Earlier this week, Florida-headquartered Counselor Top 40 supplier Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125) announced that it had entered into a strategic partnership with Seattle-based supplier iClick (asi/62124).
The partnership will bring a curated collection of iClick’s technology and lifestyle accessories – including the popular PopSockets brand – to Hit’s lineup.
In this episode of Promo Insiders, Michele Bell, ASI senior vice president for content and global alliances, checked in with the CEOs of both firms – CJ Schmidt of Hit and Jeff Roberts of iClick – to delve into the origins of the partnership, why it makes sense for the suppliers and how it will benefit their customer base. The trio also discussed print on demand, tariffs and other factors affecting the industry as a whole.
Podcast Chapters
1:25 A chance meeting at Fenway Park spurs a partnership
3:01 The benefits of the partnership
7:22 Value of supplier partnerships
9:07 How is the industry doing?
17:34 Biggest market disruption/opportunity
Key Takeaways
• CJ Schmidt and Jeffrey Roberts discuss the origins of their partnership, which began with a chance meeting at Fenway Park and quickly evolved into a strategic collaboration.
• Roberts explains the benefits of the partnership, including leveraging production facilities in Seattle for faster and cheaper shipping to the West Coast.
• Schmidt highlights operational synergies, such as shared suppliers and the ability to manage inventory levels more effectively, which make the partnership beneficial for both companies.
• Roberts mentions the potential for expanding the partnership to include products like iClick’s smart bags and collapsible bottles, which could benefit from Hit’s sales force and market presence.
• The CEOs discuss industry trends, including the growth of mobile accessories and power banks, and the impact of trade challenges on their businesses.
• Schmidt emphasizes the importance of print on demand and fulfillment services, which have seen significant growth and are a major focus for Hit.
• Roberts and Schmidt express optimism about future opportunities, including the potential for variable printing and the continued growth of print on demand in the industry.
