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- Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #78
👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #78, where swag meets culture.
If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.
Let’s Dive in!
NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
🧥 Gap x Coachella Collaboration: Gap rolled out a “Hoodie House” as the exclusive apparel sponsor at Coachella 2026. Fully customizable hoodies, curated drops, immersive brand experience. This is where merch is going… culturally relevant and more personalization. Read more
🧢 Useful still wins: ASI’s latest research says recipients are more likely to view advertisers favorably and do business with them when promo is practical, high quality, and tuned to local preferences. The industry keeps trying to reinvent the laws of merch physics, but people simply like things they can actually use. Source.
📅 Promo calendar pick: PPAI’s North American Leadership Conference runs May 12–14. Early look at the PPAI 100 companies and where the industry’s actually heading. Be sure to drop me a note if you are attending. Register here.
🏆 Recognition > compensation (long term): In WorldatWork’s latest retention conversation, the standout idea is the “rewards paradox”: employees may feel satisfied with pay and benefits, but career development and recognition are stronger predictors of whether they stay. Source.
🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winner from last week, Beth Falkenstein, who scored the JBL Soundgear Clip Open-Ear Headphones from HPG. We’ve got another giveaway below!
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
One of the biggest mistakes we see is teams piecing together swag from multiple vendors. Apparel from one place, drinkware from another, and last-minute scrambling for everything else.
It creates inconsistent branding, operational chaos, and wasted time.
The fix is a true one-stop shop company store.
One centralized system that keeps your brand consistent, simplifies ordering, removes vendor headaches, and delivers a seamless, Amazon-like experience for your team.
WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY
Giveaway Alert: Accousticks Wireless Over-Ear Earbuds
For anyone who has ever wanted a soundtrack during a walk-and-talk without fully disappearing into Noise-Canceling Cave mode, this week’s giveaway is the Accousticks Wireless Over Ear Earbuds, designed to play audio while still letting ambient sound through.
Details:
Several lucky readers will score an Accousticks Wireless Over Ear Earbuds custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.
👉 How to enter:
Watch our YouTube video of the week here and answer the pinned comment in the comment section
P.S. Last week, we only had 3 people enter the giveaway valued at $150+. The odds are in your favor!
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
🤝 Meet Get Air
Get Air Sports has been in the trampoline-park business since 2010 and now operates more than 70 parks. Its footprint stretches across the United States, Canada, and Japan. For a brand built on movement, parties, and repeat family visits, swag isn’t just merch… it’s part of the experience.
📣 Our Collaboration
We helped Get Air Store centralize all their merch in a clean and simple one-stop shop. The site covers everything from apparel and headwear to bags, drinkware, tech, and office gear.
For a multi-location operator, this is a practical win. One centralized, on-brand destination that supports staff, fans, and day-to-day consistency, without turning every merch request into a scavenger hunt.
🤝 Connect With Get Air
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
Brand Sauce is growing.
And with that growth comes the opportunity to work with some really incredible companies and brands. I know one day I’ll get used to seeing our work out in the world but right now, it still stops me in my tracks every time.
Because to me, it’s more than just work.
At home, my four kids are still young but they’re getting to the age where they’re starting to understand a little more about what I do. We talk about Brand Sauce, but more importantly, we talk about what it takes to build something… working hard, showing up, and being a kind, good person along the way.
Last weekend, something clicked in a way it never had before.
I took all four kids to Get Air, a jump park about 20 minutes from our house that they absolutely love. As we pulled up, the car filled with excitement.
“I’ve been here for a birthday party!”
“Daddy takes us here!”
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They couldn’t wait to get inside.
Then, from the backseat, Bo said something simple but it stuck with me.
“Get Air is one of Rossy’s clients.”
The girls didn’t fully understand what that meant. But in that moment, I realized… this was the first time my kids were connecting the dots between what I do every day and something real in their world.
Not an idea. Not a conversation.
A place they love. A place they get to have fun.
A place we helped build.
I don’t know if they’ll remember the details of that day. But I’ll remember the feeling, seeing that small sense of pride in their eyes, even if they couldn’t fully explain it yet.
As a parent, you don’t get many moments like that. Moments where your work and your family overlap in a way that actually means something.
So thank you to Get Air for giving me that moment. For giving my kids a place they love, and for unknowingly helping me show them what all the long hours are for.
The upgrades at the Poway location are incredible. My kids didn’t want to leave.
We’re lucky to work with a lot of amazing clients, and we’ll continue to grow. But this one felt different.
Because for the first time, my kids didn’t just hear about what I do.
They felt it.
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 👇
⏪ Previous Episodes
In Print-on-Demand | EP #77, we cover new data on the power of swag and why 83% of recipients feel more appreciated, what most companies still get wrong about employee recognition, Coachella’s merch shift with BELLA+CANVAS, the growing push toward sustainable merch, and what a more selective labor market means for hiring today, plus we’re giving away JBL Soundgear Clip Open Ear Headphones. We also highlight how PDS Optical is using its Brand Sauce company store to create a clean, on-demand merch experience that makes browsing, ordering, and brand consistency feel effortless. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a meaningful reflection from his kids’ Jog-a-thon, reminding us that gratitude, respect, and perspective are often passed down through simple, human moments that stick.
In Print-on-Demand | EP #76, we cover swag fulfillment delays flagged by Advertising Specialty Institute, new data showing AI is increasing employee workload, how discovery is shifting with AI (via The Verge), and why tangible rewards outperform cash when it comes to real engagement, plus we’re giving away a 3 Fold Charger. We also highlight how Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. is using its Brand Sauce company store to create a seamless, culture-driven merch experience with thoughtful details like their “Geospatial” collection. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a powerful reminder that connection starts small, and that something as simple as inviting others to the table can help us see each other not as different, but simply as people.
In Print-on-Demand | EP #75, we cover SpaceX IPO buzz, hiring lessons from 1,000+ interviews, Meta’s latest AI ad update, and what AI’s real economic impact might look like, plus we’re giving away a Tahoe Weekender Backpack. We also highlight how CISO Series is using its Brand Sauce company store to bring their community, content, and brand together in one place. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a meaningful reminder from the holidays, that sometimes the smallest gesture, like offering a seat at the table, can create a lasting sense of belonging.
In Print-on-Demand | EP #74, we cover AI in the workplace, and where it starts to cross the line, a viral AI playbook marketers can’t stop sharing, upcoming promo events, Admin Day ideas, and key industry updates. Plus, we’re giving away an Infinitunes wireless speaker + charger from HPG. We also highlight how Standard Builders is using their Brand Sauce company store to create consistency across teams and eliminate common swag issues. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a personal reflection from a trip to the circus, and why the real goal isn’t just success, it’s finding work that genuinely brings you joy.
THAT’S A WRAP
That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.
Until next time, stay saucy! 👋
– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team
Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder
© 2025 On Demand Global, LLC, DBA Brand Sauce