September 10th - 13th

@ The LINE Hotel, Austin

A One-of-a-Kind Business
Boot Camp Experience

We’ve traveled from Palm Springs to New Orleans to Pittsburgh to Brooklyn, but there’s no better way to experience the industry’s most radical bootcamp experience than to kick up your heels in Austin, Texas!

skucamp is a deep dive into learning crucial (and timely!) topics for business leaders and a perfect time to work on your business instead of in your business. Struggling with scaling your business? Team development? Sales strategy? Join us as we unpack the most pressing challenges facing today’s modern distributors.

skucamp features peer-led learning from the pros, idea sharing, outside experts, and some of the most maverick thinkers in the branded merch biz! So, saddle up friends and strap in for the most business-transforming, high–impact learning experience – deep in the heart of Texas!

Meet Our Speakers

Hear from some of the promotional products industry's most passionate and creative personalities. Walk away inspired and ready to tackle the year ahead.

Schedule

12:00 - 4:00 PM

12:00 - 4:00 PM

Registration

1:00 - 4:00 PM

1:00 - 4:00 PM

commonsku Application Best Practices/Peer Sharing

During this time, we will have 2 main ways to talk about commonsku with our team as well as other customers.

  1. Poolside - come on down and chill by the pool at The LINE. This will be extremely casual and a nice way to meet others. Erin Burley and Aaron Kucherawy from our Success team will be on hand to make connections and share knowledge.
  2. Jasper Living Room - located on the 2nd floor of The LINE, Charlie Moscoe, our VP of Product, will be running roadmap sessions followed by some time to meet fellow customers. Pick whichever time works for you as each is the same presentation (no registration required).

1:00 - 1:30 PM commonsku Roadmap Presentation
1:30 - 2:00 PM Open discussion, best practice sharing

2:00 - 2:30 PM commonsku Roadmap Presentation
2:30 - 3:00 PM Open discussion, best practice sharing

3:00 - 3:30 PM commonsku Roadmap Presentation
3:30 - 4:00 PM Open discussion, best practice sharing

6:00 - 8:30 PM

6:00 - 8:30 PM

Opening Reception @ P6 (The Line Hotel)

P6 is located in The Line Hotel. Attendees are to use the elevator in the lobby to access the space at 6:00 pm. We will serve cocktails and appetizers before dinner. After dinner, we will move down to the pool. Please note the pool closes at 10:00 pm and the bar closes at 11:00 pm.

6:30 - 7:30 AM

6:30 - 7:30 AM

Run and Walk Club

Our run club will meet each morning in the lobby of the Line Hotel. We will have group leaders who will guide you through your 5KM run/walk route.

7:30 - 8:45 AM

7:30 - 8:45 AM

Breakfast @ Arlo Grey (main floor The Line)

9:00 - 9:10 AM

9:00 - 9:10 AM

Welcome to skucamp 2023!

Mark Graham
Mark Graham
Catherine Graham
Catherine Graham

9:10 - 10:40 AM

9:10 - 10:40 AM

The Good Fight: Build a Productive Conflict Culture

Andy Crouch
Liane Davey | 3COZE INC.

Business today is more competitive than ever. Getting ahead and staying ahead requires your teams to make tough calls, face hard choices, and to work through conflict. But no matter how much you invest in conflict workshops and training, productive conflict is still rare. Why? Because productive conflict is about more than the right skill set. It requires the right mindset and the right processes, neither of which come naturally. In this session, Liane will walk you through a six-step process for creating a culture of productive conflict that will improve results and enhance engagement. You will walk away being able to make the case to your organization for why conflict is not only inevitable but valuable; target the key skills that will allow your team to have conflict productively; and prepare your employees to work through resistance on the path to resolution!

10:40 - 11:10 AM

10:40 - 11:10 AM

Morning Break

Stretch those legs, grab a coffee, high-five a new friend!

