Supplier Promo Playbook

About Supplier Promo Playbook

Welcome to the Supplier Promo Playbook, the ultimate podcast for promotional product suppliers looking to thrive in a fast-changing industry. Hosted by Lisa Fosdick (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-fosdick/), Kimberly Ballerene, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlymillerballerene/overlay/about-this-profile/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3B9UVj2fy%2FT2GfNRO%2B4ltWKg%3D%3D) and Adrienne Barker, MAS (https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennebarkermas/), three seasoned pros with decades of combined experience. This show provides the real-world insights and tactical strategies you need to succeed in the supplier-to-distributor channel. Each episode unpacks critical topics, including how to market to distributors, search engine success in the promotional space, navigating buying groups, go-to-market strategies, expected services, inventory management, and software onboarding. Whether you're a startup supplier or a seasoned professional seeking growth, this is your go-to resource for actionable advice and enhanced results. Subscribe now and get ready to master your market with The Supplier Promo Playbook.

Publisher

Supplier Promo Playbook

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 May 2025

Latest episode

9 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

31 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Nov 2026

   Beyond the Trophy: How Promotional Products Industry Awards Build Credibility

   What does it take to earn recognition in the promotional products industry, and how can an award help you build credibility, authority, and new business opportunities? In this episode of The Promo Playbook, Lisa Fosdick, Adrienne Barker, MAS, and Kim Ballerene explore the power of promotional products industry awards, including recognition programs offered by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), and regional promotional products associations. In this episode, you'll discover: Why industry awards matter for suppliers, distributors, and service providers. Which ASI, PPAI, and regional recognition programs deserve your attention. Why smaller companies and emerging professionals should consider applying. How to identify the right awards for your accomplishments. What makes an effective award nomination, including measurable results, testimonials, and compelling case studies. How to create an annual awards calendar and prepare applications before deadlines. Why nominating deserving colleagues and recognizing team contributions strengthens the industry. How to promote an award professionally through LinkedIn, press releases, websites, newsletters, and sales presentations. How awards can support business development, employee recruitment, and professional visibility. Why credible recognition matters more than simply collecting trophies. The conversation also explores an often-overlooked responsibility: supporting colleagues who deserve recognition but may never nominate themselves. The biggest takeaway? An award is not the end of the story. The real opportunity comes from demonstrating the accomplishments, relationships, and results behind it. Whether you're a new promotional products supplier, an established distributor, a decorator, or an industry professional building your reputation, this episode offers practical strategies for turning recognition into meaningful opportunities. Resources: ASI Awards: https://members.asicentral.com/awards (https://members.asicentral.com/awards) PPAI Awards: https://www.ppai.org/media/awards/ (https://www.ppai.org/media/awards/) PPAI Pyramid Awards: https://www.ppai.org/media/awards/pyramid-awards/ (https://www.ppai.org/media/awards/pyramid-awards/) PPAI Icon Awards: https://www.ppai.org/media/awards/icon-awards/ (https://www.ppai.org/media/awards/icon-awards/) Special thanks to PromoCorner for hosting The Promo Playbook website and supporting a platform dedicated to education, collaboration, and professional growth in the promotional products industry. Website: https://www.promocorner.com/ (https://www.promocorner.com/) Subscribe to The Promo Playbook for practical conversations about promotional products marketing, supplier success, distributor relationships, industry leadership, and business growth.

2. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Beyond Branded Merch: The Business of Incentive Travel with Tamara Borello

