🚨 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/

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/

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

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

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

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

If sustainability has started to feel noisy, this conversation brings it back to what actually matters.

Uploaded on Mar 23, 2026 

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/

Uploaded on Feb 21, 2026

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/

Uploaded on Feb 21, 2026

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/

Uploaded on Feb 21, 2026

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