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In this weekly podcast - available in both audio and video formats - industry thought leaders Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie share their unfiltered thoughts on the world of promotional products, sales, marketing, and branding with a heavy dose of reality and humor. Tune in every Friday at 7:00 AM Central!
That’s right, it’s Ep. 236 and the FINAL Promo UPFront #podcast…EVER! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie share the reasons why they decided to end their run – as well as their podcasting plans for the future, discuss one more Promotional Products Professionals post on Facebook that was anything but professional, Kirby surprises Bill with some questions that might surprise you, Bill rounds up one last “rapid fire” so he can tell Kirby he’s wrong, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring. When you’re ready to show your clients something more – like merchandise that’s thoughtfully curated for their unique brand – email Russ Mogell and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.
It’s Ep. 235 and the first episode of the Promo UPFront #podcast in 2025! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the education available at PPAI Expo, discuss the 2024 most overrated marketing trends according to CMO’s, grade Netflix on their NFL broadcast debut, bring back “rapid fire” with a battle of restaurant chains you might frequent when you travel, and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends over at Artwork Services USA (AWS). If you’re looking for a trusted partner that will transform your business in 2025, look no further than AWS. Heck, you can even visit with them in person at PPAI Expo by heading to booth 2754!
It’s time for Ep. 234 of the Promo UPFront #podcast and it’s also the final episode of the year! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the biggest stories of 2024, share end of the year book recommendations, applaud a fantastic feel-good story from Kaeser & Blair, discuss planning big events around big games, and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our pals over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. They have something HUGE in the works and can’t wait to share with all the promo world on January 15, 2025. If it’s from BEL Promo, you know it’s going to be amazing!
It’s the final Friday before the holidays so you know it’s time to drop Ep. 233 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the hiring of Drew Holmgren as the new President and CEO of PPAI, ASI shares the 2024 Product of the Year, Knoss Apparel announces that it will close by the end of the year, and they share some “Santa Dad Jokes” to get everyone in the holiday spirit!
A HUGE thanks to our friends over at PPAI for sponsoring this award-winning podcast! If you don’t want “promo fomo,” there is still time to register for the PPAI Expo. Head over to ppai.org/expo and get registered today!
If it’s Friday, then it’s time to drop Ep. 232 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the Pantone Color of the Year and the surrounding hoopla on the annual reveal, the efficacy of Amazon getting into the automobile sales business, KFC “rocks” a new promotion on their famous chicken bucket, Kirby gets quizzed on how long he could survive only drinking certain beverages, and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends at ArtworkServicesUSA (AWS). For 24 years, AWS has been the trusted industry partner for complete back-office and innovative technology solutions. They are ready to help you transform your business in 2025 – visit them at booth 2754 at PPAI Expo or head over to artworkservicesusa.com to learn more!
Baby, it’s cold outside which means it’s time to drop Ep. 231 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the big move at American Solutions for Business which kicks off the BMSS (Branded Merch Silly Season) and make some predictions for what might be announced in the coming weeks, discuss an interesting Australian law that will ban social media access for children under 16, applaud Virgin’s use of AI to combat scammers, opine on what to do when a rebrand falls flat (we’re looking at you, Jaguar), and so much more!
GIANT thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast! When you’re looking to turn your next idea into something truly iconic for your brand, look no further than the team at Seven Sourcing as they completely demystify the direct overseas sourcing process. Email them at sales@sevensourcing.com today!
It’s the blackest of all Friday’s, so you know it’s time to drop Ep. 230 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about weird email habits that need to stop immediately, Hasseman Marketing celebrates 20 years in business, people are up in arms about an orange juice packaging redesign, Bill and Kirby share things they are thankful for in the branded merchandise industry, and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends over at Shepenco for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast! For over 90 years – and four generations – they have been the pillar of stability in the industry by caring about your success. Visit them at shepenco.com today!
It’s the last Friday before Thanksgiving, so you know it’s time to drop Ep. 229 of the Promo UPFront #podcast. This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the proposed tariffs by the president-elect and how to manage potential pricing implications with your clients, share some practical tips for advance planning with PPAI Expo on the horizon, discuss how one social media platform is allowing users to reset their algorithms to better tailor feeds, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to the good-strongs over at PPAI for sponsoring this fine broadcast! Don’t forget to make plans to attend the 2025 edition of “The Pitch” taking place Monday, January 13 at 3:30 PM PT in Mandalay Ballroom J!
It’s the Ides of November and absolutely time to drop Ep. 228 of the Promo UPFront #podcast. This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about how to best maximize your most important piece of digital real estate, why one might attend one large industry trade show in January over another, the biggest heart in the industry makes a huge impact on hurricane relief, a toy manufacturer has a “wicked” marketing problem, the return of rapid fire, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our pals over at Logo Mats for sponsoring this fine broadcast. NOW is the time to speak with your clients about utilizing bold, bright, and colorful winter floor mats for the coming season. Visit Logo Mats at logomatsllc.com to see all the amazing options!
