John Janson is the senior director of global logistics for SanMar. The last year and a half has definitely challenged and tested his team, along with the rest of us, to say the least. In this episode, John delves into how the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up supply chains all over the world, how SanMar is faring, and what we need to accomplish before we can be “back to normal.” THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE John breaks down how SanMar’s global supply chain worked prior to the COVID-19 pandemi...
Aug 17, 2021•35 min
Vicki Ostrom is SanMar’s futurist and trend editor - she reads the cultural and apparel tea leaves to help us stay in the know. In this episode, Vicki discusses some unexpected trends that have sprung out of the pandemic, muses over why retro styles make such a splash, and looks at how sustainability is factoring into the average customer’s purchasing decisions. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE How the pandemic has shaken up personal fashion. The reason Vicki believes retro trends are so popula...
Jun 15, 2021•25 min
James Shimizu is the Chief Marketing Officer of the Superior Group of Companies (SGC), whose WonderWink brand of scrubs is the latest to join the SanMar family. In this episode, James discusses how WonderWink’s fabric selection makes their products more appealing to consumers, looks at how the pandemic has affected the company, and looks into the non-medical professions that use scrubs. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE James gives Lisa, Tara and the listeners a crash course in what makes Wonder...
May 25, 2021•25 min
Emily Gigot is SanMar’s sustainability manager and is spearheading our company’s initiative in helping to reduce climate change. In this episode, Emily explains what it means to make a climate commitment, delves into SanMar’s own sustainability strategies, and discusses how small changes in our everyday lives can make a positive impact on our planet. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE What is SanMar’s climate commitment? Breaks down what the Paris Agreement hopes to accomplish. How SanMar sets it...
Apr 20, 2021•31 min
Ryan Ellis is the CEO of TravisMathew, a well-known lifestyle and golf brand that has recently joined SanMar’s family of brands. In this episode, Ryan delves into TravisMathew’s meticulous fabric-making process, discusses the positive changes that the past year of quarantine has brought about, and gives us a sneak peek of what’s next. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Ryan gives listeners a crash course in TravisMathew’s history. How TravisMathew tries to push golfwear beyond the golf course and...
Mar 24, 2021•31 min
Natalie Tenner and Rob Crowley are the chairs for SanMar’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, which works to foster an open-minded and equitable environment in the company’s workplaces. In this episode, Natalie and Rob discuss their role models, lay out their strategies for workplace education and conflict resolution, and suggest methods for making SanMar an even more welcoming place than it already is. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Natalie explains what got the ball rolling with creating SanM...
Feb 24, 2021•38 min
This year, SanMar is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and to kick things off, we talked with our founder, Marty Lott and his wife Sharon. Marty and Sharon started SanMar with $1 in the company’s checking account. From there they have worked together selling t-shirts at concerts, unloading boxes at warehouses and teaching their sons the ins and outs of the business. In this episode, Marty and Sharon reveal how SanMar started with a backpack created for college students, discuss the challenges of ...
Jan 27, 2021•36 min
Shelley Williams is the Vice President of Marketing here at SanMar. This year has been a whirlwind for her as she is relatively new to the company and the industry in general, having joined up just a couple months before the pandemic hit. In this episode, Shelley discusses how the pandemic compelled SanMar to focus on building relationships, speculates on which advancements spurred on by quarantine will carry forward and emphasizes you should never forget it’s okay to ask for help. THE FINER DET...
Dec 22, 2020•33 min
To get the low-down on what’s going on in our industry, Lisa and Tara spoke to some of SanMar’s channel managers across the country, including Rachelle Manning, Ken Snyder and Mark Bailey. In this episode, our guests discuss how the sporting goods industry has dealt with nearly every sport being canceled this year, they elaborate on how they’ve found ways to make virtual meetings work for them,and they explain why they’re feeling optimistic about the rest of Q4 of 2021. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS...
Nov 10, 2020•41 min
To get the low-down on what’s going on in our industry, Lisa and Tara spoke to some of SanMar’s territory managers across the country, including Matt Foley, Chris Smith, Ben Prasad and Alisha Proffit. In this episode, our guests discuss how Q4 looks around the country, which industries are doing well, and how customers have adapted to the current business climate. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Matt notices a shift away from PPE purchases. Why virtual meetings are here to stay. How Ben pulled...
