Between 2 Brands Podcast

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.

It’s Friday and time for a VERY special edition of the Between 2 Brands #podast with Bill Petrie! Why is it special? We’re glad you silently asked – it’s special because today we are having a conversation with the soon-to-be retiring President and CEO of ASI, Tim Andrews. It’s a fantastic dialog where Tim reflects on his journey before working in the promotional products industry, lessons he’s learned, what has meant the most to him, and what will miss when he’s sipping on an Aperol Spritz in Positano this summer. Tim has left an indelible imprint on this industry, and this interview is one you truly don’t want to miss. This episode of Between 2 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 and time for Ep. 44 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares a peek behind the scenes about planning for the PromoCruise and the work it takes during the event to give it every chance to be a resounding success. After that little preamble, Bill is joined by Jill Stirnkorb from California Tattoos and she asks a bit about the “why” of Promocations and the reasons it matters before she is grilled with “Five Easy Questions” discussing joining a new company after 30 years, advice for maximizing networking events, and how sales in the promotional products industry has changed in the past several decades! BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI. NOW is the time to register for the SUPER BOWL of Promo – the PPAI EXPO! With over one million square feet of exhibit space, over 900 exhibiting suppliers, and unmatched networking opportunities, this is the one industry event you can’t afford to miss. Register today at ppai.org/expo!

It’s the first Friday of November which means it’s time for Ep. 43 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares his biggest concern about the proliferation of AI and how best to mitigate it. After that, he is joined by Matt Shucart of APS Promos where they talk about the Van Halen of merch, the bad karaoke of branding, and what piece of promo might best fit Ozzy Osbourne. Before long, Matt is subjected to five easy questions from Bill, and they get deep about what it’s like to take over for a family business and discuss why jam bands even exist. You don’t want to miss this episode. 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 Halloween AND time for a spooky episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! This week, Bill kicks off the podcast by talking about the increasing distrust management seem to have in the workplace and suggests a different approach based on results. After that, Bill is joined by Jon Norris from Hit Promotional Products where they discuss his industry journey, digital transformation, PromoStandards, PromoKitchen, and maybe even some Buffalo Bills talk! It’s a very candid conversation that everyone who cares about the future of our industry needs to listen to. BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI. NOW is the time to register for the SUPER BOWL of Promo – the PPAI EXPO! With over one million square feet of exhibit space, over 900 exhibiting suppliers, and unmatched networking opportunities, this is the one industry event you can’t afford to miss. Register today at ppai.org/expo!

If it’s Friday, then it’s time for a brand-new episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! To kick off Ep. 41, Bill talks about the fragility of cloud-based internet services in wake of the major outage this past week and bids a fond “adieu” to part of the world wide web that no longer exists. Afterwards, Bill welcomes the Chief Revenue and Experience Officer at PPAI, Ellen Tucker and, frankly, she takes over by holding back her questions for Bill until she responds to Bill’s queries. It’s a fun episode and there might even be a surprise “rapid fire!” A 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!

Oven-fresh and piping hot, it’s Ep. 40 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! To start the show, Bill shares his thoughts on the ASI Power 50 and, perhaps, offers an opinion or three about what seemed to be missing. After that, Bill is joined by Kara Keister from Social Good Promotions where they talk about being serial volunteers and the impact that has had on their careers before Bill asks Kara “Five Easy Questions.” They cover a lot of ground including why doing good in commerce matters, what she’s learned from being on the PPAI board, and how her husband bonded with Bill in Cabo. You really don’t want to miss this one! A BIG thanks to our friends 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 Friday, then you know it’s time for Ep. 39 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! This week, Bill talks about managing stress as a solopreneur before welcoming Danny Henderson of C&C Marketing. During their discussion, they discuss rebounding from losing a significant client, learning to go it on your own after being part of a family business, and why Whataburger is better than any fast-food the left coast has to offer. 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.

It’s the first Friday of October which means it’s time for a farm-fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares his thoughts on death of the ban on noncompete clauses and why companies need to start viewing them differently. Then, Bill is joined by the Promo CMO himself, RJ Hagel, where they talk about values in business and the merits of smoking meat for therapy. After that, Bill asks RJ “Five Easy Questions” where they delve deep into industry marketing – you don’t want to miss this one! A HUGE thanks to our friends over at PPAI for sponsoring this fine broadcast. NOW is the time to register for the SUPER BOWL of Promo – the PPAI EXPO! With over one million square feet of exhibit space, over 900 exhibiting suppliers, and unmatched networking opportunities, this is the one industry event you can’t afford to miss. Register today at ppai.org/expo!

