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Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #85

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 08:30:00 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #85, where swag meets culture.

If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

Let’s dive in!

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

😵‍💫 AI anxiety is turning into a manager issue. HR Dive reports that rapid AI change is directly affecting worker mental health and well-being, and 55% of HR respondents now expect mental health and wellness to grow in importance over the next three to five years, up from 48% in 2025. Source.

🏙️ Calendar check: ASI Show Chicago is set for July 21 to 23 at McCormick Place, one of the year’s most anticipated promo events for spotting new products, & connecting with suppliers. Drop us a note if you’re attending. Learn more.

🥤 A Smoothie With Purpose: Erewhon and J Balvin's new "Chimba de Smoothie" turns the colors of the Colombian flag into a limited-edition drink available in Los Angeles and New York City. Better yet, every purchase supports Vibra en Alta, J Balvin's nonprofit helping young Colombians access education, creativity, and opportunity. A great example of how brands can blend culture, design, and purpose into one memorable campaign. Source.

🚙 Calling all George Washingtons: Jeep is betting big on patriotic optimism with a campaign that offers the first 100 Americans legally named George Washington a chance to win a free Wrangler if Team USA wins the World Cup. While the odds may be long, the promotion is a masterclass in attention-grabbing marketing. Sometimes the best campaigns aren't the most practical. They're the ones people can't stop talking about.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winner from last week, Peter Austermann, who scored the Modupack from RUPT. We’ve got another giveaway below!

SWAG FOR A CAUSE

🌎 Swag for a Cause: Ecodrive

We're excited to partner with EcoDrive, a community-driven initiative helping companies make a positive environmental impact through reforestation and sustainability efforts.

As employees and customers increasingly value socially responsible brands, EcoDrive offers a simple way to align your company culture, employee programs, and swag initiatives with meaningful environmental action.

Interested in learning more about how your swag orders can make positive environmental impact?

👉 Reply “Ecodrive” and we’ll send the details.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Most companies only think about swag for employees.

The best companies use it to strengthen customer relationships too.

In this clip, Ross shares simple ways to use gifting to:
• Welcome new clients
• Thank long-term customers
• Reward referrals
• Celebrate renewals

The key isn't sending more stuff. It's giving people something they'll actually want.

WEEKLY GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Echodeep

Whether you're tuning out office chatter, powering through deep work, or surviving another round of back-to-back Zoom calls, this week's giveaway is built for better focus.

Details:

1 lucky reader will score an Echodeep custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 How to enter:

Watch our YouTube video of the week here and answer the pinned comment in the comment section

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet SentiLink

Founded in 2017 to tackle synthetic fraud, SentiLink now describes itself as a fraud and risk company serving 300+ institutions in the U.S., with technology and internal review teams helping verify 3 million-plus identities per day. Its company page leans into values like follow-through, deep understanding, and doing something smart, which reads like a culture built around precision without a lot of chest-thumping. That is a strong foundation for merch because the brand already knows what it wants to signal: capable, credible, and quietly confident.

📣 Our Collaboration

The SentiLink Team Store gives employees a central place to connect with the brand beyond their day-to-day work. Built around the theme of being "Secure, Smart, Proud," the store features premium gear like Nike polos, OGIO outerwear, YETI drinkware, and everyday office essentials.

What stands out is how the store makes branded merchandise easy and accessible. Whether it's onboarding a new hire, recognizing a team member, or gearing up for an event, employees have a go-to destination for approved swag. That's the hallmark of a great company store. It keeps the brand consistent, supports company culture, and makes those small employee moments a little more memorable.

🤝 Connect With SentiLink

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

The Real Problem With Youth Sports in America

With four young kids, youth sports is a constant topic in our house and among our friends.

Every parent I know is searching for the same thing: a great coach.

Most conversations about youth sports focus on the wrong problems. We debate travel teams, private lessons, playing time, specialization, and the rising costs of sports.

But I think the real problem is much simpler.

We don't have enough great coaches.

Finding the right coach feels a lot like finding the right teacher. You can have the best facilities, the nicest uniforms, and the most expensive program, but none of it matters if the person leading your child doesn't know how to connect, teach, and inspire.

Here's the problem: youth sports in America are massive.

More than 27 million kids participate in youth sports every year. That translates to well over 2 million teams. If we're being generous and say there are 10,000 truly exceptional youth coaches in America, we're still millions short of what we need.

Think about how we prepare teachers. They spend years learning their craft. They complete certifications. They participate in ongoing professional development. The best teachers are constantly looking for new tools, ideas, and techniques to become better educators.

Now think about youth coaches.

Most receive little to no meaningful training. Many have never studied child development, communication, motivation, leadership, or how kids learn. If they are required to complete a certification, it often focuses more on compliance and safety than on how to actually coach children.

Yet we trust these coaches with some of the most formative hours of our kids' lives.

The reality is that coaching kids is incredibly hard. Great coaches don't just teach skills. They build confidence. They create belonging. They teach resilience. They make kids want to come back tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the system doesn't make it easy to develop great coaches.

Thirty years ago, many youth teams were coached by parents. They weren't necessarily experts in sports, but they often brought professionalism from their careers. They showed up organized. They communicated well. They cared deeply because they were coaching their own children and knew every family on the team.

Today, youth sports has become a business. Many coaches are young, undertrained, and asked to manage groups of kids with little support or education. We expect them to be teachers, leaders, mentors, and role models without giving them the training to succeed.

That needs to change.

The encouraging news is that I think we're at the beginning of a major shift.

More parents are paying attention to coaching quality than ever before. More organizations are starting to recognize that development matters more than wins and losses. And technology, especially AI, has the potential to make high-quality coaching education available to anyone who wants it.

For the first time, a coach can have access to world-class training, practice plans, communication tools, and age-appropriate teaching strategies without spending thousands of dollars or attending expensive conferences.

Most youth coaches aren't bad coaches. They're undertrained coaches.

The good news is that this is a solvable problem.

If we can give passionate coaches better education and better tools, we can dramatically improve the youth sports experience for millions of kids.

Until then, my advice to parents is simple: find a great coach.

Ask about their experience. Ask about their philosophy. Ask what they're doing to become better.

A great coach should be able to answer those questions clearly.

But when all is said and done, the most important question isn't how many games your child won.

It's what they say when they get in the car after practice.

If they smile and say, "That was fun. I can't wait to go back," you've probably found the right coach.

The best youth coaches understand that development follows enjoyment. Kids who have fun come back. Kids who come back improve. Kids who improve gain confidence.

Everything starts there.

The future of youth sports isn't about building better athletes.

It's about building better coaches.

And if we get that right, millions of kids will have a better experience because of it.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #84, we cover Vantage Apparel's new print-on-demand woven blankets, SHRM26's upcoming gathering of HR leaders, and fresh data showing just how powerful promotional products remain around the world. We also dive into surprising research comparing Pokémon cards to the stock market, explore how IMAX turned a film camera into a collectible popcorn bucket, and unpack new findings on employee satisfaction, AI adoption, and the latest labor market trends. Plus, we're giving away a Modupack that transforms from a crossbody bag into a backpack, and we spotlight how Evocati PR is using its Brand Sauce company store to strengthen culture and create a greater sense of belonging across its team. And in Ross' Water Cooler, he shares a Memorial Day festival visit with Bo and Max that turned into an unexpected lesson on entrepreneurship, hard work, and why every dollar earned represents far more effort than most people realize.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #83, we cover the surprising downside of AI adoption as employees report becoming more productive but less confident in their own skills, why burnout and workplace mental health concerns continue to rise, and what the latest U.S. labor market data says about hiring sentiment. We also recap our recent Company Swag Webinar, explore why company swag should never become a second job, and we're giving away a Fusionbeat 3-in-1 speaker, power bank, and wireless earbuds. Plus, we highlight how AmeriSave is using its Brand Sauce company store to simplify ordering, maintain brand consistency, and create a more scalable swag experience across multiple business units. And in Ross' Water Cooler, he reflects on the simple car rides with his kids that remind him how trust and connection are built in the quiet moments between life's busy schedules.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #82, we cover how humanoid robotics are pushing the boundaries of productivity, why rising employee turnover and declining engagement are putting more pressure on companies to invest in culture, and what the return of PPAI Expo 2027 to Las Vegas signals for the future of the promo industry. We also explore breakthrough de-extinction research involving artificial eggs and giant prehistoric birds, and we're giving away a Recycled Mission Pack Backpack. Plus, we highlight how Allstacks is using its Brand Sauce company store to create a more personalized and scalable swag experience for employees. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a heartfelt Memorial Day reflection honoring the sacrifices of veterans, military families, and his grandfather’s service during World War II.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #81, we cover how S&S Activewear is using machine learning to reduce out-of-stocks through its new ApparelSoft IQ platform, why Stanley tumblers continue to dominate the world of premium corporate swag, and what upcoming ASI and SHRM events say about where the promo and HR industries are headed next. We also break down rising job market anxiety, offshore employee recognition, and why more companies are investing in global culture-building experiences instead of treating remote teams like an afterthought. Plus, we’re giving away a 24 Can Glacier Peak XL Cooler Bag, highlighting how Acuren is using its Brand Sauce company store to create a scalable, centralized merch experience for teams across North America, and in Ross’ Water Cooler, he reflects on the difficult but necessary skill of saying no in order to protect time, energy, family, and the things that matter most.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #84

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 08:30:00 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #84, where swag meets culture.

If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

Let’s dive in!

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🧵 Blankets just got their print-on-demand moment: Vantage Apparel launched custom USA-made woven throw blankets that can be ordered one at a time, no bulk commitment required. Unlike traditional printed blankets, these use Jacquard weaving for a more premium look and feel. Source.

🎤 HR calendar alert: SHRM26 is almost here: SHRM's annual conference kicks off June 16-19 in Orlando and is expected to draw thousands of HR leaders from around the world. Check it out here.

🎴 Pokémon cards versus the stock market: A recent analysis comparing Pokémon cards to the S&P 500 produced some surprisingly strong results for everyone's favorite pocket monsters. Another reminder that collectibles have quietly evolved from childhood hobbies into legitimate alternative assets. Source.

🌍 The international swag signal is loud: ASI's latest international Ad Impressions study found that 95% of consumers said they'd view a company more favorably after receiving promo, while 92% said they'd be more likely to do business with that brand. Source.

🍿 IMAX Turns a Camera Into a Popcorn Bucket: Movie merch has officially entered another dimension. To celebrate Christopher Nolan's upcoming film The Odyssey, IMAX is releasing a collectible popcorn bucket modeled after one of its iconic film cameras. It's a perfect example of how brands can transform everyday products into conversation pieces. Turns out people are willing to buy almost anything when it's part collectible, part story, and just weird enough to be memorable. Read more here.

📈 Job satisfaction hit a record high. Sort of: The Conference Board says overall U.S. job satisfaction reached a record 68.9% this year. Sounds great until you dig deeper. Women reported lower satisfaction than men across nearly every category measured, and workers who said AI improved their confidence were significantly more engaged. Source.

📈 The labor market: The U.S. added 172,000 jobs in May and unemployment held steady at 4.3%. Meanwhile, the OECD lowered its global growth outlook and warned that inflation risks remain elevated. Source.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winner from last week, Shelley Cordova, who scored the Fusionbeat from RUPT. We’ve got another giveaway below!

BEHIND THE SCENES

Brand Sauce is taking over the Philippines

Company culture shouldn't stop at the border.

The Brand Sauce Philippines catalog helps companies create a consistent employee experience for offshore teams, from onboarding and recognition to milestone moments and everyday appreciation.

Same Brand Sauce experience. Just built closer to your team.

See the Philippines Brand Sauce Experience here.

WEEKLY GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Modupack

There is a very specific kind of workday where a crossbody stops cutting it, and a backpack suddenly feels like emotional support, which is why the Modupack works so well: it shifts from a crossbody or waist pack into a 15L backpack, uses recycled ripstop and taslan fabric, and even turns its hangtag into a luggage tag.

Details:

1 lucky reader will score a Modupack custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 To enter, just answer this week’s poll below:

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Evocati PR

Founded in 2018, Evocati grew from a solo marketing and consulting company into a values-based public relations firm focused on purpose-driven campaigns. The company puts culture front and center, listing integrity, empathy, wisdom, teamwork, and family among its core values. It also identifies itself as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business operating in the Washington, D.C., metro area and licensed in Virginia. That combination of purpose, structure, and clarity is exactly the kind of culture foundation merch can actually support.

📣 Our Collaboration

View the Evocati PR store here.

The Evocati PR store reflects the same thoughtful approach that has helped the agency build lasting relationships with clients, media partners, and communities. Built by Brand Sauce, the store gives employees a central place to connect with the brand and reinforces a culture that values professionalism, consistency, and pride in the work they do. It's a simple reminder that the best company stores aren't just about merchandise. They're about creating a stronger sense of belonging.

🤝 Connect With Evocati PR

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

The Real Heart of Entrepreneurship

Recently, I took Bo and Max to our local Memorial Day festival. I sold them on the idea with promises of rides, food trucks, games, and cool stuff to buy.

What I didn't tell them was that it would turn into one of the best business lessons they've had so far.

When we arrived, there were more than 300 vendors set up in rows of small tents. It felt like a giant farmers' market. Everywhere you looked, someone was selling something different.

As we walked from booth to booth, I started talking to the kids about business.

To me, these festivals and local markets are entrepreneurship in its purest form.

Many of these booths are run by solo entrepreneurs selling products they made with their own hands. There were soaps, candles, pillows, honey, salsa, cookies, artwork, clothing, custom hats, you name it. Behind every product was a person who had an idea, invested their own money, spent countless hours creating something, and then bet on themselves.

One booth had a hat bar with a heat press machine. I got to show Bo and Max how it worked and explain that Brand Sauce produces orders every day using equipment just like it. It was fun for them to see something from our world in action.

As we walked, I started asking questions:

How much do you think it costs to make that candle?

