The FIFA World Cup isn't just the biggest sporting event in the world. It's one of the greatest branding masterclasses ever created. In this episode of Collab Connection, Jay Busselle and Lauren Esser explore how brands like Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Nike create emotional connections that go far beyond logos and sponsorships.

Joined by Jenna Sackett, Brand Experience Manager at STAHLS', they unpack what makes great collaborations memorable and how promotional products, apparel decorators, and marketers can apply those lessons to their own clients.

Discussion points:

• Why the World Cup is a global branding phenomenon
• What makes the Adidas × Coca-Cola collaboration so effective
• How Nike turns customers into participants, not just buyers
• Why heritage and nostalgia are powerful marketing tools
• How customization creates stronger emotional connections
• Practical ideas for promotional products, corporate events, and branded merchandise

Whether you're a marketer, brand strategist, decorator, promotional products distributor, or simply fascinated by great brand experiences, this episode is packed with ideas you can put into practice.

Subscribe for more conversations on branding, collaboration, and the future of merch.

#BrandMarketing #WorldCup #Nike #Adidas #PromotionalProducts #BrandStrategy #ExperientialMarketing #Merchandise #Customization #CollabConnection

What happens when merch stops being a giveaway… and starts becoming part of someone’s identity? In this episode of The Collab Connection, Jay and Lauren sit down with Kylee Chun, founder of Klean Studios. Kylee helped plan BELLA + CANVAS’ immersive Coachella activation — where festival merch became a fully customizable experience. She was onsite and overseeing the execution in the merch tent... or was it a merch museum?

From vintage Coachella throwback designs and live heat pressing to fan psychology, exclusivity, nostalgia, and the rise of experiential branding, this conversation dives deep into why people no longer want generic swag. They want connection! Inside this episode:

• How BELLA + CANVAS created a “museum of merch” at Coachella
• Why customization creates emotional ownership
• The surprising rise of vintage-inspired merch and oversized fits
• Why fans waited HOURS for limited pieces
• How brands can bring experiential merch into corporate events
• What the World Cup, sports culture, and music festivals teach us about fandom
• Why the future of branded merch is meaning, not more products

Featuring:– Kylee Chun, Founder of Klean Studios– Jay Busselle, Branded Merch Network – Lauren Esser, SmithPro. If you’re in branding, merch, experiential marketing, apparel, or events — this episode is packed with insights you’ll want to steal.

Most brand collaborations are built for visibility. This one was built for participation! In this episode of Collab Connection, we break down why the Formula 1 × LEGO collab actually works, and what the promo, apparel, and merch world can learn from it.

From LEGO parade cars to fan experiences at race weekends, this isn’t about selling products. It’s about creating moments people want to be part of.

Because today, the question isn’t: “Did people see it?” It’s: “How did they experience it?”

Uploaded on Mar 30, 2026

In Episode 2 of Collab Connection, Jay and Lauren unpack one of the most iconic partnerships in modern apparel—Ralph Lauren × Team USA. Joined by Jeremy Picker of AMB3R Creative, they explore how heritage, identity, and emotional storytelling transform Olympic uniforms into symbols of pride and belonging. This isn’t just about style; it’s about what the promotional marketing and branded merch world can learn from a collaboration that feels earned, intentional, and deeply connected to culture.

A side-by-side look at how Coors used two very different collaboration strategies to reinforce brand loyalty in one lane (Wrangler) and expand cultural reach in another (Brixton).