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.
