The Promo Playbook by Cubic Promote

A website in two minutes sounds like hype until you realise it can be a zip file you upload and publish right away. We walk through how we’re using Claude as an AI website builder to generate real HTML and styling for a brand new finance site, then iterate fast by re-prompting: split pages, refine copy, and test responsiveness on mobile, tablet, and desktop. It’s the kind of speed that makes traditional “brief, mock-up, build” feel like a different era.

That new pace also resets your brain. When an AI tool takes more than four minutes...

We talk through what it really takes to get staff comfortable with AI when the tools are changing fast and the results are not always right. Then we zoom out to the industries most at risk, from SEO to CRM and project management software, and what that means for junior career pathways. 
• setting expectations with staff so experimentation does not erode trust 
• getting buy in by asking for feedback and normalising mistakes early 
• why we no longer write off AI tools after a bad first try 
• the real switching cost shift for software and CRMs 
• HubSpot...

One photo can reopen a cold case and that same emotional trigger can revive a stalled campaign. We start with a true crime example where investigators deliberately choose a specific image to stir memory and emotion, then pull that thread into what still works on Instagram, TikTok, and paid social today. Visual marketing is not just “pretty content” it is a behavioural lever, and we break down why it consistently generates action when words alone fall flat. 

From there, we zoom out to perception and positioning through a story from a live talk with Michelle Obama, where perso...

A wedding venue hands over a bottle of champagne before you have paid a cent. It feels generous, it feels memorable, and it also raises a sharper question: how much of our “rational” buying is shaped by small moments of persuasion? We start with a real vendor search, from shortlisting a dozen venues to making the garden versus beach call, then we unpack why warmth, patience, and genuine listening can close a deal faster than any scripted pitch. Along the way we name the psychology at play, especially the law of reciprocity, and how it can subtly reduce your desi...

Email feels “quick” until you realise you’ve reread the same thread three times, mentally drafted a reply twice, and still haven’t sent it. We start with a deceptively simple productivity idea that changes that pattern: touch an email once. If you can’t take the next action right now, don’t open it yet. Pair that with a daily inbox window, smart flags, and calendar blocking, and your attention stops leaking through tiny cracks all day.

Then we get honest about another attention sink: social media. We talk practical ways to restrict access and interrupt doomscrollin...

Skipping the jingle is not a gimmick, it is a bet on your time. We start with the “cold open” philosophy and why the attention economy rewards creators and business owners who get to the point fast, especially when people are trying to learn something practical and they are already halfway through the problem. 

From there, we borrow a sharp line from Jay Abraham: “You can’t see the label if you’re inside the jar.” If you are juggling customers, staff, payroll, and rent, it is normal to miss obvious opportunities sitting in plain sight. We walk through...

Silence after you send a quote can mess with your head, but it’s usually just friction, timing, or mismatched tone. We walk through a follow-up email we’d actually send when a prospective client hasn’t replied for a few weeks, including the exact kind of wording that makes it easy for someone to answer without feeling pressured. The goal is simple: get clarity, uncover objections, and move the opportunity forward with a message that sounds human.

From there, we dig into why follow-ups work differently depending on personality. Some people want the direct question and a fast...

Follow-up gets a bad reputation, but we think the real problem is fear. If you’ve ever held back because you didn’t want to annoy a prospect, we unpack a different lens: when someone enquires, they’re asking you to help solve a problem, and consistent follow-up is part of doing the job well. We talk about the personality side too, especially how introverts can follow up confidently without feeling pushy.

From there, we explore why repetition in advertising works even when it’s loud, frequent, or genuinely irritating. The point isn’t to be obnoxious, it’s to ea...

Hiring used to be a slow grind: post a role, drown in resumes, miss great people because you can’t move fast enough. We put that to the test by running an international search for high-skill web developers, pulling in roughly 150 applicants in two days, then using AI to cut the pile down to a tight shortlist we could actually interview. The result surprised us: within a couple of days we hired two developers, and our existing team was genuinely impressed by the skill level that surfaced.

