Coolest Digital Nomad You never know where DC Castellano, SAGE’s senior distributor account advisor, might be at any given moment. He doesn’t live anywhere. Or maybe more accurately, he lives everywhere. With no permanent residence, he’s “spent meaningful time” living and working in Belize, Guadalajara, throughout Mexico, Central and South America, Italy, Spain, Greece and eight countries in Africa. This year, Japan, Ireland and the mountains of Columbia, among other locales, will be his home. What has he learned in his travels? Happiness, Castellano reports via email from Mérida, Yucatán. Outside the U.S., he has seen how each sunset is a shared moment, one that can bring happiness and perspective, every single day. That alone keeps him on the road with no end in sight. Coolest Sisters Who Stick Together This one could represent a stand-in for all the sisters working together in branded merch, because there seems to be a disproportionate number who could be described as having built something special in this industry (shout out to the three sisters at Maple Ridge Farms!), but there’s something heartwarming about how Lori, Jodi and Kari Caden came up with their signature product. Lori, the CEO of Caden Concepts, was going through something many mothers go through after giving birth: confidence and body issues. Naturally, it was her sisters who were there for her. Together, the three came up with a solution they thought most moms would gravitate toward: the Belly Bandit, a postpartum belly wrap approved by doctors and aimed at empowerment during a potentially vulnerable time. Coolest Cool Kids Club That Just Got More Serious PPAI Media's #Online18 is not about the lolz anymore. Instead of celebrating follower counts or personal hype inside the industry, the 2026 list – released in March – spotlights industry pros who actually move merch forward by sharing smart insights, elevating the conversation and cheering on others along the way. It’s no longer ranked, there are no company callouts, and every honoree is nominated by a past member. Translation: less competition, more community and a lot more substance behind the spotlight. Coolest Voice In The Choir What’s cool about the concept of “coolness” is how it evolves. Kate Nash, director of business development, promo sales at Raining Rose, PPAI 100’s No. 48 supplier, would have called herself a “choir nerd” back when she was a kid. Of course, discovering and sharing your voice with the world is a beautiful thing, but what’s really cool is sticking with a passion through college and into adulthood. After participating in competitive groups at every level of education, Nash now sings in church with a volunteer chorus that performs a few times a year with the professional orchestra in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She loves to develop a tough score, from learning the notes to nurturing them into art. But most of all, it’s a team sport, and “there’s no cooler way to hear music than right in the middle, immersed with the performers,” Nash says. The 2026 #Online18 list – released in March – spotlights industry pros who actually move merch forward PPAI • APRIL 2026 • 41 The Coolest Stuff in Merch | Must Read
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