How long do you think it took someone to paint that picture?

What do you think is a fair price for that sandwich? For that ride?

I could see their brains working. They debated which products were overpriced and which ones were great deals. We talked about quality, packaging, presentation, and which booths did the best job attracting customers.

Then I asked them a bigger question:

Which booth do you think made the most money today? Which made the least?

That conversation led to something even more important.

I wanted them to understand how hard these people are working.

Most customers only see the finished product sitting on a table. What they don't see are the hours spent making it. The late nights. The early mornings. The money invested in materials. The risk of showing up and hoping people buy.

Then there's the event itself.

Loading the truck. Setting up the tent. Creating displays. Standing on your feet for eight hours. Talking to hundreds of strangers. Packing everything up. Going home exhausted. Then waking up the next day and doing it all over again.

For many of these entrepreneurs, every sale matters.

Every dollar represents effort.

Every customer represents hope.

Every transaction is proof that someone values what they created enough to pay for it.

That's why I love these events. They remind me that business isn't just spreadsheets, marketing campaigns, and revenue reports. At its core, business is people creating value and working incredibly hard to earn a living.

These markets are where you find real hustle. Real grit. Real entrepreneurship.

I have no idea what Bo and Max will do when they grow up. But I hope they walked away with a greater appreciation for how difficult it is to create something from nothing, convince someone to buy it, and build a business around it.

Because once you understand how hard it is to earn a dollar, you start respecting every dollar a little more.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #80, we cover how recruiters are increasingly finding top talent through real-world interactions instead of traditional applications, why CEOs are feeling mounting pressure to get AI strategy right before 2026, and how STAHLS’ new MLS licensing deal signals that personalized, on-demand merch is officially becoming mainstream in sports and fan culture. We also break down how automated birthday gifting programs are helping companies turn employee recognition into a retention tool, and we’re giving away the Screen Saber Computer Monitor Light Bar. Plus, we highlight how TIC Solutions is using its Brand Sauce company store to create a polished, centralized merch experience that supports both field teams and corporate operations. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a heartfelt Mother’s Day reflection on the invisible work, sacrifices, and unconditional love that moms carry every single day.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #83

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 31 May 2026 08:33:00 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #83, where swag meets culture.

If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

Let’s dive in!

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🧠 AI Is Making Workers More Productive… and Less Confident?: A new survey found that nearly half of employees worry they've become too dependent on AI, with 39% saying it has weakened their skills and made them less intelligent. Even more interesting: 28% now trust AI more than they trust themselves. The lesson is not "don't use AI." It's that the companies winning with AI are treating it like a co-pilot, not putting it behind the wheel. Source.

🎥 Company Swag Webinar Recap: On Tuesday, we hosted a webinar that showed why 100s of companies globally (from Fortune 50s to entrepreneurs) partner with Brand Sauce for their company swag store. Reply with "webinar" and we'll send the recording your way.

😮‍💨 Mental health in the Workplace: HR Dive reports that burnout reported by Glassdoor users in Q1 was up 65% versus the same point in 2025, while a Monster report found 59% of employees said their job actively hurts their mental health. Is it time to reassess workplace benefits? Source.

🇺🇸 The U.S. labor market: The Labor Department’s weekly claims release showed initial jobless claims rose to 215,000 for the week ending May 23. Meanwhile, the Conference Board said the share of consumers who felt jobs were “plentiful” slipped to 25.5%, down from 26.9% in April. Source.

🏪 Swag Shouldn't Become a Second Job: Between onboarding kits, birthdays, trade shows, inventory, and last-minute requests, company swag has a funny way of quietly taking over your calendar. If you'd like to win back some time (and save some money), grab 15 minutes with our team here and we'll show you how a company swag store can help.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winner from last week, Brannigan Thompson, who scored the Recycled Mission Pack Backpack from HPG. We’ve got another giveaway below!

WEEKLY GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Fusionbeat

If your desk currently contains tangled cords, one rogue earbud, and a phone that is always at 4%, this week’s prize feels aggressively relevant. The Fusionbeat combines a 5W speaker, 5000mAh power bank, and true wireless earbuds in one transparent 3-in-1 setup, and even the packaging gets a second life as a desk organizer.

Details:

1 lucky reader will score a Fusionbeat custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 To enter, just answer this week’s poll below:

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet AmeriSave

AmeriSave positions itself around helping Americans save money through industry-leading technology and service, and its official site says the company has served 730,000+ clients, brings 23 years of lending expertise, and has financed $130 billion in loans. That’s a business where clarity and trust matter, and where the brand experience cannot feel stitched together on the fly. From the outside, the culture reads as digital-first, service-heavy, and built for scale. In other words, exactly the kind of environment where merch should support the experience, not create extra drag.

📣 Our Collaboration

View the AmeriSave Company Store

The AmeriSave company store is a clean example of swag infrastructure done right. The shop includes collections for AmeriSave Mortgage, AmeriSave Realty, and AmeriSave Solar, with product paths for headwear, bags, drinkware, office items, tech, and bulk ordering, and it identifies itself as an on-demand shop built by Brand Sauce. That kind of setup can make onboarding, team ordering, recruiting moments, and field visibility a lot less chaotic, while keeping approved branding in one place instead of buried in someone’s inbox from two quarters ago. In swag terms, this is what “less admin, more consistency” looks like.

🤝 Connect With AmeriSave

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

One of the things I know I’ll miss most when my kids grow up is our car rides.

I don’t get much uninterrupted time with them anymore. Life moves fast. Outside the car, there’s always noise, practices, screens, schedules, wrestling matches in the living room, and someone yelling about snacks.

But inside that little box on wheels, everything slows down.

No phones. No iPads. No distractions.

Just a few quiet minutes where I get to hear about their day. Their friends. Their worries. Their random thoughts that somehow make perfect sense to them. I get to ask questions, listen to them ramble, hear what excites them, scares them, and what they dream about becoming.

It’s become my favorite part of the day.

It made me think about how rare that kind of space is at work. A place where people can simply exist together without rushing to the next thing. Maybe that’s why golf has always been good for business, not because of the game, but because it creates space. No phones. No meetings. No pressure. Just time to talk, listen, and connect.

Can Brand Sauce create our own version of the car ride?

Maybe it’s the walk to grab coffee. The few minutes before a meeting starts. The ride to the airport after a client visit. Lunch without laptops open. The moments where people stop performing “work” and just become people again.

That’s where trust is built.

I know it is not through another Slack message or status update, but through stories, honesty, laughter, and small conversations that make people feel seen.

As a leader, I need to help our team put the phones away. Slow things down. Leave space for conversations that have nothing to do with deadlines or deliverables.

Because connection doesn’t usually happen when we force it.

It happens in the quiet spaces in between.

I know this season of life with my kids will fly by. But for now, I’ll keep collecting the stories, the quotes, the laughter, and the little moments I never want to forget.

If you have your version of the car ride, I would love to hear about it.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #79, we cover how Hasbro’s $600 animatronic Grogu is pushing merch into premium, experience-driven territory, why S&S Activewear’s partnership with Legends signals a bigger shift toward elevated athleisure swag, what upcoming events from PPAI and SHRM say about where the promo and HR industries are heading, and why new research from McLean & Co. shows growth and development matter more than compensation when it comes to engagement. Plus, we’re giving away the Glamper Lantern Speaker. We also highlight how Simplus is using its Brand Sauce company store to centralize merch into one polished, wearable, and easy-to-manage experience. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a personal reflection on step-parenting and the reminder that people do not remember titles, they remember who showed up for them.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #82

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 24 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #82, where swag meets culture.

If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

Let’s dive in!

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🤖 200 Hours. 250,000+ Units. Zero Mistakes: Brett Adcock just shared that his humanoid robotics company processed over 250,000 units across 200 consecutive hours on a live-streamed assembly line… without a single mistake. From a supply chain perspective, it is an insane leap in efficiency. But it also raises a bigger question: if machines become tireless and nearly perfect, what becomes uniquely valuable about being human? Maybe the future belongs less to repetitive work and more to creativity, judgment, taste, and connection.

Twitter tweet

📅 PPAI Expo 2027 Is Headed Back to Vegas: The promo world’s Super Bowl is officially locked in for January 12–14 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Thousands of new products. Endless aisle wandering. If you’re already thinking about 2027 onboarding kits, trade show giveaways, or employee gifting strategy, this is where a lot of next year’s trends will show up first. Source.

📊 Turnover Is Looking Expensive Again: A new Harris Poll found that 50% of U.S. companies expect employee turnover to rise in 2026, up significantly from last year. The average cost of replacing an employee? Roughly $45K. Suddenly birthday gifts, onboarding experiences, and “small culture moments” do not seem so small anymore. Source.

🤯 Scientists Just Hatched Chicks From Artificial Eggs: Scientists at Colossal Biosciences successfully hatched healthy chicks using bioengineered egg systems as part of their long-term de-extinction research. Their moonshot goal? Eventually revive the extinct South Island giant moa… a bird that once stood nearly 12 feet tall. Source.

📉 Employee Engagement Just Hit a Rough Patch: Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report found only about 20% of employees worldwide are actively engaged at work right now… the lowest number since 2020. Source.

WEEKLY GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Recycled Mission Pack Backpack

Every office has that one “super-prepared” colleague. We’re giving away the eco-chic Mission Pack Backpack (made from recycled bottles) to fuel anyone’s daily adventures, but first, we want your take on pack priorities!

Details:

1 lucky reader will score a Recycled Mission Pack Backpack custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 To enter, just answer this week’s poll below:

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Allstacks

Allstacks is an AI-driven software engineering intelligence platform that helps product and engineering teams plan, measure, and optimize their software delivery process. In other words, they turn every line of code and project metric into clear, business-driving insight. (Gartner just named Allstacks a Visionary in Developer Productivity platforms, so you know they’re at the cutting edge.) Their culture is fast-paced and data-focused, with a “work hard, ship code, drink coffee” vibe, plus a healthy dash of humor among engineers.

📣 Our Collaboration

Visit Allstacks Company Store

The Allstacks team could easily choose the items they actually wanted, creating a smoother and more personalized swag experience across the company. The results? Engagement metrics climbed as quickly as their Jira tickets: store open rates doubled, and orders started flying out the door, helping the Allstacks crew feel proud and “on-brand” even on casual Fridays. Check out their store here to see firsthand how we helped Allstacks deliver swag smarter.

🤝 Connect With Allstacks

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

Ross's Grandpa - Zollie Baratz

As Memorial Day approaches, it’s important that we pause for more than just the long weekend, barbecues, and the unofficial start of summer. This holiday exists because brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy every single day.

We live, work, build businesses, raise families, and pursue our dreams in a country where freedom is never guaranteed, it has been defended by generations of service members willing to give everything for something bigger than themselves.

This time of year always makes me think about my grandfather, Zollie Baratz, who served as a Navy gunner during World War II. Sometimes I stop and think about how different life could have been if one of those planes had been shot down in 1945. I wouldn’t be here. My family wouldn’t exist the way it does today. That reality makes the sacrifices of that generation feel incredibly personal.

It also reminds us to recognize the families behind every service member’s sacrifice. The spouses holding down the fort at home. The children missing birthdays, school events, and everyday moments with parents deployed overseas. The parents, siblings, and loved ones carrying both pride and worry while someone they love serves our country.

It’s heartbreaking to think that somewhere in America, families receive the worst phone call of their lives, a moment that changes them forever. Memorial Day is a reminder that freedom carries a very real human cost, paid by people most of us will never meet.

We hope everyone takes a moment this Memorial Day to reflect, remember, and appreciate the incredible privilege of living in a free country because of the sacrifices of others.

Thank you to all who serve, to those we’ve lost, and to the families who serve alongside them. 🇺🇸

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #78, we cover Gap’s Hoodie House taking over Coachella, why useful merch still wins according to new ASI data, what the PPAI Leadership Conference signals for the industry, and why recognition continues to outperform compensation when it comes to retention, plus we’re giving away Accousticks Wireless Over-Ear Earbuds. We also highlight how Get Air is using its Brand Sauce company store to centralize merch into one clean, on-demand experience that keeps everything consistent, simple, and easy to scale across locations. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a personal moment at Get Air with his kids, where they connected his work to a place they love, a reminder that what we build as a brand often shows up in real, meaningful ways.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #81

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 17 May 2026 08:30:00 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #81, where swag meets culture.

If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

Let’s Dive in!

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🎽 Inventory just got a little smarter: S&S Activewear announced ApparelSoft IQ, a machine learning layer built into its proprietary ApparelSoft ERP. The company says it uses more than 35 years of historical data, has already been live for over six months, and has helped push out-of-stocks to the lowest level in company history. For decorators and distributors, that is not just a tech story. That is fewer “sorry, that color is gone” emails. Source.

🥤 Stanley Still Has a Grip on Corporate Swag: The Stanley craze hasn’t cooled off, especially in employee gifting and branded merch. Premium drinkware continues to outperform throwaway swag, and Stanley tumblers hit that sweet spot of practical, durable, and genuinely wanted. More companies are using them for onboarding kits, client gifts, and event giveaways because these actually make it into people’s daily routines. Checkout the collection here.

🗓️ Chicago is the next big promo pit stop: ASI Show Chicago lands at McCormick Place on July 21 through July 23, and ASI describes it as one of the year’s most anticipated industry events. Be sure to drop us a note at Ross@brandsauce.io if you’re attending. Register here.

🗓️ HR’s Main Event: SHRM’s Annual Conference & Expo: runs from June 16 through June 19 in Orlando and virtually. SHRM bills it as the world’s largest HR conference, with 375+ expert-led sessions. Check it out here.

📉 The labor market Update: U.S. initial jobless claims rose to 211,000 for the week ended May 9, while continuing claims climbed to 1.782 million, according to Reuters’ May 14 coverage of Labor Department data. A separate Reuters report on the Federal Reserve’s latest household survey found job worries rose to 42% from 37% a year earlier. Source.