Oct 16, 2020•25 min
John Lindgren and Cindy Crank are considered to be the driving forces behind SanMar’s tradeshows, which have undergone a significant virtual shift this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, John and Cindy discuss how the tradeshow industry is reacting and adapting to COVID-19, weigh the pros and cons of physical vs. virtual tradeshows and ponder the future of these events. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE What has the shift to virtual and remote work been like for John and...
Sep 17, 2020•24 min
Lisa and Tara had the opportunity to speak with Davis Smith, the founder and CEO of Cotopaxi, a company that makes innovative outdoor gear while also giving back to the global community. It’s also the newest addition to the SanMar family. In this episode, Davis reveals what goes into making Cotopaxi’s hip AND sustainable bags, discusses the company’s core values and talks about how a kid named Edgar shaped his desire to help the world. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Davis explains where Cotop...
Aug 20, 2020•30 min
Lisa and Tara chatted with Ryan Moor and Mel Lay, two of the founders of Allmade Apparel, an impact-driven company that was founded by a group of screen printers wanting to create positive change in the industry and the world. Allmade is the newest addition to the SanMar family. In this episode, we discuss Allmade’s origin story, including a life-changing trip to Haiti, their commitment to helping people and the planet, and Ryan even gives listeners a few tips for decorating face masks. THE FINE...
Jun 17, 2020•30 min
Renton Leversedge is the Chief Customer Officer at SanMar. He and his teams have played a pivotal role in quickly switching much of SanMar’s production from making t-shirts to face masks. In this episode, Renton breaks down how SanMar has completely reworked its production priorities, discusses how competitors have become collaborators and elaborates on the methods used to make face masks more attractive to the average customer. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Renton explains how SanMar became...
May 12, 2020•28 min
Kara Johnson, a senior merchandiser at SanMar is responsible for building products, setting prices and collaborating with a myriad of teams to develop products. In this episode, Kara discusses how sustainability is now the status quo instead of just a trend, explains why she’s so excited about the District Re-Tee and daydreams about the perfect reserved parking spot. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Kara breaks down her responsibilities as senior merchandiser and which brands she works with. Ho...
Apr 24, 2020•23 min
Mark Bailey is SanMar’s Senior Manager of Channel Sales on the Decorator and Digital Solutions Team, and a 21-year veteran of the company. His team believes in not only providing customers with their desired products but also in forging meaningful connections. In this episode, Mark explains how his team keeps up with the latest trends, discusses the importance of customer input and dishes on a few decorative trends everyone would be wise to keep an eye on. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Mark ...
Mar 03, 2020•21 min
Lisa Terry and SanMar’s social media writer Josh Storey continue with their interviews from the show floor at PPAI in Las Vegas! Their guests are Brittany David and Danny Rosin: Brittany is the vice president of sales with SnugZ USA and the chair of the board for PPAI; Danny is the president of Brand Fuel, a merchandising agency based in North Carolina. In this episode, Brittany discusses the importance of not just equality but inclusion in the promotional merchandise industry, and Danny delves ...
Feb 11, 2020•39 min
It’s a new year, which means it’s tradeshow season! At the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas, Lisa Terry and SanMar’s social media writer Josh Storey spoke with industry experts Bobby Lehew and Kate Plummer. Bobby is the Chief Content Officer at Commonsku, a comprehensive sales and marketing tool. Kate is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at customized awards manufacturer Clearmount. In this episode, Bobby discusses the role of storytelling in business and dispels myths about the power of spontanei...
Jan 28, 2020•31 min
The year is almost over, which also means that tradeshow season is coming up fast! For the occasion, Lisa and Tara and revisiting their interview with this show’s very first guest, John Lindgren. He’s SanMar’s tradeshow expert and knows what it takes to have a successful presence at a tradeshow - he's been doing it for decades. In this episode, John discusses his time working at SanMar’s tradeshows, explains why no amount of technology can replace people, shares his stories of fire and floods, a...
Dec 17, 2019•28 min
It’s almost the end of the year and Lisa and Tara have decided to wrap up this first season of SanMar Radio. The podcast crew would like to thank everybody for listening and learning! For this very special season finale, we take a look back through 2019 and highlight some of our favorite moments with our friends and colleagues at SanMar. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE VP of Sales Dan Tushar reveals how customers can set themselves up for success. Susan Rye, director of strategic accounts, on ...