   What if your next big opportunity in promotional products isn't a product at all, but an experience? In this episode of Promo Supplier Playbook, Lisa Fosdick and Adrienne Barker, MAS, welcome Tamara Borello of Givventure to explore how incentive travel, corporate experiences, and experiential rewards are creating new opportunities for promotional products distributors and their clients. With more than 30 years of experience in the branded merchandise industry, Tamara brings a unique perspective on combining travel with promotional products to build stronger business relationships, recognize employees, reward sales performance, and create lasting connections. The conversation explores everything from corporate retreats and VIP hospitality experiences to culinary adventures, sales incentive trips, and creative employee recognition programs. Tamara explains how distributors can identify travel opportunities within existing client relationships and collaborate with service providers to expand their offerings. Adrienne takes listeners back to the memorable WRAP/V supplier incentive trips, sharing firsthand experiences of earning trips to Rome and Switzerland. The discussion highlights how travel incentives have influenced distributor loyalty and sales motivation for decades, and why these opportunities deserve renewed attention today. The episode also tackles an important business question: How can distributors benefit financially from offering travel without becoming travel agents? Tamara explains Givventure's partnership approach, including referral opportunities, travel rewards, and working within travel industry requirements. Listeners will also discover how experiences can support corporate gifting, employee appreciation, customer retention, nonprofit fundraising, and company store programs. Whether you're a promotional products supplier, distributor, or service provider, this conversation challenges you to think beyond traditional merchandise and recognize the value of selling solutions, experiences, and meaningful connections. Learn more about Givventure: https://givventure.com/ (https://givventure.com/) About Promo Supplier Playbook Promo Supplier Playbook delivers practical strategies, industry insights, and real conversations to help suppliers and service providers navigate the promotional products industry, build distributor relationships, and grow their businesses. Special Thanks to PromoCorner We extend our appreciation to PromoCorner for generously hosting the Promo Supplier Playbook website and supporting our mission to bring valuable education, meaningful conversations, and industry insights to the promotional products community. Visit https://www.promocorner.com/ (https://www.promocorner.com/)

3. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Company Stores That Sell With Print-on-Demand and Automation

   Company stores are changing. Print-on-demand, automation, pop-up shops, personalization, and better data are helping promotional products distributors create profitable branded merchandise programs without excessive inventory, administrative work, or outdated technology. In this episode of Promo Supplier Playbook, Lisa Fosdick, Kim Ballerene, and Adrienne Barker, MAS, welcome three company-store experts: Todd Richheimer, Founder of Single Serve Merch Eric Granata, MAS, Founder and Managing Director of PromoPilot Nadia Cornelio, MAS, Project Manager with Brand Fuel Together, they explore how promotional products distributors can build smarter company stores by balancing print-on-demand merchandise with carefully selected inventory. Todd explains how Single Serve Merch helps distributors manage branded stores, fulfillment, payment collection, sales tax remittance, gifting programs, and other behind-the-scenes responsibilities. He also shares how one time-sensitive fundraising store generated $10,000 in sales on its first day. Nadia offers a distributor’s perspective on choosing products, controlling inventory, encouraging employee participation, and keeping company stores fresh. She explains why employers should not assume workers will spend their own money on branded merchandise and why employee allowances, free shipping, limited releases, and special promotions can increase store sales. Eric examines automation, platform sprawl, interoperability, and the importance of selecting technology that fits the program. He explains why distributors should consider the total cost of ownership, including storage, obsolete inventory, administrative labor, pick-and-pack fees, and fulfillment, instead of comparing only the unit price of print-on-demand and bulk merchandise. The conversation also explores artificial intelligence, sales data, product recommendations, abandoned-cart recovery, employee gifting, pop-up stores, personalization, and the importance of building a strong company culture. In This Episode: • When inventory makes sense and when print-on-demand is smarter • How company stores reduce waste and financial risk • Why some branded merchandise stores fail to generate sales • How employee allowances and shipping promotions increase participation • The difference between pop-up, inventory, and on-demand stores • Why distributors need the right technology instead of every technology • How automation reduces administrative work • Why total program cost matters more than unit price • How AI and store data can improve product selection and conversion • Why company culture determines whether employees want branded merchandise Whether you are a promotional products distributor, supplier, decorator, or technology provider, this episode offers practical strategies for building company stores that are easier to manage, more engaging, and more profitable. Special thanks to PromoCorner for hosting Promo Supplier Playbook and supporting education, innovation, and growth throughout the promotional products community.

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100

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

Quality

30

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Supplier Promo Playbook

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.