It was meant to be quiet.
A gentle fade into the background.
A cup of loose leaf tea instead of a trade show.
A well-earned “I’ve done my bit” after 20 years in merchandise and promotional products. David Tysall had officially retired.
Or at least… that was the plan.
After two decades building Response Marketing and helping brands create merchandise people actually wanted (not the kind that lives in the bottom drawer), David stepped back.
Apparently, You Don’t Just Leave the Game
As it turns out, when you’ve spent 20+ years helping brands design and source corporate merchandise, promotional giveaways, and branded products, people remember.
They call.
They recommend.
They bring “just one quick project” that somehow turns into five. And before we knew it, Pink Thinking was born — a second coming if you will.
And as we head into our fourth year of Pink Thinking, stacked on top of those original 20 years as Response Marketing, one thing is clear:
David was never really done.
And it wasn’t ever going to be a quiet comeback, it was a full-blown return to the game, complete with momentum, growth, and a company and clients who really cared about doing merch properly.
A Founder with Range (Yes, He’s Also a Therapist)
If you’re wondering what makes Pink Thinking a little different, it probably starts with David himself.
Alongside being an industry veteran, David is also a practising relational therapist.
Yes. Really.
And while that might sound like an unusual crossover, it turns out it’s the perfect skill set for this industry.
Because great merchandise isn’t just about products — it’s about:
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Understanding people
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Reading between the lines
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Knowing what actually resonates
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Building long-term relationships (with clients and suppliers)
Merch, when done well, is emotional. It connects brands to people in a tangible, human way. And if there’s one thing a relational therapist understands, it’s connection.
Why Pink Thinking Exists (Again)
Pink Thinking exists because:
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Brands are tired of throwaway merch
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People want products they’ll use, keep, and enjoy
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And businesses need partners who get it, not just order-takers
We don’t do merch for merch’s sake.
We do intentional, thoughtful, well-made promotional products that earn their place in the real world.
The kind that gets worn, reused, talked about — not binned.
The “Quiet Comeback” That Wasn’t
So here we are.
Four years into Pink Thinking (almost).
Over 20 years of experience behind us.
A founder who tried to retire… and failed spectacularly.
Plus, a new chapter began in January, with myself, Lauren, joining the business.
Drawn in by a company that does merch differently, values relationships, and believes products should actually mean something.
And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Because when you love what you do, and your customers keep pulling you back in, maybe it’s not a comeback at all.
Maybe it’s just unfinished business.
Author | Lauren Morford