11:10 - 11:30 AM

11:10 - 11:30 AM

The Vegetarian’s Guide (No, Seriously) to Promo Sales

Stephen Musgrave
Stephen Musgrave | Genumark

We all want sales growth, but often, we’re looking for it through the wrong end of the telescope. We flack on about new business, new salespeople, new accounts, but practically ignore the most profitable growth opportunity right beneath us: organic growth on our own turf. It’s faster, healthier (profitable), and good for the environment (culture)! Despite our wishes to the contrary, this industry is full of farmers and gatherers, not hunters. So, rather than exhausting ourselves by trying to transform vegetarians into meat-eaters, why not harness the power of the farmer and yield a return that actually grows! Join Stephen Musgrave, EVP of Sales and Marketing at Top 40 Distrib Genumark, as he unpacks the problem you and I face and the tools and tactics that make for real, long-lasting, and tastier organic growth. (This is an inclusive talk: All carnivores, omnivores, vegetarians, pescetarians, and flexitarians are welcome).

11:30 - 11:50 AM

11:30 - 11:50 AM

How Leaders Create a Startup Mentality

Jenna Quaranta
Jenna Quaranta | Knoss Apparel
Elson Yeung
Elson Yeung | Knoss Apparel

The pandemic had a profound impact on the way we acted in sales: We (all) acted like tomorrow depended on it. Because it did then, and it does now. Start-up mentality works the same way: every day, every decision, every tactic, is executed quickly, and if there are mistakes, you move fast and iterate again. In this session, we’ll explore how leaders can promote a start-up mentality to drive growth and accountability, and we’ll dive deep into two perspectives: a Design Mind and a Sales Mind. We’ll share how these worlds intersect and how it enhances your relationship with your sales leaders. Join JQ and Elson as they share the essential energy and high-velocity thinking needed to create a start-up mentality with your team!

11:50 - 12:25 PM

11:50 - 12:25 PM

Table Talk

The power of commonsku has always been the community and the heart of the community has been collaboration, the sharing of ideas. In this rapid-fire session, you’ll be able to trade tactics that have fueled your success and ideas that will help shape your future. We’ll jump-start the conversation by providing key questions and it’s a great time to take advantage of the experts sitting all around you. Join us as we connect, contribute, and inspire!

12:25 - 1:25 PM

12:25 - 1:25 PM

Lunch @ Arlo Grey (main floor The Line)

1:25 - 2:25 PM

1:25 - 2:25 PM

An Exclusive Interview with Supplier CEOs

Neil Ringel
Neil Ringel | PCNA
CJ Schmidt
CJ Schmidt | Hit
Dan Pantano
Dan Pantano | alphabroder
Catherine Graham
Moderated by Catherine Graham

As the post-covid supply chain has settled, a renewed focus on operations and sourcing has emerged for suppliers. In this interview with leaders of three of the industry’s largest suppliers --PCNA, alphabroder, and Hit Promotional Products – we’ll discuss the state of the industry now and their perspective on the future, including topics regarding the new challenges for our supply chain plus the impact of inflation, and the possibility of a recession, and how to shape our decisions in light of it. We’ll also explore how these suppliers are innovating with product, tech, and processes. Join us for an open mic opportunity, and bring your questions for CJ, Dan, and Neil!

2:25 - 2:55 PM

2:25 - 2:55 PM

Table Talk

The power of commonsku has always been the community and the heart of the community has been collaboration, the sharing of ideas. In this rapid-fire session, you’ll be able to trade tactics that have fueled your success and ideas that will help shape your future. We’ll jump-start the conversation by providing key questions and it’s a great time to take advantage of the experts sitting all around you. Join us as we connect, contribute, and inspire!

2:55 - 3:25 PM

2:55 - 3:25 PM

Afternoon Break

Stretch those legs, grab a coffee, high-five a new friend!

3:25 - 3:45 PM

3:25 - 3:45 PM

More Than Just Merch: Who Are You and What Impact Do You Bring To Clients?

Ben Adams
Ben Adams | Advoc8

Beyond solely selling physical merch, distributors now have a greater opportunity to use data and insights to form creative and strategic partnerships that drive growth while providing clients with more meaning-driven offerings. In this session, we will dive deep into the importance of supplementing your merch sourcing and fulfillment services with alternative services, and how this approach can give your business a competitive edge. You’ll hear about how the shift towards more conscious production, more service-oriented sales, and selling your clients on less — can actually deliver more. Join us on this journey toward providing meaningful solutions instead of merch alone!

