- 16
- Episodes
- Daily
- Cadence
- 2026
- First episode
About Let's Taco 'Bout It
"Let's Taco 'Bout It" conversations showcase industry personalities exploring a range of topics, including insightful supplier-distributor collaborations and key business issues. Branded Merch Network videos are produced to encourage, inspire, and educate. Enjoy these captivating discussions!
- Publisher
- Branded Merch Network
- Category
- business
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 4 May 2026
- Latest episode
- 22 Sept 2026
Latest episodes
16 episodes in the feed.
22 Sept 2026
AI Is Turning Personalization Into a Conversation
The "Future of Customization" is probably a conversation.What if the next big change in personalization isn’t another website, configurator or online store?What if you just tell the product what you want?That’s where this conversation with Angelo Coletta, CEO of Zakeke, gets really interesting.Angelo believes we’re moving toward a world where customers won’t spend nearly as much time clicking through menus and interfaces. They’ll talk to the software, describe what they want, see it, customize it and move much faster from idea to finished product.Jay and Angelo get into what that could mean for print, promo and apparel, from conversational commerce and voice to AI-powered customization, virtual try-on and a much bigger idea: print on demand may eventually become production on demand.More products. More personalization. Less friction.They also talk about the part that doesn’t get enough attention: AI can make incredibly complex things feel simple, but the production side still has to work every single time. That takes systems, guardrails and human judgment.Angelo’s goal is pretty simple: help businesses become lighter, faster and easier to work with while creating a better experience for the customer.And if the technology can give us more time to make money AND eat tacos?Jay is definitely listening. 😁Watch Jay’s full conversation with Angelo Coletta on Let’s Taco ’Bout It.www.Zakeke.com
16 Sept 2026
AI Won’t Replace Relationships. It Creates More Room for Them.
AI Won’t Replace Relationships. It Creates More Room for Them.What if the biggest advantage of AI isn’t doing more work?What if it’s creating more time to do the work only people can do?In Part 2 of Jay’s conversation with Davis Slagle of BeeGraphix, they explore what happens when technology starts removing the friction from everyday business. Ideas become proofs in minutes. Emails get handled faster. Meetings don’t require frantic note-taking. Follow-up gets easier. And suddenly, there’s more room to actually talk to customers, build relationships and solve better problems.Davis calls AI “the human advantage.” And that idea runs through the entire conversation.They also dig into the shift from idea to invoice, why the best online stores often start with the best story, how BeeGraphix is helping its team adopt new technology without fear, and why faster technology doesn’t make the human side of business less important. It may make it more important.Because the goal isn’t to automate the relationship.It’s to automate enough of the busy work that you have more room for one.This is Part 2 of Let’s Taco ’Bout It with Davis Slagle.https://beegraphix.com/ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRmlSajBMelk5MHpndkJzNTlQLVZoSnxBTl9pYzRlNHA0ck9vVmotemxNTnktbTJRTVM1QU5aT0tTODRhM2NnZFRLNERRLUpVeWVRQU1EMGw0OTI0bThfSURkUkNHV01yZU5jUldfdGRrYkpKemU0RkpVQ3pPRmVyZ3Q3&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbeegraphix.com%2F&v=1NDTO-BWqx0)
16 Sept 2026
Stop Selling T-Shirts. Start Solving Problems.
What if the t-shirt isn’t really the product?Davis Slagle and the team at BeeGraphix still make their money selling printed goods. But somewhere along the way, Davis stopped thinking like a traditional screen printer and started thinking like a problem solver.In Part 1 of this Let’s Taco ’Bout It conversation, Jay and Davis dig into that shift and what it changes: how you price, how you use technology, how you build systems and even how you think about the first order. Because to Davis, that first order isn’t the finish line. It’s the hello.They also get into why most customers don’t really care how something is decorated, what print-on-demand may become next, how AI and better data can make buying easier, and why Davis has changed the way he thinks about growth.If you’re still defining your business by what you print, embroider or sell, this conversation might give you something bigger to think about.• Why relationships drive more than one-off orders• How BeeGraphix shifted beyond traditional screen printing• Simplifying the buying process for customers• Using systems and technology to solve bigger problems• What print-on-demand really means today• Rethinking what growth looks likeThis is Part 1 of Jay’s conversation with Davis Slagle on Let’s Taco ’Bout It.https://beegraphix.com/ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRl9aREJEZUJKUGNLdzJyTDg3T3hpR3xBTl9pYzRkQThyRU4tS2tjdXRHNi02bkRYXy1LSU93QmlhdE5vTjRGVE1FRG5odm1kZkFqOXFRQXdFWjFoZjVGRlNyeDZHZGlzNDFabUNIcjFTTEhJSVZvTldQZGYyX3RiQmhV&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbeegraphix.com%2F&v=nm9YFdaEtxc)
27 Aug 2026
Stop Planning Events. Start Creating Moments.
