In this week’s episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Kirby Hasseman and Jade Crider tap into one of the most fun trending formats right now — the worth the splurge list — share updates on the upcoming Rock Your Merch show and why you need to be there, and get honest about something a lot of business owners struggle with — taking real time away from the business and why it matters more than you think. And before you dive in, grab your free spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
Worth the Splurge: The Products We Can’t Stop Recommending
There is a trend making the rounds right now and Kirby and Jade could not resist putting their own spin on it. The format is simple — five things you spent more on than you maybe planned to and would absolutely do it again without hesitation.
Because here is the thing about quality. You do not always know what you are missing until you experience it. And once you do, it is very hard to go back.
When people talk about branded merch feeling cheap or throwaway, this is the other side of that conversation. These are items that could carry your logo and deliver a premium experience every single time someone uses them. These are the kinds of products that sit on someone’s desk, ride in someone’s car, travel with someone to every meeting — and every time they do, your brand goes with them. Listen in to this episode for the full list!
The bigger marketing lesson underneath all of this is one Kirby and Jade come back to often. You cannot truly appreciate the difference between good merch and great merch until you hold them both in your hands. The weight. The finish. The feel of something that was made with intention versus something that was made to hit a price point. Words can describe it, but nothing replaces the experience of actually touching it.
That is part of what makes the Rock Your Merch show so valuable — but more on that in a moment.
Rock Your Merch Is Coming — And Here Is Why You Need to Be There
Speaking of experiencing great products in person — the Rock Your Merch show is coming up and Kirby and Jade took some time this week to talk about what to expect, what is new and different this year, and why attending is worth your time.
If you have never been to Rock Your Merch, here is the short version. It is a curated experience designed to help businesses see, touch, and discover branded merchandise and marketing ideas that they would never find on their own sitting behind a screen. It is the difference between looking at a photo of the Moonix Backpack and actually holding one.
This year there are some exciting updates and additions to the show that make it worth attending even if you have been before. Kirby and Jade get into the details in the episode — including tips for getting the most out of your time there.
If you are ready to stop guessing about what great merch feels like and start experiencing it for yourself, go grab your spot now at show.hassemanmarketing.com.
Time Out of the Office — And Why It Makes You Better
This one is personal — and Kirby is the first to admit it.
He is not always great at taking time away from the business. If you are a business owner reading this, you probably know exactly what that feels like. There is always something that needs attention. Always a reason to check in, respond, stay plugged in. The idea of truly unplugging can feel irresponsible — like you are leaving something important on the table.
But here is what Kirby has learned — and what he and Jade got into on this week’s episode. Time away from the business does not just recharge you personally. It gives you a perspective on the business that you simply cannot get when you are inside it every single day.
When you step back you start to see things differently. You notice where the processes are working and where they are not. You identify the decisions that only you can make and the ones that your team should probably be making without you. And sometimes — uncomfortably — you realize that you are the bottleneck. That things are not moving forward in your business not because of your team or your market or your resources, but because everything runs through you and you are spread too thin to let it move at the pace it should.
That is not a fun realization. But it is an incredibly valuable one.
Taking time away is not a luxury. For a business owner it is a strategic necessity. It makes you clearer, more creative, and more effective when you come back. And it forces the business to function without you in ways that ultimately make it stronger and more resilient.
So if you have been putting off that vacation, that long weekend, that day where you genuinely do not check your phone — consider this your permission slip. Your business needs you at your best. And your best requires rest.
Product of the Week: The EZ Breezy Neck Fan
This week’s featured product is the EZ Breezy Neck Fan — and with summer in full swing the timing could not be better. Hands free, portable, and genuinely useful for anyone spending time outdoors, at events, or anywhere the heat is a factor. This is a product people will actually use — which is always the goal. Check it out here.
Grab Your Free Spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp
Ready to get more intentional about your marketing and build something that actually works? The FREE 5 Day Business Bootcamp is the place to start. Get access now at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
And if you are not already subscribed to Better Merch…Better Marketing, find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. New episodes every week.
