Jeff Grippando was a veteran in the print industry before he found promo. As his career progressed, he found himself in a position where his sales focus needed to evolve from paper to the full gamut of branded products. Rather than feel intimidated (OK, maybe after feeling a little intimidated), Grippando took to it with aplomb and found that the creativity of the combined industries suited him.

“I fell in love with the industry,” he said. “Selling commercial print and direct mail, you’re calling on chief marketing officers, you’re calling VPs of marketing and what have you. Well, those folks are buying branded merchandise. It’s the same people. And that connection became really easy, really fast for me back in 2005 when I got into the space, and it’s been a great career from there.”

Now, as president of GBS BrandConnect – a Division of GBS Corp. (asi/199850), Grippando regularly gets to flex both his print and promo muscles at the same time.

Grippando has been able to combine his knowledge of print and promo with campaigns like decorated rocks as gifts and wide-ranging kits with items like lapel pins and print collateral.

Now, 20 years down the road of selling both print and promo together, Grippando hasn’t looked back, and he’s inviting others to join him.

“Don’t be afraid to cross the barrier,” he said. “Everybody has to buy these types of materials to advance and promote their brand strategy. My best advice would be to ask questions, study and jump into the pool with both feet, because it really isn’t that different. Don’t be scared by print, and don’t be scared by promo.”