NEPPA Presents: AI Strategies for Promo Professionals

Wildgrain Enters Promo With Fresh Ideas

What happens when a fast growing direct to consumer food brand steps into the promotional products industry? You get a conversation packed with innovation, logistics, personalization, and a whole lot of fresh baked strategy. In this episode of The Supplier Promo Playbook, hosts Adrienne Barker, Lisa Fosdick, and Kim Ballerene sit down with Alli Klein of Wildgrain to talk about bringing artisan frozen to oven baked goods into the promo space. From croissants and sourdough to gluten free and vegan options, Wildgrain is changing the way distributors think about gifting, food, and customer experience. Alli shares her background in the promo industry, including years working with retail bag brand Timbuk2, and explains how Wildgrain discovered a growing demand for corporate gifting through their direct consumer audience. The discussion dives deep into distributor education, scaling a food brand inside promo, customization challenges, sustainable packaging, and why consumables may be one of the smartest categories in the future of branded gifting. Key Takeaways → Wildgrain already serves more than 170,000 monthly subscribers with frozen artisan baked goods shipped nationwide → The promo opportunity began when companies started requesting bulk gifting orders directly from the consumer side of the business → Food gifting is becoming more attractive because recipients want experiences and useful gifts instead of more clutter → Wildgrain’s frozen to oven model creates a memorable experience that keeps the sender top of mind every time the recipient bakes something → Distributors can position food gifting creatively through subscription concepts, bundled kits, wellness programs, anniversaries, and employee appreciation campaigns → Wildgrain’s logistics infrastructure allows nationwide shipping within one to two days with no tariffs, no overseas manufacturing concerns, and no inventory shortages Memorable Quotes “Flake it till you make it.” — Adrienne Barker “The gift keeps on giving every time they take that warm delicious item out of their oven.” — Alli Klein “You only get one time to really make that impression.” — Kim Ballerene In This Episode → How Alli Klein helps retail brands successfully enter the promo industry → Why food gifting is becoming a fast growing category in promotional products → The operational realities of shipping frozen baked goods nationwide → Creating personalized gifting experiences through customization and recipient choice → Sustainable packaging and clean ingredient positioning → How distributors can sell food products more strategically → Why slow, thoughtful growth matters when launching into promo Call to Action To learn more about Wildgrain and explore their artisan baked goods experience, visit: Wildgrain [https://wildgrain.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] And connect with guest Alli Klein on LinkedIn to follow Wildgrain’s journey into the promotional products industry.

NEPPA Presents: AI Strategies for Promo Professionals

Beyond the Hype Real World AI Strategies for Promo Professionals Recorded live at a special New England Promotional Products Association education event, this episode of The Promo Playbook brings together some of the promotional products industry’s leading voices for a candid discussion on how AI is already transforming sales, marketing, operations, customer service, and client experience. This was not a conversation about futuristic theory. It was a practical, honest look at how real promo professionals use AI tools every day to save time, streamline workflows, reduce friction, strengthen customer relationships, and stay competitive in an increasingly automated world. Panelists included Brittany Godsey of Gold Bond, Jason Ortega of Charles River Apparel, Hallie Moore of PromoCorner and Bay State, and Javier Menendez of Walker Clay. The panel was moderated by Emily Codner of I Promote You and Abby Burke of Walker Clay. The conversation dives into: → AI tools for sales, prospecting, and CRM automation. → How suppliers are using AI to reduce operational bottlenecks. → AI meeting note takers and workflow automation. → Social media content creation and maintaining an authentic brand voice. → AI safety, hallucinations, and cybersecurity concerns. → The future of AI sales agents in the promo industry. → Why human relationships still matter more than ever. One major takeaway from the panel was this: AI is not replacing strong promo professionals. It is helping them eliminate repetitive tasks so they can spend more time building relationships, creating strategy, and delivering better client experiences. The panelists also explored how quickly AI is evolving and why professionals who learn to adapt early will have a major advantage over those who ignore it. Whether you are a distributor, supplier, marketer, or sales professional, this episode offers practical ideas you can start using immediately. Key Takeaways → AI can dramatically reduce administrative workload and speed up workflows. → Meeting transcription and AI note takers are becoming one of the easiest entry points into AI adoption. → AI works best when combined with human oversight, strategy, and relationship building. → Sales teams are already using AI for prospect research, meeting preparation, and customer insights. → The future of the promo industry will belong to professionals who combine technology with authentic human connection. Featured AI Platforms Mentioned → ChatGPT → Claude → Fireflies.ai [http://Fireflies.ai] → NotebookLM → Microsoft Copilot → Gemini → Replit Connect with the Panelists Brittany Godsey Gold Bond Jason Ortega Charles River Apparel Hallie Moore PromoCorner & Bay State Javier Menendez Walker Clay Listen and Subscribe Connect with NEPPA on their website https://neppa.com/ [https://neppa.com/] If you enjoyed this episode of The Promo Playbook, be sure to subscribe, share with your promo industry peers, and stay ahead of the curve as AI continues reshaping the future of branded merchandise and business strategy.

