2 Regular Guys Talking Decoration and Personalization

About 2 Regular Guys Talking Decoration and Personalization

2 Regular Guys... talking decorations, personalization and customization every Friday.

Publisher

2 Regular Guys Talking Decoration and Personalization

Category

business · business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Mar 2023

Latest episode

28 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

23 of 170 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   28 Aug 2026

   What’s Really Happening in Promo? The 2026 State of the Industry

   Every year, ASI’s Counselor State of the Industry report gives us one of the clearest snapshots of what is really happening across the promotional products world. This week, we welcome back Theresa Hegel and C.J. Mittica from ASI to help us look beyond the headlines and break down what the 2026 numbers mean for the people actually doing the work. The industry grew in 2025, but beneath that growth are some important shifts. Aaron and Terry will dig into the findings with Theresa and C.J., including what surprised them, which trends deserve more attention, where the biggest opportunities may be hiding, and what distributors, suppliers and decorators can learn from the data. This isn’t just about where the industry has been. It’s about what the numbers can tell us about where we’re going next, and how you can use that information to make better decisions in your own business. (http://osg.link/builder) Your business doesn’t need more tasks. It needs clarity, alignment, and a structure that supports you. The Business Builder Accelerator (http://osg.link/builder) is a guided 12-week experience that helps you uncover what actually matters, make confident decisions, and build a foundation you can grow on. Explore the experience and sign up for a free clarity call –> OSG.link/Builder (http://osg.link/builder) News If you have anything newsworthy you would like us to share, please email details to info@2regularguys.com (mailto:info@2regularguys.com). Use the subject line “Weekly News.” https://youtu.be/oDogBOhF9HU Dad Joke Terry: I tried to organize a hide-n-seek tournament, but it was a total disaster Yeah, good hide-n-seek players are hard to find Promo State of the Industry Aaron: Welcome to you both. Theresa, you’ve been on with us dozens of times, but CJ, it’s been a while. Could you tell us a little about yourself and your journey in the industry? Terry: Theresa, can you give us some history and background on the Counselor State of the Industry Report? Aaron: For people who haven’t dug into the SOI yet, what’s the main takeaway for promo right now? CJ, let’s go to you first. Anything to add, Theresa? Terry: Theresa, what surprised you most when you started looking through this year’s data? Anything else CJ? Aaron: Teresa, can you talk about some of the most popular products and biggest markets in promo? CJ, how have these categories changed over the years? (https://www.ilearningplus.org/learn/course/direct-to-film-production-techniques/) Terry: Can you talk a little about industry health? Distributor profit margins declined for the first time since 2020. CJ, what do you attribute that to? Theresa, how are distributors handling the decline? Aaron: Theresa, how are trends like AI and print-on-demand affecting the industry? CJ, anything to add? Terry: CJ, can you talk a little about product sourcing and how geopolitical uncertainty and tariffs have affected it? Theresa, how are suppliers and distributors responding to these headwinds? Aaron: Theresa, what’s one finding in the report that you think promo companies should be paying more attention to? How about you, CJ? Terry: Theresa, where can our listeners find you, ASI and beyond? And CJ, how can our listeners find you? The Secret Sauce (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw-2bzBcYW4hvUAnUl5yaeavNgXO5EIDm) We serve up bite-sized tips for our #regulators to instantly spice up their decorated apparel business. Just like the perfect wing sauce, these quick tips can transform your business experience, adding flavor and depth to your operations. Each video in this playlist is a nugget of wisdom, carefully selected for its potential to bring immediate value to your work. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started in the decorated apparel industry, dip into our ‘Secret Sauce’ for insights that can help you soar. https://youtu.be/Jfr4qzD2QYA (https://decorators.ink/dtgdtf) OTHER EVENTS Small Business Saturdays (https://oursuccessgroup.com/sbspodcast/) – Saturdays at Noon Central Time and then available to watch any time. Master of Success Inner Circle (https://oursuccessgroup.com/mos/) – Bi-weekly Mastermind Groups with accountability, support, and a built-in support group. Complete Screen Printing Business Course (https://terrycombs.com/chicago-class/) with Atlas Screen Supply in Chicago, March 21-22, 2026 The Take-up with Erich Campbell (http://www.erichcampbell.com/the-takeup-live-machine-embroidery-talk-with-erich-campbell/) – Fridays at 2:30 Mountain Time Demystifying Next Level Digitizing (https://www.decorators.education/dnld/) Online Training from Erich Campbell Understanding Emblems (https://decorators.education/emblems/): Learn from Erich Campbell about digitizing for patches. DTF Transfer from TransferDepot.com: (https://transferdepot.com/discount/AMONTGO2025) Use code AMONTGO2025 for 10% off DTFUniversity.com (https://www.dtfuniversity.com/users/sign_up): The industry’s DTF education source in partnership with SuperGamut (https://supergamut.com/)and DTF Superstore (https://dtfsuperstore.com/). Trade Shows Graphics Pro Expo, Cleveland, OH (https://www.graphics-pro-expo.com/events/) – September 10-11, 2026 – CANCELLED Printing United Expo, Las Vegas, NV (https://www.printingunited.com/) – September 23-25, 2026 Impressions Dallas, TX (https://texas.impressionsexpo.com/) – October 22-24, 2026 Purpose + Profit, St. Louis, MO (https://osg.link/retreat) – October 30-31, 2026 ASI Orlando, FL (https://www.asishow.com/trade-shows/orlando) – January 5-7, 2027 Impressions Long Beach, CA (https://longbeach.impressionsexpo.com/) – January 21-23, 2027 DAX Kansas City, MO (https://daxshow.com/)– February 19-20, 2027 International Personalization Expo Las Vegas, NV (https://personalizationpros.org/event/2027-international-personalization-expo/) – February 23-26, 2027 ASI Fort Worth, TX (https://www.asishow.com/trade-shows/fort-worth) – March 1-3, 2027 Impressions Atlantic City, NJ (https://atlanticcity.impressionsexpo.com/) – March 18-20, 2027 DAX Twin Cities, MN (https://daxshow.com/) – April 16-17, 2027 DAX Nashville, TN (https://daxshow.com/) – May 14-15, 2027 DAX Chicago, IL (https://daxshow.com/) – June 11-12, 2027 ASI Chicago, IL (https://www.asishow.com/trade-shows/chicago) – July 27-29, 2027 DAX Indianapolis, IN (https://daxshow.com/) – October 1-2, 2027 All dates and events are subject to change

