Happy Sunday! This week we’re serving up a hearty mix: an NFL swag giveaway to celebrate football kickoff season, a special shoutout to our HR friends with open Total Rewards jobs, plus the latest trends in promo merch and workplace culture. Grab a seat (and maybe a snack)… let’s dive in!

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🤔 Little-Known Fun Fact: The first American alarm clock only rang at 4 a.m. (yep, one time only). It was invented in 1787 by a New Hampshire clockmaker for his own schedule.

💼 Engagement Crisis: New data has HR leaders on high alert. Gallup’s 2025 report shows only 21% of workers are fully engaged – a 10% drop from last year. Manager engagement is down too, and the U.S. slid from 15th to 24th in the world happiness rankings. Between burnout, AI anxieties, and post-pandemic blues, employees are struggling. It’s a wake-up call for companies to invest in culture and support. Source.

📦 Big Promo Merger: Major consolidation in swagland. BDA, a top-10 merch distributor, just acquired Harper+Scott (a creative NYC agency) to expand its team and showroom. BDA’s CEO said both companies see merch “as more than just product – it’s about sparking connection.” Translation: the promo industry is doubling down on creative brand experiences. Source.

📉 Hiring Slowdown (by design): A survey of CHROs finds that 20% expect to decrease hiring in the next 6 months. But it’s not doom and gloom – instead of filling seats, HR is upskilling and fortifying existing teams. Over half are training leaders in change management to weather uncertainty. Source.

 🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the 3 winners from last week who scored the RUPT backpack: April Schepman, Kirsten Katuin, and Carol Forehand. We’ve got another giveaway below!

HR INSIDERS

💸 HR Jobs: Total Rewards

You asked, we listened. This week, we’re shining a spotlight on our amazing HR community.

Brand Sauce is all about people, and that means supporting the people who support everyone else at work. HR pros, especially those in Total Rewards, often work behind the scenes to keep employees happy, engaged, and rewarded. Consider this a little career love letter from us to you.

Our team made a promise to help boost visibility and recognition for HR folks, and what better way than by sharing some open opportunities? If you’re looking to make a move (or know someone who is), check out these open Total Rewards roles from our clients and colleagues. We believe in paying it forward – connecting great people with great companies. Who knows, your next big career win (or the rockstar hire you refer) could be in the list below!

👉 Want an intro to the hiring manager? Just reply to this email and let me know which job you’re interested in.

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

🔊 Giveaway Alert: Picnic Time’s NFL Collection

This Week’s Prize: We’re giving away a $250 NFL-branded swag spree courtesy of Picnic Time’s awesome NFL collection (think tailgate chairs, logo coolers, picnic sets, and more). Plus, 10 runner-ups will score an NFL team merch goodie.

Details:

• Grand prize gets $250 NFL-branded swag shopping spree.

• Up to 10 runners-up will score an NFL team merch goodie

• To enter: cast your vote below. Once you vote, you can DOUBLE your entries by responding with your favorite football team or player.

• September bonus: If you refer a friend to enter the raffle and they win, you win as well!

• Winner announced in next week’s newsletter on 9/14

Ready to play? Cast your vote below and enter to win the giveaway!

📊 Poll of the Week

We’ll announce the $250 swag spree winner and runner-ups next week. May the odds (and the football gods) be ever in your favor. 🏆

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

 🤝 Meet LaunchBreak

LaunchBreak is a professional online networking and shared-interest platform built for athletes. With members from over 650 universities and across 35+ sports, LaunchBreak empowers athletes who play(ed) women’s sports at the collegiate, national, or professional level. Their mission is simple: create an inclusive, growing community where athletes can connect, collaborate, and thrive. Already home to more than 1,700 members, LaunchBreak is quickly becoming the go-to network for athletes looking to build relationships beyond the game.

📣 Our Collaboration

We partnered with LaunchBreak to set up their custom swag store. Stocked with premium branded merchandise, it’s a one-stop shop for members and supporters to rep the LaunchBreak brand. From gear that celebrates their athletic community to everyday essentials, the store helps extend LaunchBreak’s culture of connection into the real world.

🤝 Connect With LaunchBreak

Shoot me a note at [email protected] to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

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

Why I Play Fantasy Football (Even Though I Never Win)

People often ask me why I play Fantasy Football. The truth is, I’m not good at it. It takes patience, attention to detail, and a real drive to win. I lack all three when it comes to fantasy sports. And yet, I sign up for three leagues every year and rarely see a return on my “investment.” In fact, I’m what the league calls “easy money.”

So why keep doing it? Why keep handing over money year after year?

Because Fantasy Football has never really been about football for me. It’s about connection. It’s about memories.

My dad once told me, “When you’re older, all you’ll have are your memories. So make sure you create great ones as often as you can.” One of his closest friends put it another way: “You can always make up a test, but you can’t make up a great party.”

Those words have stayed with me. And in many ways, Fantasy Football has become my way of living them out.

For 25 years, my best friends from childhood in Minnesota have gathered every year in a new city for our draft. At first, it was just an excuse for a guys’ weekend. But as the years passed, as marriages and kids and life’s responsibilities grew, that weekend became something sacred.

We’ve met in Las Vegas, Montreal, Scottsdale, San Diego, Austin, and many more places. But the cities don’t matter. What matters are the moments: the hugs after a long year apart, the late-night conversations, the laughter, the check-ins on family and life, the quiet “I love you, man” when words fall short.

These weekends remind me that the truest wins aren’t measured by points on a fantasy scoreboard, but by the people you hold close and the memories you create together.

The love and support I feel from League Reckless is something I can’t imagine my life without. It anchors me. It reminds me that no matter where we go or how much time passes, some bonds only grow stronger.

So here’s to another 25 years of Fantasy Football, an excuse to keep showing up for my friends, to keep making memories, and to keep losing money… happily.

THAT’S A WRAP

Thanks for joining us through this edition of Brand Sauce! We covered a lot – from swag industry shake-ups to giving our HR peers some well-earned limelight.

Ready to elevate your brand or culture with some fresh ideas? We’re one phone call away. Have a fantastic weekend, enjoy the games, and we’ll catch you next week!

– The Brand Sauce Team

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