🔠 Did you know?: Merriam-Webster notes that the ampersand once functioned like a 27th letter and got its name from the phrase “and per se and.” Which means one of branding’s favorite symbols is really just a very old pronunciation shortcut with good visual instincts. Source.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Checkout our PH catalog here.

Brand Sauce is taking over the Philippines

Your offshore team deserves more than a Slack emoji reaction.

Our Philippines Brand Sauce catalog makes it easy to deliver the same level of recognition, onboarding, and company culture to offshore employees and contractors, without the shipping headaches.

Same Brand Sauce experience. Just built closer to your team.

See the Philippines Brand Sauce Experience here.

WEEKLY GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: 24 Can Glacier Peak XL Cooler Bag

For everyone who has ever showed up to a company picnic, field day, or offsite with warm drinks and misplaced optimism, this 24 Can Glacier Peak XL Cooler Bag is built for the job.

HPG says it holds 24 cans, uses padded PE foam insulation and tarpaulin lining to keep things cold in hot weather, and even includes a bottle opener hanging off the side strap.

Details:

1 lucky reader will score a 24 Can Glacier Peak XL Cooler Bag branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 How to enter:

To enter the giveaway, respond to this email and let us know where in the world you have employees that you would like to ship swag to.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Acuren

Acuren works in one of those sectors where precision is not a vibe, it is the job. The company describes itself as a leading provider of critical asset integrity services in North America, spanning testing, inspection, certification, and related field services across industries including chemical, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, wind, and power generation. It also leads with values that sound refreshingly concrete: People First, Integrity Always, Pride in Our Work, and Growth Together. That kind of brand has a built-in challenge for merch. It has to feel useful, credible, and aligned with serious work, not like an afterthought from the events closet.

📣 Our Collaboration

Visit the Acuren Company Store

Acuren’s new company store is a great example of swag done at scale. From Carhartt jackets and quarter-zips to drinkware, tech, and office gear, the store keeps everything centralized and on-brand, making it easier for teams across the company to order approved merch without the usual procurement chaos. Powered by Brand Sauce, of course.

🤝 Connect With Acuren

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

The Power of Saying No

This week, I realized I need to get a lot better at saying no.

For most of my life, saying no has been hard for me because it feels like I’m letting people down. But as Brand Sauce continues to grow, our four kids continue to grow, and the demands on my time continue to grow, I’m realizing something important:

If I don’t learn how to say no, eventually I won’t have enough left to give to the things that matter most.

I’ve heard countless CEOs talk about the systems they use to help themselves say no more often.

One CEO said he forces himself to write a paragraph explaining why he should say yes to something. If he can’t even write the first sentence, it’s an automatic no. But if he could write ten pages about why it matters, then it’s an easy yes.

Another CEO said he asks himself a simple question:
“Will I still feel FOMO about missing this a month from now?”
If the answer is no, then he declines.

That one really stuck with me.

I also remember hearing Tom Brady say that constantly having to say no taught him who truly loved him unconditionally. The people who got upset every time he said no weren’t really his people. The ones who understood, supported him, and gave him grace, those were his real family and friends.

As we head into summer, I’m going to work hard at protecting my time, my energy, and my attention a little better. That means saying no more often, even when it’s uncomfortable.

And honestly, I hope the people around me will give me some grace while I learn how to do that better.

If you’re someone who struggles with wanting to make everyone happy, I’d genuinely love your advice. Saying no doesn’t come naturally to me, and I could use all the help I can get.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #77, we cover new data on the power of swag and why 83% of recipients feel more appreciated, what most companies still get wrong about employee recognition, Coachella’s merch shift with BELLA+CANVAS, the growing push toward sustainable merch, and what a more selective labor market means for hiring today, plus we’re giving away JBL Soundgear Clip Open Ear Headphones. We also highlight how PDS Optical is using its Brand Sauce company store to create a clean, on-demand merch experience that makes browsing, ordering, and brand consistency feel effortless. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a meaningful reflection from his kids’ Jog-a-thon, reminding us that gratitude, respect, and perspective are often passed down through simple, human moments that stick.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #80

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 10 May 2026 18:41:48 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #80, where swag meets culture.

If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

Let’s Dive in!

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🍸 Recruiters are sourcing talent everywhere now: According to a recent HR Dive report, more than half of hiring decision-makers have found candidates outside traditional work settings, and 84% said those off-the-clock interactions led to strong hires. Grocery stores, airports, concerts, even bars. As AI floods recruiters with applications, companies are leaning harder into human connection and real-world chemistry to find standout talent. Source.

🤖 AI pressure is officially a CEO-level problem: A new global survey of 900 CEOs found that 80% believe their role could be at risk if AI initiatives fail by the end of 2026. Even more interesting? Many leaders are less worried about adopting AI too slowly and more worried about betting on the wrong tools entirely. The conversation is shifting from “Should we use AI?” to “How do we lead through it responsibly? Source.

⚽ Personalized merch is moving at stadium speed: Stahls’ just secured an MLS licensing deal to power on-demand jersey customization for fans and on-field applications. Between sports, streetwear, and print-on-demand continuing to collide, personalization is quickly becoming the expectation, not the upgrade. Fast-turn custom merch is officially entering its prime-time era. Read more.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winner from last week, Sean Thimas, who scored the Glamper Lantern Speaker from HPG. We’ve got another giveaway below!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Employee birthdays shouldn’t feel like another admin task…

In this week’s video, we break down how smart teams are automating birthday recognition with custom-branded online swag stores that let employees choose gifts they actually want.

The result? Higher engagement, stronger culture, better retention, and zero manual coordination for your team.

Perfect for remote teams, global workforces, and fast-growing companies looking to make every birthday feel meaningful.

👉 Book a demo here to learn more

P.S. We have a special gift for the next 3 people to schedule & sign up for our $1/mo plan! Trust me, you won’t regret it…

WEEKLY GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Screen Saber Computer Monitor Light Bar

💡 For everyone whose desk setup gets progressively darker and more cursed by 4 p.m., this week’s giveaway is the Screen Saber Computer Monitor Light Bar, which features five color temperatures, three LED brightness functions, a timer, and an easy clip-on install.

Details:

1 lucky reader will score a Screen Saber Computer Monitor Light Bar branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 How to enter:

Watch our YouTube video of the week here and answer the pinned comment in the comment section

P.S. Last week, we only had 7 people enter the giveaway valued at $150+. The odds are in your favor!

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Tic Solutions

TIC Solutions delivers turnkey engineering, inspection, and testing solutions that help organizations maximize safety, reliability, and operational performance. From planning and design to execution and long-term asset support, their team combines technical expertise with rigorous quality standards to help clients manage risk, stay compliant, and keep critical operations running smoothly.

📣 Our Collaboration

Visit the Tic Solutions Company Store

We helped Tic Solutions build a merch experience that matches the range of work its teams do in the field and behind the scenes. With services spanning testing, engineering, inspection, geospatial, buildings, and technology, rope access, lab services, and training, the brand needed a store that felt broad but buttoned up.

🤝 Connect With Tic Solutions

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

To all the moms reading this, Happy Mother’s Day.

The older I get, the more I realize something I never fully understood as a kid: being a mom isn’t just a role, it’s a constant state of care.

It’s waking up before everyone else, already thinking about the day ahead.

It’s carrying a quiet, invisible checklist that never really turns off.

It’s falling asleep at night replaying everything, what got done, what didn’t, and what tomorrow needs.

It’s the kind of responsibility no one fully sees, but you feel it every minute.

Because it’s not just about getting kids to school or making sure homework is done. It’s wondering if they’re happy. If they feel included. If they’re struggling and not saying anything. It’s thinking about their friendships, their confidence, their future, all at once, all the time.

And most moms aren’t just doing this at home.

They’re doing it while building careers, solving problems at work, showing up for teams, answering emails, while a part of their mind is always somewhere else… with their kids.

School alone can feel like a full-time job, with assignments, events, reminders, forms, and spirit days that somehow always sneak up on you. Then come the activities. The practices. The games. The car rides. The snacks.

The constant question of: am I doing enough… or too much?

And in between all of that, there’s the home. The meals that need to be made, even when you’re exhausted. The groceries. The laundry. The small details that make a house feel like a home, details that don’t happen by accident. They happen because someone is always thinking ahead.

And then there are the moments that matter most, the birthdays you plan so carefully, hoping your child feels special. The holidays you create magic for. The traditions you carry forward. The memories you’re building, even when you’re running on empty.

It’s a lot. It’s more than a lot.

And yet… You keep showing up.

Not because it’s easy. Not because you always feel appreciated. But because you love your kids in a way that doesn’t have an off switch.

When I think about my own childhood now, I see it so differently.

I remember coming home from school and dinner just being there. I remember playing sports, sometimes two in a day, and never once wondering how I got to practice or who made it all happen. I remember holidays that felt effortless, a house that always felt full, and vacations that felt like pure joy.

What I didn’t see was everything behind the scenes.

I didn’t see the exhaustion. The planning. The sacrifices. The moments my mom probably put herself last so we could come first.

I just felt the result: love, stability, care.

And now I understand, that was the work.

To my mom, thank you for every invisible thing you carried. For every moment you made feel easy, that wasn’t. For every time you showed up, even when you were tired.

I see it now.

And to every mom reading this:

If no one has told you lately, what you’re doing is extraordinary.

Even on the days it feels messy.

Even on the days you feel like you’re falling short.

Even on the days no one says thank you.

Your kids may not see it all right now.

But one day, they will. I promise.

I love you, Mom

Ross

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #76, we cover swag fulfillment delays flagged by Advertising Specialty Institute, new data showing AI is increasing employee workload, how discovery is shifting with AI (via The Verge), and why tangible rewards outperform cash when it comes to real engagement, plus we’re giving away a 3 Fold Charger. We also highlight how Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. is using its Brand Sauce company store to create a seamless, culture-driven merch experience with thoughtful details like their “Geospatial” collection. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a powerful reminder that connection starts small, and that something as simple as inviting others to the table can help us see each other not as different, but simply as people.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #79

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 03 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #79, where swag meets culture.

If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

Let’s Dive in!

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🤖 StarWars Rolls Out $600 Grogu Merch: Hasbro unveiled a life-size, animatronic “Ultimate Grogu” packed with 250+ sounds and movements. This shines light on where merch is heading. The best products aren’t just branded items anymore, they’re immersive, high-end pieces people actually care about owning. Read more

👕 Athleisure Swag Leveled Up: S&S Activewear locked in an exclusive deal with Legends, bringing premium, retail-quality styles into the corporate and team channels starting in June. Performance fabrics, modern fits, and pieces people would actually want to rep. Elevated apparel isn’t a nice-to-have anymore… it’s becoming the standard. Read more.

🗓️ Two dates worth circling: PPAI’s North American Leadership Conference is set for May 12-14, and SHRM’s Annual Conference & Expo runs June 16-19. The official SHRM pitch promises 375+ expert-led sessions, so if your spring calendar needs one promo checkpoint and one people-strategy reset, there you go. (PPAI event page) (SHRM event page).

💸 Pay is not fixing engagement by itself: New data from McLean & Co. shows compensation ranked lowest as a driver of engagement. What’s lagging is growth. Career development, coaching, and collaboration are all underperforming, while stress is climbing. If employees don’t feel like they’re progressing, no paycheck is going to fix that. Read more.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winner from last week, Brilynn Cologgi, who scored the Accousticks Wireless Over Ear Earbuds from HPG. We’ve got another giveaway below!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

First impressions matter, that’s why we built the Employee Onboarding Playbook. The concept is simple, help companies create personalized, meaningful onboarding experiences that make every employee feel valued from day one.

In this video, you’ll discover how to:

✅ Deliver consistent yet personalized onboarding for every new hire

✅ Save HR teams’ time with automated workflows that spark joy for new hires

✅ Build belonging, pride, and engagement through branded company swag

✅ Set the tone for employee retention and long-term success

Whether you’re an HR leader, People Ops manager, or Total Rewards professional, this playbook shows you how to transform onboarding into a powerful culture-building tool.

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Glamper Lantern Speaker

For anyone who has ever tried to make a team off-site feel cozy with one tired Bluetooth speaker and a lot of hope, this week’s prize is the Glamper Lantern Speaker, a retro-style lantern with a 10W aluminum speaker and three ambient light settings.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score a Glamper Lantern Speaker with their company logo.
The winner will be announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 How to enter:

Watch our YouTube video of the week here and answer the pinned comment in the comment section

P.S. Last week, we only had 5 people enter the giveaway valued at $150+. The odds are in your favor!

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Simplus

Simplus describes its culture around three pillars: critical thinking, stewardship, and an underdog spirit. The company positions itself as a digital transformation partner spanning advisory, implementation, change management, custom configuration, and managed services, and it has helped more than 2,000 customers.

📣 Our Collaboration

Visit the Simplus Company Store

We helped Simplus build a clean, centralized company store that brings all its merch into one place. The assortment covers everyday apparel, outerwear, tech accessories, and more elevated gift items, giving the brand a more polished, wearable mix.

For a team like theirs, this creates a practical advantage. One on-brand destination that supports daily wear and higher-touch moments, without defaulting to generic logo gear or turning merch into a fragmented, one-off process.

🤝 Connect With Simplus

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

Show Up

I never imagined this life.

When I was younger and thought about having kids, I pictured the traditional path. My parents are still married. That was the blueprint. Step-parenting was something I saw from the outside, never something I thought I’d live.

But life doesn’t follow blueprints.

It gives you people. And then it asks what you’re going to do with them.

I became a dad before I became a stepdad. And even with that experience, nothing prepares you for the quiet complexity of loving kids who didn’t come into your life the “usual” way.

There’s no clear role.

No script.

Just a constant question in the back of your mind:
Am I doing this right?

And still… you show up.

Ryleigh and Kinsley spend most of their time with us. Somewhere along the way, the label stopped mattering to me. They’re not “step” anything in my heart.