In this week’s episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Kirby Hasseman and Jade Crider kick things off with a light summer conversation about what they have been watching lately, then get into two topics every business owner needs to hear — why basic merch is no longer cutting it and what to do instead, and why your biggest brand problem might actually be a decision problem in disguise. And before you dive in, grab your free spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
What Are We Watching This Summer?
Every once in a while Kirby and Jade take a breath and just have a conversation — and this week’s opener is exactly that. Summer is here and they shared what they have been watching recently and what they are excited to see soon.
It is a quick and fun segment but there is actually a marketing lesson hiding in it if you look for it. The shows and movies that get people talking are the ones that create genuine emotion, surprise, and connection. Sound familiar? The best marketing does exactly the same thing. But we will let you find that thread yourself — go give it a listen.
The Death of Good Enough Merch
Here is something that has shifted dramatically in the branded merchandise world — and if you have not noticed it yet, your recipients definitely have.
Good enough merch is no longer good enough.
For a long time, the bar for promotional products was pretty low. Slap a logo on something cheap, hand it out at an event, and call it marketing. And for a while that worked — or at least it did not actively hurt you. People expected promotional products to be throwaway items and treated them accordingly.
That era is over.
Today’s consumer has been exposed to premium branded merchandise from some of the world’s best retail brands. They know what quality feels like. They know the difference between something that was chosen with intention and something that was ordered because it was the cheapest option on the page. And when they receive merch that falls into that second category, it does not just fail to impress — it sends a message about your brand that you probably do not want to send.
Think about the last piece of branded merch you received that you actually kept. Really kept — not stuffed in a drawer or left at the conference table. What made it different? It was probably useful. It was probably well made. It probably felt like whoever sent it actually thought about you when they chose it.
That is the standard now. And it is actually good news for businesses that are willing to meet it.
This is where the merch pyramid comes in. Not every branded product needs to be a premium gift — and not every recipient is the same. The merch pyramid helps you think about matching the right product to the right person at the right moment. A prospect getting something for the first time needs a different touch than a long-term client you want to retain. A new hire welcome kit serves a different purpose than a thank you gift for a referral partner.
When you start thinking about merch through that lens — intentional, layered, and matched to the relationship — everything changes. The merch that used to feel like an afterthought becomes one of the most powerful tools in your marketing mix.
Good enough is dead. Intentional merch is what wins now.
You Don’t Have a Marketing Problem. You Have a Decision Problem.
This one might sting a little — and it is supposed to.
A lot of businesses that struggle with their marketing are not actually struggling with marketing. They are struggling with commitment. Specifically, the inability to commit to a brand identity and stick with it long enough for it to actually work.
It shows up as constant rebranding. A new logo every couple of months. Colors that shift depending on who designed the last thing. A voice that changes based on what feels trendy right now. A social media presence that looks completely different from the website, which looks completely different from the business card.
Every time you make one of those changes, you are not refreshing your brand. You are starting over. And starting over means you are throwing away whatever recognition and equity you had built up — which is often more than you realize.
Here is the hard truth: most brands do not need a rebrand. They need patience and consistency. Brand recognition is built through repetition over time. The same logo. Plus the same colors. The same voice. The same values showing up in every touchpoint across every platform. That is what makes a brand feel solid, trustworthy, and established.
The businesses that have built brands people genuinely recognize and trust did not get there by constantly reinventing themselves. They got there by committing to who they are and showing up that way consistently — even when it felt boring, even when a competitor seemed to be doing something shinier, even when the temptation to tweak and refresh was strong.
So before you schedule that rebrand conversation or start messing with your logo again, ask yourself an honest question. Is this actually a marketing problem? Or is it a decision problem? Are you lacking a good brand — or are you lacking the commitment to let your good brand do its job?
Commit to the brand. Then get out of its way.
Product of the Week: The Medium American Made Iced Coffee Cooler
This week’s featured product is the Medium American Made Iced Coffee Cooler — and given that it is summer and iced coffee season is in full swing, the timing could not be better. American made, practical, and perfect for keeping your favorite cold drink exactly where you want it. This is the kind of branded product that goes everywhere with people during the warmer months — which means your logo does too. Check it out here.
Grab Your Free Spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp
Ready to stop settling for good enough — in your merch and in your marketing? The FREE 5 Day Business Bootcamp is the place to start. Get access now at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
And if you are not already subscribed to Better Merch…Better Marketing, find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. New episodes every week.
