In this week’s episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Kirby Hasseman and Jade Crider (the Branding Bestie) go head-to-head on April Fool’s Day brand stunts, debate whether influencers covering up logos is genius or self-important, and highlight a couple of brands that are quietly doing marketing really well right now — plus, they feature the Old Money Soft Cover Spiral Journal as the Product of the Week. And before you dive in, grab your free spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
Kirby Is Not a Fan of April Fool’s Day — And He’s Not Hiding It
Let’s just get into it. Kirby has opinions about April Fool’s Day, and he is not shy about sharing them.
His take? April Fool’s Day is a holiday built on deception — and when brands lean into it with fake product announcements, fake sales, or fake news, they are playing a dangerous game with the one thing that takes years to build and seconds to lose: trust.
Jade pushed back (as she does), and the conversation got a little heated. There is an argument to be made that a well-executed April Fool’s stunt can be funny, shareable, and actually humanize a brand. But Kirby’s position is clear — if your marketing relies on tricking your audience, even for a day, you are eroding the relationship. And is a cheap laugh really worth it?
It’s a debate worth having. Where do you land?
Brands That Are Getting It Right
Not everything in marketing is a cautionary tale. Both Kirby and Jade took a moment to shine a spotlight on brands they think are doing things really well right now.
Kirby is watching Ask Echo Golf Bags. The brand is carving out a distinct identity in a crowded space, showing that niche markets reward clarity and commitment. When you know exactly who you are and who you are for, the marketing almost writes itself.
Jade is a fan of Tier Tier, a brand that is building genuine community and connection through its marketing. It is not flashy for the sake of flashy — it feels intentional, which is exactly what good marketing should feel like.
Both examples are reminders that great marketing does not have to be loud. It just has to be right.
Influencers Covering Up Logos — Genius Move or Red Flag?
This might be the most interesting conversation in the episode. There is a growing trend of influencers deliberately covering up or obscuring brand logos in their content. The message? If you want visibility, you need to pay for it.
Jade found the whole thing a little risky and, honestly, a little icky. There is something uncomfortable about actively hiding a brand that may have gifted you a product or that exists naturally in your world.
Kirby had a more pointed reaction. He called it self-important — and flipped the script with a simple question: What if your followers did that to you? What if the people who share your content started blurring out your name, your handle, your face — because you had not paid them for the exposure?
It is a sharp point. In a world where audiences are the currency, treating visibility as a transaction worth withholding cuts both ways.
Product of the Week: The Old Money Soft Cover Spiral Journal
This week’s featured product is the Old Money Soft Cover Spiral Journal — and it is a good one. The “Old Money” aesthetic is having a serious cultural moment right now, and this journal taps right into it. Clean, classic, understated — the kind of branded product that people actually want to keep and use.
If you are looking for a promotional product that feels elevated without a massive price tag, this is worth a look. Reach out to the team at HassemanMarketing.com to learn more.
Grab Your Free Spot in the 5 Day Business Bootcamp
Before you go — if you are ready to get more intentional about your marketing and actually start driving results, the FREE 5 Day Business Bootcamp is a great place to start. Get access now at Bootcamp.HassemanMarketing.com.
And if you have not subscribed to Better Merch…Better Marketing yet, find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