How Suppliers Win with PPAI Insights from Josh Ellis

What does it really take for a supplier to stand out in the promotional products industry? In this powerful episode of The Supplier Promo Playbook, hosts Adrienne Barker, Lisa Fosdick, and Kimberly Ballerene sit down with Josh Ellis, Senior Director of Media, Research, and Public Affairs at Promotional Products Association International, to unpack what suppliers of every size need to know about branding, research, networking, education, advocacy, and building real momentum in today’s evolving branded merchandise world. Josh shares eye-opening statistics, behind-the-scenes insight into PPAI’s research, the real value of industry awards, why suppliers often focus on the wrong things at Expo, and how smaller brands can punch far above their weight. If you are a supplier curious, scaling, or trying to build your brand inside promo, this episode is packed with practical gold. In this episode: ✔ Why PPAI has nearly 15,000 members ✔ What smaller suppliers often get wrong at Expo ✔ Why branding consistency matters more than booth location ✔ How awards can create instant credibility ✔ What younger buyers really want from branded merchandise ✔ Why “promotional products” may be becoming “branded merchandise” ✔ How suppliers can use PPAI research to make smarter decisions ✔ The power of advocacy through LEAD in Washington DC 5 Key Takeaways 1. Stop obsessing over booth location. Josh made it clear… your presentation, conversations, and follow-up matter more than aisle placement. 2. PPAI is much bigger than Expo Education, networking, leadership events, advocacy, research, and awards all create opportunities. 3. Smaller suppliers can absolutely win Josh shared that newer companies are making major industry lists by focusing on innovation and visibility. 4. Personalization increases product retention Products with names, initials, and meaningful customization stay longer in buyers’ hands. 5. Branded merchandise is evolving The industry is moving beyond “promo products” toward a broader branding conversation. Connect with Josh on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajoshellis/] Connect With the Hosts Follow Lisa Fosdick, Adrienne Barker, and Kim Ballerene on LinkedIn for more supplier success strategies and behind-the-scenes insights. Reach out: Kimberly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlymillerballerene/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlymillerballerene/] Lisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-fosdick/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-fosdick/] Adrienne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennebarkermas/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennebarkermas/]

What happens when three innovative suppliers share what is really shaping the future of promo?

How are smart suppliers adapting as the promotional products industry evolves? Recorded live from PPAI Expo, Kimberly Ballerene takes listeners onto the show floor for conversations with leaders from Hydropeak, Sportique and Taylor Corporation to explore supplier growth, customer expectations, technology, and the future of print on demand. From relationship building to digital transformation, this episode is filled with practical strategies for suppliers looking to grow in a changing marketplace. In this episode: → Why communication and distributor relationships still drive long term supplier success → What retail brands entering the promo channel need to understand → How customer service can become a competitive advantage → Why print on demand is changing how suppliers think about growth → What suppliers should know about building the right technology stack → How automation and digital tools are creating new opportunities in promo A standout conversation features industry thought leader Rusty Pepper sharing why print on demand is about much more than low minimum orders. His perspective on moving from analog processes to digital systems offers valuable insight for both emerging and established suppliers. This episode also highlights how brands like Hydropeak and Sportique are navigating the promo channel while balancing innovation, service, and growth. Whether you are new to the promotional products industry or a seasoned supplier, this episode offers ideas you can apply right now. Connect with Supplier Promo Playbook Follow Supplier Promo Playbook on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-promo-playbook [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-promo-playbook] Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share it with a supplier colleague, and leave a review for Supplier Promo Playbook.

How SnugZ Scaled to $92M in Promo

What does it really take to grow a promotional products company from $29M to over $92M—and stay competitive in a rapidly changing industry? In this episode of The Promo Playbook, co-hosts Lisa Fosdick and Kimberly Ballerene lead a powerful conversation with Brittany David, SnugZ USA's Chief Revenue Officer. From navigating the chaos of the pandemic to leveraging AI, partnerships, and product strategy, Brittany shares exactly how SnugZ evolved into a $92M supplier powerhouse. This is a behind-the-scenes look at scaling, innovation, and what suppliers must do right now to stay relevant—and profitable. Key Takeaways: → SnugZ grew from roughly $29M to $92M by expanding product lines and acquiring SWEDA → The pandemic forced a shift from reactive to proactive supply chain strategy and innovation → Technology and AI are no longer optional—they are survival tools in the promo industry → The companies winning today are not just promo companies—they are tech-enabled businesses → Strong supplier partnerships are built on transparency, shared margins, and aligned expectations → MOQ of one is still a major question mark—most suppliers are not making money on it yet Listen in, take notes, and ask yourself—are you building a supplier business… or a scalable, tech-driven one? 👉 Follow, subscribe, and share this episode with someone in promo who needs a reality check.