In this week’s episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Kirby Hasseman and Jade Crider debate whether Tom Brady’s new coconut water brand name is a stroke of marketing genius or a branding decision that makes you tilt your head, dig into what Instagram’s return to office mandate means for businesses navigating the hybrid work conversation, and weigh in on whether newsletters are dead in 2026 — spoiler alert, they are not. And before you dive in, grab your free spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
Tom Brady’s Good Nut — Bold Branding or Branding Blunder?
Let’s just address it right away. Tom Brady partnered with GoPuff to launch an organic coconut water brand called Good Nut. And yes — the name is intentional.
So the question Kirby and Jade could not help but ask is simple: is this genius or is this a terrible choice of words?
On one hand, there is a real argument for genius. Good Nut is memorable. It is impossible to say without smiling. It generates conversation — which is exactly what a new brand needs to break through in a crowded market. And with Tom Brady’s name attached to it, the combination of a recognizable celebrity and an unforgettable product name creates the kind of buzz that most brands spend millions trying to manufacture.
Bold naming is a real strategy. Brands that are willing to take a risk with their name signal confidence. They say we are not here to blend in. We are here to be remembered. And in a world where the average consumer is bombarded with thousands of brand impressions every single day, being remembered is half the battle.
On the other hand — and this is where it gets interesting — there is a fine line between bold and confusing. A name that generates a smirk in a conversation might not communicate the quality and intentionality of a premium organic product. And when you are trying to build trust around something people are going to put in their bodies, the question of whether your brand name is working for you or against you matters.
The lesson for small businesses is worth sitting with. Your brand name is doing work whether you want it to or not. It is communicating something about who you are, what you stand for, and who you are for. The question is whether it is communicating the right things — and whether you are bold enough to stand behind it when people raise an eyebrow.
Instagram Is Bringing Everyone Back to the Office
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri made headlines recently when he announced a five day a week return to office policy. And the reaction — as you might expect — was mixed.
For Kirby and Jade this is not just a story about one company’s workplace policy. It is part of a broader conversation that every business owner and leader is navigating right now. What does the future of work actually look like? And what does it mean for your culture, your team, and your brand?
There is a real argument that in-person collaboration creates something that remote work simply cannot replicate. The spontaneous conversation in the hallway. The energy of a team in the same room working toward the same goal. The subtle but powerful ways that culture gets built and reinforced when people are physically together.
But there is also a real argument on the other side. Remote and hybrid work has expanded the talent pool dramatically. It has given people flexibility that has genuinely improved their quality of life. And the businesses that forced rigid return to office policies too aggressively have, in some cases, lost great people over it.
What is right for your business depends on your culture, your team, and what you are trying to build. But the Instagram announcement is a signal worth paying attention to — especially from a company that is as plugged into culture and trends as any on the planet.
Newsletters Are Not Dead — Not Even Close
There has been a narrative floating around for years that email is dying and newsletters are a relic of a simpler internet. Kirby and Jade are here to tell you that narrative is wrong.
In 2026 newsletters are not just surviving — they are thriving. And there are good reasons for that.
First, social media platforms continue to be unpredictable. Algorithms change. Reach shrinks. Platforms that felt essential five years ago are fading. But your email list? That is yours. Nobody can take it away. Nobody can decide your content does not deserve to be seen. You have a direct line to the people who raised their hand and said they want to hear from you — and that is incredibly valuable.
Second, the newsletter format has evolved. The best newsletters today are not just repurposed blog posts dropped into an email. They are curated, personal, conversational, and genuinely useful. They feel like getting a note from someone who knows you and wants to help you. That is a very different experience from scrolling a feed.
And third — audiences are actively seeking them out. People are subscribing to newsletters on purpose because they trust the voice behind them more than they trust an algorithm to surface good content. That is a remarkable shift and a real opportunity for businesses willing to show up consistently in someone’s inbox.
If you have been sleeping on your newsletter or your email list — this is your wake up call. The channel is alive. The audience is ready. You just have to show up.