3:45 - 4:05 PM

3:45 - 4:05 PM

Moving Your Brand Beyond a Stereotype

Jessica Blanchfield
Jessica Blanchfield | Archer & Hound
Dave Blanchfield
Dave Blanchfield | Archer & Hound

As we emerged from the pandemic, many distributors transformed into a different type of company: they started offering more services, some ventured into production, and others into direct sourcing. And though we’ve changed, our clients and prospects might still view us through the lens of a stereotype. Every industry struggles with stereotypes because most businesses fail to create something better: an archetype. Jessica and Dave Blanchfield have crafted a unique strategy and position with their agency, Archer & Hound, and guide clients, in various industries, through creating authentic brands. Join Jessica and Dave as they unpack one part of building an effective brand and how your brand voice, tone, personality, and archetype ultimately affect your brand identity. Who you are at your core matters, and how you express that matters even more.

4:05 - 4:45 PM

4:05 - 4:45 PM

A Fireside Chat with Derek Block

Derek Block
Derek Block | Touchstone Merchandise Group

Resilience doesn’t even come close to describing Derek’s passion for life and this industry. A revolutionary builder of brands and an experienced, self-made business development leader, Derek has also overcome a battle with cancer and open heart surgery – all while leading Touchstone to become one of the industry’s Top 25 Distributors serving a stellar client list such as Pure Romance, Progressive, Barstool Sports, and Kroger. In 2022, Derek was listed on ASI’s Power 50 as one of the “innovators, risk-takers and visionaries who are defining the future of promo," and Touchstone was recognized as a Top Workplace in Cincinnati. Never one to let obstacles slow him down, Block and team recently moved into their Design & Development BrandEQ® studio as well as a new state-of-the-art 400,000-square-foot warehouse. In this fireside chat, we’ll talk with Derek about the challenges he and his team have overcome to become one of the most successful distributorships today.

6:30 - 9:30 PM

6:30 - 9:30 PM

Dine-Arounds @ Various Restaurants

skucamp attendees are to meet in the lobby at 6:00 pm to meet their groups and walk/Uber to their restaurants. After dinner, attendees can head to The White Horse for line dancing/live music. Please wear your skucamp badges for free cover.

If you didn't receive an email with your group and reservation details, please contact Talia at talia@commonsku.com.

The White Horse
500 Comal St

6:30 - 7:30 AM

6:30 - 7:30 AM

Run and Walk Club

Our run club will meet each morning in the lobby of the Line Hotel. We will have group leaders to guide you through your 5KM run/walk routes.

7:30 - 8:45 AM

7:30 - 8:45 AM

Breakfast @ Arlo Grey (main floor The Line)

9:00 - 10:30 AM

9:00 - 10:30 AM

The Surprising Power of Being More Boring

Andy Crouch
Andy Crouch | The Hideout

The Hideout Theatre produces hundreds of comedy shows and classes every year, but their favorite thing is sharing their secrets with people like you. The same tips and philosophies they use to create comedy on the spot can help you work (and play) better—while having more fun doing it. In this highly interactive session, you'll experience low-pressure games and playful interactions that show how to build trust and enthusiasm through risk and playfulness, how to collaborate from a place of affirmation and support, and how to connect with other human beings in a quick, painless, and authentic way.

10:30 - 11:00 AM

10:30 - 11:00 AM

Morning Break

Stretch those legs, grab a coffee, high-five a new friend!

11:00 - 11:20 AM

11:00 - 11:20 AM

No Shortcuts: Crafting a Solid Plan for Steady Growth

Rachel Kozinski
Rachel Kozinski | Sky High Marketing
Josh Kozinski
Josh Kozinski | Sky High Marketing

Scaling success is rarely an overnight story. Most who see exponential growth in this industry earn it over time, they develop clients, employees, and services accumulatively, one project, one goal at a time. Rachel and Josh Kozinski began Sky High Marketing over 25 years ago and today, have expanded to multiple markets focused on sports, e-commerce division, and corporate. Their growth expanded to a comprehensive warehouse and fulfillment center, in-house embroidery, digital printing, and more. In this session on scaling, Rachel and Josh will share insights from their journey, including the critical phases that led to their growth, such as their careful acquisition strategy and how to integrate multiple teams successfully, tips on team development, including their flexible staffing plan which allows them the flexibility to respond to fluctuating demands, and how their specific leadership roles play a vital part in their current and future growth.

