ABOUT US
At The Promo Playbook, our mission is to empower brands to break into the promotional products market with confidence, creativity, and strategic clarity. We combine deep expertise in public relations, marketing, sales strategy, and product development with insider knowledge of supplier and distributor networks. Our goal is to guide businesses through every step of the journey—from concept to customer—ensuring sustainable growth, impactful branding, and measurable results.
Whether you're entering the promo space or looking to elevate your current strategy, we deliver hands-on, strategic guidance rooted in real-world success and a passion for helping brands thrive in this dynamic industry.
Who We Are
With over 30 years of combined leadership in the promotional products industry, we offer a powerhouse of consulting expertise designed to drive growth, innovation, and market relevance. From building high-performance sales teams and scaling boutique brands to launching category-leading go-to-market strategies, our team has a proven track record of transforming brands and products into market standouts. We specialize in promotional channel expansion, distributor/supplier engagement, and brand positioning, with deep experience across corporate gifting, incentives & rewards, and on-demand markets.
Kim Ballerene
Partner
Kim is a seasoned sales and marketing executive with over two decades of experience building brands, leading high-performing teams, and driving growth across the promotional products, off-price retail, and public relations sectors.
Known for her strategic mindset and ability to execute with precision, Kim has developed a reputation for launching innovative market strategies, scaling revenue, and forging powerful partnerships across industries.
As Director of Sales for Special Markets at Corkcicle, Kim played a pivotal role in building the company’s promotional business from the ground up—contributing to nearly 20% of its annual revenue. She spearheaded Corkcicle’s entrance into the branded merchandise and incentive space, collaborated closely with product development, and established strong relationships with distributors, onsite gifting partners, and industry suppliers. Her contributions extended beyond sales, as she brought her marketing and media savvy to enhance brand visibility through trade shows, sampling programs, and custom product campaigns.
Prior to her leadership at Corkcicle, Kim was a PR and media consultant for the brand, where she helped secure major placements including the highly coveted Oprah’s Favorite Things list—an accolade that significantly boosted the brand's national profile. Her earlier entrepreneurial success as Founder and Managing Partner of Tier One Partners, and later at KLM Public Relations, underscores her deep roots in communications and media strategy, where she worked closely with C-level executives to elevate company messaging and market presence.
Lisa Fosdick
Partner
A strategic and results-driven Sales & Marketing Executive, Lisa brings over two decades of experience leading growth in the promotional products, branded merchandise, and CPG industries. Known for scaling boutique brands and building high-performing teams, Lisa has led national sales efforts generating upwards of $100M in revenue. Her leadership style blends hands-on mentorship with big-picture thinking, fostering cultures of accountability, collaboration, and consistent performance.
As VP and Managing Partner at Branded Treats, Lisa more than tripled company revenue by modernizing operations and elevating the brand into a category leader. Past leadership roles at ePromos, Stran Promotional Solutions, and Hub Promotional Group demonstrate a proven ability to manage transformational change, drive operational efficiency, and unlock new revenue streams across diverse markets. Lisa has also been instrumental in directing post-acquisition integration, leading sales process redesigns, and expanding reach into digital and print-on-demand models.
An award-winning industry contributor—recognized by Counselor Magazine and multiple national brands— Lisa actively shares her insights as a speaker, board member, and content creator. Her deep understanding of distributor engagement, channel growth, and customer experience strategy positions her as a sought-after consultant and fractional leader.
Recent engagements include GTM strategies for Hydrapeak, Tribe Socks, and ThoughtfullyPromo, where Lisa has turned strategic vision into measurable results.