Most events are built around logistics. The best ones are built around moments. In this episode of Let’s Taco ’Bout It, Jay Busselle sits down with Melissa Haen, founder of Moments + Merch, to explore why memorable experiences begin with story, and how branded merch can help bring that story to life. After years behind the scenes helping promotional product distributors market their businesses, Melissa launched her own company with a fresh perspective: Stop planning events people attend. Start creating experiences people remember. Melissa shares her Story First Framework and the question every event planner should ask before choosing the venue, building the agenda, or ordering the merch: What story do you want people to tell afterward? In this conversation, you’ll learn: • Why the story you want attendees to share should guide every event decision • How branded merch can reinforce an experience instead of becoming another giveaway • Why authentic connection often happens during the unstructured moments • How to think beyond attendance numbers, agendas, and rinse-and-repeat event planning • Why rocking the boat may be exactly what your next event needs Whether you’re planning a conference, customer event, internal meeting, or brand activation, this conversation will challenge you to think beyond logistics and create experiences that build connection, spark memories, and give people something worth talking about. If you’re doing the work in promo, print, apparel, or events, pull up a chair and hit subscribe. #Events (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/events) #EventMarketing (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/eventmarketing) #BrandedMerch (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/brandedmerch) #ExperientialMarketing (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/experientialmarketing) #PromotionalProducts (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/promotionalproducts) #CustomerExperience (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/customerexperience) #Storytelling (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/storytelling) #LetsTacoBoutIt (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/letstacoboutit)
27 Aug 2026
Sustainability Certifications Explained: Which Ones Actually Matter?
Everyone talks about sustainability—but which certifications actually matter? In this episode of Let's Taco 'Bout It, Jay Busselle sits down with Sara Osorio (Printing United Alliance) and Cassie Green (Apparelist) to cut through the confusion around sustainability certifications in the print, promo, and apparel industries. They discuss: What certifications like SGP, OEKO-TEX, GOTS, B Corp, EcoVadis, and ISO actually mean Why certifications are about proof, not promises How tracking sustainability metrics can uncover real business savings What customers are starting to expect from brands Where small and mid-sized businesses should begin Why sustainability is no longer just a "nice to have"—it's becoming a competitive advantage Whether you're a printer, decorator, promotional products distributor, or apparel business, this conversation offers practical insights on navigating sustainability without getting overwhelmed. What was your biggest takeaway? Let us know in the comments. 👍 Like this video if you found it helpful. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on business, printing, apparel, marketing, and innovation. #Sustainability (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sustainability) #Printing (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/printing) #Apparel (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/apparel) #PromotionalProducts (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/promotionalproducts) #SGP (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sgp) #OEKOTEX (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/oekotex) #BCorp (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/bcorp) #EcoVadis (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/ecovadis) #PrintingUnited (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/printingunited) #BusinessGrowth (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessgrowth) #LetsTacoBoutIt (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/letstacoboutit)
27 Aug 2026
AI Won’t Save Your Business (Until You Fix This First)