They’re just my girls.

Last week was their daddy-daughter dance.

It was Kinsley’s first time going. I’ve taken Ryleigh before, but the first time, I was just “Mom’s boyfriend.” I remember standing there feeling out of place, unsure of where I fit in a room full of dads.

This time was different.

This time, I didn’t question whether I belonged.

Because I knew why I was there.

I was there for them.

And when I looked down and saw them smiling, holding my hands, completely present in that moment, I realized something I don’t think I fully understood before:

Kids don’t measure love by titles.

They measure it by presence.

Still, there’s a truth that sits quietly underneath it all.

I know they wish their dad was there.

That doesn’t go away. And it shouldn’t. I don’t try to replace that. I don’t try to compete with it.

I just try to meet them where they are, with as much love as I can give.

Because this isn’t about being the dad.

It’s about being a man in their life who shows up.

And one day, when they’re older, I wonder what they’ll remember.

Not the labels.

Not the technicalities.

But the moments.

Who was there.
Who stayed.
Who showed up when it mattered.

That’s what lasts.

This experience has changed how I think about everything, not just parenting.

We spend so much time focusing on titles, roles, and definitions.

But the truth is simpler than that.

People don’t need perfection.

They need presence.

They need consistency.

They need someone who chooses them, over and over again.

Ryleigh and Kinsley didn’t choose this situation. I know there are parts of it that are hard. I know there are moments that carry weight I can’t fully understand.

But I hope, when they look back, they don’t just see what was missing.

I hope they see what was there.

I hope they remember that someone showed up for them.

Every time.

And if you’re in a position like this, step-parent, mentor, coach, “just” someone in a kid’s life, don’t underestimate what that means.

You don’t need the title.

You don’t need the perfect words.

You just need to show up.

Because in the end, that’s what they’ll carry with them.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #75, we cover SpaceX IPO buzz, hiring lessons from 1,000+ interviews, Meta’s latest AI ad update, and what AI’s real economic impact might look like, plus we’re giving away a Tahoe Weekender Backpack. We also highlight how CISO Series is using its Brand Sauce company store to bring their community, content, and brand together in one place. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a meaningful reminder from the holidays, that sometimes the smallest gesture, like offering a seat at the table, can create a lasting sense of belonging.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #78

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:26:21 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #78, where swag meets culture.

If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

Let’s Dive in!

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🧥 Gap x Coachella Collaboration: Gap rolled out a “Hoodie House” as the exclusive apparel sponsor at Coachella 2026. Fully customizable hoodies, curated drops, immersive brand experience. This is where merch is going… culturally relevant and more personalization. Read more

🧢 Useful still wins: ASI’s latest research says recipients are more likely to view advertisers favorably and do business with them when promo is practical, high quality, and tuned to local preferences. The industry keeps trying to reinvent the laws of merch physics, but people simply like things they can actually use. Source.

📅 Promo calendar pick: PPAI’s North American Leadership Conference runs May 12–14. Early look at the PPAI 100 companies and where the industry’s actually heading. Be sure to drop me a note if you are attending. Register here.

🏆 Recognition > compensation (long term): In WorldatWork’s latest retention conversation, the standout idea is the “rewards paradox”: employees may feel satisfied with pay and benefits, but career development and recognition are stronger predictors of whether they stay. Source.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winner from last week, Beth Falkenstein, who scored the JBL Soundgear Clip Open-Ear Headphones from HPG. We’ve got another giveaway below!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

One of the biggest mistakes we see is teams piecing together swag from multiple vendors. Apparel from one place, drinkware from another, and last-minute scrambling for everything else.

It creates inconsistent branding, operational chaos, and wasted time.

The fix is a true one-stop shop company store.

One centralized system that keeps your brand consistent, simplifies ordering, removes vendor headaches, and delivers a seamless, Amazon-like experience for your team.

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Accousticks Wireless Over-Ear Earbuds

For anyone who has ever wanted a soundtrack during a walk-and-talk without fully disappearing into Noise-Canceling Cave mode, this week’s giveaway is the Accousticks Wireless Over Ear Earbuds, designed to play audio while still letting ambient sound through.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score an Accousticks Wireless Over Ear Earbuds custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 How to enter:

Watch our YouTube video of the week here and answer the pinned comment in the comment section

P.S. Last week, we only had 3 people enter the giveaway valued at $150+. The odds are in your favor!

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Get Air

Get Air Sports has been in the trampoline-park business since 2010 and now operates more than 70 parks. Its footprint stretches across the United States, Canada, and Japan. For a brand built on movement, parties, and repeat family visits, swag isn’t just merch… it’s part of the experience.

📣 Our Collaboration

Visit the Get Air Company Store

We helped Get Air Store centralize all their merch in a clean and simple one-stop shop. The site covers everything from apparel and headwear to bags, drinkware, tech, and office gear.

For a multi-location operator, this is a practical win. One centralized, on-brand destination that supports staff, fans, and day-to-day consistency, without turning every merch request into a scavenger hunt.

🤝 Connect With Get Air

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

Brand Sauce is growing.

And with that growth comes the opportunity to work with some really incredible companies and brands. I know one day I’ll get used to seeing our work out in the world but right now, it still stops me in my tracks every time.

Because to me, it’s more than just work.

At home, my four kids are still young but they’re getting to the age where they’re starting to understand a little more about what I do. We talk about Brand Sauce, but more importantly, we talk about what it takes to build something… working hard, showing up, and being a kind, good person along the way.

Last weekend, something clicked in a way it never had before.

I took all four kids to Get Air, a jump park about 20 minutes from our house that they absolutely love. As we pulled up, the car filled with excitement.

“I’ve been here for a birthday party!”
“Daddy takes us here!”

They couldn’t wait to get inside.

Then, from the backseat, Bo said something simple but it stuck with me.
“Get Air is one of Rossy’s clients.”

The girls didn’t fully understand what that meant. But in that moment, I realized… this was the first time my kids were connecting the dots between what I do every day and something real in their world.

Not an idea. Not a conversation.
A place they love. A place they get to have fun.

A place we helped build.

I don’t know if they’ll remember the details of that day. But I’ll remember the feeling, seeing that small sense of pride in their eyes, even if they couldn’t fully explain it yet.

As a parent, you don’t get many moments like that. Moments where your work and your family overlap in a way that actually means something.

So thank you to Get Air for giving me that moment. For giving my kids a place they love, and for unknowingly helping me show them what all the long hours are for.

The upgrades at the Poway location are incredible. My kids didn’t want to leave.

We’re lucky to work with a lot of amazing clients, and we’ll continue to grow. But this one felt different.

Because for the first time, my kids didn’t just hear about what I do.

They felt it.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #77, we cover new data on the power of swag and why 83% of recipients feel more appreciated, what most companies still get wrong about employee recognition, Coachella’s merch shift with BELLA+CANVAS, the growing push toward sustainable merch, and what a more selective labor market means for hiring today, plus we’re giving away JBL Soundgear Clip Open Ear Headphones. We also highlight how PDS Optical is using its Brand Sauce company store to create a clean, on-demand merch experience that makes browsing, ordering, and brand consistency feel effortless. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a meaningful reflection from his kids’ Jog-a-thon, reminding us that gratitude, respect, and perspective are often passed down through simple, human moments that stick.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #74, we cover AI in the workplace, and where it starts to cross the line, a viral AI playbook marketers can’t stop sharing, upcoming promo events, Admin Day ideas, and key industry updates. Plus, we’re giving away an Infinitunes wireless speaker + charger from HPG. We also highlight how Standard Builders is using their Brand Sauce company store to create consistency across teams and eliminate common swag issues. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a personal reflection from a trip to the circus, and why the real goal isn’t just success, it’s finding work that genuinely brings you joy.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #77

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:33:00 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #77, where swag meets culture.

If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

Let’s Dive in!

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🧢 The Power of Swag: PPAI’s latest consumer work says 83% of recipients feel appreciated after receiving branded merchandise, 90% say it improves brand perception, and 65% are likely to keep a product for at least six months if it feels durable and well designed. Source.

📈 Making Recognition Work: Only 21% of organizations practice integrated recognition, yet companies that do are 5x more likely to help employees feel connected, 12x more likely to help employees thrive when they feel connected, and 81% less likely to drive burnout odds upward. The takeaway is simple: a once-a-year award is fine, but frequent, visible recognition is what actually changes the feel of a workplace. Source.

🎪 Festival merch just got a blanks flex: A big shout out to BELLA+CANVAS, who was named the official blanks provider for Coachella. The larger takeaway for merch folks is pretty clear: fashion-forward blanks are not a side conversation anymore. Retail taste and promo product decisions keep getting closer. Source.

🌎 Earth Day has a merch agenda now: Registration is open for the 2026 Sustainable Merch Summit. The virtual event brings together promo, print, and apparel voices for practical conversations on responsible merchandising. Check it out here.

📊 The Labor Market Is Selective, Not Frozen: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says March payrolls rose by 178,000 while unemployment held at 4.3%. But private job openings fell to 6.181 million in February. Hiring still exists. It is just a lot less forgiving. Read more here.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winners from last week, Jessica Morris, MBA, ATC, who scored the 3 Fold Charger from HPG. We’ve got another giveaway below!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

If you’re looking for the best company swag store, this is where things are changing fast.

For years, teams were stuck with bulk minimums, limited customization, and swag no one actually wanted.

Today, the game has flipped.

The best stores let you customize premium products across embroidery, DTF, DTG, patches, and more, starting at just one item.

That shift unlocks faster testing, deeper personalization, and a much better employee experience without the headache of leftover inventory.

The future of swag isn’t bulk. It’s on-demand, flexible, and built to actually reflect your brand.

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: JBL Soundgear Clip Open Ear

For the coworker who wants a soundtrack during heads-down work without fully disappearing from the room, this week’s prize is the JBL Soundgear Clip Open Ear Headphones with Air Conduction, SonicArc design, and all-day comfort.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score a JBL Soundgear Clip Open-Ear Headphones, custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 How to enter:

Watch our YouTube video of the week here and answer the pinned comment in the comment section

P.S. Last week, we only had 2 people enter the giveaway valued at $150+. The odds are in your favor!

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet PDS Optical

PDS Optical is on a mission to deliver top-tier vision care for those who have served. Focused on Veterans, they provide a wide range of eyewear options, with frames and lenses tailored to individual needs. The goal is simple: make sure every person gets the clarity, comfort, and confidence they deserve, without a one-size-fits-all approach.

📣 Our Collaboration

Visit the PDS Optical Company Store

The PDS Optical company store gives the brand a clean, on-demand home for merch, with zero friction from first click. The homepage sets the tone immediately with “swag delivered direct,” followed by a well-structured mix of apparel, bags, headwear, drinkware, tech, healthcare items, holiday gifts, and veteran-owned products. A clear bulk-order pathway is built in, and the quiet “built by Brand Sauce” detail signals exactly what this store is meant to do: work.

Everything points to a simple, well-executed goal. One place to browse branded gear, place orders without guesswork, and move through clearly defined categories that actually make sense. The experience feels consistent, intentional, and easy to adopt. A clear mission up front, backed by a merch flow that does not get in the way. That is where strong stores usually win.

🤝 Connect With PDS Optical

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

Last Tuesday was my kids’ school Jog-a-thon.

On the surface, it’s just a bunch of kids running laps, laughing with their friends, burning off energy on a school day.

But it’s become something much more than that.

Like last year, they raised money for Honor Flight → https://www.honorflight.org/

An organization that gives veterans the chance to visit the memorials built in their honor in Washington, D.C.

It’s a beautiful mission.

But what stays with me most isn’t the cause, it’s what my kids experience that day.

They get to meet veterans.

They walk up, sometimes a little shy, sometimes without fully understanding the weight of the moment, and they say, “Thank you for your service.”

And every time, it gets me.

Because in that simple exchange, something important is being passed down. Not through a lecture. Not through a textbook. But through a moment.

Gratitude. Respect. Perspective.

As a parent, you hope your kids understand how lucky they are. That the life they’re growing up in, the safety, the freedom, the everyday normal moments we take for granted, came at a cost.

A real one.

Not abstract. Not distant.

Real families. Real sacrifices.

Ryleigh and Kinsley see a glimpse of that in their own lives. Their uncle serves in the military, and when he’s deployed, they see what that means for their cousins, months without their dad, holidays missed, a quiet kind of resilience that doesn’t get talked about enough.

It makes it all feel closer. More human.

So I’m incredibly grateful to their school, not just for organizing a fundraiser, but for creating a moment that sticks. A moment that helps shape how these kids see the world and the people who’ve helped protect it.

If you’ve never heard of Honor Flight, take a few minutes to learn about what they do. It’s special.

And if you have a couple of minutes, PDS optical made the video for them last year.

Just a heads up… you might shed a tear

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #76, we cover swag fulfillment delays flagged by Advertising Specialty Institute, new data showing AI is increasing employee workload, how discovery is shifting with AI (via The Verge), and why tangible rewards outperform cash when it comes to real engagement, plus we’re giving away a 3 Fold Charger. We also highlight how Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. is using its Brand Sauce company store to create a seamless, culture-driven merch experience with thoughtful details like their “Geospatial” collection. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a powerful reminder that connection starts small, and that something as simple as inviting others to the table can help us see each other not as different, but simply as people.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #73, we cover creative brand activations, interactive merch, and feel-good moments that stick, from Pizza Hut’s Space Jam drop and Disney’s marketing play to a lemonade stand turned Super Bowl surprise and the Timberwolves’ playable snack cup, plus key job market updates. Plus, we’re giving away a Crumbee Desktop Vacuum. We also highlight how club sports teams are using Brand Sauce stores to fundraise, gear up, and build community through merch that actually gets used. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a personal story on mentorship and how showing up for others can shape someone’s path.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #76

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 09:33:00 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #76, where swag meets culture. If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🚢 Swag Fulfillment Timelines Stretching: Advertising Specialty Institute flagged swag sourcing headaches tied to the Strait of Hormuz disruption, including rerouted lanes, higher freight and insurance costs, and more reliance on pricey air freight. If your program has a “must arrive by” date, build a cushion now. Your future self (and your team) will thank you. Read more here.

