We’ve got a special edition of the Better Merch…Better Marketing podcast this week because…Jade is in Coshocton! That’s right. Jade made the trip from Colorado, and we recorded this episode in person at the Hasseman Marketing Office!
This week’s conversation ranged from branding tips to quarterly strategy, and even a little merch love. Here’s what we covered:
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Tips for Rebranding the Right Way
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Why We’re Excited About 1-Piece Minimums
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Tactics to Make Q2 Your Best Quarter Yet
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Product of the Week: Fossa Skyline Soft Shell Half-Zip
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Shoutout of the Week: The Community Bank’s Free Shred Day
Watch or listen to the full episode here:
Tips for Rebranding: Start Smart, Stay Flexible
Rebranding is more than just designing a pretty new logo—it’s about building a visual and emotional identity that connects with your audience. Whether you’re rebranding your business or helping a client through the process, here are a few key takeaways we shared:
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Include a One-Color Version: Your logo needs to be versatile. From embroidery to screen printing to social media icons, having a one-color version ensures your brand always shows up clean and strong.
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Think About Platform Applications: Will your logo look good as a profile pic? Can it scale up to a banner or down to a pen? Consider all the places your brand might appear and design accordingly.
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Create Brand Guidelines: This is one of the most overlooked but essential parts of a rebrand. A brand guide sets the tone for consistency across platforms—fonts, colors, logo usage, tone of voice, and more.
Bonus tip: Don’t forget to update your branded merch! Rebranding is a great time to create a new merch collection that showcases your refreshed look.
Why We’re Loving 1-Piece Minimums
The promotional products world is shifting—and we love it. More and more suppliers are offering 1-piece minimums, and that’s opening up a world of possibilities.
Here’s why this trend matters:
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More flexibility for smaller clients or internal company projects
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Easier sampling and gifting without large order commitments
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Great for personalization and test runs
We believe this shift will lead to more creative, thoughtful, and customized branding experiences, especially for companies that want to test ideas or give high-end gifts in smaller quantities. Want to see a few 1-piece options? Check out this shop.
Tactics to Make Q2 Your Best Yet
We’re officially into the second quarter of the year—and whether Q1 flew by or dragged on, now’s the time to get focused.
Here are a few strategies we discussed to help make Q2 count:
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Revisit Your Annual Goals: What did you say you’d accomplish this year? Are you on track? If not, don’t beat yourself up—just reset.
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Create New, Specific Q2 Goals: Sometimes yearly goals feel too big. Break them into quarterly targets and take it one quarter at a time.
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Refocus Your Energy: Spring is a great time to clear the mental (and digital) clutter and lean into action.
This episode is your gentle nudge to take a deep breath, refocus, and get back on track with intention and energy.
Product of the Week: Fossa Ladies’ Skyline Soft Shell Half-Zip
Each week we highlight a piece of branded merch we love—and this one is both stylish and practical.
Check out the Skyline Half-Zip here
Why we like it:
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Modern styling with a flattering fit
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Functional for on-the-go team members or casual Fridays
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High perceived value—looks retail, but works for promo
If you’re looking to upgrade your apparel game, this is a great piece to consider for spring events, client gifts, or team appreciation. Click here to check out the Product of the Week shop.
Shoutout: The Community Bank’s Free Shred Day
We love giving props to local businesses that are doing good, and this week’s shoutout goes to The Community Bank for hosting a Free Shred Day.
Not only is it a valuable service to the community, but it’s also a great example of giving first and adding value before asking for anything in return. Way to go, Community Bank!
Final Thoughts
This week’s episode had a little bit of everything—brand strategy, Q2 planning, merch trends, and local shoutouts. And recording together in Coshocton brought some extra energy to the table.
Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing.
And as always, if you need help with branded merch, marketing strategy, or creative ideas to grow your brand, let’s talk. We’d love to help you. Head here to get the book “Hit The TARGET” for FREE! This will help you dial in your marketing for better results.