🚨 AI won’t fix a broken business. It might actually help you break it faster.In this episode of Let’s Taco ’Bout It, Jay Busselle sits down with Ali Banholzer, owner of Wear Your Spirit Warehouse and co-founder of Shirt Lab, for a practical conversation about AI, data, decisions, and building a business with intention.Ali shares how she uses technology not to do MORE… but to make better decisions.🌮 In this episode:🔹 Why “data without decision triggers” is just expensive clutter🔹 How Ali reviews the 5 KPIs that actually guide her business🔹 How AI helped uncover $24,000 in software savings🔹 Why automation magnifies your systems (good and bad)🔹 The difference between working IN your business vs ON your business🔹 Why the wrong customers cost more than you think🔹 How clarity beats fear-based decision makingOne of Ali’s biggest reminders:“If you automate the problems you already have, you're just going to drive yourself to bankruptcy faster.”AI is a tool.Clarity is the advantage.If you’re building a business in print, promo, apparel, branded merch — or simply trying to make smarter decisions — this conversation is for you.Pull up a chair (and a taco 🌮) and subscribe for more real conversations from Let’s Taco ’Bout It and the Branded Merch Network.#AI (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/ai) #SmallBusiness (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/smallbusiness) #BusinessGrowth (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessgrowth) #Automation (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/automation) #Entrepreneurship (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/entrepreneurship) #BrandedMerchandise (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/brandedmerchandise) #ScreenPrinting (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/screenprinting) #PromotionalProducts (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/promotionalproducts) #LetsTacoBoutIt (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/letstacoboutit)
23 Jul 2026
Busy Isn’t Better: The Shift From Volume to Value
🚨 More isn’t always better.More orders. More customers. More equipment. More content. More grind.But what if the next level of growth isn’t about adding more?In Part 2 of this conversation with Marshall Atkinson, we unpack one of the biggest traps in print, promo, and apparel: confusing activity with progress. 👀Marshall shares insights from interviewing 88 industry leaders for his e-book, 2026 Thinking: How Businesses Will Win, Stall, or Fail in 2026, and explains why the shops winning right now aren’t chasing everyone.💡 In this episode, we unpack:🔹 Why “more customers” can actually hurt your business🔹 The shift from volume → value🔹 How profitable shops think differently🔹 Why AI & automation are changing the game 🤖🔹 Advice fatigue in the industry 😵💫🔹 The power of clarity, positioning, and intentional growthThis one goes deep. 🔥If you’re in print, promo, apparel, merch, or branded marketing… this conversation applies to you.To connect with Marshall, visit: https://marshallatkinson.com/ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rUk5aRXZnS3ViWmJDS0d3aHJoTWNSdnxBR3JiS2FuNFFpSTloeHppMWREQXdGb1BQZGlDeWVycDFzUlVGbnl2VmN2ZU4tM0NUdkljblFjZ3Y5OHZKMklYdHZicm9STm8xeFdEc3JaYWVuQS1lZEJqOThYQng5VEtSYUZD&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmarshallatkinson.com%2F&v=JAQQdeZt8vw)
23 Jul 2026
Why Customers Replace You So Easily
Most shops think they’re partners…But customers still see them as vendors. 👀In this conversation, we unpack:👉 Why transactional businesses struggle👉 What separates vendors from true partners👉 The identity crisis happening in print, promo, and apparel👉 Why the old “volume model” is breaking👉 What the most profitable shops are doing differentlyOne of the biggest takeaways:The shops winning right now are obsessed with understanding their customer. 🎯Not their equipment.Not their volume.Not just selling more.Their customer.This conversation goes way beyond apparel decoration. If you work in print, promo, branded merch, or any service business, there’s something here for you. 👊To connect with Marshall, visit: https://marshallatkinson.com/ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rU0lveXB5RndBa3JCejJUd0sxSGtMT3xBR3JiS2FuYkc5U29mNzg1UDRQbzItLUZ0eGhFZ0E5X1Uzb1pTb2tyU0ZUOEloUVc1WklvMThScHFWUGZyYmFraTI3a0NuZUw4UzFURHVMUElCR0w1YXV5X1JVYnlaUVJuSFc1&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmarshallatkinson.com%2F&v=od0sg8whM24)
19 Jul 2026
AI Can Move Faster… But Can It Stay Human?