🤖 AI is Increasing Workload for Employees: Newly released employee experience research shows a gap: 96% of C-suite leaders expect AI to boost output, but 77% of employees say AI tools increased their workload. Source.

🔍 SEO for AI: The Verge spotlighted how SEO is shifting as AI chat tools rewrite how people discover brands, and how some companies are trying to influence AI answers with curated listicles and “AI visibility” tactics. Source.

🎁 Gifting & Rewards Industry Insight: New research shows cash and tangible rewards drive similar output on measured tasks, but tangible rewards (like swag) significantly outperform on discretionary engagement. Why? Cash creates a transactional mindset, while tangible rewards trigger emotional buy-in. Source.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winner from last week, Kelly Hockaday, who scored the Tahoe Weekender Backpack from HPG. We’ve got another giveaway below!

Brand Sauce is taking over the Philippines

Out of sight should not mean out of mind.

Our Philippines Brand Sauce catalog helps you extend recognition and company culture to offshore employees and contractors with ease.

Same experience, just built for where your team is.

Learn more here.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Most companies don’t struggle with swag. They struggle with the logistics behind it.

At Brand Sauce, one thing we hear over and over is how important it is for the AP team to receive a single, clean invoice each month. We organize every order by office, department, or code so your team has full transparency.

Simple for your team to order.

Even simpler for accounting.

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: 3 Fold Charger

One desk, three devices, one charger, and suddenly you feel like you have your life together. That’s the vibe.

The 3 Fold Charger from HPG is a fold-flat 3‑in‑1 that charges phone (15W), earbuds (5W), and watch (3W) at the same time.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score a 3 Fold Charger custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 How to enter:

Watch our YouTube video of the week here and drop a comment!

P.S. Last week we only had 1 person enter the giveaway valued at $150+. The odds are in your favor!

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet GPI

GPI is a multidisciplinary infrastructure firm with a clear mission: “Together, we create the infrastructure people need most.” They put real emphasis on teamwork and empowering employees, and they’re also employee-owned through an ESOP structure that aligns people with the company’s long-term success. That “we’re all stakeholders” energy tends to show up in how teams collaborate, communicate, and celebrate wins.

📣 Our Collaboration

Visit GPI Company Store

GPI’s company store gets the basics right, then goes a step further. Easy-to-shop categories keep things frictionless, and the “Geospatial” collection adds a layer of internal pride you do not usually see. It is thoughtful, practical, and clearly built with real teams in mind.

🤝 Connect With GPI

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

Every spring in our home carries a kind of quiet magic.

It’s the overlap of Easter and Passover, two different traditions, two different stories, somehow living side by side under one roof.

My kids are being raised Jewish. Madison’s girls are being raised Christian. And as the kids have gotten older, something has shifted.

They’re starting to understand.

Not just what they believe, but what others believe too.

And that’s opened the door to conversations I didn’t fully expect… about respect, about curiosity, about what it means to step into someone else’s traditions with care.

This year, it hit me a little harder.

Because while I’m watching these kids grow up learning to appreciate differences, the world outside still feels so divided.

There are people fighting, killing, drawing lines between each other because of religion, geography, and identity.

And I keep coming back to the same thought

How is it possible that in 2026, we still don’t see each other as humans first?

Because when you strip everything else away, it doesn’t feel that complicated.

Most people, if you sat them down together, shared a meal, told stories, let their kids play side by side, would probably find more in common than they ever expected.

I saw a glimpse of that this weekend.

On Saturday, at our local Easter egg hunt, there were families from everywhere. Different languages were being spoken. Different cultures, different backgrounds, different skin colors.

And none of that mattered.

The kids were just running, laughing, searching, comparing what they found, opening eggs together like they’d known each other forever.

It was simple. It was pure. It was how things are supposed to feel.

The next day, when I picked my kids up, they were excited about egg hunts and Easter baskets.

And we talked about what that really means.

It’s a privilege to be invited into someone else’s tradition, which is something to respect, not just participate in.

My son Bo told me that sometimes his friends come over after school on Fridays and end up staying for Shabbat dinner.

They sit at our table. They experience something new.

And what struck me most wasn’t just that it happens, but that he understands why it matters.

He gets that sharing these moments, these rituals, these pieces of who we are is what brings people closer.

It’s what makes life feel fuller.

It made me feel proud. And, honestly, hopeful.

Because maybe the answer isn’t as complicated as we make it.

Maybe it starts small.

An invitation.
A seat at the table.
A willingness to learn something that isn’t your own.

We’re incredibly lucky to live in a place where we can do that freely.

And maybe, if more of us chose to open our homes, to share our traditions, to let people get just a little closer.

We’d start to see each other differently.

Not as strangers. Not as “other.”

Just as people.

And maybe that’s where a better world begins.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #75, we cover SpaceX IPO buzz, hiring lessons from 1,000+ interviews, Meta’s latest AI ad update, and what AI’s real economic impact might look like, plus we’re giving away a Tahoe Weekender Backpack. We also highlight how CISO Series is using its Brand Sauce company store to bring their community, content, and brand together in one place. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a meaningful reminder from the holidays, that sometimes the smallest gesture, like offering a seat at the table, can create a lasting sense of belonging.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #72, we cover new PPAI data showing consumers expect better swag than ever, an AI-built pixel-art map of NYC, new EU rules ending the “burn the inventory” era for apparel, and workplace AI fatigue. Plus, we’re giving away the Moonyx Utility Backpack. We also highlight Ziegler and their company store, designed to give employees a wide range of apparel they’ll actually want to wear. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares reflections from speaking at the Print on Demand Conference and how the expectations of today’s workforce are shaping the future of branded merchandise.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #75

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #75, where swag meets culture. If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🚀 Frothy IPO Loading: A potential SpaceX IPO could unlock massive value and signal mainstream adoption of the space economy, giving businesses and investors new exposure to satellite, defense, and infrastructure innovation at scale. Read more here.

📝 Hiring Reality Check: After conducting 1,000+ interviews at Amazon, one insight stood out to Steve Huynh: technical skills get candidates in the door, but communication and clarity close the deal. Most candidates over-index on hard skills and underprepare for storytelling. For HR leaders, it’s a reminder: hiring decisions are still deeply human. Source.

🧑‍💻 Meta Algorithm Update: Meta rolled out an updated ad serving approach for Instagram using an AI-driven Adaptive Ranking Model. Meta claims early gains like +3% conversions and +5% CTR for targeted users, tied to this model. Source.

📊 AI’s Economic Impact: This X thread distills a dense, 200-page report into one clear takeaway: AI will matter a lot, but not overnight. Expect gradual adoption, delayed productivity gains, and familiar economic patterns in the near term. But zoom out, and compounding effects start to kick in: stronger GDP growth paired with fewer people working. Read the X thread here.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winner from last week, Kelly Hockaday, who scored the Infinitunes Wireless Speaker & Charger from HPG. We’ve got another giveaway below!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Stop. Sending. Unwanted. Swag.

It's 2026...

Why are we still guessing what people want?

Whether it's for clients, new hires, or vendors, the best gift is the one they actually choose.

Give people the power to pick what they'll love.

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Tahoe Weekender Backpack

If your brain is already trying to plan a “quick reset weekend,” same.

The Tahoe Weekender Backpack opens like luggage, has a separate bottom compartment, and yes, it’s loaded with 18 pockets.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score a Tahoe Weekender Backpack custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 How to enter:

Watch our YouTube video of the week here and drop a comment!

Note: If your YouTube name doesn’t include your real name, just reply to this email with “commented” so we can match your entry.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet CISO Series

CISO Series is a media network for cybersecurity professionals that leans into one simple promise: “the most fun you’ll have in cybersecurity.” They publish 10–11 episodes per week across five programs, mixing audio podcasts with live streaming video events, and they’ve built a community vibe that feels more like a smart hangout than a lecture.

📣 Our Collaboration

Visit CISO Series’s company store

The company store we built from soup to nuts gives their team and community a consistent way to rep the brand across shows, sponsor moments, and everyday life. The product catalog was carefully curated, boasting premium apparel, headware, bags, and drinkware.

🤝 Connect With CISO Series

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

This week brings both Passover and Easter, holidays rooted in tradition, meaning, and most of all, togetherness.

But every year, when these holidays come around, I find myself thinking about something else. I think about the people who don’t have a place to go.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate. No matter the holiday, Passover, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, there has always been a seat for me at a table, surrounded by family and friends. That’s something I’ve never taken for granted. Because for many people, that feeling of belonging during the holidays isn’t guaranteed. And that’s a hard thing to sit with.

Growing up, my family understood that. Our door was always open. There was always room for one more chair, one more plate, one more story. And I remember seeing what that meant to the people who joined us, how something so normal to us could mean so much to someone else. It wasn’t just about a meal. It was about being seen, being included, feeling like you belonged.

That’s a tradition I carry with me today, and one I hope my kids will carry forward long after me.

This Passover, The Israel Bridge reached out to hundreds of athletes across the country, ensuring no one spends the holiday alone. One of those athletes, Matan Ivri, a student at the University of Wisconsin, shared that he’d be in San Diego for Passover and didn’t have a place for Seder.

When I reached out to the San Diego community, the response was immediate. People didn’t hesitate. Within hours, Matan had multiple invitations. He ended up spending Seder with Jeremy and Tonia Cohen, surrounded by 20 people who welcomed him in like family.

For Jeremy and Tonia, it may have felt like a small gesture, just one more seat at the table.

But for Matan, it was everything.

The Seder probably gave me some extra power 🙂 I won the race and broke the 1500m Israeli record by 2.5 seconds! Thanks again for the help!
- Matan

It meant he wasn’t alone. It meant he had a place. It meant that, even far from home, he was still part of something bigger.

And I got something out of it, too. Before the holiday, I had the chance to hike Torrey Pines with Matan and spend time getting to know him. He’s an incredible kid. The kind that reminds you how much good there is in the world, and how much impact something small can have.

So this holiday season, I keep coming back to one simple thought:

There is always room for one more.

If you ever have the opportunity to open your home, extend the invitation, or pull up another chair, please do it. Because what might feel small to you could mean everything to someone else. And those moments? They last forever.

Happy Easter to all who celebrate. And to everyone, wishing you a holiday filled with connection, warmth, and belonging.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #74, we cover AI in the workplace, and where it starts to cross the line, a viral AI playbook marketers can’t stop sharing, upcoming promo events, Admin Day ideas, and key industry updates. Plus, we’re giving away an Infinitunes wireless speaker + charger from HPG. We also highlight how Standard Builders is using their Brand Sauce company store to create consistency across teams and eliminate common swag issues. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a personal reflection from a trip to the circus, and why the real goal isn’t just success, it’s finding work that genuinely brings you joy.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #71, we cover ADP’s latest hiring data showing 63,000 new private-sector jobs, tariff shifts that could impact swag sourcing, Costco’s surprising Off-White hoodie drop, and why vintage Spice Girls merch is suddenly valuable again. Plus, we’re giving away Fansee AI Sunglasses by Rupt. We also highlight Old Wisconsin Sausage and the launch of their new Brand Sauce company store, which kicked off with a company-wide gift card drop to get the team exploring the store and celebrating the launch together. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a personal reflection on his step-daughter Kinsley turning five and how the quiet, everyday parenting moments often become the memories that matter most.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #74

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:58:00 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #74, where swag meets culture. If you order swag for your company, or simply want to stay up to date on the latest workplace trends, you’re in the right place.

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🤖 AI in the Workplace: Burger King is rolling out AI headsets that can coach employees… and now even track how “friendly” they sound. Helpful in theory, but it raises a bigger question… where’s the line between support and surveillance? Source.

🧠 Ai Playbook for Marketers: Claude’s one-man marketing team, led by @thariq, just dropped a super practical guide on how he actually uses AI to market Claude. It’s already pulling ~10M impressions in a few days and breaking the internet… if you’re going to learn AI from anyone, this is the one. Source.

📅 Administrative Professionals Day: April 22. is right around the corner. This is a perfect excuse to show some love to the unsung heroes who keep everything running behind the scenes. Need a few ideas? Comment “Admin Day” and we’ll send some your way.

📺 Upcoming Promo Event: Promo Live is set for April 15, and it’s positioned as a live-streamed, interactive showcase built to connect distributors with suppliers and new product ideas. Learn More.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winners from last week, Alicia Ambrose, who scored the Crumbee Desktop Vacuum from HPG. We’ve got another giveaway below!

Last week’s poll results

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Ever received merch with the wrong PMS color, off sizing, or a logo that just feels… off?

It happens more than you think, and it quietly chips away at your brand.

In this week’s video, we break down how a centralized company store solves all of these issues, locking in brand standards, sizing, and consistency so every order hits exactly how it should.

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Infinitunes Wireless Speaker & Charger

Turn up the volume and the vibe with the Infinitunes Wireless Speaker. A powerful sound paired with a mesmerizing infinity mirror light show that instantly elevates any space. Oh, and it doubles as a wireless charger… so your phone stays powered while the music (and mood) never stops.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score an Infinitunes Wireless Speaker & Charger custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 How to enter:

Watch our YouTube video of the week here and drop a comment sharing an issue you’ve experienced with swag.

Note: If your YouTube name doesn’t include your real name, just reply to this email with “commented” so we can match your entry.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Standard Builders

Standard Builders has built an enduring reputation around integrity and professionalism, with a history that stretches back 75 years. They’ve been providing professional construction services to some of the most prestigious, discerning business owners throughout New England since 1949.

📣 Our Collaboration

Visit their store here

Their company store, Standard Builders Merch, is built for the way teams work now: easy browsing, clear categories (apparel, bags, tech, office), and a modern feel that keeps it from turning into a random catalog dump.