You know it’s Friday when a fresh-from-the-oven episode of the Promo UPFront #podcast is delivered piping hot direct to you! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the recent branded merchandise recall involving HALO and how it’s a blueprint for handling similar situations, the impact of a potential breakup of Google forced by the U.S. Department of Justice, specific rules outlined for passenger compensation when air travel goes awry, a ridiculous study paid for by your tax dollars regarding large passenger vehicles, and so much more
A HUGE thanks to our good friends over at ArtworkServicesUSA for sponsoring this fine broadcast. AWS builds websites that skyrocket your conversion rates as evidenced by their 2024 gold pyramid award. Schedule your free demo to ensure your website works FOR you in 2025 by visiting artworkservicesusa.com today!
It’s the first Friday of November which means it’s absolutely time for Ep. 226 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! Today hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie handicap the potential candidates for the next President & CEO of PPAI, Chilis creates sales through some marketing genius (and what we can learn from it), Kirby gives some fantastic advice for following-up after an end-user show, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast! When you’re looking for a trusted partner that will not only demystify custom direct importing but help you turn your client’s brand into something truly iconic, email Russ Mogell and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com!
It’s Friday which means it’s time for Ep. 225 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! Today hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the disparity in spending on election promo, missed merch opportunities at tourist attractions, ways to remove friction (both internally and externally) to help fuel growth, the efficacy of flying cars, and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends over at Logo Mats for sponsoring this world-class broadcast! When your client needs point-of-purchase floor mats that are bright, bold, and durable, visit logomatsllc.com to see all their amazing product offerings!
If it’s Friday, then you know it’s time to drop a brand-new episode of the Promo UPFront #podcast! For Ep. 224, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie dissect the ASI Power 50 list, discuss the credit card processing fees charged by suppliers, ponder if putting more resources into print make good business sense, opine on whether rebranding a product truly impacts sales, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our pals at PPAI for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you register for the PPAI Expo in January, make sure you sign up for the LEGENDARY PPAI Expo party! Until December 5, 2024, your cost is only $50 so snag your ticket for the best networking at PPAI Expo!
You bet it’s time for Ep. 223 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie wish an industry icon and friend, Paul Kiewiet, Godspeed as he approaches retirement, share some strategies to ensure you have an amazingly profitable fourth quarter of 2024, opine on the value of Home Depot forcing management to spend a day working in the retail stores once per quarter, more fun in the Promotional Products Professionals Facebook page, share a TRUE Marketing Genius of the Week, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at AWS. For 24 year they have helped both suppliers and distributors reach new heights through innovative technology-driven solutions and virtual assistant programs. To learn how AWS can dramatically help your business grow, visit them at artworkservicesusa.com today!
Of course, it’s time for Ep. 222 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss PPAI’s Leadership Development Conference event in Dallas and share some key takeaways, applaud the promo do-gooders who are helping folks in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, ponder about how and what to communicate to clients in relation to the longshoreman’s strike, share their thoughts on Pink Floyd selling their music catalog (as well as band name and likenesses) to Sony, the return of “Party in the Back,” and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to Russ Mogell and his team at Seven Sourcing. When you’re looking to take your idea and turn into something iconic for your client’s brand with fully custom merchandise, email them at sales@sevensourcing.com!
Heck yes, it’s time for Ep. 221 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie share some thoughts on the purchase of AIA by iPROMOTEu, how each would approach fixing Tupperware after their recent Chapter 11 filing, discuss board leadership shift taking place at PPAI, have a giggle (or two) at an Australian ad campaign to help people overcome “poo paranoia,” and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine podcast! When it comes to lowest minimums, the deepest inventory, 5-Star and A+ service, and simplified pricing…yeah, you can BEL Promo that! Visit them over at belpromo.com!
You bet your sweet bippy it’s time for Ep. 220 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week the original good-time player-men (Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie) talk about the Koozie Group/Tervis partnership and how it may impact the promotional products industry, share some trends for CMOs, dig deep into a fascinating Return to Office study, ponder why a formerly secret government agency would launch a public podcast to recruit talent, hope that new podcast deals result in a mega-payday, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends over at Logo Mats for sponsoring this fine broadcast. NOW is the time to get your clients “winter ready” with mats that will help keep facilities clean and safe while showcasing a brand. Head over to logomatsllc.com to see all the fabulous mats – all made in the USA – today!
Heck yes, it’s time for Ep. 219 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about valuing self when sharing services, discuss an interesting study showing people are increasingly feeling ignored by advertisers, debate whether an iconic company should go through with their rebranding plans, ponder the ramifications of the tipping culture entering the world of collegiate athletics, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to PPAI for sponsoring this fine broadcast! NOW is the time to register for the amazing PPAI Expo! Taking place January 13 – 16, 2025, there is no better way to start your year than by attending the premier show in the promotional products industry. Head over to ppai.org/expo to register today!