AI can move faster than ever.But if everything feels automated… does it still feel human?Jay sits down with Jason Nokes to break down what’s actually working right now:• Real personalization• Smarter automation• Keeping your voice intact👉 Consistency builds marketing momentum.A quick reset if your marketing is starting to feel robotic. Uploaded April 16, 2026
17 Jul 2026
Everyone’s Talking About Personalization… Few Are Doing It Well
Everyone’s talking about personalization. But when it comes to actually delivering it at scale… things get complicated. This conversation builds on the momentum from our Automate & Elevate online event—specifically the panel, “From Trend to Transaction.” In this follow-up, Ashley Colautti from Spector & Co helps take that idea further—breaking down what’s really happening behind the scenes, what’s working, what’s getting messy, and how distributors are turning personalization into programs that actually perform. Less hype. More clarity. Uploaded on Mar 24, 2026
15 Jul 2026
From 5-Star Service to 6-Star Thinking: Tom Rector on the Future of Promo, Print & Apparel
In today’s branded merchandise landscape, the traditional lines between promotional products, print, and apparel are starting to blur. In this episode of Let’s Taco ‘Bout It, Jay Busselle sits down with Tom Rector, CEO of thumbprint, to explore what that shift means for distributors, sales teams, and brand marketers. Tom shares his perspective on how the industry is evolving from separate lanes into a more integrated ecosystem, why companies need to move beyond reactive selling toward intentional sales design, and how immersive brand activations can create measurable business impact. Along the way, Tom introduces a powerful mindset shift around service and expectations: “When you deliver 5-star service, you've done everything you're supposed to do. If that's the expectation, the real question becomes… what does it take to deliver 6 stars?” Topics include: • Why promo, print, and apparel are converging • How thumbprint approaches intentional sales strategy • The difference between hype and real ROI in experiential marketing • Signals that the industry shift is already happening If you work in promo, print, or apparel decoration, this conversation offers a clear look at where the industry is heading and how leaders are adapting. Uploaded on Mar 9, 2026
25 May 2026
Sustainability Is Everywhere… But What’s Actually Changing?
In this episode of Let’s Taco ’Bout It, Jay sits down with Mel Lay of Allmade Apparel to unpack what she felt at PPAI and Impressions Expo — from shifting expectations to the gap between real progress and performative messaging. They also talk about what it looks like to do the work, including Allmade’s upcoming trip to Honduras and their effort to raise $30K for foster homes. 👉 https://allmade.com/blogs/news/help-us-raise-30k-for-foster-homes-in-honduras (https://allmade.com/blogs/news/help-us-raise-30k-for-foster-homes-in-honduras) If sustainability has started to feel noisy, this conversation brings it back to what actually matters. Uploaded on Mar 23, 2026
22 May 2026
Automate & Elevate Deep Dive with Rick Molenaar - Part One
Let's Taco 'Bout automation with Rick Molenaar from Fast Editor. Rick was a panelist for our popular Automate & Elevate Summit. There is so much to discuss about this important topic, we are taking advantage of the opportunity to go deeper with Rick. Enjoy part one of this conversation. Learn more about FastEditor here: https://www.fasteditor.com/ (https://www.fasteditor.com/) Uploaded on Feb 21, 2026
21 May 2026
Automate & Elevate with Rick Molenaar - Part Two
Enjoy part two of this Let's Taco 'Bout It conversation on automation with Rick Molenaar from FastEditor. Rick was a panelist for our popular Automate & Elevate Summit. There is so much to discuss about this important topic; we are taking advantage of the opportunity to go deeper with Rick. Learn more about FastEditor here: https://www.fasteditor.com/ (https://www.fasteditor.com/) Uploaded on Feb 21, 2026
19 May 2026
Let's Taco 'Bout Automation with Eric Granata
Eric Granata was a panelist at our popular Automate & Elevate Summit. It's impossible to cover all the information on this business-changing topic in a Summit format. We're following up on the Summit with deeper conversations to help those who want to learn more about how automation tools can positively impact their businesses. Learn more about PromoPilot here: https://www.promopilot.io/ (https://www.promopilot.io/) Uploaded on Feb 21, 2026
4 May 2026
Let's Taco 'Bout It with Charity, Marshall & Jay
If it doesn’t mean something, it won’t last. In this relaunch of Let’s Taco ’Bout It, we explore why print-on-demand is about more than speed or efficiency—it’s about creating meaningful, personal items people actually keep. Because nobody wants your logo. They want their name. Their story. Their moment. When brands stop chasing scale for scale’s sake and start focusing on meaning, story, and relevance, everything changes—from sustainability to customer loyalty to long-term growth. In this episode, we explore: • Why one thousand unique items beat one thousand identical ones • How print-on-demand supports smarter, more sustainable production • Why customization creates emotional connection—not just decoration • What buyers actually want (hint: it’s not your logo) Let’s Taco ’Bout It is back with honest conversations, real industry perspective, and ideas worth holding onto—just like the products we create. 🌮 Hosted by Jay Busselle: Co-Founder, Branded Merch Network 🌮 Guests: Charity Gibson & Marshall Atkinson Uploaded on Jan 22, 2026
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