The best part is how the product mix supports identity across roles. A vest or rain jacket hits differently when you’re on-site. A power bank when you’re bouncing between meetings. The store isn’t just merch, it’s a way to make the brand wearable across the full workweek.

🤝 Connect With Standard Builders

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

Last weekend, Madison and I took Ryleigh and Kinsley to the circus.

I’ll admit, I had a very different picture in my head. I was expecting elephants, lions, maybe even a few monkeys. Instead, it was something completely different. No animals, just people doing things that felt almost impossible.

Tightrope walkers soaring 50 feet in the air. Motorcycles spinning and flipping inside a tiny cage, somehow never colliding. A group of jugglers moving in perfect rhythm, never missing a beat.

It was incredible. The kind of incredible that makes you realize how much time, sacrifice, and courage it takes to become great at something.

But as amazing as all of that was… It’s not what stayed with me.

What stayed with me were the moments in between.

The ringmaster. The clowns.

They weren’t doing the “impossible” acts. They were just… there. Keeping the show moving. Singing, joking, pulling people in from the crowd. And the entire time, they had these huge, genuine smiles on their faces.

Not forced. Not rehearsed. Just… joy.

They looked like they loved what they were doing.

At one point, Kinsley was sitting on my lap, covered in cotton candy, and Ryleigh was next to me, completely locked in with her Icee. I wasn’t even watching the show anymore.

I was watching them.

And I had this quiet thought:

What will their lives look like one day?

Not what job titles they’ll have. Not what success will look like on paper.

But will they find something that makes them feel like that?

Will they find something that lights them up… that makes them lose track of time… that puts a smile on their face without even realizing it?

I don’t know what they’ll grow up to do.

But I hope they find something, anything, that brings them that kind of joy.

Because life gets complicated. It gets busy. It gets heavy.

And somewhere along the way, it’s easy to forget what it feels like to genuinely enjoy what you’re doing.

Watching that show, it felt like those performers hadn’t forgotten.

And sitting there with my girls, I realized how much I hope they find that joy as adults.

Thanks for the reminder, Circus Vargas.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #73, we cover creative brand activations, interactive merch, and feel-good moments that stick, from Pizza Hut’s Space Jam drop and Disney’s marketing play to a lemonade stand turned Super Bowl surprise and the Timberwolves’ playable snack cup, plus key job market updates. Plus, we’re giving away a Crumbee Desktop Vacuum. We also highlight how club sports teams are using Brand Sauce stores to fundraise, gear up, and build community through merch that actually gets used. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a personal story on mentorship and how showing up for others can shape someone’s path.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | Masterclass

Ross Greenstein — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:37:40 +0000

Click here to RSVP

Hi Brand Sauce fam,

We’re going live tomorrow at 1 PM EST for our Brand Sauce Masterclass, “The 6 Pillars of a World Class Company Swag Program”.

30 minutes designed for anyone who:

Orders swag
Wants to build a better company culture
Is exploring setting up a company store to make swag easier
Wants to save time & money ordering swag

We aim to make this the most educational, interactive, and fun 30 minutes of your week.

👉 Click here to RSVP

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #73

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #73, where swag meets culture.

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🍕 Pizza Hut x Space Jam Collaboration: The dynamic duo launched a Triple Treat Box during March Madness, plus limited-edition merch access via its rewards program. Say less… sign me up. Source.

🚢 Disney Does it Again: This is simply world class marketing by Disney. Watch here.

🥤 From Lemonade Stand to the Super Bowl: A young athlete and his dad were out selling lemonade to raise funds for his football team when @omar spotted their hustle. Moved by their effort, he surprised them with Super Bowl tickets, turning a simple fundraiser into a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Source.

🏀 A souvenir cup that’s basically a micro game: The Minnesota Timberwolves popped up on our social feed with a “playable pop-a-snack” souvenir cup that turns popcorn into a mini shooting contest. This is a real-time reminder that interactive merch wins. Source.

🌍 Jobs Update: Jobless claims fell to 205,000 last week. Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency urged short-term demand cuts like working from home and flying less as energy prices surge. Source.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winner from last week, Lynn Sogi, who scored the Moonyx Utility Backpack from RUPT. We’ve got another giveaway below!

DO YOUR KIDS PLAY CLUB SPORTS?

See the Store in Action

Club Sports

Club sports parents know the drill.

Early mornings, folding chairs on the sideline, and a whole lot of team pride.

We’ve been helping more and more club teams launch their own Brand Sauce stores so athletes and families can grab everything from jerseys, hats, hoodies, socks, and practice gear to lawn chairs, tents, backpacks, water bottles, blankets, and travel bags.

The best part?

A percentage of every purchase goes right back to the team to help fund tournaments, travel, and gear for the kids.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

The chef hat isn’t for show. The Sauce Boss is cooking up one of the ingredients for the perfect company store. 🍳

Minimum-of-one. No bulk. No leftover swag collecting dust.

Just exactly what you need, when you need it.

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Crumbee Desktop Vacuum

Don’t let the size fool you, this mini vacuum packs serious cleaning power. It easily picks up crumbs and dust from your desk, keyboard, drawers, and more, making it a go-to for quick, everyday cleanups.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score a Crumbee Desktop Vacuum custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 To enter, just answer this week’s poll below.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

When I was a kid, many of my friends were older than me. By the time I got into middle school and high school, I was regularly playing tennis with guys who were years ahead of me, most of them already in high school or even college.

My dad would pay them to practice with me. It was cheaper than a private lesson, and the older kids were happy to make some extra money.

What my dad probably didn’t realize was that those practice sessions turned into something much bigger than tennis.

Many of those guys became like older brothers to me.

I looked up to them in a way only a younger kid can. They didn’t just teach me about tennis, they talked to me about life. About girls, music, parties, mistakes, decisions, and the world that was waiting just a few years ahead of me. For a young boy without an older brother, those moments meant more than they probably ever knew.

Looking back now, I realize how lucky I was to have those influences in my life. They helped shape the person I became.

And somewhere along the way, I made a quiet promise to myself: if I ever had the chance to be that person for someone else, I would.

Four years ago, pickleball gave me that opportunity.

I met a 22-year-old named Connor McCartney who had just graduated from SDSU and was trying to figure out his next chapter. He grew up in San Diego, played every sport he could, especially soccer, and like a lot of people in their early twenties, he was standing at that strange crossroads between who you’ve been and who you’re going to become.

When I first met Connor, he was single, learning pickleball, looking for a real job, and still trying to figure out where life was going to take him.

Over the last four years, I’ve had the privilege of watching that story unfold.

Connor is now a professional pickleball player. He built a thriving coaching business that employs other coaches. He found an amazing girlfriend. But more than any of those accomplishments, he grew into a thoughtful, hardworking, genuinely great young man.

And getting to watch that growth up close has meant a lot to me.

Next month, Connor is moving to the East Coast. I’m going to miss seeing him around the courts and catching up between games, but I know this move is another step forward in his journey.

The truth is, relationships like this don’t really end, they just evolve.

I know we’ll stay in touch. I’ll be watching his career, his life, and everything he builds from a distance, proud of the path he’s creating for himself.

I’m grateful for the chance he gave me to coach him, mentor him, and most importantly, call him a friend.

Something tells me that one day I’ll be sitting at his wedding… and maybe years from now his kids will call me Uncle Ross.

Connor, thank you for letting me be part of your story.

Good luck on this next chapter. I couldn’t be prouder of you.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #72, we cover new PPAI data showing consumers expect better swag than ever, an AI-built pixel-art map of NYC, new EU rules ending the “burn the inventory” era for apparel, and workplace AI fatigue. Plus, we’re giving away the Moonyx Utility Backpack. We also highlight Ziegler and their company store, designed to give employees a wide range of apparel they’ll actually want to wear. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares reflections from speaking at the Print on Demand Conference and how the expectations of today’s workforce are shaping the future of branded merchandise.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #69, we explored what meaningful appreciation actually looks like, from Delta’s $1.3B profit-sharing payout to the growing conversation around heartbreak leave and workplace empathy. We previewed our upcoming Masterclass on company store technology, spotlighted Teledyne’s precision-built branded store, and gave readers a shot at upgrading their workspace with a Sound Saber monitor speaker. And in this week’s Water Cooler, Ross shared a powerful reminder from a 200-person Shabbat dinner in Miami that connection, not algorithms, is what really brings people together.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #72

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 16:56:03 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #72, where swag meets culture.

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

📊 Consumers Simply Want Better Swag: In PPAI’s Product Power 2026 study (5,000+ U.S. respondents), 83% said receiving a promo item makes them feel appreciated, and 90% said it improves their perception of the brand. Function + design + durability is the new baseline. Source.

🗺️ Internet Find of the Week: An artist-engineer built a massive isometric pixel-art map of New York City as a nostalgic nod to SimCity 2000 and RollerCoaster Tycoon. The wild part: he says he wrote “almost no code,” leaning on vibe-coding agents. See it here.

♻️ EU Ending “Burn the Inventory” Era: The European Commission says new EU rules will stop companies from destroying unsold clothes and shoes, with a ban for large companies starting in July. If you needed one more argument for made-to-order and smarter inventory. Source.

🧠 AI “Brain Fry” in the Workplace: A study covered by Harvard Business Review says overuse of multiple AI tools can create cognitive fatigue, with 14% of surveyed U.S. workers reporting significant strain. Time to consider pumping the brakes on AI rollout? Source.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winners from last week, Kendra (Van Camp) Griffith and Allie Gamble, who scored the Fansee AI Sunglasses from RUPT. We’ve got another giveaway below!

Poll results from last week’s newsletter.

SWAG INSIDERS

Masterclass in Sports Merch

The Lake Country DockHounds in Wisconsin are temporarily rebranding themselves as the “Wisconsin Dive Bars.” For three games this summer, the team will take the field in special jerseys, hats, and apparel celebrating the state’s legendary dive bar culture.

It’s a brilliant reminder of what great merch can do. Celebrate local culture, create buzz, and give fans something they’re proud to wear.

Whether it’s a club sports team, a company, or a minor league ball club, the formula is the same: build community first, then give people something great to rally around.

👉 You can read the full story here.

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Moonyx Utility Backpack

Meet the Moonyx Utility Backpack. This 20L backpack is built for modern explorers and busy professionals, with smart features that make everyday travel easier. The removable front pocket doubles as a sleek crossbody when you want to travel light, while a luggage passthrough, hidden passport pocket, and padded laptop sleeve keep your essentials organized, secure, and ready for wherever the day takes you.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score a Moonyx Utility Backpack with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 To enter, just answer this week’s poll below.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Ziegler

Ziegler is a financial services firm with over 120 years of service, positioning its work around community impact, capital, & investments. Their history goes back to 1902, when Ben Ziegler started an insurance business in West Bend, Wisconsin, and the timeline shows decades of evolution across lending and underwriting. In short: legacy brand, modern expectations, and a lot of teams that need to show up looking consistent

📣 Our Collaboration

View the Ziegler’s company store

The swag store is cleanly organized (men’s/women’s, outerwear, polos, woven shirts, bottoms) and shows a sizable assortment, so employees can find something that fits both job reality and personal taste. That’s the sweet spot where wearing the brand becomes voluntary, not mandatory.

🤝 Connect With Ziegler

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

Last month, I had the honor of speaking at the Print on Demand Conference hosted by Stahls in West Palm Beach. More than 250 people traveled from around the world to attend. It was one of those events where you look around the room and see both old friends and new faces, people who have all helped shape this industry in different ways.

The conference was full of fascinating ideas about where our industry is headed. Some speakers shared cutting-edge developments in AI. One presentation showed robots that may soon assist with screen printing t-shirts. Another explored how NIL is changing the game in college athletics through print-on-demand. We even heard from the person responsible for producing Atlanta Braves jerseys during games at the stadium, explaining how fans can have custom jerseys made right there in the ballpark.

I had the opportunity to close the event as the final speaker. I’ll admit, I was nervous. Speaking on behalf of Brand Sauce in a room filled with partners, customers, and even competitors is a unique experience. But it was also incredibly meaningful.

Instead of focusing only on our technology, I talked about someone we think about often at Brand Sauce, a persona we call Bailey. Bailey is a 29-year-old professional who represents the modern workforce. I described where Bailey works, where she shops, who she spends time with, and how the expectations of people like Bailey are quietly reshaping the way companies think about brands, merchandise, and culture.

Standing on that stage, it struck me how early we still are in this journey. Brand Sauce is just getting started. The ideas we are building toward today are only the beginning of what the next 30 years could become.

I’m grateful to Stahls for the opportunity to share our perspective. And I’m grateful to all of you, our partners, clients, and friends, who are building the future of this industry alongside us.

It’s a pretty special ride to be on together.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #71, we cover ADP’s latest hiring data showing 63,000 new private-sector jobs, tariff shifts that could impact swag sourcing, Costco’s surprising Off-White hoodie drop, and why vintage Spice Girls merch is suddenly valuable again. Plus, we’re giving away Fansee AI Sunglasses by Rupt. We also highlight Old Wisconsin Sausage and the launch of their new Brand Sauce company store, which kicked off with a company-wide gift card drop to get the team exploring the store and celebrating the launch together. And in Ross’ Water Cooler, he shares a personal reflection on his step-daughter Kinsley turning five and how the quiet, everyday parenting moments often become the memories that matter most.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #70, we explored how appreciation, connection, and smart swag strategies are shaping modern workplace culture. From Employee Appreciation Day playbooks and new research showing work friendships drive engagement to the growing trend of across-the-board merit raises, this edition unpacks what HR teams are navigating right now. We also spotlighted Body By Heart’s intentional company store strategy, announced a new GOT BAG Puffer Moon Bag giveaway, and heard Ross reflect on how shared experiences build the kind of bonds that last a lifetime.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #69, we explored what meaningful appreciation actually looks like, from Delta’s $1.3B profit-sharing payout to the growing conversation around heartbreak leave and workplace empathy. We previewed our upcoming Masterclass on company store technology, spotlighted Teledyne’s precision-built branded store, and gave readers a shot at upgrading their workspace with a Sound Saber monitor speaker. And in this week’s Water Cooler, Ross shared a powerful reminder from a 200-person Shabbat dinner in Miami that connection, not algorithms, is what really brings people together.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #68, we leaned into smarter hiring, smoother swag experiences, and the systems behind both. From why candidates are skimming job posts to what makes HR transformation actually work, this edition explored clarity over clutter. We also spotlighted Patch My PC’s on-demand store, previewed POD Conference 2026 with Ross taking the stage, and asked a simple question: What if a better user experience is the real competitive edge in swag?

