Last week, I had the opportunity to speak on a panel about one of the most buzzed-about — and sometimes misunderstood — topics in our industry: Artificial Intelligence. The goal wasn’t a technical deep dive. Instead, we focused on real-world applications of AI in the promotional products space and how it’s quietly transforming the way we work and live.
The response? Energizing. From seasoned professionals to first-time explorers, the room was full of curiosity, questions, and that spark of “maybe I could use this, too.”
At Extend Marketing, AI isn’t a future idea — it’s already integrated into our daily operations in big and small ways. And the beauty of it? You don’t need to be a tech expert to get started.
How We’re Using AI at Extend
Whether we’re supporting our clients with branded merchandise or building strategy around their marketing efforts, AI helps us streamline, create, and connect more meaningfully:
- Sales & Follow-Up: AI supports our sales process through automation — think pre-sale campaigns, quote reminders, calendar prompts, and custom follow-ups that keep the human touch while saving time.
- Content & Brand Voice: From rewriting blog posts to creating social media captions, AI is our behind-the-scenes content assistant, helping us maintain consistency and clarity across all platforms.
- Creative Support: We use AI to generate design mockups, video scripts, and marketing ideas that align with client goals and industry trends.
- Personal Life Hacks: On a personal note, I use AI to meal plan, create summer schedules for my kids, and even script difficult conversations. It’s become a surprisingly thoughtful tool in both life and leadership.
The Big Takeaway from the Panel?
You don’t need to go all in to get started. AI isn’t about replacing people — it’s about freeing up time so we can do more of what matters: building relationships, being creative, and staying ahead of the curve.
Whether you use it to draft an email, map out a sales plan, or prep for your next client meeting, AI has the power to lighten your load and sharpen your focus.
Where Our Industry Goes From Here
The promotional products industry is built on creativity, speed, and service — all of which can be amplified by AI. But one of the biggest misconceptions I heard during the panel is that AI is here to replace human interaction.
On that point, we heavily disagree.
In fact, the in-person connections and creative experiences we deliver are more valuable than ever. AI isn’t here to replace relationships — it’s here to give us more time and energy to nurture them.
The opportunity? Using AI not just to move faster, but to move smarter — to elevate the way we show up for our clients and our teams. Approach it with curiosity.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
If you’re curious about how to start using AI in your workflow — or if you’ve found a great use case that’s working for you — I’d love to hear about it. The more we share, the smarter we all get.
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