After more than two decades in the promo industry, it\u2019s liberating to own a company, says Amy Bendahan, founder and CEO of Curata Merch (asi\/439114) in Canada. She\u2019s now free to make big decisions and exercise creative skills gleaned from experience at large distributorships.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s also a challenge \u2013 ongoing trade tension with the U.S., economic pressures, tight budgets and, at the same time, high expectations among clients are all to be contended with.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe friction is real and you have to hang on as tight as you can,\u201d she said. \u201cCost unpredictability is the biggest issue that we\u2019re seeing \u2013 it takes longer for us to get quotes from our supplier partners, and it takes longer for us to get quotes to our clients because we have to be aware of all the taxes, duties, customs and changes taking place on a regular basis. You have to have flexible options and a diverse supplier network.\u201d<\/p>\n
In this episode of Promo Insiders, Bendahan discusses the challenges \u2013 and opportunities \u2013 she sees as an experienced distributor leading a lean team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t outsize the larger players, but we can certainly outthink them,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re more agile, more flexible. We don\u2019t have layers of approval, so we can test new ideas and new channels more quickly than some of our larger competitors.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Podcast Chapters<\/p>\n
0:47: <\/a>Launching a small promo business Stay Ahead of the Curve<\/p>\n
2:42: <\/a>Navigating trade tension
3:59:<\/a> How the economy is changing buyer behaviour
5:26:<\/a> Shifting sourcing priorities
6:59:<\/a> Managing global programs with a small team
8:46:<\/a> Looking ahead to 2027<\/p>\n