From there, we zoom out into what this speed means fo...

Virtual selling didn’t just “grow” after 2020, it took over. We share a stat that over 90% of B2B companies have shifted to virtual sales models thanks to better sales process efficiency and modern management software, then we zoom in on the exceptions. South Korea and Japan still lean more heavily toward face-to-face business meetings, which sparks a bigger question: when does digital selling build trust, and when does it quietly drain it? 

From there we get hands-on with voice AI agents. We’ve tested an AI that handles inbound telephone calls and it’s shockingly close, but the wei...

The marketing world is quietly reorganising itself around one idea: hire the best people for the job, even if they are not full-time. We talk about fractional leadership and fractional work from the inside, including the weird reality that a fractional CMO can feel like a full employee when they are embedded with the team and owning outcomes day to day.

From there, we get practical about building a modern marketing function with specialists. Think SEO, web development, social media, content, and paid media, all working in focused lanes. The upside is expertise on demand. The risk...

690% growth in 30 days sounds like a typo until you see what changed: we stopped trying to look “professional” on every platform and started trying to be interesting where it counts. I’m Charles from Cubic Promote, and I’m breaking down the social media strategy that helped our Instagram and TikTok viewership and engagement jump fast using short form content that actually fits how people scroll. 

We get into the B2B trap that keeps brands invisible: treating every channel the same and posting dry updates that feel like press releases. LinkedIn can reward education and company news, but...

Buyers don’t wake up wanting your product; they wake up with problems, deadlines, and pressure. We unpack a practical B2B growth system that makes your brand the obvious choice long before a formal search begins—and keeps you indispensable long after the deal closes.

We walk through a true moat you can build without patents or exclusivity: omnipresence built on adapted messaging. Our blog proves depth for procurement and marketing leaders, Instagram humanizes the team, LinkedIn drives thought leadership, Reddit fosters conversation, YouTube builds long-form trust, and email plus retargeting reinforces memory. Then we step offl...

Growth isn’t always about adding more. We found our stride by stopping the right things—and the results reshaped our marketing, our team, and the way we serve customers. We open up about the specific tactics we cut, why they weren’t serving us at scale, and how focusing on fewer, better moves led to sustainable growth without compromising customer experience.

We start with marketing myths that looked effective from the outside but underperformed in practice. Flash discounts trained delay and hurt margins, while purchased call and email lists drained time with poor data and low intent...

Most brands chase tactics; we chased presence and everything changed. Charles and Jasmine break down how #CubicPromote moved from scattered campaigns to an integrated, omnipresent marketing system that earns 15–24 meaningful touchpoints across a buyer’s journey. The result: steady trust, stronger recall, and content that compounds rather than evaporates.

We share the real story behind our 2025 pivots: starting with rough Instagram posts, tightening our creative week by week, and watching engagement climb as quality and clarity improved. You’ll hear why consistency beats creativity at the start, how feedback loops sharpen messaging, and when creativity finally kicks in to...

Ever wondered why it takes so many brand moments before a shopper finally buys? In b2c retail seven touchpoints used to be enough and now 20 to 40 is the norm. With Wendy and Catherine, we compare old assumptions to current behavior, tracing how a product moves from a flash on Instagram to a cart at Woolies, and how discounts, reviews, and retail trust work together to shrink buyer hesitation.

We get practical fast: where new brands get noticed (social feeds, review-driven news articles, buses, shelves), why algorithms surface quick-bite claims that hook specific demographics, and how micro-influencers...

Ever wondered what it actually takes to turn a scrappy merch idea into something people love to wear, keep, and show off? We open the studio doors and walk through the messy, creative, deeply satisfying process behind memorable promotional products and uniforms—complete with tight deadlines, picky color matches, and the joy of getting it right.