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #71

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 19:21:23 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #71, where swag meets culture.

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🧮 Hiring is up, but it’s picky: according to ADP, private employers added 63,000 jobs in February, with healthcare, education, and construction leading the charge. This was the best monthly gain since July of 2025. Source.

🧥 Costco just turned a “designer hoodie” mass market: Costco Canada started selling Off-White logo hoodies for $60 in select locations. Naturally, when a premium designer brand goes mass market, it sparks some debate about the future of the brand’s direction. Source.

💿 Spice Girls Merch: As the Spice Girls approach the 30-year anniversary of Wannabe, collectors are paying serious money for vintage merch. From 1997 dolls and Polaroid cameras to rare promotional items. Before you toss that old “Girl Power” gear, it might be worth checking… your childhood memorabilia could be worth hundreds (or even thousands). Source.

🌍 Tariff whiplash: According to Reuters, a temporary global import tariff could move to 15% (from 10%) as soon as this week. Moments like this are a good reminder to keep an open mind about sourcing swag locally, it can help you avoid the added cost and uncertainty of importing products. Source.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winners from last week, Maria (Liliana) Martinez and Renee Stevens, who scored the Puffer Moon Bag from GOT BAG. We’ve got another giveaway below!

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Fansee Ai Sunglasses by Rupt

Fansee AI Glasses don’t ask for attention...they demand it. Capture life in first-person with an 8MP camera, shoot video, snap photos, get instant AI image recognition, take crystal-clear calls, play music, and store it all with 16GB of built-in memory.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score the Fansee Ai Sunglasses by Rupt
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 To enter, just answer this week’s poll below.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Old Wisconsin

Old Wisconsin has been building its identity out of Sheboygan’s sausage culture since 1947, starting as a small shop before expanding into its first plant in 1953. The brand leans into craft and heritage, pointing to slow, hand-crafted sausage-making as part of its DNA, and traces major growth moments through acquisitions and facility expansions across the decades.

📣 Our Collaboration

Visit Old Wisconsin’s Company Store

Excited to welcome Old Wisconsin Sausage to the Brand Sauce community.

They’re kicking things off the right way with one of our favorite launch programs: a company store gift card drop.

It’s a simple, powerful way to get the whole team exploring the store and celebrating the launch together.

Huge shoutout to Heather Baryenbruch and Alex Koeppen for bringing this to life.

Thoughtful leaders like this are exactly why these launches are so much fun to watch unfold. 👏

Welcome aboard, Old Wisconsin!

🤝 Connect With Old Wisconsin

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

Kinsley, Madison’s daughter and my step-daughter, turned five this week. She’s the youngest in our Brady Bunch, and like everyone tells you, the years really do fly by faster than you expect.

When I first met Madison, Kinsley was only nine months old. She was this tiny little thing who would curl up between us in bed and fall asleep. I changed her diapers, gave her bottles, and slowly learned what it meant to love a child who wasn’t biologically mine, but quickly felt like she was.

Most mornings, Madison was exhausted, so I’d take Kinsley out of her crib, bring her downstairs, give her a bottle, change her, and we’d just spend time together while the rest of the house slept. Those quiet mornings with her are some of my favorite memories.

Kinsley has never been the best sleeper. Her sister Ryleigh slept twelve hours a night as a baby. Kinsley slept nine. Those three hours felt very real at the time.

Now she’s five, and she has become our spicy, feisty little firecracker. She has a big personality and a strong spirit. But she’s also still the one who runs over for hugs, crawls into my lap, and gives me those long, lingering cuddles. I hope that part of her never changes.

When I got divorced, I never imagined I’d get to experience life with a baby again. Kinsley gave me that unexpected gift. Watching her grow, from that tiny baby into a confident, joyful little girl, has been one of the greatest blessings in my life.

Happy Birthday, Kinsley. Your mom and I know you’ll keep getting older. But no matter how big you get, you will always be our baby.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #70, we explored how appreciation, connection, and smart swag strategies are shaping modern workplace culture. From Employee Appreciation Day playbooks and new research showing work friendships drive engagement to the growing trend of across-the-board merit raises, this edition unpacks what HR teams are navigating right now. We also spotlighted Body By Heart’s intentional company store strategy, announced a new GOT BAG Puffer Moon Bag giveaway, and heard Ross reflect on how shared experiences build the kind of bonds that last a lifetime.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #68, we leaned into smarter hiring, smoother swag experiences, and the systems behind both. From why candidates are skimming job posts to what makes HR transformation actually work, this edition explored clarity over clutter. We also spotlighted Patch My PC’s on-demand store, previewed POD Conference 2026 with Ross taking the stage, and asked a simple question: What if a better user experience is the real competitive edge in swag?

In Print-on-Demand | EP #67, we connected the dots between culture, commerce, and a little Super Bowl chaos. From planning ahead for Employee Appreciation Day and smarter company store strategies to $10M ad slots and MrBeast’s $1M giveaway moment, this edition explored how brands are investing in attention and recognition. We also spotlighted Janux Therapeutics’ on-demand store, teed up POD Conference 2026, and asked a simple question: what if swag actually made work better?

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in swagland!

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #70

Ross Greenstein — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:58:18 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #70, where swag meets culture.

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🫶 Employee Appreciation Day: Employee Appreciation Day lands on Friday, March 6, 2026, and it’s one of the best opportunities to show your people you care. Want the playbook our clients use to make EAD special for all their employees. Reply "appreciation" to get our complimentary playbook.

🤝 Work friends are basically a retention strategy now: A KPMG survey found 81% say work friends are highly important, and 83% say friendships help them feel more engaged (plus job satisfaction and connection). If your recognition strategy ignores social glue, you’re leaving value on the table. Source.

💸 Merit raises are getting… spread thin: Nearly half of companies are reportedly leaning into across-the-board raises instead of differentiated bumps, and Fortune frames it as a familiar recession-era move. A detail that should catch HR’s attention: the piece flags pressure on pay bump budgets and broader uncertainty driving comp decisions. If you’re trying to keep high performers engaged, “everyone gets the same” is a risky emotional story to tell. Source.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winners from last week, Amira Ward, SHRM-CP, and Sarah-Jayne Lehtinen, who scored the Sound Saber Clip-On Wireless Monitor Speaker from HPG. We’ve got another giveaway below!

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Puffer Moon Bag

This week’s prize is built for the MVP of every offsite, airport sprint, and coffee run. The Puffer Moon Bag is crafted from super soft, water-repellent RE: NYNET® material with a roomy 3.5-liter capacity that carries everything you need to the moon and back. With an inside zipper pocket, two inner slip pockets, and an adjustable strap, it’s equal parts function and main-character energy. Sustainable, durable, and backed by a 2-year warranty, this bag doesn’t just hold your stuff. It holds the vibe.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score a Puffer Moon Bag.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 To enter, just answer this week’s poll below.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Body By Heart

Body By Heart is a Los Angeles–based plastic and reconstructive surgery practice led by Dr. Ryan Spivak, a surgeon widely recognized for innovation in awake body contouring and outpatient aesthetic care. A graduate of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania with residency training at USC, Dr. Spivak has developed proprietary techniques and surgical systems designed to elevate safety, consistency, and natural outcomes. Beyond aesthetics, he has served as Medical Director for complex wound care programs and published nationally recognized research in gene therapy for craniofacial anomalies. It’s a practice grounded in clinical rigor, surgical mastery, and a commitment to continually raising the standard of modern plastic surgery.

📣 Our Collaboration

Their on-demand store, https://swag.bodybyheart.com/, keeps the lineup clean, curated, and lifestyle-forward. You’ll find a tight mix of apparel, drinkware, bags, and everyday accessories that actually fit into someone’s routine.

Quick store strategy lesson: they did not overbuild. The brand shows up on items people will genuinely wear, carry, and reuse. Not the kind of merch that gets tossed in a tote and forgotten.

They’re using the swag store strategically, gifting clients with complimentary swag to encourage referrals. Big brain move.

🤝 Connect With Body By Heart

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

The Kind of Bond That Never Leaves You

Four years ago, when I met Madison, we were both walking through the quiet wreckage of divorce. Not living with our exes anymore, but not officially divorced either. That strange in-between space where life feels uncertain and unfinished. The paperwork takes time. Healing takes longer.

Somewhere in that season, without knowing it, we both found the same music. A DJ named Kygo. His songs became part of the background of our rebuilding, long drives, late nights, and small moments of hope. A favorite song called Lost Without You.

One night, I put on one of his tracks, and Madison smiled and said, “I love Kygo. It’s my dream to see him live.”

I didn’t say much in the moment. But I tucked that sentence away. The way you do when something matters.

Fast forward four years.

On Valentine’s Day, Kygo was playing a show with Calvin Harris. By pure coincidence, or maybe something better than coincidence, it was two days before the POD Conference in the same city.

I got to surprise her with tickets.

But what made the night unforgettable wasn’t just the music.

A few of my college tennis teammates live in South Florida. Guys I trained with every day. Traveled with. Won with. Lost with. Guys I hadn’t seen in 25 years.

We all went together.

And here’s what struck me: the years disappeared. It felt like we had just finished practice. The jokes were the same. The rhythm was the same. The trust was still there.

When you sweat beside someone.

When you push through pain together.

When you compete shoulder to shoulder.

Something permanent forms.

There’s a loyalty that doesn’t fade. A quiet promise that says, “I’ve got you. Always.”

With those guys, I would do anything. And I know they would do the same for me.

It made me think about something we talk about often at Brand Sauce.

Why do sports teams and the military create bonds that last a lifetime?

It’s not just shared time. It’s shared experience. Shared struggle. Shared meaning.

And what if work could feel more like that?

What if teams didn’t just collaborate, but connected?

What if trust wasn’t assumed, but earned and deepened?

What if the people you worked with became people you would show up for, no matter what?

That’s what we think about at Brand Sauce.

We’re not just in the business of gifting. We’re in the business of strengthening human connections inside companies. Helping people feel seen. Helping teams feel closer. Helping moments turn into memories.

Because when people feel connected, everything changes.

To Hamid, Stefan, and Vahid, thank you for a night I’ll never forget. And thank you for reminding me what real bonds feel like.

That’s what we’re trying to build.

Go Gators!

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #69, we explored what meaningful appreciation actually looks like, from Delta’s $1.3B profit-sharing payout to the growing conversation around heartbreak leave and workplace empathy. We previewed our upcoming Masterclass on company store technology, spotlighted Teledyne’s precision-built branded store, and gave readers a shot at upgrading their workspace with a Sound Saber monitor speaker. And in this week’s Water Cooler, Ross shared a powerful reminder from a 200-person Shabbat dinner in Miami that connection, not algorithms, is what really brings people together.

Print-on-Demand | EP #66, we explored how brands are showing appreciation, scaling swag smartly, and leaning into culture-building moments. From Employee Appreciation Day prep and the NFL’s crossover merch drop to mega indoor golf news and global hiring trends, this edition covered what’s making noise (and impact). Plus: a peek into our Swag Masterclass, the latest from PPAI, and how Anika Systems is leveling up with their own branded store.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | Masterclass

Ross Greenstein — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:00:43 +0000

Hi Brand Sauce fam,

We’re going live tomorrow at 1 PM EST for our Brand Sauce Masterclass.

It’s a fast, high-impact 30 minutes perfect for anyone who orders swag, is exploring a company store, or wants to get more out of their current program.

We aim to make this the most educational, interactive, and fun half hour of your week.

👉 Click here to RSVP

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #69

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:59:44 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #69, where swag meets culture.

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🎓 Brand Sauce Masterclass: We’re going live this Tuesday at 1 PM EST for our masterclass on the power of company store technology. Everyone who joins gets a custom branded premium swag gift valued at $100+. Click here to RSVP.

💸 Employee Profit-Sharing: Delta Air Lines just paid out $1.3B in profit sharing directly to employees, which equated to roughly four weeks of extra pay on average. When appreciation shows up in a real way, performance follows. Source.

💔 Heartbreak leave is the new “sick day”: A new survey says 1 in 3 workers think employers should offer formal breakup recovery time. In the same dataset, 43% said breakups hurt productivity/focus, and 65% said they’d worry about being judged for using the leave. Source.

🚗 The Road Trip Hall of Fame: Mental Floss spotlighted new research ranking America’s top roadside attractions, analyzing 83 stops using TripAdvisor reviews, Instagram posts, and Google search interest. See top ranked destinations below. Source.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winners from last week, Kelly Murphy Almerico, and Vanessa Genao , who scored a Laptop Sleeve with Wireless Charging Station and Mouse Pad from Cavatina Elite. We’ve got another giveaway below!

Last week’s poll results

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Sound Saber Clip-On Wireless Monitor Speaker

This sleek 6-watt speaker clips right onto the top of your monitor, so your sound goes up while your clutter goes down. Wireless or wired, your choice. Video calls, playlists, and gaming marathons, it handles it all.

Bonus: the illuminated logo glows while you play, because even your desk deserves a little main character energy.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score a Clip On Wireless Monitor Speaker custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 To enter, just answer this week’s poll below.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Teledyne

Teledyne Vision Solutions is part of the global Teledyne Technologies family, delivering advanced imaging and machine vision systems used in everything from medical diagnostics to aerospace and industrial automation. Translation: they build the kind of tech that quite literally helps the world see better. Innovation runs deep in their culture, and precision is the standard, not the stretch goal.

