👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #81, 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

🎽 Inventory just got a little smarter: S&S Activewear announced ApparelSoft IQ, a machine learning layer built into its proprietary ApparelSoft ERP. The company says it uses more than 35 years of historical data, has already been live for over six months, and has helped push out-of-stocks to the lowest level in company history. For decorators and distributors, that is not just a tech story. That is fewer “sorry, that color is gone” emails. Source.

🥤 Stanley Still Has a Grip on Corporate Swag: The Stanley craze hasn’t cooled off, especially in employee gifting and branded merch. Premium drinkware continues to outperform throwaway swag, and Stanley tumblers hit that sweet spot of practical, durable, and genuinely wanted. More companies are using them for onboarding kits, client gifts, and event giveaways because these actually make it into people’s daily routines. Checkout the collection here.

🗓️ Chicago is the next big promo pit stop: ASI Show Chicago lands at McCormick Place on July 21 through July 23, and ASI describes it as one of the year’s most anticipated industry events. Be sure to drop us a note at [email protected] if you’re attending. Register here.

🗓️ HR’s Main Event: SHRM’s Annual Conference & Expo: runs from June 16 through June 19 in Orlando and virtually. SHRM bills it as the world’s largest HR conference, with 375+ expert-led sessions. Check it out here.

📉 The labor market Update: U.S. initial jobless claims rose to 211,000 for the week ended May 9, while continuing claims climbed to 1.782 million, according to Reuters’ May 14 coverage of Labor Department data. A separate Reuters report on the Federal Reserve’s latest household survey found job worries rose to 42% from 37% a year earlier. Source.

🔠 Did you know?: Merriam-Webster notes that the ampersand once functioned like a 27th letter and got its name from the phrase “and per se and.” Which means one of branding’s favorite symbols is really just a very old pronunciation shortcut with good visual instincts. Source.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Brand Sauce is taking over the Philippines

Your offshore team deserves more than a Slack emoji reaction.

Our Philippines Brand Sauce catalog makes it easy to deliver the same level of recognition, onboarding, and company culture to offshore employees and contractors, without the shipping headaches.

Same Brand Sauce experience. Just built closer to your team.

See the Philippines Brand Sauce Experience here.

WEEKLY GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: 24 Can Glacier Peak XL Cooler Bag

For everyone who has ever showed up to a company picnic, field day, or offsite with warm drinks and misplaced optimism, this 24 Can Glacier Peak XL Cooler Bag is built for the job.

HPG says it holds 24 cans, uses padded PE foam insulation and tarpaulin lining to keep things cold in hot weather, and even includes a bottle opener hanging off the side strap.

Details:

• 1 lucky reader will score a 24 Can Glacier Peak XL Cooler Bag branded with their company logo.

• Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 How to enter:

To enter the giveaway, respond to this email and let us know where in the world you have employees that you would like to ship swag to.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Acuren

Acuren works in one of those sectors where precision is not a vibe, it is the job. The company describes itself as a leading provider of critical asset integrity services in North America, spanning testing, inspection, certification, and related field services across industries including chemical, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, wind, and power generation. It also leads with values that sound refreshingly concrete: People First, Integrity Always, Pride in Our Work, and Growth Together. That kind of brand has a built-in challenge for merch. It has to feel useful, credible, and aligned with serious work, not like an afterthought from the events closet.

📣 Our Collaboration

Acuren’s new company store is a great example of swag done at scale. From Carhartt jackets and quarter-zips to drinkware, tech, and office gear, the store keeps everything centralized and on-brand, making it easier for teams across the company to order approved merch without the usual procurement chaos. Powered by Brand Sauce, of course.

🤝 Connect With Acuren

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

The Power of Saying No

This week, I realized I need to get a lot better at saying no.

For most of my life, saying no has been hard for me because it feels like I’m letting people down. But as Brand Sauce continues to grow, our four kids continue to grow, and the demands on my time continue to grow, I’m realizing something important:

If I don’t learn how to say no, eventually I won’t have enough left to give to the things that matter most.

I’ve heard countless CEOs talk about the systems they use to help themselves say no more often.

One CEO said he forces himself to write a paragraph explaining why he should say yes to something. If he can’t even write the first sentence, it’s an automatic no. But if he could write ten pages about why it matters, then it’s an easy yes.

Another CEO said he asks himself a simple question:
“Will I still feel FOMO about missing this a month from now?”
If the answer is no, then he declines.

That one really stuck with me.

I also remember hearing Tom Brady say that constantly having to say no taught him who truly loved him unconditionally. The people who got upset every time he said no weren’t really his people. The ones who understood, supported him, and gave him grace, those were his real family and friends.

As we head into summer, I’m going to work hard at protecting my time, my energy, and my attention a little better. That means saying no more often, even when it’s uncomfortable.

And honestly, I hope the people around me will give me some grace while I learn how to do that better.

If you’re someone who struggles with wanting to make everyone happy, I’d genuinely love your advice. Saying no doesn’t come naturally to me, and I could use all the help I can get.

👥 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 #80, we cover how recruiters are increasingly finding top talent through real-world interactions instead of traditional applications, why CEOs are feeling mounting pressure to get AI strategy right before 2026, and how STAHLS’ new MLS licensing deal signals that personalized, on-demand merch is officially becoming mainstream in sports and fan culture. We also break down how automated birthday gifting programs are helping companies turn employee recognition into a retention tool, and we’re giving away the Screen Saber Computer Monitor Light Bar. Plus, we highlight how TIC Solutions is using its Brand Sauce company store to create a polished, centralized merch experience that supports both field teams and corporate operations. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a heartfelt Mother’s Day reflection on the invisible work, sacrifices, and unconditional love that moms carry every single day.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #79, we cover how Hasbro’s $600 animatronic Grogu is pushing merch into premium, experience-driven territory, why S&S Activewear’s partnership with Legends signals a bigger shift toward elevated athleisure swag, what upcoming events from PPAI and SHRM say about where the promo and HR industries are heading, and why new research from McLean & Co. shows growth and development matter more than compensation when it comes to engagement. Plus, we’re giving away the Glamper Lantern Speaker. We also highlight how Simplus is using its Brand Sauce company store to centralize merch into one polished, wearable, and easy-to-manage experience. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a personal reflection on step-parenting and the reminder that people do not remember titles, they remember who showed up for them.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #78, we cover Gap’s Hoodie House taking over Coachella, why useful merch still wins according to new ASI data, what the PPAI Leadership Conference signals for the industry, and why recognition continues to outperform compensation when it comes to retention, plus we’re giving away Accousticks Wireless Over-Ear Earbuds. We also highlight how Get Air is using its Brand Sauce company store to centralize merch into one clean, on-demand experience that keeps everything consistent, simple, and easy to scale across locations. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a personal moment at Get Air with his kids, where they connected his work to a place they love, a reminder that what we build as a brand often shows up in real, meaningful ways.

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.

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