We start with the spark: unexpected product requests that keep our creative muscles fresh. From a large international order of custom wombat plush where ear color mattered as much as delivery timing, to a complex conference collection for the housing sector in...

We survey our team to learn which corporate gifts they’d actually choose, what they’d regift, and which trends are surging as offices head into the holidays. The result is a practical guide to shareable treats, quality tech, and summer-ready picks that people will use.

• hampers ranking first for delight and variety
• premium mugs and notebooks as safe, high-utility choices
• power banks and tech performing when retail-grade and trusted
• summer picks like barbecue sets and picnic gear
• apparel trends including umbrellas, caps and socks
• team play items like pickleball drawing family use
• food a...

Special Guest: Ciara Brennan (Sustainability Manager: APPA: Australian Promotional Products Association)

Host: Charles Liu (Owner: Cubic Promote)

Want proof that greener promo isn’t just possible but profitable? We sit down with sustainability manager Ciara Brennan from the Australian Promotional Products Association to unpack how real change happens when suppliers, distributors, and buyers stop deflecting and start collaborating. From translating dense legislation into clear playbooks to unlocking grants and coaching first-time ESG reports, Ciara shows how practical steps add up to meaningful emissions cuts without derailing budgets or timelines.

We dig into where Au...

What if your brand felt collectible, not forgettable? We sat down with Wendy Lee and Christina to unpack why small, personality-packed items—plush keyrings, blind boxes, stickerable mini gadgets—can beat traditional ads on both attention and long-term visibility. Instead of asking people to watch, we give them something to wear, clip, and show off, turning backpacks and laptops into living billboards.

Christina explains the Gen Z formula: cute characters, pop colors, and customization that invites self-expression. We dig into the surge in custom plush and why off-the-shelf merch underperforms next to bespoke designs that carry cultural mean...

 A few words can tilt a purchase, stir a memory, or ignite a movement—and we wanted to know why. We dive into the craft of one-liners: the ad jingles that refuse to leave your head, the taglines that steer split-second decisions, and the cultural phrases that carry real emotional weight. With Jasmine, our financial controller, we trade favorite lines, test each other with a rapid-fire slogan game, and dissect what makes certain messages stick while others fall flat.

We explore how melody supercharges recall, why “Because you’re worth it” can sway a cosmetics choice, and how rhyth...

The path to authentic leadership requires balancing ambition with legacy-building—something Dr. Amy Lee has mastered throughout her remarkable career journey. From her early days as an accountant to becoming a CFO, and now transitioning into academia and creative writing, Amy shares how accountability and integrity have remained her North Star.

"I think I'm in my sunset career now," Amy reflects, explaining her shift toward teaching and publishing poetry after 30 years in finance leadership. This thoughtful pivot reveals a profound understanding that true success extends beyond climbing corporate ladders to building meaningful legacies. Her self-published work, "Amy's Jo...

Ever wondered how to launch a brand with zero budget? Or why your marketing efforts aren't yielding results as quickly as expected? Creative director and graphic design expert Jacqueline pulls back the curtain on these marketing mysteries and more.

Jacqueline's journey into the creative world began at age 14 with a passion for drawing that blossomed into a comprehensive education in communication design. Today, she leverages her expertise in photography, videography, graphic design, and color theory to help businesses create marketing that resonates. Her refreshing take on modern marketing challenges the "instant results" mindset plaguing many businesses—revealing th...

Raymond Seeto's career reads like a journey through the major technological and economic transformations of our time. From introducing direct selling in China immediately after Tiananmen Square to teaching factory workers how to use their first computers, Raymond has consistently positioned himself at the intersection of innovation and human connection.

Our conversation takes us from his early days with Avon and Danone in late-1980s China to his work with cutting-edge medical devices that treated brain tumors using radiofrequency technology. Raymond draws fascinating parallels between the PC revolution he witnessed firsthand and today's AI transformation – both representing no...

