The case for patience in a world addicted to constant tinkering. Last week, I spent a few days ice fishing in Minnesota with industry friends. We laughed and bonded while trying to catch pike, bass, and the elusive walleye. On the plane ride home, my mind drifted to thoughts about marketing and branding, as it often does, and I realized the parallels between marketing and ice fishing. It may seem like a stretch, but stick with me for a moment. Ice fishing looks calm, quiet, 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! 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 painf

Ownership isn't a title; it's the ability to create more value than you consume. Before diving into definitions of value, let's consider a fundamental belief: Ownership is not just about holding a title; it's about creating more value than you consume. Most people talk about 'value' in business as if it’s a warm, abstract concept. But the real issue is simpler and more important: the difference between negative value and surplus value. Phrases like 'value add' and 'we provide

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! It’s the final Friday of January and time to drop Ep. 55 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast! To

What winter panic shopping teaches us about marketing. If you live in the South as I do and there’s even a whisper of winter weather in the forecast, you already know what’s coming: grocery stores become Thunderdomes as milk, bread, and eggs vanish faster than my patented “Irish Goodbye” at Eye Candy during PPAI Expo. People who normally smile suddenly lose all regard for personal space and basic human decency. While the forecast is a bit daunting, with a mix of ice, sleet, a

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 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 wha

Relevance isn't about trends; it's about value, clarity, and results. The promotional products industry is a few days removed from the hustle and excitement of the PPAI Expo, and the air is still buzzing with inspiration and ideas. You're carrying a tote filled with business cards, colorful brochures, and maybe a little swag, but most importantly, your mind is racing with possibilities. It's time to channel that energy into actionable insights. Regardless of what we do for a

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 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

If you want to grow and stay relevant, this is where it starts. In the branded merchandise space, today is one of the most critical days, and not because there will be an announcement of the next mega-merger between suppliers. On January 12, 2026, you will have the most significant opportunity to grow your business for the next 12 months if you are in Las Vegas for the PPAI Expo for one simple fact: it’s Conference Day (formerly known as “Education Day"). While there will be

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 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