2. 

   21 Aug 2026

   Stop the Slop: AI, Authentic Marketing & the Power of Community

   AI makes it easier than ever to create marketing content, but easier does not always mean better. This week, Aaron and Terry welcome B2B marketing expert, print industry advocate, and author Joanne Gore to talk about how poorly used AI can strip the personality out of your marketing, blur what makes your business different, and potentially send customers looking elsewhere. We’ll explore how print and decorated-apparel businesses can use AI without producing generic “AI slop,” why a strong messaging foundation matters before you ever write a prompt, and how the human behind the business still makes all the difference. Then we’ll turn from artificial intelligence to real connection. Joanne will share why industry associations, peer networks, and one-to-one relationships remain so valuable in an increasingly digital world, plus how business owners can get far more from membership than simply paying dues. We’ll also connect these ideas to Joanne’s book, Thriving in Chaos: Lessons Learned as a Corporate Marketer, and what decades of change have taught her about resilience, adapting without losing yourself, and building relationships that help us navigate both business and life. (http://osg.link/builder) Your business doesn’t need more tasks. It needs clarity, alignment, and a structure that supports you. The Business Builder Accelerator (http://osg.link/builder) is a guided 12-week experience that helps you uncover what actually matters, make confident decisions, and build a foundation you can grow on. Explore the experience and sign up for a free clarity call –> OSG.link/Builder (http://osg.link/builder) News If you have anything newsworthy you would like us to share, please email details to info@2regularguys.com (mailto:info@2regularguys.com). Use the subject line “Weekly News.” https://youtu.be/AZaQj0Nodco Dad Joke Aaron: Did you know the person who invented the Ferris Wheel never met the person who invented the Merry Go Round? They traveled in different circles AI Marketing Slop Aaron: Welcome to the show, Joanne. Tell our listeners a little bit about you and your journey in the industry. Terry: Let’s start with “AI slop.” What exactly do you mean by AI slop, and why should a print business owner care about it? Aaron: AI can produce a tremendous amount of content very quickly. Where do you see businesses going wrong when they start using AI as a content machine rather than as a marketing tool? Aaron: One of the biggest risks seems to be that AI-generated content makes a company sound just like everyone else. How does that actually drive customers toward the competition? Terry: What are some of the telltale signs that you’re looking at AI slop? Are there things that immediately make you say, “Yep, nobody proofread this”? Aaron: You talk about messaging playbooks as a foundation for getting better results from AI. What should a print company have in that playbook before it starts asking AI to create marketing content? (https://www.ilearningplus.org/learn/course/direct-to-film-production-techniques/) Terry: Can AI actually help a small print business sound more human and differentiated or does that still require the human being behind the business? Aaron: Let’s shift gears to associations. You’ve been involved with industry associations and communities for years. Why should a business owner join an association when so much information and networking is available online for free? Terry: There’s an old saying that “membership has its privileges.” What are the privileges