A Dash of Industry Insights

Industry Headlines, Insights, Data, & Events

🎁 Weekly Giveaway Winner: Congratulations to Karissa Czepiga, Culture Coordinator at EDA CONTRACTORS, on winning our premium pet bed! A big thank you to everyone who participated. Didn't win this time? Don't worry — we hide 2–3 surprise giveaways in every edition for our eagle-eyed readers. Keep scanning closely for your chance to win amazing branded merchandise each week!

🚀 USC + Techstars Startup Weekend: Build, launch, and pitch your tech startup idea. Focus on DeepTech, AI, Health/BioTech, FinTech, and EdTech solutions. Apply here by April 7th.

⭐️ Review Hack of the Week: Want to get more authentic reviews on Google, G2, Yelp, or Capterra for your business? Reply with ‘REVIEWS’ and we’ll send the playbook!

🤫 Secret Q3 Industry Event Alert: Something big is brewing to revolutionize how suppliers connect with brands. If you're a P.O.D. supplier who wants to get involved, reach out to [email protected] 

Words of Wisdom

The Recognition Revolution: Dr. Bob Nelson

In a world where employee retention has become the #1 HR challenge, we're thrilled to spotlight Dr. Bob Nelson, the undisputed authority on employee recognition and engagement. Named the #1 Management Guru globally for 2024, Dr. Bob has revolutionized workplace culture through his groundbreaking research and 30+ books that have sold over 5 million copies worldwide. His bestseller "1501 Ways to Reward Employees" is now in its 64th printing, proving that recognition isn't just a nice-to-have—it's essential for building thriving organizations where people love to work.

Dr. Bob's insights on creating cultures of appreciation align perfectly with our CRAFT framework at Brand Sauce, where we transform company swag into powerful tools for recognition. His passion for helping organizations develop meaningful relationships with employees through strategic recognition makes him an invaluable resource for HR professionals.

👉 Want to collaborate with Dr. Bob to revolutionize your employee engagement strategy? Send us an email at [email protected], and we'll make that introduction happen.

The HR Corner

Building a Culture That Thrives in 2025: Why Intentional Culture Matters

As we navigate 2025's business landscape, organizational culture has never been more critical. According to a recent Forbes article by Tracy Lawrence, while most leaders acknowledge culture's importance in driving performance, many struggle to implement effective change when needed.

The stakes are high: employees connected to their organization's culture are four times more likely to be engaged and six times more likely to recommend their workplace. Yet only about 30% of organizational transformation efforts succeed.

Warning Signs Your Culture Needs Attention

• Rising turnover and declining engagement

• Blame-shifting and lack of accountability

• Persistent unresolved conflicts

• Employees hesitant to speak up

• Excessive bureaucracy in decision-making

Five Strategies for Cultural Transformation

1. Start with honest assessment - Examine your current culture deeply, understanding how leadership behaviors shape it

2. Embrace microcultures - Allow different teams to develop tailored approaches while maintaining core values

3. Address burnout systemically - Prioritize employee well-being through transparency and psychological safety

4. Align leadership and communication - Ensure leaders embody the desired cultural shifts

5. Measure what matters - Track progress with metrics tied directly to strategic objectives

As Lawrence notes in Forbes, "the organizations that invest in resilient, adaptable cultures will be best positioned to navigate change and emerge stronger" in an increasingly complex business environment.

How is your organization approaching culture-building this year?

Source: Forbes, "Company Culture: Why It Matters More Than Ever In 2025" by Tracy Lawrence, January 26, 2025

Print on Demand

Ross Spills the Truth About Branded Swag

This week, our CEO Ross shared his expertise on an industry podcast, breaking down the #1 mistake companies make when buying branded merchandise. Check out this 30-second clip that perfectly captures our philosophy: quality over quantity, choice over conformity, and personalization over bulk ordering.

Weekly Spotlight

Mark Thomas: Where Innovation Meets Infrastructure

About Mark Thomas

Founded with a vision to combine technical excellence with a deep understanding of community needs, Mark Thomas has established itself as a leader in civil and structural engineering across California. Their comprehensive approach spans from roadways and bridges to bicycle trails and parks, with a focus on creating context-sensitive solutions that seamlessly integrate with their surroundings. With their commitment to collaboration, creativity, and accountability, Mark Thomas doesn't just connect places—they create better ways for communities to move forward.

🏌️Company Store Success Story: Gearing Up for Golf Season

This quarter, we partnered with Mark Thomas (a big shout out to Roya for making this happen) to enhance their company store with an exciting collection of premium golf products just in time for golf season. Understanding the importance of quality merchandise that reflects their professional brand, we curated a selection that their team is genuinely excited to use both on client outings and personal play.

Our merchandising team worked closely with Mark Thomas to select products that align with their brand values while providing practical benefits for their team's networking and recreation needs. The expanded store now offers everything from performance polos to premium golf accessories, all branded with their distinctive Mark Thomas logo.

📈 The Impact

• Strategically timed seasonal merchandise expansion

• High-quality branded items for client relationship-building

• Seamless integration with their existing company store

• Enhanced employee engagement through recreation-focused products

• Strengthened professional presentation on the golf course

From concept to implementation, we helped Mark Thomas create a store experience that transforms everyday items into meaningful brand touchpoints.

🤝 Partner with Mark Thomas

Interested in doing business with Mark Thomas? I'm happy to make an introduction - reach out at [email protected].

🚀 Join the Mark Thomas Team

Ready to work for a company where engineering excellence meets community impact? Mark Thomas is looking for talented professionals to join their team. Explore opportunities here.

‼️Swag Giveaway

Email us “GOLF” and we’ll pick one lucky winner to receive a free Attachi wireless speaker with your company logo.

Weekend Update

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

Last Sunday, Madison, Bo, Max, and I attended the Main Court Pickleball event. Main Court, a client of Brand Sauce, hosted an incredible tournament with over 1,000 players. Thank you David Alonso for the invite! 

The event featured a celebrity match followed by an exhibition with four professional players—a testament to how rapidly pickleball is growing worldwide. It’s amazing to see the sport's evolution, and I’ve had the privilege of reconnecting with old tennis friends who now play professionally, along with meeting hundreds of new friends through pickleball.

Madison has become quite the player over the past year, and we’ve even won a few tournaments together. We’re excited to compete in more tournaments this summer!

Do you play pickleball? Reply "PICKLEBALL” to this email, and I’ll randomly select one lucky winner to receive a brand-new pickleball paddle!

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