We explore the critical elements of exceptional digital customer experiences with Aira, Lead Infrastructure Site Manager at Cubic Remote. Uncovering what makes brands like Uber and Etsy stand out in creating seamless, personalized user journeys through strategic data collection and AI implementation.

• Uber and Grab's successful digital experiences through personalized offers, service options, and cross-channel integration
• Etsy's website success factors: lightning-fast loading speeds and AI-powered relevant product recommendations
• Creating emotional connections through digital channels based on platform context and customer needs
• The power of including genuine human faces throughout websites to establish immediate connection
• We...

Rick from Babylon Securities shares how he's transforming the physical security industry through professionalism, transparency and a community-focused approach. We explore how a medical science graduate created a thriving security business that competes with established players by setting higher standards.

• Babylon Securities differentiates itself through transparency and professionalism in an industry that has historically been "murky"
• The company's origin story began with Rick's frustration with his previous boss, despite having no security background
• Physical penetration testing reveals alarming vulnerabilities in building security – "a high-vis vest and clipboard can get you anywhere"
• Real-world example of a thief st...

Mary Aguirre shares her insights on building meaningful client relationships through empathy, deep listening, and authentic interactions. We explore how understanding clients' deeper needs creates strong connections that transform hesitant prospects into loyal customers.

• Working with meaningful projects including charities and women's safety organizations
• Building quick relationships through empathy, timing, and asking the right questions
• Creating charm through energy, authenticity, and adapting to clients' emotional states
• The importance of listening without mentally preparing your next response
• Handling strange requests like potato-shaped stress balls with creativity
• Approaching skeptical clients with curiosity rather than pressure

Wendy Lee shares her journey from junior account manager to general manager and co-owner of Cubic Promote, revealing what it's really like to run a promotional products company in Sydney Australia.

• Wendy's approach to daily operations: 30% customers, 30% website management, 30% staff support, and 10% for unexpected challenges
• Company philosophy that "staff are the wheels" that must move in the same direction for maximum efficiency 
• Behind-the-scenes process for handling large orders including extended production hours and multiple staff rosters
• Story of delivering beach umbrellas to Bondi Beach within 24 hours using a tow truck company when standard couriers refused

This is a conversation about Intellectual Property. It is neither specific nor general legal advice. Werrdan Khoury, Principal Solicitor at Daniel Jude Lawyers, breaks down the fundamentals of intellectual property protection and explains why your brand's uniqueness is worth protecting through proper trademark registration.

• Trademarks protect three fundamental rights: your unique expression, your property, and your consumers' right not to be misled
• A brand is comparable to a face in a crowd – it has distinctive features that make it uniquely identifiable
• Registered trademarks (®) provide the strongest protection and are governed by international systems
• Unregistered trademarks...

We talk with Edward, a 14-year-old from Sydney, to get authentic insights into what makes brands appealing to young Australian consumers and how promotional products influence their perceptions of companies.

• Nike, Adidas, McDonald's, IKEA, and Sony stand out to young Australians because of their distinctive logos and youth-targeted marketing
• For promotional items, the brand logo often matters more than the product itself to young consumers
• Official licensing and authenticity are important factors when evaluating branded merchandise
• Social media is the primary channel for brand discovery, but young people typically need active promotion from influencers to take...

Ever wondered how some brands capture massive attention without spending a fortune? In this episode of the Promo Playbook, host Charles welcomes guest Anil, a veteran entrepreneur from the early dot-com days who brings rich experience from multiple successful technology ventures.

The conversation unveils brilliantly simple yet effective marketing tactics that challenge conventional thinking. Anil reveals how one Australian telco achieved years of free television exposure by positioning a costumed mascot strategically in front of broadcast cameras at auctions – gaining priceless visibility without spending a dollar on advertising. Meanwhile, Charles shares IKEA's ingenious campaign that recreated iconic li...

We Talk Merch & Marketing – Featuring Nathan from Realtime Results

In this episode, we chat with Nathan from Realtime Results to uncover how physical/branded merchandise continues to play a powerful role in today’s marketing strategies. From boosting engagement at events to leaving a lasting impression with clients, we explore what’s working right now in the world of promotional marketing across Australia.

