Sanita Alrey DeBose is the proud owner of BrandUworld, a promotional products company that strives to be a one-stop shop for top-tier promotional products and business gifts. She has an intimate knowledge of industry trends, from decorated apparel and gourmet food gifts to eco-conscious products and the latest technologies behind today's promotional products business. 

For over 15 years, I’ve been immersed in the world of advertising and promotional products, helping businesses make lasting impressions. My career journey started with a Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging Engineering from Michigan State University. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of designing, researching, and ensuring the successful manufacturing of innovative product packaging for several Fortune 100 firms, earning a few patents along the way. I’ve spent time in both the private and public sectors, including managing and developing the successful start-up of the Texas State Homeland Security Equipment Grant funding while I lived in Houston. 

At the same time, I've always enjoyed serving my local community, whether through service on various nonprofit boards or other types of volunteering. Though these roles had little to do with my professional background, my journey into sourcing awards, gifts, apparel, and giveaways began in these volunteer positions. My engineering background had taught me materials, processes, and systems development and gave me access to industry experts. I knew how to conduct thorough research, and this combination of skills helped me in developing my promotional products business.

I truly enjoyed seeking, researching, and designing. Over time, I realized that I was quite successful in these endeavors, and people were consistently satisfied with my work. This led me to explore the possibility of transitioning into my own business, leveraging skills and resources I already possessed.

About 15 years ago, I took the plunge and founded BrandUWorld. We were living in Texas at the time. When I moved to Maryland, I decided to continue or, rather, restart the business here. I certified BrandUWorld as a minority-owned business through the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) in Texas and Maryland. BrandUworld is also a proud member of Montgomery County’s Local Small Business Reserve Program.

We are proud to be a woman-owned business that manages global projects for individuals, corporations, government entities, and organizations. I pride myself on being a 1-stop shop for thousands of selections, promotional products, and business gifts. We offer personalized technical design and development support so our clients get high-quality customized products that boost their visibility and create lasting impressions. Understanding the needs of small businesses and start-ups helps us in the small-to-mid-sized market, and we strive to help them find exactly what they need to move forward, even with limited budgets.

The Future of Promotional Products is in Technology

Like many businesses, we are exploring how AI strategies can accelerate our performance. We are delving into new possibilities with the support of professional organizations like the Promotional Products Association International and SAGE, the leading provider of product information marketing and business management solutions. They have all kinds of product information and a database of thousands of vendors. They provide marketing and collaboration and have business management solutions that help member businesses in the promotional products industry.

They recently sent a newsletter that they're getting even deeper into AI and will provide all those resources to us. For example, in the past, if somebody sent me a picture of a product they were interested in but they didn't know where to find it, I would have to type in what I thought they wanted based on their description. But using AI, I can take that picture, go out into the world, find it, and give them the promotional product that matches it. So that's what I'm waiting for now from SAGE when they implement that development.

The Right Clients for BrandUworld

I don't have a target clientele because BrandUworld has already worked across so many industries and business types. Unlike most companies, I can work with almost any kind or size of business—and any budget. Since I've been in Maryland, I have worked with companies from vision care to insurance, pool supplies, dental offices, medical offices, attorneys, several religious denominations, and chiropractic practices. The list goes on. Also, several local county governments have been clients, and we’ve worked with many of the departments within the Montgomery County procurement system. 

Upon relocating, I started out with small and mostly startup businesses and minority businesses, many of which could not afford to purchase large quantities of items as they got their businesses up and running. I don't ever want to get rid of these, because I was one of them. Many of them only need small quantities at a time. So I do whatever it takes to get them what they need to get their businesses up and going and growing, until they can become long term customers. Once they get big, they know they can come back to me for their big-ticket items and larger quantities, because I have a huge database and relationships with global manufacturers.

What BrandUWorld is Looking For in Montgomery County Right Now

Right now, I’m looking to secure administrative assistance. I need an intern or part-time staff member, possibly through WorkSource Montgomery. 

Honestly, the best business resources I’ve experienced in Montgomery County have been my membership in the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) and my relationship with the Montgomery County Black Collective, run by Kim Jones. From the moment I joined MBCC, I was welcomed as a valued resource, and in serving the chamber and many of its members, I’ve gained invaluable knowledge about the local landscape as well as numerous business connections. The educational resources and networking opportunities provided by MBCC have been instrumental in growing my business. I’m honored to serve on the chamber’s Montgomery County Advisory Board, giving back to the community that has supported me so much.

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