Alan Hoffman came by the office with a bag full of samples from Ad-N-Art, CNIJ, Super Bagline, and Aloe Up.

We started with drinkware and bags, but the conversation quickly became about something bigger.

In a world where everyone has access to the same products, what actually makes something memorable?

From ceramic-lined drinkware and custom metal decoration to heavyweight canvas bags and a few products I hadn't come across before, this episode is packed with promo ideas.

To Connect with Jay:

Jay's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysap/⁠

Jay's X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/Jay_Sapovits⁠

Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkdstores/

Jay's Email: jay@inkdstores.com

I sat down with Lisa Norris and Chris O'Connor from L2 Brands, the company behind League, Legacy, Ouray, and Locale.

Lisa spent years on the retail side as a buyer for Barnes & Noble College before joining the brand side. Chris brings more than 25 years of promo industry experience.

We talked about what college bookstores can teach the promotional products industry, why brands matter, how retail trends make their way into promo, and what happens when a company built for retail starts selling to distributors.

We also went through a lot of apparel and hats.

A lot.

The products were good.

Really good.

And when the product is good, the conversation usually is too.

Sometimes the goal isn't to give someone something they'll keep forever.

Sometimes the goal is just to get them to stop, smile, and remember you.

That's what this conversation with Lori Donovan from NC Custom was all about.

Lori has spent more than 30 years in the promo industry, and we talked about everything from trade show strategy and branded food to custom packaging and why chocolate still works better than most giveaways.

We looked at some of NC Custom's most popular products, including custom cookies, etched chocolate, Dubai chocolate, mints, popcorn, and packaging that can completely change how a product is perceived.

To Connect with Jay:

Jay's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysap/⁠

Jay's X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/Jay_Sapovits⁠

Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkdstores/

Jay's Email: jay@inkdstores.com

Most promo products never make it past the hotel room.

You get back from a trade show and start sorting:

Keep.

Trash.

Keep.

Trash.

So, how do you become the item that gets kept?

That's exactly what Marco Succi from Brooks & Brooks and I talked about in this episode.

Marco brought in products from brands like JBL, Callaway, Arctic, iClick, Crystal D, and more, but what stood out wasn't the biggest brand or the highest price tag. It was the products that solved real problems and gave people a reason to keep them.

To Connect with Jay:

Jay's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysap/⁠

Jay's X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/Jay_Sapovits⁠

Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkdstores/

Jay's Email: jay@inkdstores.com

I’ve been around promo a long time, but emblematics were always a bit of a blind spot for me. Pins, coins, keychains, zipper pulls… I saw them everywhere, but I never fully understood why some pieces felt cheap while others became keepsakes people held onto forever.

So I sat down with longtime friend Michael Adams from Pin Machine to really break it down.

We talked about the history of North Attleboro being the jewelry capital of the world, why Pin Machine rebranded from North Attleboro Jewelry Company, and how a family business evolved into a modern promo company working with everyone from colleges to the NFL.

To Connect with Jay:

Jay's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysap/⁠

Jay's X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/Jay_Sapovits⁠

Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkdstores/

Jay's Email: jay@inkdstores.com

Matt Foley from SanMar stopped by JaySapChats and we went deep on apparel, branding, inventory, and where the promo industry is headed.

We talked about why brands like The North Face, TravisMathew, and Carhartt continue to grow in promo, why retail-inspired apparel is taking over corporate programs, and what companies are actually looking for right now.

A lot of this episode was really about product. The feel, the fit, the colors, the decoration methods, and why details matter more than ever.

We also got into something I believe strongly: As AI keeps flooding the internet with content, physical branded products become more valuable because they’re real. You can hold them. Wear them. Keep them.

That’s why I think this industry keeps growing.

To Connect with Jay:

Jay's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysap/⁠

Jay's X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/Jay_Sapovits⁠

Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkdstores/
Jay's Email: jay@inkdstores.com

I’ve said this for years: You can tell a lot about a promo company by the products they choose to put their name behind. That’s why I’ve always respected Gemline.

Jessica Casaubon, National Sales Manager, came on JaySapChats, and we went product by product through what they’re launching right now: Igloo, Crocs, Slowtide, Heritage Supply, Anchor, golf products, tech, totes, all of it.

We talked about why quality matters in promo, why people remember certain brands, how physical gifting fits into an AI-driven world, and what industries are really spending money right now.

I also gave some very honest reactions along the way.

Some products I loved.Some products I definitely did not love.And yes… I probably got way too excited over an Igloo cooler.

But that’s the point.

The products people remember are the ones that make them feel something.

To Connect with Jay:

Jay's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysap/⁠

Jay's X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/Jay_Sapovits⁠

Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkdstores/

Jay's Email: jay@inkdstores.com

Garrett and Brittany from Gold Bond walked into my office, and I told them the same thing I tell everyone: I’m not holding back.

This is show and tell, but it’s real. If I like it, I’ll say it. If I don’t, I’ll say that too.

We got into everything: drinkware, golf gear, tech, and promo essentials. We talked about speed, service, and what it actually takes to survive in this industry when expectations are higher than ever.

They showed me something I didn’t expect.

A Roll-Up Desk Pad. Under $10.And I’m telling you straight up, it’s the best promo product I’ve seen all year.

To Connect with Jay:

Jay's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysap/⁠

Jay's X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/Jay_Sapovits⁠

Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkdstores/

Jay's Email: jay@inkdstores.com