👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #69, where swag meets culture.

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🎓 Brand Sauce Masterclass: We’re going live this Tuesday at 1 PM EST for our masterclass on the power of company store technology. Everyone who joins gets a custom branded premium swag gift valued at $100+. Click here to RSVP.

💸 Employee Profit-Sharing: Delta Air Lines just paid out $1.3B in profit sharing directly to employees, which equated to roughly four weeks of extra pay on average. When appreciation shows up in a real way, performance follows. Source.

💔 Heartbreak leave is the new “sick day”: A new survey says 1 in 3 workers think employers should offer formal breakup recovery time. In the same dataset, 43% said breakups hurt productivity/focus, and 65% said they’d worry about being judged for using the leave. Source.

🚗 The Road Trip Hall of Fame: Mental Floss spotlighted new research ranking America’s top roadside attractions, analyzing 83 stops using TripAdvisor reviews, Instagram posts, and Google search interest. See top ranked destinations below. Source.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winners from last week, Kelly Murphy Almerico, and Vanessa Genao , who scored a Laptop Sleeve with Wireless Charging Station and Mouse Pad from Cavatina Elite. We’ve got another giveaway below!

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Sound Saber Clip-On Wireless Monitor Speaker

This sleek 6-watt speaker clips right onto the top of your monitor, so your sound goes up while your clutter goes down. Wireless or wired, your choice. Video calls, playlists, and gaming marathons, it handles it all.

Bonus: the illuminated logo glows while you play, because even your desk deserves a little main character energy.

Details:

• Several lucky readers will score a Clip On Wireless Monitor Speaker custom-branded with their company logo.

• Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

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

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Teledyne

Teledyne Vision Solutions is part of the global Teledyne Technologies family, delivering advanced imaging and machine vision systems used in everything from medical diagnostics to aerospace and industrial automation. Translation: they build the kind of tech that quite literally helps the world see better. Innovation runs deep in their culture, and precision is the standard, not the stretch goal.

📣 Our Collaboration

When it came to branded merch, Teledyne needed the same level of clarity and control they bring to their products. Together, we launched a custom company store that makes it easy for employees and partners to access on-brand apparel and gear without the usual ordering friction. The result is a streamlined, self-serve experience that keeps brand standards tight and internal pride high. Clean design. Smart fulfillment. Zero chaos.

🤝 Connect With Teledyne

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 of Who We Really Are

Are we really as divided as it feels?

If you scroll long enough, it certainly seems that way. Every headline louder than the last. Every algorithm rewarding outrage. Every comment section convincing us that “the other side” is everywhere.

But that’s not what I see when I look up from my phone.

I travel often. I sit next to strangers on airplanes. I meet people in cities and towns all over the world. Different ages. Different races. Different religions. Different political views.

And almost every single person I meet is kind.

I see strangers helping each other lift bags into overhead bins. I see neighbors looking out for one another. I see small acts of generosity that will never go viral, because they’re normal. Because they’re human.

Last Friday night, I experienced something that hit me in a deeper way.

I was in Miami for my cousin Adam’s birthday. Instead of hosting a typical party, he chose to celebrate with a Shabbat dinner. Over 200 people gathered in a home in Miami Beach.

And when I say it felt like the world was in that house, I mean it.

There were teenagers and grandparents.
Black, white, Asian, Latino.
Jewish, Christian, Muslim.
Guests from Cuba, Israel, Canada, Brazil, and beyond.

English, Spanish, Hebrew, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Chinese filled the air at the same time.

At one point, Adam asked how many people were attending their first Shabbat. Dozens of hands went up.

There was something incredibly moving about that moment. People who didn’t grow up with this tradition. People who maybe didn’t even know what to expect. All choosing to sit down together.

The host, Moshe, shared why he opened his home. His message wasn’t political. It wasn’t complicated.

He said we need to put our phones down.
We need to share a meal.
We need to laugh.
We need to listen.

Because when we truly know each other, not profiles, not posts, not headlines, but stories, families, struggles, dreams, it becomes much harder to see one another as divided.

What struck me most wasn’t how 200 people ended up in the same house.

It was how we left.
We left softer.
We left warmer.
We left connected.

With new friendships. New perspectives. New memories.
For five hours, there was no feed. No outrage. No “us versus them.” Just people being people.

Moshe performed a giant mitzvah that night. Not just in a religious sense, but in a human one. He created space. And in doing so, he reminded us who we actually are.

We are not algorithms.
We are not headlines.
We are not comment sections.

We are neighbors.
We are storytellers.
We are capable of generosity and connection when we slow down long enough to see each other.

At Brand Sauce, we talk a lot about experiences. About meaningful moments. About bringing people together in ways that feel real.

But this wasn’t a strategy. It wasn’t branding. It wasn’t business.

It was humanity.

And it reminded me of something I hope we never forget:

Most people are good.
Most people want to belong.
Most people want to contribute.

Maybe we aren’t as divided as it feels.

Maybe we’re just overdue for dinner together.

Thank you, Moshe and Adam, for the reminder.

👥 Connect on Social Media

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

• Ross’s LinkedIn

• BrandSauce LinkedIn

• BrandSauce YouTube Channel

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #68, we leaned into smarter hiring, smoother swag experiences, and the systems behind both. From why candidates are skimming job posts to what makes HR transformation actually work, this edition explored clarity over clutter. We also spotlighted Patch My PC’s on-demand store, previewed POD Conference 2026 with Ross taking the stage, and asked a simple question: what if a better user experience is the real competitive edge in swag?

In Print-on-Demand | EP #67, we connected the dots between culture, commerce, and a little Super Bowl chaos. From planning ahead for Employee Appreciation Day and smarter company store strategies to $10M ad slots and MrBeast’s $1M giveaway moment, this edition explored how brands are investing in attention and recognition. We also spotlighted Janux Therapeutics’ on-demand store, teed up POD Conference 2026, and asked a simple question: what if swag actually made work better?

 In Print-on-Demand | EP #66, we explored how brands are showing appreciation, scaling swag smartly, and leaning into culture-building moments. From Employee Appreciation Day prep and the NFL’s crossover merch drop to mega indoor golf news and global hiring trends, this edition covered what’s making noise (and impact). Plus: a peek into our Swag Masterclass, the latest from PPAI, and how Anika Systems is leveling up with their own branded store.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #65, we zoomed in on what’s quietly shifting across merch, HR, and macro trends. From U.S. trade programs and 4imprint’s latest numbers to the hidden costs of hybrid work and what Gen Z actually wants from recognition, we broke down the data behind the swag. Plus, we spotlighted Kniesels’ values-driven company culture and gave away a recycled backpack that’s as functional as it is ocean-friendly.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

© 2025 On Demand Global, LLC, DBA Brand Sauce