Evolving to Support the Needs of a Changing Marketplace...
ta-cos /takos/ (n).
The solution to every problem and the answer to every question. They don't get defensive or reactive. They hold space for us and make us feel whole.
The world, as we have known it, has changed radically.
It's not business as usual. Companies that can adapt to this new marketplace will thrive.
NOW is the time to define what your personal and company brand is!
Join Jay, Jeff, and Special Guests for TACOS, as we showcase the epic marketing and branding that distributors and suppliers are doing. You will learn from these branding nuggets that will better position you for what lies ahead.
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Challenging as this season is, one thing we know for sure is that TACOS make everything better.
Have a TACO and enjoy these shows!
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Many of you know PromoKitchen Chef Charity Gibson as the National Accounts Coordinator at Peerless Umbrella. But have you met Charity Poppins yet? You will in this episode of TACOS, and she’s practically perfect in every way!
Check out this SPECIAL Edition of TACOS Live with Jay and Jeff on PromoCorner during the PPAI Expo Direct 2 You 2021 show. It's SPICY HOT! Brandon Pecharich joins Jay Busselle and Jeff Solomon to talk about what we have learned as we have done these shows. A rising tide raises all ships... as long as your boat is in the water.
What do you do to stay relevant after 35 years in the promotional products business? A complete REBRAND, of course! Join us for some tasty tacos as we discuss rebranding, epic marketing, and share some wisdom from 35-year veteran and PPAI Hall of Famer, Wayne L. Greenberg from SwagKrewe. He also enlightens us why branded merchandise is THE MOST emotional form of advertising and that "gifts are fun!" Wayne and Jeff close out the session with an important discussion about technology, mentorship, and growth.
This TACOS with Jay and Jeff LIVE show on PromoCorner featuring Mollia Zezzo from Follow the Son was the perfect year-end pre-Christmas show! Mollia's story of building a brand that is actually doing great stuff should inspire us all! You should have your kids watch this...seriously!
Are you ready for the international episode of TACOS with Jay & Jeff? How about Christmas down under? We were lucky to catch Zach Lord from the marketing and branding agency Red Tomato in Australia! Tacos may not be as popular in Australia as they are in the US, but Zach is still prepared with his version - the iconic Aussie vegemite on toast. Watch Zach describe some epic branding and their transition to support their clients with more creative elements as a full-service marketing agency.
TACOS with Jay and Jeff LIVE on PromoCorner featured Ryan Moor from Allmade - SanMar. It was an epic show talking about Tesla, epic branding, and the amazing work being done helping others in Colorado. For those who want to learn more about the work of Covering Colorado that Ryan mentioned, here is a link: https://www.covering.health/
Let's TACO 'bout epic branding with our special guest Jill Albers from ba-bam... BAMKO! It's time to push the boundaries and get creative in this episode of TACOS with Jay & Jeff. Jill reminds us to surprise and delight our customers with experiences and magical marketing.
This TACOS with Jay and Jeff Show LIVE on PromoCorner was another FIESTA! Our special guest Shannon Loredo, from Business Branders, crushed it! And in a TACOS show first, she sang a song! Grab a TACO and enjoy!
The successful companies in our branded merchandise and promotional product world are NOT ordinary. Axis Promotions, powered by HALO Branded Solutions, is 180 degrees from ordinary and has the X factor. So does Johanna Gottlieb!! Johanna shares her passion with us when she admits, "I'm from New York & I get excited, and I LOVE promotional products!"
Here's TACOS with Jay and Jeff LIVE on PromoCorner with Luke Sigle from the Vernon Company. Hear how Luke is building his business in today's world.
We have two guests on this powerful edition of TACOS with Jay & Jeff. First is Chris Wachowiak of Ronin Branding, who suggested we include our second guest, Bill Petrie, from brandivate. We discuss epic branding, emotional marketing and explore something called the "designers dilemma."
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We got another TACOS with Jay and Jeff session LIVE on PromoCorner done. This session with Alison Banholzer from Wear Your Spirit Warehouse was a hit. As a military wife, her success story is an inspiration. We covered some good stuff. Grab a TACO and enjoy it.
Nobody NEEDS another T-shirt, another mug or another hat… so why are they going to buy this branded merch?" asked Jeremy Picker. Because "they WANT to have an experience with that brand." Jeremy Picker is the CEO and Creative Director at AMB3R Creative. Jeremy is also a Master Brewer of Merch for Pub & Grub Creative. Pub & Grub is a niche brand operating under the AMB3R Creative umbrella and is currently serving over 80 restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and wineries. The Pub & Grub tagline is: Don't Treat Your Merchandise Program Like Leftovers!
Three words… one question! What is Trending? The answers are critical. Are we dependent on trends? Probably more than you know! In this episode of TACOS with Jay & Jeff, we have a "trendy" discussion with Vicki Ostrom and Jessica Gibbons-Rauch, who have recently started a website called Trendependent. They reveal some of the current trends, colors, concepts, and discuss how we can apply them to our promo & apparel worlds. Visit the Trendependent.com website and subscribe to their newsletter.
We had WAY too much fun sharing epic branding and marketing with Cola Svec on
PromoCorner’s TACO with Jay and Jeff LIVE! Check out what the creative folks at Soul & Swag, Inc. pulled off.