of association membership that business owners often overlook? Terry: How can someone get a real return on their association membership instead of simply paying dues and putting the association logo on their website? Aaron: If you could give a print business owner one thing to do tomorrow, one to “stop the slop” in their marketing? Terry: Joanne, where can people find you, learn more about your work, and continue the conversation after the podcast? The Secret Sauce (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw-2bzBcYW4hvUAnUl5yaeavNgXO5EIDm) We serve up bite-sized tips for our #regulators to instantly spice up their decorated apparel business. Just like the perfect wing sauce, these quick tips can transform your business experience, adding flavor and depth to your operations. Each video in this playlist is a nugget of wisdom, carefully selected for its potential to bring immediate value to your work. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started in the decorated apparel industry, dip into our ‘Secret Sauce’ for insights that can help you soar. https://youtu.be/bgrArmA4FHQ (https://decorators.ink/dtgdtf) OTHER EVENTS Small Business Saturdays (https://oursuccessgroup.com/sbspodcast/) – Saturdays at Noon Central Time and then available to watch any time. Master of Success Inner Circle (https://oursuccessgroup.com/mos/) – Bi-weekly Mastermind Groups with accountability, support, and a built-in support group. Complete Screen Printing Business Course (https://terrycombs.com/chicago-class/) with Atlas Screen Supply in Chicago, March 21-22, 2026 The Take-up with Erich Campbell (http://www.erichcampbell.com/the-takeup-live-machine-embroidery-talk-with-erich-campbell/) – Fridays at 2:30 Mountain Time Demystifying Next Level Digitizing (https://www.decorators.education/dnld/) Online Training from Erich Campbell Understanding Emblems (https://decorators.education/emblems/): Learn from Erich Campbell about digitizing for patches. DTF Transfer from TransferDepot.com: (https://transferdepot.com/discount/AMONTGO2025) Use code AMONTGO2025 for 10% off DTFUniversity.com (https://www.dtfuniversity.com/users/sign_up): The industry’s DTF education source in partnership with SuperGamut (https://supergamut.com/)and DTF Superstore (https://dtfsuperstore.com/). Trade Shows Graphics Pro Expo, Cleveland, OH (https://www.graphics-pro-expo.com/events/) – September 10-11, 2026 – CANCELLED Printing United Expo, Las Vegas, NV (https://www.printingunited.com/) – September 23-25, 2026 Impressions Dallas, TX (https://texas.impressionsexpo.com/) – October 22-24, 2026 Purpose + Profit, St. Louis, MO (https://osg.link/retreat) – October 30-31, 2026 ASI Orlando, FL (https://www.asishow.com/trade-shows/orlando) – January 5-7, 2027 Impressions Long Beach, CA (https://longbeach.impressionsexpo.com/) – January 21-23, 2027 DAX Kansas City, MO (https://daxshow.com/)– February 19-20, 2027 International Personalization Expo Las Vegas, NV (https://personalizationpros.org/event/2027-international-personalization-expo/) – February 23-26, 2027 ASI Fort Worth, TX (https://www.asishow.com/trade-shows/fort-worth) – March 1-3, 2027 Impressions Atlantic City, NJ (https://atlanticcity.impressionsexpo.com/) – March 18-20, 2027 DAX Twin Cities, MN (https://daxshow.com/) – April 16-17, 2027 DAX Nashville, TN (https://daxshow.com/) – May 14-15, 2027 DAX Chicago, IL (https://daxshow.com/) – June 11-12, 2027 ASI Chicago, IL (https://www.asishow.com/trade-shows/chicago) – July 27-29, 2027 DAX Indianapolis, IN (https://daxshow.com/) – October 1-2, 2027 All dates and events are subject to change