You KNOW it’s time for Ep. 218 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie share strategies to disconnect and maintain mental health, discuss the importance of resurrecting the concept of boredom, laugh at the silliness of the viral TikTok trend of essentially robbing a bank using your own account, Kirby blind ranks the top five foods to eat while watching football, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing. With over 25 years of experience, they completely demystify direct custom overseas sourcing and helps you turn your next idea into a truly iconic brand. Shoot them an email at sales@sevensourcing.com to get started today!
It’s 5150 time which means we are dropping Ep. 217 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about reviewing how PPAI manages elections to the board, the efficacy of a musical “artist” securing the naming rights to a college football stadium, share strategies on how to handle a nightmare order, Bill interviews Kirby about the new book he wrote with his dad, and so much more!
A big thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. They are running a free freight/free setup special on four of their most popular writing instruments – simply head over to shepenco.com and click on the “specials” tab for all the details!
Time for Ep. 216 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the dynamic duo discuss overcoming digital marketing fatigue, invasive hotel room searches for conferences, whether glass cases protecting items from theft at stores creates consumer friction, a deep dive into who would win the bizarre competitions on “The Ocho,” and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our pals at Hirsch for sponsoring this fine broadcast! They are the perfect combination of quality, innovation, and credibility! Check them out at hirschpromo.com!
If it’s Friday, you know it’s time to drop Ep. 215 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie! This week the promo pair dig deep into the amazing ASI End-Buyer survey, discuss whether tradeshows should take place over a weekend, finally debate whether cold calling is alive and well or as dead as the dodo, and so much more – you can’t even imagine how much more.
A BIG thanks to our friends over at Logo Mats for sponsoring this fine broadcast! For 20 years, Logo Mats has provided a thankful industry of indoor, outdoor, and point of purchase mats that are bold, bright, durable, and made right here in the USA! Visit them at logomatsllc.com today!
Friday mornings mean one thing and one thing only: time for a brand new, oven-fresh episode of the Promo UPFront #podcast! For Ep. 214, hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss the surprising acquisition of alphabroder by S&S Activewear and what it may mean for the industry, Elon Musk wages war (and files lawsuits) on potential advertisers, the myth of “made in China” meaning inferior merch, promo superstar Mandi Rudd launches an amazing project outside the branded merchandise space, dissecting an article suggesting the four things high performers do every Friday, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our pals at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast! When you’re looking to demystify custom merchandise sourcing, hit up Russ Mogell and the experts at Seven Sourcing. You can email them at sales@sevensourcing.com and turn your client idea into truly iconic merchandise for your clients.
You know it’s time for ep. 213 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the perfect marriage of Sweeter Cards and Maple Ridge Farms, the branding implications of Southwest Airlines moving away from open seating, the backlash for Google’s “Gemini” commercial, the short and long-term efficacy of marketing clickbait, the “Marketing Genius of the Week,” and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends at Certified Marketing Consultants for sponsoring this fine broadcast! Whether your looking to grow by acquisition, understand the value of your business, or someone to help you navigate the sale of your organization, the expert team at Certified Marketing Consultants is poised to help! Email them at info@certifiedmarketing.com today!
Of COURSE it’s time for ep. 212 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie review Bill’s experience at the ASI Show and the Counselor Awards, more silliness in the Promotional Products Professionals Facebook page, whether educational webinars are impactful, the overreach of the International Olympic Committee when it comes to enforcing fake merch, the “Marketing Genius of the Week,” and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our good friends at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast! When it comes to the lowest minimums in the industry, the deepest inventory, 5 star and A+ service, and simplified pricing, yeah, you can BEL Promo that! Visit them at belpromo.com.
You know it’s Friday when Ep. 211 of the Promo UPFront #podcast with Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie drops! This week the dynamic duo talk about the big news of Dale Denham departing PPAI, Sticker Mule mixes business with politics and has predictable results, Greece considers a six-day work week to grow the economy, the intended and unintended impact of Amazon’s Prime Day, Bill asks Kirby for advice on things to do in Chicago, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our good friends at Hirsch for sponsoring this fine broadcast! As one of the most forward-thinking organizations in the industry, Hirsch continues to innovate with the introduction of their ColorMAX decoration on the three top selling JBL speakers and the debut of tasc performance activewear in the promotional products industry. Visit them at hirschpromo.com or, if you’re in Chicago, booth 1248.