It’s Friday and time for a very special and fun episode (37 if you’re keeping score at home) of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week Bill shares his thoughts about a huge lawsuit in the branded merchandise industry and the potential impact it has for service providers moving forward. After that bit of news, Bill welcomes his son, Mitch Petrie from RadioAlabama, to talk about what it means for an organization when there’s a sudden and unexpected change in leadership before Bill asks Mitch “Five Easy Questions” about building a brand, selling to different generations, and his transition from college student to a working man. A HUGE thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, and 5-Star and A+ service, you know you can BEL Promo that!

You KNOW it’s Friday when a hot, fresh, and made to order episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast drops. To kick off the show your host, Bill Petrie, talks about the retirement announcement of Tim Andrews from ASI and the legacy he leaves behind. After that, Bill is joined by a returning guest, Brittany Frase, now from MadeToOrder. During their banter, they discuss using AI in meetings and at tradeshows before Bill asks her, “Five Easy Questions” about her transition back to the distributor side, advice she would give anyone seeking to make a job change, and why the Houston Texans should lean into their brand of losing. You really don’t want to miss this episode! A BIG thanks to our friends 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!

Heck yes, it’s Friday and time for Ep. 35 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! At the top of the show, Bill talks about the BLISTERING start of the branded merchandise “silly season” including people on the move, what it means, and reverberations throughout the industry. After that, Bill welcomes Jason Nokes from PromoPulse where they talk about the need for better representation throughout the industry for business service providers and then launch into “Five Easy Questions.” Oh, and there just might be a surprise “Rapid Fire” at the end of the podcast. Okay, there IS one and you don’t want to miss it. 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 Friday and time for an international edition (Ep. 34) of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie delivered piping hot out of the broadcasting oven just for you! To kick things off, Bill talks about the need for better education using a really dumb post in the Promotional Products Pros Facebook group. Once that bit of complaining is out of the way, Bill welcomes Robert Williams all the way from Australia to the podcast where they talk about the cultural differences in the use of AI, the importance of collaboration over competition, and what being a volunteer firefighter has taught him about business. A HUGE thanks to the good strongs over at Seven Sourcing. When you're ready to elevate yourself from just a "promotional products distributor" to a true partner who delivers exactly what your clients crave – unique, custom-branded merchandise designed specifically for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.

If it’s the Friday before a long Labor Day weekend, then you know it’s time to drop Ep. 33 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill talks about the 2025 PPAI board slate and shares what he feels the board might be missing. After that, he welcomes Jessica Gibbons Rauch from PPAI where they talk about the shifting needs of education in the promotional products industry before Bill asks Jessica the questions most are afraid to ask, getting to the real truth during a lightning session of “Five Easy Questions.” You don’t want to sleep on this. HUGE thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this platinum-level broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

Served up hot and fresh just for you, it's Ep. 32 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. To kick off the show, Bill shares some very candid professional and personal thoughts about the retirement of HALO CEO, Marc Simon. Soon thereafter, Bill welcomes the CEO of eXtendTech, Dale Denham. Before launching into “Five Easy Questions,” they talk about what growth – and success – looks like for solopreneurs. Speaking of the “Five Easy Questions,” you really don’t want to miss out on the candid conversation about his time at PPAI, AI in promo, twin talk, and, just maybe, a surprise “rapid fire.” A BIG thanks to our friends at CoasterStone for sponsoring. 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 and we are already half-way through August, so why not drop a brand-new episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares a disappointing encounter with someone in the Promotional Products Professionals Facebook group and why we all need to have more grace with companies and individuals. Soon thereafter, Bill is joined by Eric Granata from PromoPilot where they discuss Bill’s bizarre fascination with weird snack food collabs and someone who truly inspired Bill at a very young age before Eric is subjected to “Five Easy Questions.” The conversation takes many twists and turns, which makes for one fun, unusual, and enlightening podcast. A GIANT thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast! 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.

If it’s Friday, then you know that means a white-hot episode of the Between 2 Brands #podccast with your host, Bill Petrie. For episode 30, we have something very special after Bill shares the ways branded merchandise pros have dramatically grown their businesses in the past three years. That something special? The dramatic return of Kirby Hasseman to dissect and discuss the ASI Top 40. The classics truly never go out of style. A HUGE thanks to our friends over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this reunion podcast. For over 90 years of family ownership, SHEPENCO has defined stability by working with every distributor to ensure that every project is a home run. Start your next project today by visiting shepenco.com!