3. 

   14 Aug 2026

   Stop Making Print So Damn Complicated

   This week, Warren Werbitt, The Print Whisperer, is back to talk about something nearly everyone in the print industry has been guilty of: making things more complicated than they need to be. Whether you own the shop, sell the work, run production, manage a team, or are simply trying to grow your career, there are always distractions pulling your attention away from what really matters. New equipment, pricing pressure, customer demands, internal drama, shiny new technology, and plenty of opinions about what you should be doing next. Warren joins Aaron and Terry to talk about putting the blinders on, focusing on what you can control, making smarter decisions, and taking ownership of your role in the business. We’ll get into sales, profitability, people, technology, PRINTING United Expo, and some of the dumb decisions we all make along the way. Sometimes the biggest improvement is not adding something new. It is getting clear about what matters, simplifying the noise, and doing your part better. (http://osg.link/builder) Your business doesn’t need more tasks. It needs clarity, alignment, and a structure that supports you. The Business Builder Accelerator (http://osg.link/builder) is a guided 12-week experience that helps you uncover what actually matters, make confident decisions, and build a foundation you can grow on. Explore the experience and sign up for a free clarity call –> OSG.link/Builder (http://osg.link/builder) News If you have anything newsworthy you would like us to share, please email details to info@2regularguys.com (mailto:info@2regularguys.com). Use the subject line “Weekly News.” https://youtu.be/7QH3XyMo17k Dad Joke Aaron: From Andy Swanson: Why was the librarian kicked off the airplane? Because it was overbooked Color Consistency Aaron: Welcome in, Warren. You were here recently, so give us the elevator version of your bio. Terry: You’re known for being innovative, unconventional, and uncensored. What’s something the print industry believes today that you think is completely wrong? Aaron: You work with SMB print businesses. What is the biggest mistake you see owners making that is holding their company back? Terry: A lot of print business owners are busy all the time but aren’t necessarily profitable. How do you help them distinguish between being busy and actually building a successful business? Aaron: What do you think separates a print shop that is simply surviving from one that is positioned to grow and thrive? Terry: How important is it for a print business owner to get out of the production weeds and start working on the business instead of constantly working in it? (https://www.ilearningplus.org/learn/course/direct-to-film-production-techniques/) Aaron: Print owners often focus heavily on equipment, technology, and production. Are we sometimes overlooking the more important investments in people, sales, and business processes? Terry: What’s your advice to a shop owner who says, “My customers only care about price”? Is that really true? Aaron: You’ve seen a lot of changes in print over the years. Which current technology or market trend do you think is genuinely exciting—and which one is getting more hype than it deserves? Terry: If you walked into a struggling print business tomorrow, what are the first three things you would look at to figure out what’s really wrong? Terry: You clearly love print. After everything you’ve seen in this industry, what keeps you excited about print and convinced there’s still a great future for independent print businesses? Aaron: How can our listeners find you? Bonus question if needed: If you could give every print business owner one piece of brutally honest advice—and they had no choice but to listen—what would you tell them? The Secret Sauce (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw-2bzBcYW4hvUAnUl5yaeavNgXO5EIDm) We serve up bite-sized tips for our #regulators to instantly spice up their decorated apparel business. Just like the perfect wing sauce, these quick tips can transform your business experience, adding flavor and depth to your operations. Each video in this playlist is a nugget of wisdom, carefully selected for its potential to bring immediate value to your work. