What Happens When Purpose Meets Product?

...You get merch that matters and it moves the needle — for the planet and your bottom line. In this quick convo, Jeff Solomon chats with Milissa Gibson of Lane Seven Apparel about what’s driving the demand for sustainable merch and how Gen Z is leading the charge.

Special Thanks to Our Why It Matters Summit Partners:  

ASI, Apparelist, and the 2 Regular Guys  

We also want to acknowledge the supporters of our efforts to advance the "Why It Matters" movement: Goldstar, Allmade, and Stahls.

Finally — Video Content Made for Your Buyers, Not Promo Sales Reps!

Merch Media Lab™ is your growing library of clean, short videos built for sharing with your buyers.

No pricing. No SKUs. No “hey guys.”

Every video follows the Built for Buyers™ standard, so you can share with confidence. And yes, it’s free. Just grab & post!

This is the kind of bag you reach for without thinking, because it works for almost everything. A quick run to the coffee shop, a day on campus, a weekend road trip, or even a beach morning, it fits right in.

Made from recycled cotton canvas, it’s built with purpose and designed for everyday life. The kind of bag that proves practical can still look good, and sustainable can still be stylish.

This is a pack you’ll actually use day after day, season after season.

Another #MadeBetter product from Goldstar!

Automation. The Game is Changing

Jeff Solomon and Rick Molenaar, Director at FastEditor, discussed the global differences between European and American branded merch markets, with Europe featuring more fragmented local players and stronger partnerships, while the US offers easier national scaling. They explored the growing trend of automation in the industry, driven by AI and technology advancements, which is transforming production processes and back-office services. Rick shared details about FastEditor's automation tools and services in Europe, emphasizing the importance of human oversight and interaction in these processes. 

Let's Explore the Intersection of Branding, Sustainability, and Culture

From Poland to the US. From embroidery to innovation. From helping refugees to building partnerships.

What happens when two leaders in decorated apparel bring their worlds together? Let’s find out. 👇

This episode features:

🇺🇸 Rob Watson, CEO of Vantage (USA)

🇵🇱 John Lynch, CEO of Lynka (Poland)

Moderated by:

Steven Baumgärtner from Mannheim, Germany

Jeff Solomon from Santa Clarita, California

What started as a connection 15 years ago is now a thriving transatlantic partnership. Vantage and Lynka are redefining what it means to collaborate across borders. [Not just in business, but in purpose.]

💡 What you’ll learn:

→ How they merged values, not just operations

→ Why sustainability looks different in the US & Europe

→ How they're supporting Ukrainian refugees

→ Why decorated apparel inspires creativity

→ And how direct-to-film printing is changing the game

Wanna Listen? We're live on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and Deezer

Just search "Branded Worlds"

Let's stay curious, stay bold, and keep building these Branded Worlds!