Product of the Week: The Splish
This week’s featured product is the Splish — and it is a fun one. Cool, creative, and genuinely different from the typical promotional product lineup. If you are looking for something that stands out and gets people talking, the Splish delivers. Check it out here.
Grab Your Free Spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp
Ready to get more intentional about your marketing in the second half of the year? The FREE 5 Day Business Bootcamp is the place to start. Get access now at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
And if you are not already subscribed to Better Merch…Better Marketing, find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. New episodes every week.
In this week’s episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Kirby Hasseman and Jade Crider pause to take stock of where things stand at the midpoint of the year — and the conversation gets real fast. From mid-year check-ins on sales and team performance to unexpected business lessons from Jade’s pregnancy to why your packaging might be the most underrated marketing tool you have, this episode covers a lot of ground. And before you dive in, grab your free spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
It Is Halftime — And It Is Time to Check In
Here is something most business owners skip — the mid-year check-in.
Not because they do not care. But because there is always something more urgent demanding their attention. A client to call. A project to finish. A fire to put out. And before you know it, July arrives and you realize you have not stopped once to ask the most important question: are we on track?
Halftime matters in business just like it matters in sports. It is the moment when you step back from the game, look at the scoreboard honestly, and decide what adjustments need to be made before the second half begins.
Kirby and Jade talked through what that check-in looks like in practice. Where do your merch projects stand? Are your sales numbers where you need them to be at this point in the year? And maybe most importantly — how is your team doing? Not just their numbers. Their energy, their engagement, their alignment with where the business is headed.
The mid-year check-in is not about judgment. It is about clarity. You cannot make good decisions about the second half of the year if you are not honest about where the first half actually landed. So if you have not done this yet — block some time this week and do it. The second half of the year is still full of opportunity. But only if you show up for it with a clear head and a real plan.
What Pregnancy Taught Jade About Marketing
This might be the most unexpected segment in the history of Better Merch…Better Marketing — and honestly one of the best.
Jade has been open about her pregnancy journey and this week she brought some of the lessons she has been learning into the conversation — and tied them back to marketing and business in ways that are genuinely surprising and genuinely useful.
Because it turns out that growing a human being teaches you a lot about patience, planning, trusting the process, and showing up even when you do not feel like it. Sound familiar? It should. Those are the exact qualities that separate businesses that build something lasting from the ones that give up when results are slow.
We are not going to give all of Jade’s lessons away here. You are going to have to listen for those. But if you have ever felt like your marketing is taking forever to show results, or like you are doing everything right and still waiting — Jade’s perspective might be exactly what you need to hear right now.
The Power of First Impressions: Why Your Packaging Matters More Than You Think
You have heard it before — you never get a second chance to make a first impression. But most businesses apply that thinking to their sales process or their website and completely overlook one of the most powerful first impression moments they have.
The moment someone opens your package.
Whether it is a product shipment, a branded gift, a new hire welcome kit, or a client appreciation box — the unboxing moment is a marketing moment. And most businesses are not treating it that way.
Think about the last time you received something in the mail that genuinely surprised you. The packaging was beautiful. The presentation was thoughtful. Everything about it communicated that someone cared. How did that make you feel about the brand or the person who sent it?
Now think about the last time you received something that arrived in a plain brown box with a packing slip slapped on top. Same question.
The experience of receiving something sets the tone for everything that follows. It shapes how the recipient feels about the product inside, about the brand behind it, and about whether they want to do business with that company again. Packaging is not overhead. It is marketing. And the businesses that treat it that way have a real advantage over the ones that do not.
Start small if you need to. A tissue paper liner. A handwritten note. A branded sticker on the outside of the box. Small touches add up to a big impression.
Product of the Week: The Odyssey Soft Cover Spiral Journal
This week’s featured product is the Odyssey Soft Cover Spiral Journal— and it is exactly the kind of premium branded product that makes a lasting impression. The cover is incredibly soft to the touch, which immediately communicates quality before someone even opens it. It is functional enough for daily meetings, polished enough for new hire welcome kits, and thoughtful enough to use as a client gift. This is the kind of item people keep on their desk and actually use — which means your brand stays visible day after day. Check it out here.
