Collab Connection

Food has an unusual ability to make people slow down, gather, connect and remember. And some of the world’s smartest brands are paying attention.In this episode of Collab Connection, Jay Busselle and Lauren Esser are joined by Jodie Schillinger, Executive Vice President of Maple Ridge Farms, to explore what food, hospitality and café culture can teach the branded merch industry about creating better brand experiences.From Ralph Lauren cafés and unexpected brand collaborations to trade shows, food gifting and shared experiences, the conversation keeps coming back to one idea:The experience creates the memory. Merch gives people something to carry forward.Jodie also challenges us to think beyond products, price points and “activations” for the sake of activations. What are we inviting people into? What will make them want to stay? How do we want them to feel? And what will they remember when the moment is over?Along the way, Jay, Lauren and Jodie explore food as a universal language, the power of hospitality, why shared experiences matter in an increasingly digital world, and how food + merch can work together to create deeper brand connection.If you work in branded merchandise, promotional products, experiential marketing, events, gifting or brand strategy, this conversation may change the way you think about what we actually sell.#CollabConnection #BrandedMerch #BrandExperience #ExperientialMarketing #FoodGifting #BrandCollaboration #MapleRidgeFarms

The FIFA World Cup isn't just the biggest sporting event in the world. It's one of the greatest branding masterclasses ever created. In this episode of Collab Connection, Jay Busselle and Lauren Esser explore how brands like Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Nike create emotional connections that go far beyond logos and sponsorships. Joined by Jenna Sackett, Brand Experience Manager at STAHLS', they unpack what makes great collaborations memorable and how promotional products, apparel decorators, and marketers can apply those lessons to their own clients. Discussion points:Why the World Cup is a global branding phenomenonWhat makes the Adidas × Coca-Cola collaboration so effectiveHow Nike turns customers into participants, not just buyersWhy heritage and nostalgia are powerful marketing toolsHow customization creates stronger emotional connectionsPractical ideas for promotional products, corporate events, and branded merchandiseWhether you're a marketer, brand strategist, decorator, promotional products distributor, or simply fascinated by great brand experiences, this episode is packed with ideas you can put into practice.Subscribe for more conversations on branding, collaboration, and the future of merch.#BrandMarketing #WorldCup #Nike #Adidas #PromotionalProducts #BrandStrategy #ExperientialMarketing #Merchandise #Customization #CollabConnection

What happens when merch stops being a giveaway… and starts becoming part of someone’s identity? In this episode of The Collab Connection, Jay and Lauren sit down with Kylee Chun, founder of Klean Studios. Kylee helped plan BELLA + CANVAS’ immersive Coachella activation — where festival merch became a fully customizable experience. She was onsite and overseeing the execution in the merch tent... or was it a merch museum? From vintage Coachella throwback designs and live heat pressing to fan psychology, exclusivity, nostalgia, and the rise of experiential branding, this conversation dives deep into why people no longer want generic swag. They want connection! Inside this episode:How BELLA + CANVAS created a “museum of merch” at CoachellaWhy customization creates emotional ownershipThe surprising rise of vintage-inspired merch and oversized fitsWhy fans waited HOURS for limited piecesHow brands can bring experiential merch into corporate eventsWhat the World Cup, sports culture, and music festivals teach us about fandomWhy the future of branded merch is meaning, not more products Featuring:– Kylee Chun, Founder of Klean Studios– Jay Busselle, Branded Merch Network – Lauren Esser, SmithPro. If you’re in branding, merch, experiential marketing, apparel, or events — this episode is packed with insights you’ll want to steal.

Most brand collaborations are built for visibility. This one was built for participation! In this episode of Collab Connection, we break down why the Formula 1 × LEGO collab actually works, and what the promo, apparel, and merch world can learn from it.From LEGO parade cars to fan experiences at race weekends, this isn’t about selling products. It’s about creating moments people want to be part of.Because today, the question isn’t: “Did people see it?” It’s: “How did they experience it?”Uploaded on Mar 30, 2026

In Episode 2 of Collab Connection, Jay and Lauren unpack one of the most iconic partnerships in modern apparel—Ralph Lauren × Team USA. Joined by Jeremy Picker of AMB3R Creative, they explore how heritage, identity, and emotional storytelling transform Olympic uniforms into symbols of pride and belonging. This isn’t just about style; it’s about what the promotional marketing and branded merch world can learn from a collaboration that feels earned, intentional, and deeply connected to culture.