joined by the President and CEO of PPAI, Drew Holmgreen. During a fantastic conversation, they talk about his first year on the job, getting ready for a new board chair, his love of PPEF, and, of course, they could NOT avoid discussing PPAI Expo as the industry heads to Las Vegas! HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

It’s time to drop the first Between 2 Brands episode of 2026! This week Bill shares his thoughts on goals for the coming year and a sneak peek of what he will share in his Introspective Candor blog coming Monday, January 5th. After that, he’s joined by current PPAI Board Chair and CEO of Fairware, Denise Tascherau and they talk all things service, sustainability, and advice she has for the incoming board chair, Danny Rosin. There are really some fantastic insights in this episode. This episode of Between 2 Brands is brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!

It’s the Friday after Christmas and time for Ep. 50 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill’s “Opening Shot” takes on the how much work needs to be done in the promotional products industry prior to the holidays to enjoy time off DURING the holidays. After that little preamble, Bill is joined by author, teacher, and speaker extraordinaire, David Rendall. They have a great conversation about making your weaknesses your strengths, how best to stand out, the way branded merchandise can help companies differentiate, and they even talk about their biggest speaking fails – and you really don’t want to miss that! BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this rose-gold level broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.

It’s time to drop Ep. 49 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares how the podcast has evolved in the past year and what his vision is for it moving forward. After that, he is joined by the one and only Mark Graham from commonsku and they have a truly deep conversation coving entrepreneurship, the efficacy of branded merchandise, and being a truly nice guy in a very competitive business. This is much more a conversation than an interview, and we are here for it – we think you will really dig it. HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

It’s Friday and time for Ep. 48 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill starts off the podcast with his “Opening Shot” where he takes on the absurdity of the Pantone Color of the Year. After that little preamble, Bill is joined by the “other” industry BP, Brian Porter from Starline! During a conversation that weaves back and forth, they talk about the importance of relationships, the rising event costs for suppliers, industry volunteerism, and a little college football roundtable. Trust us, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss. BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI. The schedule for Conference Day at PPAI Expo has officially dropped and you won’t believe the truly AMAZING speakers ready to help you level up your 2026! Check out the lineup at ppai.org/schedule!

It’s time to drop Ep. 47 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week Bill shares his thoughts on the potential end of social listening brought on by AI bots. After that, he’s joined by Lisa Bibb, the Executive Director of both GAPPP and VAPPA where they discuss her journey in the promotional products industry as well as have a robust chat about the regional association community. Plus, we can’t have Lisa on without taking a deep dive into the (in)famous Promotional Products Professionals page on Facebook. You really don’t want to miss this one! HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!

If it’s the blackest of all Fridays, then you know it’s time for Ep. 46 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares the things he’s grateful for from the perspective of a solopreneur before a Promo UPFront REUNION with the one and only, Kirby Hasseman. Without getting into specifics (you’ll have to listen), the topics are wide-ranging, insightful, and always have a dash of humor. Plus, there might be a little rapid fire at the end of the podcast. A BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.