If it’s Friday (and it is), then you know it’s time for Ep. 210 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss how the dichotomy of the current economic perception and whether you should discuss it with your clients, the efficacy of Netflix turning vacant department stores into entertainment centers, share strategies for selling through a sales slump caused by uncertainty, review the most effective TV ads so far in 2024 and what, if any, lessons can be gleaned from that information, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends at Logo Mats! If you’re headed to ASI Chicago, stop by booth 1113 to see all the transformative merchandise made right here in the USA – including several new products your clients will love!
Even though it’s a holiday weekend, it’s time for Ep. 209 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the new PPAI website and a missed opportunity, lessons from communication failures, Bill shares a little about his first vacation in a decade, HIT Promotional Products makes a HUGE hire, advice for getting back into work-mode after a vacation, and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking to turn your next client idea into something that becomes truly iconic, reach out to the team at Seven Sourcing at sales@sevensourcing.com.
You darn well know it’s time for Ep. 208 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about industry media and the difference of reporting news and creating conversations, the inherent friction of updating phone apps, wonder if we are in a “promotion recession,” discuss a MASSIVE sports retirement, bring back rapid fire, and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends over a Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast! With four generations of family ownership over 91 years, Shepenco defines stability in an era of change. Head over to shepenco.com today!
You know it’s time for Ep. 207 of the PromoUPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie celebrate officially eclipsing the amount of episodes of unScripted by listening to congratulatory messages from some VERY important Americans, talk about obscene room charges from hotels and how one clever supplier avoided them, discuss “telephoneaphobia” for people under the age of 40, debate the merits of a bill in New York State that would restrict children’s access to social media, and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our sponsor in BamBams who continue to change the game by working smarter, better, and faster to better serve distributors. Check them out at bambams.com!
Oh yes, it’s time for Ep. 206 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie discuss how suppliers can better support the marketing efforts of multi-line reps, Apple’s ingeniously simple way to reduce burnout, talk about the lessons learned from Bill’s recent health scare and diagnosis, how entrepreneurs can plan a vacation where they can fully unplug, play a vacation-themed rapid fire, and so much more!
A BIG thanks to our friends at Logo Mats for sponsoring today! They want to celebrate their appearance (#53 if you’re scoring at home) on the PPAI 100 by giving you 10% off on your next mat order. Simply use the code “Promo UPFront” on your next PO!
It’s Fri-yay and time for Ep. 205 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the efficacy of instituting “Friday Hours” over the summer, the difference of making purchases on a small vs. big screen, dive into Dr Pepper eclipsing Pepsi as the number two soft drink by way of a case study in branding, opine on why so many big music acts are canceling tours, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast! When you’re looking to turn your next idea into an iconic brand with custom sourced merchandise, look no further than Seven Sourcing. Email them at sales@sevensourcing.com.
Buckle up, buttercup, because it’s time for Ep. 204 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie tackle the GQ opinion piece on what they call, “the end of merch,” discuss international perspectives on the U.S. promotional products industry, ponder the future with S&S Activewear deploying robots in distribution centers, opine on the Indy 500 banning political branding on cars, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our friends over at Shepenco for sponsoring this fine broadcast! As a fourth-generation family-owned business, Shepenco defines stability. Check out shepenco.com for your next writing instrument project!
It’s time for Ep. 203 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie take a deep dive into PPAI 100 lists, take a critical look at the recruiting practices in the industry, ponder how to create a world record in promo, shed some light on micro advertising campaigns, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our pals over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When a client asks you if you can create branded merchandise that’s available, cost-effective, and magical, feel confident in saying, “Yes! I can BEL Promo that!"
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 202 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the importance of PPAI L.E.A.D and what it’s like to advocate for the promotional products industry, discuss how Gemline has rebranded as a “public benefit corporation,” chat about how the NFL is going deeper into the world of streamed content, ponder whether a legendary metal band has tarnished their brand due to continual drama, and so much more!
A HUGE thanks to our pals at BamBams who are ALWAYS changing the game. How about no set-up charges for variable data as an example? Head over to bambams.com to see this and other ways BamBams is always changing the game!
It’s Friday and time for Ep. 201 of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie talk about the ASI and PRINTING United Alliance merger, discuss the importance of understanding that you’re not for everyone, take a deep dive into the rebranding of Boy Scouts of America which leads into a thoughtful conversation about how focusing on inclusion can result in a win for everyone, and so much more!
A big thanks to our sponsor, Logo Mats! For 20 years, Logo Mats has been creating indoor, outdoor, and point of purchase mats that are bold, bright, durable, and made right here in the USA. Visit them at logomatsllc.com.
It’s Friday and time for a VERY SPECIAL edition of the Promo UPFront #podcast! This week hosts Kirby Hasseman and Bill Petrie recorded the 200th episode of this very podcast! In a first, they interview each other and ask five questions that they’ve never asked before! This is one interview you don’t want to miss!
A big thanks to our sponsor in Seven Sourcing. When you're ready to help turn a great idea into something truly iconic for your client's brand, email Russ Mogell and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.