11:20 - 11:40 AM

11:20 - 11:40 AM

The Scaling Strategies I Discovered from a Wildly Embarrassing Tale (but a Very True Story)

Tom Rector
Tom Rector | Screenbroidery

Tom Rector and his team at ScreenBroidery grew over 143% from 2021 to 2022, but all that growth didn't come without some hard lessons. Join Tom as he shares practical tips from his journey and learn the story of one of his most crucial --and embarrassing-- lessons. and how he emerged from it with some valuable insight on how to scale a promotional product business. Tom will share how ScreenBroidery grew double digits through understanding its market, creating a 7-Star Customer Experience, identifying the DNA of its culture, and the art of winning deals without pitching products.

11:40 - 12:15 PM

11:40 - 12:15 PM

Table Talk

The power of commonsku has always been the community and the heart of the community has been collaboration, the sharing of ideas. In this rapid-fire session, you’ll be able to trade tactics that have fueled your success and ideas that will help shape your future. We’ll jump-start the conversation by providing key questions and it’s a great time to take advantage of the experts sitting all around you. Join us as we connect, contribute, and inspire!

12:15 - 1:15 PM

12:15 - 1:15 PM

Lunch @ Arlo Grey (main floor The Line)

1:15 - 1:45 PM

1:15 - 1:45 PM

Putting the Learnings into Practice Inside commonsku

Aaron Kucherawy
Aaron Kucherawy | commonsku

After a day and a half of constant learning, we want to make sure you can take these lessons and apply them to your business and on the commonsku platform! Join Aaron Kucherawy as he walks us through how to take some of the insights you’ve gathered from our speakers –from sales tips, to marketing ideas, to team development– and and apply them inside commonsku.

1:45 - 2:15 PM

1:45 - 2:15 PM

Afternoon Break

Stretch those legs, grab a coffee, high-five a new friend!

2:15 - 2:55 PM

2:15 - 2:55 PM

Platform Pro-Tips from the Pros!

Ruth Verver
Ruth Verver | Paperclip Promotions
Alicia Rhodes
Alicia Rhodes | Action Plus Ideas
Sara Webb
Sara Webb | Intandem Promotions
Heather McLeod
Heather McLeod | Elite Promotional Marketing

One of the most-requested asks we get from customers is a peek inside how other leaders and businesses use the commonsku platform. In this special panel with some of the leading commonsku clients, we’ll unpack exactly that: pro-tips, workflow, team structure, and the business of getting business done. Join us for some power-tips from the pros who know!

2:55 - 3:30 PM

2:55 - 3:30 PM

Table Talk

The power of commonsku has always been the community and the heart of the community has been collaboration, the sharing of ideas. In this rapid-fire session, you’ll be able to trade tactics that have fueled your success and ideas that will help shape your future. We’ll jump-start the conversation by providing key questions and it’s a great time to take advantage of the experts sitting all around you. Join us as we connect, contribute, and inspire!

3:30 - 4:10 PM

3:30 - 4:10 PM

In Pursuit of What's Possible

Tom Rauen
Tom Rauen | 1-800-TSHIRTS

You really can't tell how much you can do until you try to do something more. Tom Rauen is an ultra runner, someone who runs 50 and 100-mile races for the challenge of it. And as the founder and CEO of 1-800-TSHIRTS, he’s learned how to apply seemingly impossible feats of endurance to his business mindset. Join Tom fresh off the trails from competing at Mont Blanc in the UTMB, "the most mythical and prestigious, 100-mile trail running race in the world". In this session, Tom will share how he’s learned to push the limits of what is possible in order to achieve success in business and life, including breaking a Guinness World Record and running 100-mile endurance races. Join us to learn how to take audacious goals, break them down into actionable insights, and walk away with the key ingredients necessary to break through barriers, persevere against odds, and achieve beyond the possible.