Tacos are in the news!! Our inspiring guest Sarah Spratt, owner of Third Power Promotions, shared some breaking news from Taco Bell of Canada. Sarah also shared outstanding information about supporting virtual conferences with what she called "goodie boxes." Learn from this expert who knows that the "expectation for keeping attendees attention during virtual conferences will continue to increase, and branded merchandise can play a critical role." Special thanks to Jason Nokes from PromoPulse for the TACO music intro!
Welcome to our first "Best of Collection" or a "Greatest Hits" of TACOS with Jay & Jeff. Is that possible after 15... err, 18 sessions? Sure it is! Jay & Jeff revisit some of the epic branding, purpose-driven marketing, powerful conversations and highlight a few previous episodes i
"If it doesn't challenge you – it won't change you." Join us for an extraordinary, extended session of TACOS with Jay & Jeff. It's just over an hour - but TRUST us - it's worth every minute of your time!
How many suppliers can say that they have shipped on-time over 99.99% of all orders since 1979? We only know of one, and on this fine Taco Tuesday, we are delighted to shine the light on our friends…the "ridgers" at Maple Ridge Farms!
Brittany David, Steve Rone, and special guest, Jeff Anderton, all from SnugZ USA, join us to enjoy TACOS! Like the company they represent, they are bold, daring, adventurous, playful and sassy and will teach us how to “promo the cheese out of it.” Learn how they are pushing the envelope on creative marketing and how thinking outside the box will drive sales.
In this episode, Roger Burnett, co-founder of PromoCares. Roger shares how part of his work is in the alignment and connection of commerce with purpose through the responsible merchandising of promotional products and decorated apparel. Imagine selling as a promotional product distributor, a small curated set of products from a limited group of suppliers. Suppliers that are making a difference, like Sweda USA and Allmade-SanMar. That’s what Roger Burnett does. In this video, he shares how it works and why it’s so important.
She will teach you how to spell "Tchotchke" and why our channel of advertising is not "knickknacks, baubles, lagniappes, or trinkets and trash.” Our guest today is Karie Cowden. Karie is the President and Founder of Connect the Dots Promotions, a board member of PromoCares, and the podcast hostess of PromoCares Radio.
TACOS with Jay and Jeff is HOT and getting spicy! We're excited to have a few spicy guests join us to discuss epic branding and memorable marketing. Nick Lateur and two other special guests from Imagen Brands join us to help solve a mystery. Where did the term "tumbler" come from when referring to a beverage container or "drinking vessel?" Nick sets the chalice high on the shelf with regards to training! He proves that having fun and being entertaining is memorable and cuts through the clutter.
The marketing folks at Imagen Brands have seriously raised the marketing bar for our industry. Here we put the spotlight on their efforts to provide timely resources, education, and entertainment to distributors.
We love “Mondays. With Nick.” If this brilliant effort from Nick Lateur doesn’t
edu-tain you, you probably need to see a specialist.
Jessica Gibbons-Rauch knows branding and trends matter! Here she shares how she combines killer content with themes to help create emotions and be more memorable.
Jessica loves when she can find quality images and mentions appreciating the photos HUB Pen, and Peerless have available. She successfully manages and arranges meaningful outcomes that help her clients cut through the clutter.
We are lucky to know some excellent promotional product and apparel supplier companies in our industry. Pretty high up on our list is Snugz USA! Why? The people. The culture. The creativity. And of course, epic branding and killer marketing. That made us want to show a few strong examples of their culture, purpose, and branding. Yeah, they've got it. Promo (and branding) Elevated!
Stacey Carey, the owner of SAC Branding, is a fighter and a giver! Stacey happened to send us our first TACOS with Jay and Jeff fan letter. Not only is she a fan of tacos and branded merch, but she’s also a fan of serving her community. Watch as this young entrepreneur serves her way into better connections and grows her business.
The co-founders of Brand Fuel, Danny Rosin & Robert Fiveash, couldn't resist tasty TACOS with Jay & Jeff! Danny & Robert are passionate about our industry, the effective use of branded promo products, giving back, and fundraising for nonprofits.
They put on their creative, problem-solving caps and go deep to blend the physical world of promotional products with the Digital world, creating a new breakthrough they call the PHYGITAL (physical + digital = phy-gital... get it?)
Few people are as committed to the power of promotional products incorporated into purpose and special causes than Mandi Rudd from Brand Energy Marketing. In this episode, Mandi shares her passion and experience from three specific examples of responsible sourcing, branding, purpose, and fundraising.
In this episode, Jay & Jeff go deeper into branding and marketing. No special guests in this episode...just two taco freaks who realize after years in the promotional product, branded merchandise and decorated apparel worlds, that most businesses don't have a Style Guide. If they had a Style Guide (often called a branding guide), their branding and marketing would be aligned and more effective. That's important in a changing marketplace
In this episode, Jay, Jeff, and Mel Lay get into a lively discussion about TACOS.
Mel also shares about her experience on Shark Tank and battle with Target.
We learn about the Mom Shop Community, the power of social media, hangtag branding, cause marketing, and what's happening with Allmade.
In this TACOS with Jay and Jeff session, we feature Ryan Moor from Allmade. Ryan and his team have successfully built the Allmade brand creating a quality, responsibly sourced, eco-friendly product.
Here, Ryan shares what they have been doing to continue their mission.
There is good stuff here!
In this introductory segment, Jay and Jeff answer the question, why tacos?
There's other valuable information here, including how the taco relates to branding.
Don't miss this first show and the segments that are coming!
Here's a Shout Out to Suppliers Mentioned That are Doing Good Stuff...
