The DADO Blog

Stories, ideas, and
branding done right.

Insights from 14+ years of helping brands show up with merch that people actually use, wear, and love.

August 25, 2026

Should We Be Afraid of AI?

AI runs a piece of my business every day now. That’s exactly why the old WarGames question feels worth asking again, seriously this time.

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August 15, 2026

The Five Minute Brief That Keeps Your Swag From Being Generic

Generic swag usually starts with a generic ask. Here’s what actually helps a distributor get it right the first time.

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August 8, 2026

AI Can Design Your Dream Logo. It Can’t Print It.

That stunning AI-generated logo probably can’t be printed the way it looks on screen. Here’s why, and what to do instead.

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July 30, 2026

The Real Cost of Decorated Apparel: Why Cheap Ends Up Expensive

A prospect called me a few years ago, pretty pleased with himself. He had found an online supplier offering 40 shirts, decorated and shipped, for less than half of what I had quoted. Six months later, he called again. Ha

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July 23, 2026

The Finger Lakes Wine Trail from a Supplier’s Eye View

Four years of supplying Finger Lakes wineries taught me the wine is rarely the hardest part of the business. Here’s what actually is.

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July 16, 2026

What a Company Store Actually Solves (and Who It’s Not For)

Company stores get pitched as a nice-to-have. For the right business, they’re the thing that stops branded gear from becoming a recurring fire drill.

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