👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand. Each week, we mix up a delightful blend of swag/promo merch tips and smart HR insights just for you. Today, our pot is overflowing with exciting treats: spooky yet stylish swag trends, can't-miss events for promotional pros and HR enthusiasts, and a thrilling giveaway that's sure to enchant. Ready to dive into this magical mix of fun and knowledge? Don't forget to participate in our poll, you might just win a Traveler Bag!

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

 🩸 Saw VI Goes Vinyl: Saw VI’s soundtrack hits vinyl on Oct 17, 2025 and it’s a bloody one. The special edition double LP is cut like a circular saw blade and splattered with blood-red vinyl, limited to just 300 copies. It’s proof horror merch can be killer. Source.

🎓 Future Leaders Unite: Promo industry pros will gather in Dallas Oct 27–29 for PPAI’s Leadership Development Conference. Geared to young professionals, this summit is packed with sessions on brand strategy, sales leadership, and swag innovation. Drop us a note if you’re attending. You can register here.

😌 Employee Wellbeing: Companies championing mental health see measurably better retention, and financial stress can wreck productivity. In fact, 80% of U.S. workers are living paycheck-to-paycheck, yet only ~33% of employers offer financial-wellness programs. The takeaway? Supporting both the mind and the wallet of employees is no longer optional if you want to keep your best talent. Source.

🤖 TikTok Ups Its Ad Game: Just in time for the holidays, TikTok rolled out new AI-powered ad tools. Marketers can now choose how much automation they want (full AI or manual tweaks) and use generative “Symphony” creative tools that auto-optimize videos (re-sizing, music, translations). There’s even a new GMV Max dashboard to pinpoint which ads and creators drive the most sales. Source.

 🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout out to the winners from last week: Karen Johnson, SHRM-CP & Mary Colley. We’ve got another giveaway below!

BEHIND THE SCENES

🎁 Stop Guessing. Start Gifting Smarter.

The holidays are basically tomorrow in swag time. And before you panic-Google “best holiday gifts for employees and clients”, take a deep breath. We’ve got you.

Let’s be real: no one wants another fruit basket or a melted box of chocolates showing up in mid-December. (And please, for the love of HR, stop sending wine to your sober coworkers…it happens more than you’d think.)

Here’s the truth: you don’t need to guess what people want. You can let them choose. With a Brand Sauce company store (just $1/month), we’ll build it for you in two weeks, fill it with 100+ premium picks from brands like Nike, YETI, Stanley, Cotopaxi, Bose, and Adidas (all brandable or unbranded).

Then? Click one button, send a $100 gift card, and let your team, clients, or investors go on their own digital shopping spree. Easy. Modern. Actually fun.

Because life’s complicated enough… holiday gifting shouldn’t be. ✨

Book 15 minutes here to discuss getting your holiday store set up today!

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

🎁 Giveaway Alert: Traveler Bag

This week’s prize? The Traveler Bag from Showdown Displays — your ticket to looking cool and staying organized on the go. 🌎 Made from recycled polyester (rPET) and built tough, this duffel’s got it all: an expandable top zipper, secret side pocket, and a cozy little home for your kicks. 👟 Perfect for gym grinds, weekend getaways, or that “I’m off the grid” kind of adventure. ✈️

Details:

• Winner gets this Traveler Bag from Showdown Displays branded with your company logo.

• Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 To enter, just answer this week’s poll below.

📊 Poll of the Week

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet PDS Optical

Founded in 1998, PDS Optical is a leading provider of affordable prescription eyewear to U.S. military veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare system. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, this service-disabled, veteran-owned small business is. “dedicated to serving our nation’s Veterans with pride, dignity, and exceptional service” Their team mission is all about quality and care, reflecting the values of the vets they serve. With several locations and a growing staff, PDS Optical combines technical expertise with a deep commitment to the veteran community.

📣 Our Collaboration

We partnered with PDS Optical to launch a custom online merch store for their team. We filled it with PDS-branded apparel, drinkware, tech accessories and more — gear that lets employees proudly represent the PDS mission. By letting staff pick and choose their own swag on-demand, the store has become a powerful recognition tool: managers reward milestones and hard work with items that team members actually want. We handle all the fulfillment and inventory, so PDS leaders can focus on culture while their employees enjoy quality branded gear. In short, our store helps strengthen PDS Optical’s identity and camaraderie — one hoodie, shirt or mug at a time.

🤝 Connect With PDS Optical

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

A Reminder to Step Outside

On Monday, Brand Sauce had the privilege of sponsoring a local event to kick off San Diego Startup Week, hosted by our friends at Eventship. I’ve shared before how I often need to remind myself to step outside the office and into the community. It’s not always easy to make the time, but every time I do, I come back grateful.

This event carried a special moment. To honor Neal’s 100th event on the Eventship platform, we created a commemorative pin. Ian on our team jumped in right away, turning the design into vector, and within just seven days we had the pins produced and delivered. Watching people’s excitement as they received them reminded me why those small touches matter.

But the real highlight wasn’t the pins. It was the people. I had conversations with bankers, lawyers, founders, and team members from big organizations, all curious about how Brand Sauce might be able to help. Again and again, I heard their frustrations with swag: ordering in bulk, manually managing it all, and scrambling to get it delivered. And again, I got to share how we make that process seamless.

What struck me most, though, was how these conversations reminded me of something bigger. Business is built on connection, on showing up, listening, and sharing ideas. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, but moments like this remind me why it’s worth slowing down and engaging with the community around us.

So here’s the lesson I carried home: make the effort to get out there. The work will still be waiting when you return, but the relationships you build, the stories you hear, and the energy you gain from connecting with others, that’s what makes the work meaningful.

THAT’S A WRAP

From bloody vinyl to AI-driven ads, this week proved that creativity (and swag) truly have no limits. Whether you’re leading a team, running a store, or just here for the merch inspo, we see you.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋 

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team.

If you missed our last few editions, you can find them here:

• In Print on Demand | EP#50, Learn how the federal shutdown impacts swag, how companies boost engagement, and a fun Halloween candy stat.

• In Print on Demand | EP#49, Ross gives us a look behind the curtains of his personal life with his fiancée Madison, and 4 kids.

• Be sure to check out Print on Demand | EP#48 to learn more about unique event swag, holiday gifting trends, and a little BTS with Ross.

• Print on Demand | EP#47 covers the week’s spiciest insights in promotional merchandise, workplace trends, more free giveaways, and our new hire playbook.

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