📣 Our Collaboration

When it came to branded merch, Teledyne needed the same level of clarity and control they bring to their products. Together, we launched a custom company store that makes it easy for employees and partners to access on-brand apparel and gear without the usual ordering friction. The result is a streamlined, self-serve experience that keeps brand standards tight and internal pride high. Clean design. Smart fulfillment. Zero chaos.

🤝 Connect With Teledyne

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

A Reminder of Who We Really Are

Are we really as divided as it feels?

If you scroll long enough, it certainly seems that way. Every headline louder than the last. Every algorithm rewarding outrage. Every comment section convincing us that “the other side” is everywhere.

But that’s not what I see when I look up from my phone.

I travel often. I sit next to strangers on airplanes. I meet people in cities and towns all over the world. Different ages. Different races. Different religions. Different political views.

And almost every single person I meet is kind.

I see strangers helping each other lift bags into overhead bins. I see neighbors looking out for one another. I see small acts of generosity that will never go viral, because they’re normal. Because they’re human.

Last Friday night, I experienced something that hit me in a deeper way.

I was in Miami for my cousin Adam’s birthday. Instead of hosting a typical party, he chose to celebrate with a Shabbat dinner. Over 200 people gathered in a home in Miami Beach.

And when I say it felt like the world was in that house, I mean it.

There were teenagers and grandparents.
Black, white, Asian, Latino.
Jewish, Christian, Muslim.
Guests from Cuba, Israel, Canada, Brazil, and beyond.

English, Spanish, Hebrew, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Chinese filled the air at the same time.

At one point, Adam asked how many people were attending their first Shabbat. Dozens of hands went up.

There was something incredibly moving about that moment. People who didn’t grow up with this tradition. People who maybe didn’t even know what to expect. All choosing to sit down together.

The host, Moshe, shared why he opened his home. His message wasn’t political. It wasn’t complicated.

He said we need to put our phones down.
We need to share a meal.
We need to laugh.
We need to listen.

Because when we truly know each other, not profiles, not posts, not headlines, but stories, families, struggles, dreams, it becomes much harder to see one another as divided.

What struck me most wasn’t how 200 people ended up in the same house.

It was how we left.
We left softer.
We left warmer.
We left connected.

With new friendships. New perspectives. New memories.
For five hours, there was no feed. No outrage. No “us versus them.” Just people being people.

Moshe performed a giant mitzvah that night. Not just in a religious sense, but in a human one. He created space. And in doing so, he reminded us who we actually are.

We are not algorithms.
We are not headlines.
We are not comment sections.

We are neighbors.
We are storytellers.
We are capable of generosity and connection when we slow down long enough to see each other.

At Brand Sauce, we talk a lot about experiences. About meaningful moments. About bringing people together in ways that feel real.

But this wasn’t a strategy. It wasn’t branding. It wasn’t business.

It was humanity.

And it reminded me of something I hope we never forget:

Most people are good.
Most people want to belong.
Most people want to contribute.

Maybe we aren’t as divided as it feels.

Maybe we’re just overdue for dinner together.

Thank you, Moshe and Adam, for the reminder.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #68, we leaned into smarter hiring, smoother swag experiences, and the systems behind both. From why candidates are skimming job posts to what makes HR transformation actually work, this edition explored clarity over clutter. We also spotlighted Patch My PC’s on-demand store, previewed POD Conference 2026 with Ross taking the stage, and asked a simple question: what if a better user experience is the real competitive edge in swag?

In Print-on-Demand | EP #67, we connected the dots between culture, commerce, and a little Super Bowl chaos. From planning ahead for Employee Appreciation Day and smarter company store strategies to $10M ad slots and MrBeast’s $1M giveaway moment, this edition explored how brands are investing in attention and recognition. We also spotlighted Janux Therapeutics’ on-demand store, teed up POD Conference 2026, and asked a simple question: what if swag actually made work better?

In Print-on-Demand | EP #66, we explored how brands are showing appreciation, scaling swag smartly, and leaning into culture-building moments. From Employee Appreciation Day prep and the NFL’s crossover merch drop to mega indoor golf news and global hiring trends, this edition covered what’s making noise (and impact). Plus: a peek into our Swag Masterclass, the latest from PPAI, and how Anika Systems is leveling up with their own branded store.

In Print-on-Demand | EP #65, we zoomed in on what’s quietly shifting across merch, HR, and macro trends. From U.S. trade programs and 4imprint’s latest numbers to the hidden costs of hybrid work and what Gen Z actually wants from recognition, we broke down the data behind the swag. Plus, we spotlighted Kniesels’ values-driven company culture and gave away a recycled backpack that’s as functional as it is ocean-friendly.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #68

Ross Greenstein — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 15:48:45 +0000

👋 Welcome back to This Week in Print-on-Demand Episode #68, where swag meets culture.

NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

🎨 Fable is POD gifting with main-character energy: If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could turn a personal moment into something frame-worthy,” Fable is basically that impulse, productized. It takes a beloved companion and reimagines them through Surrealium’s art world, then turns it into an archival print you can collect (or gift). Source.

💼 Candidates are not reading your origin story: Job seekers are skimming for the good stuff, and employers keep missing the mark. An Indeed survey found 65% of employers revised a job description after the first try, often because they got too many unqualified applicants (42%) or not enough candidates (21%). If your posting feels like a manifesto, you may be missing the mark. Source.

🗓️ POD Conference week is here: The Print on Demand Conference 2026 schedule is live, packed with sessions on the future of merch. On Wednesday, Feb 18, Ross will be speaking on how the industry can work together to create a better user experience for companies and individuals who order swag. Here’s the schedule link.

🎓 Gartner’s HR transformation webinar: If you’re in your “we have 12 HR tools and still no clarity” era, Gartner has a live session on Feb 24: “To Lead a Successful HR Transformation, A Good Process is Not Enough.” The spicy stat floating around the HBR/Gartner convo is that only 1 in 50 AI investments becomes truly transformational, and only 1 in 5 shows measurable ROI. Check it out here.

🌱 Merch can be lower-carbon than digital: A new third-party study commissioned by PPAI and ASI argues the quiet part out loud: promotional products are among the most carbon-efficient options versus several other ad channels, and the study says promo’s carbon impact per memorized impression is eight times smaller than digital. If you’ve ever had to defend “physical swag” in a sustainability meeting, this is the citation you keep in your back pocket. Source.

🚿 Recruitment Marketing Shower Thought: If your employees will wear a hoodie with your logo to the grocery store but would never share your job posting with a friend, your merch strategy might be stronger than your recruiting strategy.

🎉 Giveaway Winner Alert: Shout-out to the winners from last week, Christine Crooks and Yvonne Ceballos, who scored the Massage Gun Lite from TwinTech. We’ve got another giveaway below!

Results from last week’s poll

WEEKLY POLL + GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Alert: Nomad Laptop Sleeve with Wireless Charging Station and Mouse Pad

Meet the desk upgrade you did not know you needed. The Nomad Laptop Sleeve is not just a sleeve; it transforms into a full desk setup with a built-in mousepad and dual wireless charger for your phone and earbuds, all wrapped in sleek vegan leather with a soft quilted interior. Magnetic closure, smooth surface, maximum protection, and zero clutter. It is basically your entire workspace, zipped up and ready to travel.

Details:

Several lucky readers will score a Laptop Sleeve custom-branded with their company logo.
Winner announced in next week’s newsletter.

👉 To enter, just answer this week’s poll below.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

🤝 Meet Patch My PC

If you’ve ever lived the “why is this app still outdated?” IT life, Patch My PC is built for you. They focus on automating third-party patch management inside Microsoft ConfigMgr and Intune, with a very clear promise: fewer patching headaches, more control, and less manual busywork. They also back it with being trusted by thousands of enterprises across millions of endpoints.

📣 Our Collaboration

The Patch My PC Store flows into clean, easy-to-shop categories like apparel, bags, tech, drinkware, and events, making it simple for customers and employees to grab something they will actually use, without clutter or endless scrolling.

Behind that smooth experience is the Brand Sauce magic. We handle the web development, product sourcing, decoration, inventory, and on-demand fulfillment, so nothing piles up in a storage closet and no one is stuck shipping boxes at 4 pm on a Friday. Orders go out as they are placed. Zero bulk headaches. Zero operational drama. The result is a store that feels effortless on the surface and powerful underneath, giving Patch My PC a merch experience that scales as cleanly as their software does.

🤝 Connect With Patch My PC

Shoot me a note at Ross@brandsauce.io to get connected with the team.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

Full Circle

Do you play pickleball?

Some say it’s the fastest-growing sport in America. Others say it’s padel. I’ll leave that debate to the racket sports crowd.

What I do know is this: sports have a funny way of bringing you back to where you started.

I grew up on a tennis court. Long afternoons. Early mornings. Hitting balls until the sun went down. I worked my way into becoming a solid junior player and eventually earned the chance to play at the University of Florida. Tennis shaped me, not just as an athlete, but as a person. It taught me discipline, resilience, and how to compete without losing perspective.

Years later, life had moved on. Business, family, responsibilities. Then one of my college teammates, Ryan Sherry, who played a huge role in helping pickleball become what it is today, told me I needed to try it.

Around the same time, Madison picked up a paddle and fell in love with the game. And just like that, at 40 years old, I found myself back in tournaments again, competing, learning, feeling that spark.

I didn’t expect that chapter to open again.

And I definitely didn’t expect the next one.

Six months ago, a 9th grader named Julie Liu and her family asked if I would help her train. Julie is already one of the best 14-year-old pickleball players in the world. We practice four times a month. She works harder than anyone I know. She listens. She adjusts. She shows up ready.

Coaching her has reminded me why I fell in love with sports in the first place.

If you’re wondering what we’ve been working on, it isn’t flashy.

It’s consistency.

Every time we hit a ball, in pickleball, tennis, or padel, there’s a target. Sometimes we’re aware of it. Sometimes we’re not. As Julie’s targets have gotten bigger and clearer, her game has become steadier. More reliable. More mature.

When we first started training, I shared something my dad told me when I was 10 years old:

“If you hit the ball in the net, you can’t win the point.”

It’s simple. Almost too simple. But the older I get, the more I realize how much wisdom lives in simple truths.

In sports. In business. In life.

Don’t beat yourself. Don’t force the impossible shot. Aim clearly. Stay consistent. Give yourself a chance to win the point.

Julie’s dream is to turn pro when she turns 18. We have three and a half years to prepare for that moment. I don’t know exactly what that journey will look like, but I do know this: being trusted to be part of it is something I don’t take lightly.

Sometimes the most meaningful chapters aren’t the ones where you’re competing, they’re the ones where you’re guiding someone else through it.

And in a lot of ways, this feels like coming full circle.

If you play tennis, pickleball, or padel, Coach Ross is always here.

But more importantly, if you’re building something meaningful, whether it’s a game or a brand, remember:

Pick a clear target.

Stay consistent.

And keep the ball out of the net.

Not following Ross & Brand Sauce on social media yet? Let’s change that. Click the links below to stay connected for fresh ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates 👇

⏪ Previous Episodes

In Print-on-Demand | EP #64, we unpacked how change is showing up across HR, hiring, and swag. From AI-generated candidates and tariff ripple effects to eco-forward merch and standout moments from the PPAI show floor, this episode focused on what’s shifting and why it matters. We also spotlighted how brands like CareerPlug are using thoughtful swag to build culture, and asked where sustainability really fits in.

THAT’S A WRAP

That’s everything worth knowing this week in promo land.

Until next time, stay saucy! 👋

– Ross & the Brand Sauce Team

Ross Greenstein, Brand Sauce CEO & Co-Founder

The Print on Demand Newsletter powered by Brand Sauce

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #85

🌎 Swag for a Cause: Ecodrive

Giveaway Alert: Echodeep

🤝 Meet SentiLink

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

👥 Connect on Social Media

⏪ Previous Episodes

THAT’S A WRAP

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #84

Brand Sauce is taking over the Philippines

Giveaway Alert: Modupack

🤝 Meet Evocati PR

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

👥 Connect on Social Media

⏪ Previous Episodes

THAT’S A WRAP

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #83

Giveaway Alert: Fusionbeat

🤝 Meet AmeriSave

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

👥 Connect on Social Media

⏪ Previous Episodes

THAT’S A WRAP

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #82

Giveaway Alert: Recycled Mission Pack Backpack

🤝 Meet Allstacks

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

👥 Connect on Social Media

⏪ Previous Episodes

THAT’S A WRAP

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #81

Brand Sauce is taking over the Philippines

Giveaway Alert: 24 Can Glacier Peak XL Cooler Bag

🤝 Meet Acuren

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

The Power of Saying No

👥 Connect on Social Media

⏪ Previous Episodes

THAT’S A WRAP

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #80

Giveaway Alert: Screen Saber Computer Monitor Light Bar

🤝 Meet Tic Solutions

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

👥 Connect on Social Media

⏪ Previous Episodes

THAT’S A WRAP

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #79

Giveaway Alert: Glamper Lantern Speaker

🤝 Meet Simplus

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

👥 Connect on Social Media

⏪ Previous Episodes

THAT’S A WRAP

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #78

Giveaway Alert: Accousticks Wireless Over-Ear Earbuds

🤝 Meet Get Air

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

👥 Connect on Social Media

⏪ Previous Episodes

THAT’S A WRAP

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #77

Giveaway Alert: JBL Soundgear Clip Open Ear

🤝 Meet PDS Optical

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

👥 Connect on Social Media

⏪ Previous Episodes

THAT’S A WRAP

Brand Sauce | The Print-on-Demand Newsletter | EP #76

Brand Sauce is taking over the Philippines

Giveaway Alert: 3 Fold Charger