Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:35 — 52.4MB)

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Sustainability is becoming a bigger part of doing business in the promotional products industry, but knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. This week, Aaron and Terry welcome Liz Wimbush, PPAI’s Director of Sustainability & Responsibility, to help make the topic practical and easier to understand. Liz shares how PPAI is supporting members at every stage of their sustainability journey, from businesses just getting started to those already leading the way. The conversation covers available tools and education, the Carbon Intensity Study, packaging Extended Producer Responsibility regulations, emerging textile legislation and the upcoming PPAI Responsibility Summit. Whether you are a supplier, distributor, or decorator, this episode will help you better understand what sustainability means for your business, what changes may be coming, and what steps you can begin taking now.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:42 — 53.7MB)

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Is it time to buy a DTF printer, or are you better off continuing to outsource your transfers? In this episode, Terry and Aaron look at the decision from both sides. Terry brings the production perspective, while Aaron focuses on the numbers, cash flow, and business planning behind the investment. They will discuss order volume, staffing, available space, maintenance, turnaround time, equipment costs, and the real impact of downtime. They will also explain why the best answer may not be choosing one option over the other. For many decorators, a hybrid approach can provide the right balance of control, flexibility, and backup capacity. Before you invest in equipment or assume outsourcing is holding you back, this conversation will help you understand what factors should drive the decision.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:36 — 57.5MB)

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The lines between commercial printing and apparel decoration are disappearing. More customers want one trusted partner who can provide everything from business cards and brochures to branded apparel, signage, and promotional products. So where does that leave today’s apparel decorator? This week, Aaron and Terry welcome print industry veteran Mark Pomerantz, founder of SalesWisdom, to explore what apparel decorators can learn from the world of print sales. With more than 40 years of experience helping print professionals grow their businesses, Mark shares practical sales strategies, relationship-building techniques, and ideas for expanding your offerings without losing focus. We’ll also discuss why print and apparel are converging, what that means heading into PRINTING United Expo, and how decorators can position themselves as complete branding partners. If you’ve ever wondered whether adding print could grow your business, this episode is for you.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:30 — 52.8MB)

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As print shops grow, the problem is rarely just getting more orders. The real challenge is keeping production, inventory, shipping, and online sales from turning into a pile of disconnected systems and manual work. This week, Terry and Aaron welcome back Michael Thero of Pythias Technologies to talk about what modern fulfillment can teach every decorator. We’ll look at how automation, marketplace integrations, inventory tracking, order routing, and better production workflows can help shops save time, reduce mistakes, and open the door to new revenue opportunities. If you have ever wondered how smaller shops can compete in print-on-demand, become fulfillment partners, or scale without simply adding more people and more stress, this conversation will give you practical ideas to think through before your next stage of growth.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:10:06 — 59.9MB)

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This week on 2 Regular Guys, it’s a Takeup Takeover as Erich Campbell jumps on the mic to talk with the excellent embroidery educator Lisa Shaw about their experience educating new embroiderers online and on the tradeshow circuit. Join Erich and Lisa to discuss the most common mistakes and assumptions made by beginner embroiderers, the advice they’d give to anyone just starting out, and what beginners can expect from embroidery education both in the commercial and craft show spaces. They’ll talk about the embroidery innovation and creations they are seeing in the space and what they think embroiderers should be looking for when they want education, inspiration, and direction, and what the benefits of being present for in-person education can bring. Join these embroidery friends and be part of the discussion!

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