Branding Together: Tips To Help Print & Promo Businesses Blossom
In this month’s episode, we chat with Koell Collins of STBL Strategies about switching between the promo and signage/graphics industries and how to succeed in both.
Springtime is typically the season of growth, but tariff whiplash and economic uncertainty have taken a toll on the print and promo industries. In this episode of Branding Together, Co-hosts Theresa Hegel and Cassie Green offer advice on how to weather the current climate as well as ways to achieve personal and professional growth.
Guest Koell Collins, founder of STBL Strategies (asi/300412) in Augusta, KS, shares her expertise in integrating print and promo solutions, sustainable practices and the value of leveraging technology and industry education. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a fun Kentucky Derby-themed quiz, testing Cassie’s ability to differentiate between horse names, dog names and promo products.
Mentioned in this month’s episode:
- The Next Five Years Package
- PRINTING United Alliance Unified Printing Taxonomy
- Ongoing Tariffs Coverage From ASI
- PRINTING United Alliance Tariff Survey
Key Takeaways
Smart Strategy: Podcast Co-hosts Theresa Hegel and Cassie Green advise businesses to confirm terms, reassess pricing models and avoid reactive decisions during economic uncertainty.
Collaborative Mindset: Building strong supplier relationships and leaning into industry networks are key to weathering market disruptions.
Cross-Industry Insight: Guest Koell Collins shared how her print and signage background informs her promo business serving large multilocation clients.
Sustainable Tech: Collins emphasized integrating sustainability and tech tools to enhance operations and meet ESG goals.
Tech Investment: Collins is prioritizing backend technology like CRM integrations and order visibility tools to scale her business efficiently.
Sustainability Ethos: Drawing from her signage experience, Collins integrates sustainability into her operations and empowers clients to make informed, eco-conscious choices.
Learning Culture: She encourages industry newcomers to seek mentorship, embrace education and leverage trade partners to confidently expand into new verticals.