As Australia’s go-to supplier for custom promotional items, Cubic Promote supports over 4,000 organisations each year with creative, on-time solutions—from branded pens and apparel to eco-friendly giveaways and high-impact event merch.

Wheth...

Today we chat on the crazy world of Ultra Luxury Custom Merchandise. Explore the world of luxury custom merchandise and how it can transform your brand. In this episode, we dive deep into the art of creating high-end, bespoke promotional items that go beyond the ordinary. From exclusive corporate gifts to premium branded products, we’ll show you how luxury merchandise can be the ultimate marketing tool to elevate your company’s image, increase brand visibility, and impress your top-tier clients.

We discuss real-life examples of luxury merch campaigns, how top brands use exclusive items to create last...

In this episode of the Cubic Promote podcast, we dive deep into the world of concert merchandise and uncover how it’s revolutionising the way businesses and artists connect with their audiences. Hosted by Cubic Promote’s Creative Director, Kathryn, this episode explores the power of branded products and how they are used to not only create lasting memories for concertgoers but also drive significant revenue for artists, event organisers, and businesses.

Kathryn shares her firsthand experiences with concert merchandise, from classic t-shirts and hoodies to interactive and premium items that fans can take home. We also disc...

Ever wondered why a Steph Curry Golden State Warriors jersey costs $180 in Australia? In this video, we break down the hidden costs behind fan merchandise, from manufacturing to licensing and retail markups. Get the inside scoop on what makes these jerseys so expensive and why fans are willing to pay the price! We have the answers because we are Australia's leading wholesale supplier of custom merchandise, and custom jerseys to 1st Tier Sports clubs around the country. Read the blog here: https://www.cubicpromote.com.au/blog/why-steph-currys-golden-state-custom-printed-jersey-costs-180-in-australia

 Follow Cubic Promote:
🌐 Website: https://www.cubicpromote.com...

What happens when there are no rules? In this episode of the Promo Playbook, the Cubic Promote team goes wild and imagines the most unforgettable, outlandish promotional products ever — from Jets to Hoverboards. If you’ve ever wondered how far you could push creative branding, this episode is for you. Tune in as we brainstorm the craziest ideas, break down what could actually work, and challenge YOU to dream up your own merch ideas! Get ready to think outside the box and spark your imagination for your next big brand activation.

Episode features:
Host: Charles Liu (Owne...

In this episode of The Promo Playbook by Cubic Promote, we unpack how Australian brands are winning by combining digital campaigns, promotional merchandise, print, and outdoor media into one unified strategy. With digital fatigue on the rise and attention spans shrinking, it’s no longer enough to rely on clicks alone.

Join us as we dive into fresh APPA stats, insights on ad spend across Australia, and real-world tactics for creating marketing that actually sticks. Whether you're managing a national campaign or planning your next trade show push, this 13-minute listen will show you how to make ev...

Is your small, medium or large business spending money on making itself memorable? Well considering that 60% of customers remember companies that ar sustainable, marketing and appealing to this 60% has never been easier. This week, we look into what makes a product eco-friendly.

Difference between: Biodegradable and compostability

As well as various strategies you can use to promote your organisation using promotional merchandise that is sustainable.

 Follow Cubic Promote:
🌐 Website: https://www.cubicpromote.com.au
🔗 LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/cubic-promote
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cubicpromote/
👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook...

In this episode of The Promo Playbook, we explore the powerful intersection of branding, fundraising, and purpose-driven marketing—all through the lens of custom promotional merchandise.

Are you just giving away promo items, or could you be using them to sell, raise funds, or even build a movement?

Join host Charles Liu from Cubic Promote as he unpacks how smart businesses, local councils, and nonprofits across Australia are turning branded apparel and merchandise into much more than just freebies. From selling T-shirts to...