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started in the decorated apparel industry, dip into our ‘Secret Sauce’ for insights that can help you soar. https://youtu.be/uRydzQfjXoA (https://decorators.ink/dtgdtf) OTHER EVENTS Small Business Saturdays (https://oursuccessgroup.com/sbspodcast/) – Saturdays at Noon Central Time and then available to watch any time. Master of Success Inner Circle (https://oursuccessgroup.com/mos/) – Bi-weekly Mastermind Groups with accountability, support, and a built-in support group. Complete Screen Printing Business Course (https://terrycombs.com/chicago-class/) with Atlas Screen Supply in Chicago, March 21-22, 2026 The Take-up with Erich Campbell (http://www.erichcampbell.com/the-takeup-live-machine-embroidery-talk-with-erich-campbell/) – Fridays at 2:30 Mountain Time Demystifying Next Level Digitizing (https://www.decorators.education/dnld/) Online Training from Erich Campbell Understanding Emblems (https://decorators.education/emblems/): Learn from Erich Campbell about digitizing for patches. DTF Transfer from TransferDepot.com: (https://transferdepot.com/discount/AMONTGO2025) Use code AMONTGO2025 for 10% off DTFUniversity.com (https://www.dtfuniversity.com/users/sign_up): The industry’s DTF education source in partnership with SuperGamut (https://supergamut.com/)and DTF Superstore (https://dtfsuperstore.com/). Trade Shows Graphics Pro Expo, Long Beach, CA (https://www.graphics-pro-expo.com/events/) – August 13-15, 2026 – CANCELLED Graphics Pro Expo, Cleveland, OH (https://www.graphics-pro-expo.com/events/) – September 10-11, 2026 – CANCELLED Printing United Expo, Las Vegas, NV (https://www.printingunited.com/) – September 23-25, 2026 Impressions Dallas, TX (https://texas.impressionsexpo.com/) – October 22-24, 2026 Purpose + Profit, St. Louis, MO (https://osg.link/retreat) – October 30-31, 2026 ASI Orlando, FL (https://www.asishow.com/trade-shows/orlando) – January 5-7, 2027 Impressions Long Beach, CA (https://longbeach.impressionsexpo.com/) – January 21-23, 2027 DAX Kansas City, MO (https://daxshow.com/)– February 19-20, 2027 International Personalization Expo Las Vegas, NV (https://personalizationpros.org/event/2027-international-personalization-expo/) – February 23-26, 2027 ASI Fort Worth, TX (https://www.asishow.com/trade-shows/fort-worth) – March 1-3, 2027 Impressions Atlantic City, NJ (https://atlanticcity.impressionsexpo.com/) – March 18-20, 2027 DAX Twin Cities, MN (https://daxshow.com/) – April 16-17, 2027 DAX Nashville, TN (https://daxshow.com/) – May 14-15, 2027 DAX Chicago, IL (https://daxshow.com/) – June 11-12, 2027 ASI Chicago, IL (https://www.asishow.com/trade-shows/chicago) – July 27-29, 2027 DAX Indianapolis, IN (https://daxshow.com/) – October 1-2, 2027 All dates and events are subject to change

Inside a recent episode

Color Confidence: Better Workflows, Consistent Results

Published 7 Aug 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] We were having bad casts. It's such a small change that can be made. But when you're seeing that stuff, especially now you're dealing with what I always call the prosumer level base, Creators, I know there must be a lot of simple mistakes are happening. What are kind of the most prevalent mistakes you see shops making right now and what do you think is like a little improvement like that that most shops could implement immediately? I could name a few. Calibrate your monitors if you're viewing critical color on them. uh the color management settings out of adobe software so many people are using the adobe software it's great software but if you are using the default color settings you are automatically setting yourself up for failure because it's set to the defaults to be good for digital design like on websites and on tv digital signs, but it's not set up for print. […]

Who has been a guest on 2 Regular Guys Talking Decoration and Personalization

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Mark Pomerantz
• David Conner
• Erich Campbell
• Becky Kotzer
• Anthony Schmitt

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

44,544

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 72 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

87

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

68

Contact 2 Regular Guys Talking Decoration and Personalization

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