Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:35 — 40.8MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More

We’re live from PRINTING United Expo as we head into the final day, bringing together some of the industry’s sharpest eyes and ears. Dan and MJ from World Imaging News, Theresa Hegel from ASI, and Cassie Green from Apparelist join Aaron and Terry to break down what caught their attention, what people are talking about, and what this week might tell us about where the printing and decorated apparel industries are headed. We’ll also get into the REGGIE Awards, hear what our guests are excited to report on next, and compare notes on the technology, trends, conversations, and surprises coming out of the show. Consider this your full dose of PRINTING United news, happenings, and “did you see that?” moments straight from the show floor.

(more…)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:29 — 56.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More

What if one of the best ways to build a stronger business is to start looking at the talent most companies overlook? This week, we welcome back Jed Seifert, co-founder of Stakes Manufacturing and the reigning 2025 REGGIE Award Industry Ambassador. Jed joins us to talk about the newly released book INKclusivity: Company Benefits of Disability Inclusion & How-To Implementation Guide, which he co-authored with Vince Bartozzi, Patrick Bardsley, and Tim Howe. We’ll explore why disability inclusion is more than a social initiative. It can also be a smart business strategy. Jed will share what Stakes Manufacturing has learned from building an inclusive workforce, some of the misconceptions that keep businesses from getting started, and practical steps even a small print or decorating shop can take to create opportunities for people with disabilities. We’ll also talk about Jed’s new Raising the Stakes podcast and his mission to highlight business leaders who are using their success and influence to make a difference. If you’ve struggled to find and keep great employees, wondered how disability inclusion could work in your business, or simply want to build a company that creates an impact beyond the bottom line, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

(more…)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:15 — 53.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More

We all have customers who make us stop and wonder, “Is this order really worth it?” This week, Terry and Aaron are loading the Wheel of Names with some of the most frustrating, awkward, and all-too-real customer situations print shops deal with. The customer who always claims the counts are wrong. The one who haggles over every price. The customer who signs the art approval and then says they never really looked at it. The late-night caller. The chronic order changer. The customer who is rude to your staff. And yes, the one who needs everything tomorrow, then waits a week to pick it up. Wherever the wheel lands, we’ll talk through the situation and ask the bigger question: Do you fix the process, reset expectations, charge more, set a boundary, or fire the customer? Terry will bring the production perspective, Aaron will look at the business and customer-fit side, and the Regulators joining us live get to weigh in too. Because not every difficult customer needs to be fired, but not every dollar is good revenue either. This episode is about knowing the difference.

(more…)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08:09 — 57.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More

DTF costs pennies. Screen printing is dying. Customers only care about price. You need to be on every social platform. That machine will pay for itself. Sound familiar? This week, Terry and Aaron are firing up the Print Shop BS Detector and putting some of the decorated apparel industry’s most common claims to the test. We have loaded a prize wheel with myths, sales pitches, internet advice, old-school habits, and those things everyone seems to repeat because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” Wherever the wheel lands, we are going to break it down. Some claims are complete BS. Some have a little truth hiding inside them. Others depend entirely on your shop, your customers, your numbers, and what you are trying to accomplish. Terry will bring the production reality, Aaron will challenge the business logic, and the Regulators joining us live get to weigh in along the way. No sacred cows. No sales spin. Just a fun conversation about what actually holds up when you put common print shop advice under a little pressure.

(more…)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:54 — 56.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More

Every year, ASI’s Counselor State of the Industry report gives us one of the clearest snapshots of what is really happening across the promotional products world. This week, we welcome back Theresa Hegel and C.J. Mittica from ASI to help us look beyond the headlines and break down what the 2026 numbers mean for the people actually doing the work. The industry grew in 2025, but beneath that growth are some important shifts. Aaron and Terry will dig into the findings with Theresa and C.J., including what surprised them, which trends deserve more attention, where the biggest opportunities may be hiding, and what distributors, suppliers and decorators can learn from the data. This isn’t just about where the industry has been. It’s about what the numbers can tell us about where we’re going next, and how you can use that information to make better decisions in your own business.

(more…)