Dec 03, 2019•26 min
Lisa and Tara are switching things up this week by turning the interviewer’s microphone on themselves, SanMar social media guru Josh Storey is asking the questions this time. In this episode, our usual hosts discuss the ins and outs of their daily jobs, explain how their work helps make SanMar U what it is, and reveal the key building blocks to recording a good podcast. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE How Lisa and Tara used their backgrounds in radio and film to fit right in at SanMar. Why the...
Nov 18, 2019•26 min
Ray Hong is a Custom Apparel Project Manager at SanMar, and is responsible for overseeing bespoke products from initial quote to final delivery. In this episode, Ray discusses what it’s like to help design and create unique products, reveals the right questions to ask customers who need help clarifying their ideas, and explains how to stand out in a fast-paced market. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE How Ray came to work with SanMar and join the custom orders program in its infancy. Which produ...
Nov 05, 2019•21 min
Rhea Aslin is the senior brand director at SanMar, overseeing merchandising and design for several of our key brands. In this episode, Rhea explains how developing a brand is like telling a story, discusses what she does to stay on top of fashion trends and describes how the apparel market is having to evolve to meet customer expectations. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Rhea lays out her responsibilities as the company’s brand director and which brands she oversees. Which SanMar brand has bee...
Oct 22, 2019•18 min
Pat Noonan is SanMar’s chief product officer. His teams oversee product design, manufacturing, sourcing, and quality assurance across the company. In this episode, Pat shares how his time in the Navy taught him how to keep things in perspective, how SanMar’s relationship-based approach to sourcing helps us weather global challenges and how our industry is changing lives for the better. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Pat discusses his time in the Navy — including his family sword — and how tha...
Oct 08, 2019•34 min
Adam Gould is a senior manager of sales operations at SanMar, overseeing many of our company’s customer service interactions. In this episode, Adam reveals his tips for training an effective customer service team, discusses how technology helps employees who work remotely feel closer as a team, and explains how you can turn a challenging customer service experience into one that works in everyone’s favor. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Adam explains how his team works with the rest of SanMar ...
Sep 24, 2019•23 min
Barb Herman is SanMar’s director of channel sales, and for the majority of her career, she has focused on the “biggest little industry you’ve never heard of” — industrial laundry. In this episode, Barb explains what makes industrial uniforms durable yet stylish and discusses the important role that industrial laundry and uniforming services play as they work behind the scenes to support businesses that impact our everyday lives. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Barb explains how industrial laun...
Sep 10, 2019•27 min
Rachelle Manning is SanMar’s sporting goods channel manager. She has been involved in sports and in the sporting goods market for most of her life and she works with her team to help customers strategize and grow their businesses. In this episode, Rachelle discusses how utilizing technology can drastically improve sales, how customers can keep up with what’s trending in the market and how knowing the difference between Tennessee Orange and Clemson Orange can be a real game changer. THE FINER DET...
Aug 27, 2019•21 min
Lee Strom is SanMar’s Vice President of Marketing, having spent most of the last two decades managing a wide variety of personalities, from analysts and project managers to digital marketers and creative staff. In this episode, Lee describes how SanMar’s approach to marketing, and SanMar itself, has changed during his many years with the company, debates the merits of a physical catalog in today’s day and age, and discusses his own future with SanMar. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE How Lee ca...
Aug 13, 2019•31 min
John Janson is SanMar’s director of global logistics, overseeing a 20-person team responsible for coordinating orders across our warehouses and ensuring customers receive them as quickly as possible. In this episode, John reveals why he thinks he has one of the best jobs around, explains how SanMar is keeping up with newer next-day delivery expectations, and explores the effects of “Amazonization.” THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE What logistics entails and how John came to be so experienced at...
Jul 30, 2019•23 min
Dan Tushar, SanMar’s vice president of sales, is involved in every aspect of the sales process and works with our customers to optimize their success. In this episode, Dan shares why it’s so important to have a diverse customer base, what it means to be a leader and how helping your customer find solutions can often be your most successful sales strategy. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE How Dan is involved with every step of the sales process. What approach SanMar takes with its sales strategy...
Jul 16, 2019•27 min