4:10 - 4:30 PM

4:10 - 4:30 PM

Closing Remarks

Mark Graham
Mark Graham
Catherine Graham
Catherine Graham

6:30 - 9:30 PM

6:30 - 9:30 PM

Closing Party @ Lustre Pearl

skucamp attendees will meet in the lobby at 6:00 pm and walk over to Rainey Street. We’ll enjoy dinner, drinks, backyard games, and entertainment.

Lustre Pearl Rainey
94 Rainey St

Venue

skucamp will be hosted at the beautiful The LINE hotel in downtown Austin. Nestled beside beautiful Lady Bird Lake and steps from the music, food and retail of 6th, Rainey and South Congress Streets, The LINE is the perfect home for skucamp 2023, with everything you expect from a commonsku event: classy, cool and jam-packed with fun.

skucampers receive a discounted room rate of $279/night + tax (all resort fees are waived). Please book your room here!

Rooms must be booked by July 31.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I wear at skucamp?

skucamp is a very casual event so please dress comfortably.

  • There will be a mix of outdoors events in the evenings where you will want to dress for the hot Austin weather. During the day, we will be indoors in an air conditioned space.
  • Bring your bathing suit to take advantage of the beautiful pool.
Is there a maximum number of tickets for skucamp?

There is a maximum of 2 tickets per distributor company at skucamp.

What’s included in my registration fee?

Your registration fee includes all workshops, entertainment, gifts, drinks, and most meals. Travel to/from Austin, hotel costs and your 1 dine-around dinner are not included.

Included meals:

Sunday, September 10 - dinner/drinks

Monday, September 11 - breakfast, lunch, snacks (the cost of the dine-around dinner is not included)

Tuesday, September 12 - breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner/drinks

Who is skucamp designed for?

skucamp is designed for the owner, C-level manager or senior-level staff within a supplier or a distributor. If you are on the upswing of your career and are making waves in your organization, you should be at skucamp.

I am not a customer of commonsku, can I still come to skucamp?

skucamp is open to customers of the commonsku platform.

What is the schedule?

We will be releasing the full schedule with specific sessions by the end of March. In the meantime, here is what skucampers can expect from a timing perspective.

< Sunday, September 10 >
12 ~ 4 PM : Registration
12 ~ 4 PM commonsku application best practices/peer sharing
6 PM ~ onwards : Opening Party (Drinks & Dinner)

< Monday, September 11 >
9 AM ~ 5 PM : Jam-Packed Education & Networking
6:30 PM ~ onwards : Dine Arounds With Fellow Peers

< Tuesday, September 12 >
9 AM ~ 5 PM : Jam-Packed Education & Networking
6:30 PM ~ onwards : Closing Party (Drinks & Dinner)

< Wednesday, September 13 >
Depart Austin

Is there a cancellation policy on my skucamp tickets?

Yes, we will issue a full refund if you cancel before August 10, 2023 (less Eventbrite service fees). There are no refunds after August 10, 2023. We offer free ticket transfers to a colleague (within the same company) at any time.

We cannot resell the tickets on your behalf.

How does the dine-around work?

skucamp is all about the power of connections and meeting new and interesting people. One of the ways we do this is by having a dine-around on our 2nd night, September 11. We assign small groups of 8-10 people to various restaurants in town.

Note: the cost of your dinner for the dine-around is not included in your registration fee. You will pay for your meal at the restaurant on September 11.

What costs are excluded?

Travel to/from Austin and hotel accommodations are excluded. The cost of the dine-around for dinner on September 11 is also excluded.

How is skucamp different from your other events?

Each of our events is designed with different themes in mind. Many people will attend all events as they all offer something unique.

skucamp is a business planning boot camp for executive-level distributors and suppliers to plan their year ahead.

skucon focuses on high-level education and inspiration for any role, distributor, or supplier. skucon is hosted in January.

commonsku University is an education session for distributors and supplier customers of commonsku to learn how to use the platform more efficiently held at the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas and virtually throughout the year.

When should I arrive/depart?

We encourage you to arrive before 5 pm on Sunday September 10th so you are checked in and registered for our kick-off party that evening. If you can arrive earlier in the day, even better.

skucamp ends after our closing party on September 12th. We recommend catching a flight on the morning of September 13th.

Sponsors

Presenting Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

Association Sponsor