Branding Together: Previewing the 2026 Sustainable Merch Summit
Jay Busselle and Jeff Solomon of Branded Merch Network look back on the inaugural summit and share a sneak peek of what’s planned for next year.
In the last episode of 2025, Branding Together co-hosts Cassie Green and Theresa Hegel look back at 2025’s biggest wins across print, promo and apparel before welcoming Jay Busselle and Jeff Solomon of Branded Merch Network to unpack the real impact of the first Sustainable Merch Summit. The summit, hosted by Apparelist, ASI, Branded Merch Network and the 2 Regular Guys podcast, will return in 2026 with more conversations and case studies on how sustainability is transforming the industry.
Mentioned in this month’s episode:
- DML Creation Promotes Rosa Melizza to National Sales Manager
- Nikki Stella Joins ASI as Senior VP, Strategic Relationships & Initiatives
- Alison Beletz Joins Tekweld as Director of Marketing
- Jill Albers Returns to BAMKO as VP of Client Success
- 2025 Reggie Awards voting is open
- NFL Expands Adaptive Apparel Line
- 2025 Sustainable Merch Summit
Key Takeaways
• Hegel and Green said 2025’s biggest “wins” often came from resilience – not dramatic breakthroughs, but companies innovating, adapting and finding ways to move forward despite a turbulent year.
• The hosts noted that even small strategic steps, like refining processes or rethinking partnerships, counted as major wins in a year defined by uncertainty and industry shifts.
• Busselle said the inaugural Sustainable Merch Summit showed the industry is ready for “real talk” on sustainability, moving beyond buzzwords and embracing progress over perfection.
• Busselle emphasized that attendees left the summit realizing sustainability is manageable when approached one actionable step at a time.
• Solomon said the “why it matters” movement is helping distributors understand how higher-quality, longer-lasting merchandise delivers value and reduces waste.
• Distributors can guide clients away from disposable “panic swag” and toward intentional, durable products that reflect brand purpose.
• Looking ahead, Busselle and Solomon said 2025 was a year of awareness, while 2026 will be defined by action.
• The 2026 Sustainable Merch Summit will expand cross-segment collaboration by bringing in more voices from promo, apparel and print to share case studies and behind-the-scenes practices.