Grab Your Free Spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp
Ready to make the second half of the year count? The FREE 5 Day Business Bootcamp is a great place to start building a more intentional marketing strategy. Get access now at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
And if you are not already subscribed to Better Merch…Better Marketing, find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. New episodes every week.
In this week’s episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Kirby Hasseman and Jade Crider dig into three big brand moves that are making waves right now — and pull out the lessons that every small and medium-sized business can actually use. From reinventing the car buying experience to building buzz before a book even launches to getting creative when you cannot show your own logo, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. And before you dive in, grab your free spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
Carvana Playground — Remove the Friction and Win
Carvana made headlines recently with a bold move — a new experience built around one simple idea. No commission salespeople.
Think about what that communicates to a customer who has ever dreaded walking onto a car lot. The thing that makes most people anxious about buying a car is gone before they even walk in the door. And in its place is something fun, low pressure, and memorable.
That is not just a sales strategy. That is a marketing strategy.
The lesson for small businesses is powerful and completely transferable. Every industry has a thing that customers dread. The hidden fees. The pushy follow-up. The confusing process. The feeling that someone is trying to squeeze as much out of them as possible. What if you identified that thing in your business and eliminated it?
Removing friction is one of the most underrated moves a business can make. It builds trust before the sale even happens. It generates word of mouth because people talk about experiences that surprised them. And it communicates your values more clearly than any tagline ever could.
You do not need a playground to pull this off. You just need to be honest about where your customer experience creates anxiety — and be willing to do something about it.
ACOTAR Monopoly — Build the Buzz Before You Need It
If you are not familiar with ACOTAR — A Court of Thorns and Roses — you might not be in the target demographic. But pay attention anyway because there is a marketing lesson here that applies to every business.
Before the latest book in the series even launched, a branded Monopoly game tied to the ACOTAR universe hit the market. Fans went wild. They bought it, posted about it, talked about it, and built excitement for a product that was not even available yet.
That is the power of a built in community — and the power of merch as a marketing activation rather than an afterthought.
For small businesses the takeaway is this: are you building your audience before you need them? Most businesses only market when they have something to sell. The brands that build real momentum are the ones showing up consistently, giving their community something to engage with, and creating anticipation long before the main event arrives.
And think about your merch through that lens. A well chosen branded product is not just a giveaway. It is a conversation starter. It is a way to get your most loyal customers to carry your brand into the world before you even ask them to. Know your superfans. Give them something worth rallying around.
Levi’s at the World Cup — Creativity Beats Constraint Every Time
This one is almost too good. Levi’s — one of the most recognizable brands on the planet — found themselves in a situation where they could not display their own logo at their own stadium during the World Cup.
So what did they do? They got creative.
And that is the whole lesson right there. The rules of the game change. Budgets get cut. Platforms shift. Partnerships fall through. Algorithms change overnight. Every business faces moments where the obvious path is blocked and you have to find another way.
The brands that survive and thrive in those moments are not the ones with the biggest budgets. They are the ones with the most creative thinking and the clearest sense of who they are beyond their logo.
Because here is the thing — Levi’s did not need the logo. Everyone already knew it was Levi’s. That is decades of brand equity doing its job. And while most small businesses are not quite there yet, the principle still applies. Your colors, your voice, your values, your people — all of that communicates your brand. The logo is just the shorthand.
It is also a real lesson about sponsorships and partnerships. If you are investing in an event, a venue, or a collaboration, know exactly what you are getting and have a creative plan for maximizing that visibility. Do not write a check and assume people will notice. Show up with intention.
Product of the Week: The Recycled Mouse Mat
This week’s Product of the Week is the Recycled Mouse Mat — and it checks every box. Eco friendly materials that align with the sustainability values more and more customers care about. Full color decoration edge to edge included so your brand looks incredible right out of the box. And premium desk real estate that keeps your logo in front of your perfect customer every single day.
A mouse mat is one of those products that just lives on a desk. It does not get thrown away. It does not get lost in a drawer. It sits right there in front of someone for hours every day — which means your brand does too. Check it out here.
Grab Your Free Spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp
Ready to stop marketing randomly and start building something intentional? The FREE 5 Day Business Bootcamp is the place to start. Get access now at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
And if you are not already subscribed to Better Merch…Better Marketing, find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. New episodes every week.
