brandivate marketing

10/02/2026

Nine years ago today, we lost the greatness that was Tom Petty. So rather than simply remembering one of our favorite artists, today's Final Note seems like the perfect opportunity to ask what is the quintessential Tom Petty song.

For us, it's "The Waiting." Of course there are bigger hits, deeper cuts, and certified "bangers" as the kids would say, but "The Waiting" somehow contains nearly everything we love about the leader of The Heartbreakers in just under four minutes. You've got Mike Campbell's jangling and effortless guitar, Benmont Tench's keyboards, and that laid-back Heartbreakers groove supporting Petty's deliciously imperfect voice delivering lyrics that are simple, relatable, and far more profound each time we listen. That chorus has become part of the cultural vernacular because we've all lived time: "the waiting is the hardest part."

From where we sit, that's what Petty did better than just about anyone. He took ordinary emotions and everyday experiences and turned them into songs that immediately felt familiar. Nine years later, we still miss him. Thankfully, the music isn't going anywhere.

So, friends of the Final Note, help us celebrate the life of one Tom Petty today by letting us know what is your quintessential Tom Petty song?

10/02/2026

You know it’s time for Ep. 90 of the Between 2 Brands with Bill Petrie! In this week’s Opening Shot, Bill talks about how annoying tactics have taken the humanity out of the sales process and steps we can all take to change that. After that, he is joined by the lovely and talented Tom Clouser from Prime Line. During their conversation they talk things he’s learned from working as both a supplier and distributor, what distributors should NOT ask at a trade show, ways to create a successful networking event, and even a bourbon-themed “Rapid Fire!” Tom is truly one of the nicest guys in the industry, and you don’t want to miss this conversation!

BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at [email protected].

09/28/2026

We tend to romanticize starting over after we know how the story ends, but when you're standing at the beginning, there's no benefit of hindsight and certainly no guarantee things will work out. In his latest brandivate , Bill Petrie shares what really drove him to start again in 2020: he was tired of allowing fear to make his decisions.

The false security of the known can be far more limiting than the uncertainty of starting over.In July of 2020, I resigned as president of PromoCorner and started brandivate. Looking back more than six years later, it would be incredibly easy to clean that story up a bit. I could tell you I had an u...

09/25/2026

The Final Note for this week is the musical equivalent of finding a fingernail in your dessert after an otherwise delicious meal. With that in mind, the topic this week is the worst song on an otherwise amazing album.

Our choice is "Jamaica Je****ff" from Elton John's 1973 masterpiece, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Before we begin, let's be clear: we adore this album. With songs like "Bennie and the Jets," "Candle in the Wind," "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," and the title track, the entire double album is ridiculously loaded with great music.

Then, there's "Jamaica Je****ff." Even though Elton John and Bernie Taupin were going for a loose, playful Caribbean vibe, all this song does make us quickly dive for the skip button. On a lesser album, maybe this dreck disappears into the scenery. However, on this album, it sticks out like someone wearing Crocs at a funeral. The mere inclusion of this song always begs the next question, "how in the hell did this song make it on THIS album?"

Final Note Fans, the stage is yours: what's the worst song on an otherwise amazing album?

09/25/2026

It’s Friday and time for Ep. 89 of the Between 2 Brands with your host, Bill Petrie. In the Opening Shot, Bill shares some thoughts on the very interesting findings from the ASI State of the Industry report. After that, he welcomes the President and CEO of Image Source, Tom Goos. In a wide-ranging discussion, they talk about growing a business, the importance of intentionally creating a company culture that celebrates the work/life balance, “merch” vs. “SWAG,” the importance of shoe management, and how someone from the birthplace of grunge absolutely loves country music. This is one you won’t want to miss.

HUGE Thanks to our friends over at Bel Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!It’s Friday and time for Ep. 89 of the Between 2 Brands with your host, Bill Petrie....

09/21/2026

Products go out of stock, deadlines become impossible, and budgets shrink. Clients understand that limitations happen, but what they remember is how you respond to them. In his latest brandivate , Bill Petrie explores why great service isn’t about always having the perfect solution as much as it’s about taking ownership of finding the best one.

09/18/2026

For every Freddie Mercury or David Lee Roth, there are front men for bands that are ignored, overlooked, or otherwise underrated. Today, we fix that as we want to hear your thoughts on the most underrated front man.

For us, the choice is pretty clear in Corey Glover from Living Colour. When people talk about the band, the conversation is either about the fact they were an all-black hard rock band in a genre dominated by Caucasians or Vernon Reid's groundbreaking guitar work. However, the band's real secret weapon was always their singer and front man, Corey Glover. He arguably has one of the most versatile voices in music as he can deliver funk, soul, metal, and straight up hard rock with equal conviction. And, if you've seen the band live, you know he commands a stage with the kind of effortless confidence that makes it looks easy. While a singer sings the words, a true front man makes you believe every word, owns every inch of the stage, and connects the audience to the performance. Corey Glover has been doing exactly that for decades, but still doesn't get the recognition he deserves.

So, let's hear from you, Final Noter: in your opinion, who is the most underrated front man?

09/18/2026

You bet it’s time for Ep. 88 of the Between 2 Brands podcast with your host and pal, Bill Petrie! This week in the “Opening Shot,” Bill offers up his thoughts on the lawsuit filed by 29 states alleging that Facebook and Instagram intentionally designed addictive features that negatively impact kids and teens mental health. After that bit of fun is over, he welcomes the Vice President of Fields Manufacturing and raconteur, Matt Wagner, to the podcast. They talk about his recent 40 day “van life experiment,” his passion for music, why buying groups matter, and why he’s pumped for the Promocation in Punta Cana next month.

This episode of Between 2 Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at Coasterstone Promo are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at [email protected] today!

09/14/2026

What does your team need from you right now? The answer might be very different from what you're feeling. In the latest brandivate , Bill Petrie explores why the best leaders don't simply mirror the mood of the room. Instead, they listen, observe, adapt, and provide what's missing.

Great leaders read the room, then give it what it's missing.After my beloved Texas A&M Aggies opened the football season with a 50-0 win over Missouri State on September 5th, you might imagine the mood in the locker room was pretty damn good. After a shaky first half, the team dominated the Missouri...

09/11/2026

Starting a song is relatively easy. Finding a way to end one that people remember more than half a century later, on the other hand, is a different challenge entirely. As such, this week on The Final Note, we want to know your thoughts on the best ending to a song.

Our vote (clearly) goes to "Baba O'Riley" from The Who. For most of the song, you're riding the hypnotic synthesizer pattern, Roger Daltrey's unmistakable vocals, and Keith Moon doing whatever Keith Moon things he would do behind a drum kit. It's truly one of the most iconic rock songs ever pressed into vinyl. With about a minute left, however, a seemingly uninvited violin shows up. Then the tempo accelerates, Moon (somehow) finds another gear, and suddenly this rock song turns into a frantic Irish jig. The velocity of the violin increases, the band goes into warp drive, and everything feels like it's about to completely fly off the rails Then, it just stops. There's no fade, no gentle dismount, and no resolution. It's almost as if the band drove the song straight toward a cliff, mashed the accelerator, and decided to go Thema & Louise on all of us. Yet, somehow, that ending still leaves us smiling every single time.

Now, it's your turn: what song absolutely nails the landing better than any other?