There's an art to pairing the right merchandise with the right clients, and Boundless Brand Consultant Hunter Janda has perfected it.
From starting at his family business in Tennessee to growing at Boundless, Hunter has leveraged his strategy and relationship-building skills to achieve great success. This year, Hunter was celebrated as the recipient of Boundless’ lifetime achievement award—the Green Jacket.
In this Sales Spotlight, Hunter lets us in on his journey to high achievement in sales and account management, his approach to client relationships, and what he sees as the future of branded merchandise.
Boundless Brand Consultant Hunter Janda works closely with his clients to bring their brands to life through branded merchandise. With over two decades of experience in the industry, Hunter leverages his love for relationship-building to ensure his clients experience a fulfilling and successful partnership.
The result? Various client projects executed with industry-level expertise, precision, and professionalism.
Hunter started working alongside his father for their family-owned distributorship over summers in high school, tapping into his unique creativity and learning how to provide excellent consultative service. As Hunter says, “When my clients succeed, I succeed." He brought those skills with him when he joined the Boundless team in 2014. A proud graduate from the University of Tennessee, Hunter holds degrees in marketing and finance.
Beyond his professional life, Hunter can be found proudly repping his alma mater, with plenty of orange apparel to back up his claim to fandom. He enjoys watching games with his friends, camping with his wife and daughter, and the occasional game of disc golf (weather permitting).
It’s no fluke that Hunter ended up in branded merchandise.
From a young age, he was exposed to the industry through his father’s company and knew it was something he wanted to pursue professionally. "It was intentional, for sure," he says. After graduating college, he started in sales at his father’s company and continued there for seven years, working with a variety of partners.
What drew Hunter into the industry was the extent of possibilities when it came to sourcing, design, and production. He was naturally drawn to the interesting merchandise that came through the door at his father’s warehouse, from Weber grills with logos to decked-out go-karts for promotional giveaways, and even autographed sports memorabilia. There was always something new to check out.
Even with an early start, it took time for Hunter to learn the ropes and nuances of the industry and to develop his career. He had to build connections from scratch, expanding his own portfolio of clientele over time as his roles evolved.
As 2014 approached, Hunter had to start asking some serious questions. His clients’ needs were outgrowing his capabilities at his father’s company, so he needed to search for a distributor capable of fulfilling their merchandise needs. Not without contemplation, Hunter made the difficult decision to leave his father’s business and join Boundless. The agency-scale of the company, alongside their strategic approach and fulfillment capabilities, made Boundless a promising fit for Hunter.
After moving to Boundless, Hunter’s role began to evolve, showcasing his own strengths as a brand consultant. What started as a sales-focused role expanded to project assistance, team management, and eventually overall account strategy and management. In 2021, he took over the reins of his team and has enjoyed every minute since. His father Rocky even joined Boundless a few years after he did, so they were able to continue the family legacy.
In his work with numerous clients, Hunter has figured out that the key to making his partnerships successful is digging deeper and really getting to know each business he works with. Clients often approach with just a budget, looking for a quote on specific items. But they get far more in return.
Hunter takes the time to gather as much information as possible about the business’s goals for the event or campaign, who they’re trying to reach, and how the merchandise comes into play. From there, he can provide not only the quote, but also personalized suggestions on how to elevate the client’s merchandise campaign or event for maximum effect. That individual touch is what sets his client experience apart.
Branded merchandise often serves a purpose beyond “just in case” stock. Hunter’s role in these partnerships is helping clients find the right product that creates a genuine connection with the end user.
He explains: "Something meaningful that ties everything together"—that’s how clients can see real business impact from their merchandise.
Of course, all the expertise and experience in the world can't prevent occasional roadblocks during projects. Hunter has learned that how he responds to and solves those issues for clients is another important part of keeping client relationships strong. He never forgets the importance of communication and commitment.
"The Green Jacket is by far the highest honor I have received."
With nearly 20 years in the branded merchandise industry, Hunter has seen a lot of change. The number of products available alone has grown exponentially. More options and factories mean a lot more room for Hunter to be creative in finding the perfect items for clients.
Recently, the industry trends toward making more intentional, personalized products. Clients are focusing on quality over quantity in merchandising. Hunter mentions a growing emphasis on sustainability, recognition, and retail-inspired trends, leading to interest in more premium merchandise over classic “swag.”
For newcomers in the industry, Hunter first and foremost recommends finding a mentor. “There’s so much to learn when getting started,” he explains, and no one succeeds alone.
Finding a company with resources to help you grow, like Boundless, goes a long way, too.
The Boundless way, as Hunter describes it, is friends helping each other succeed. He specifically highlights his work with Nicole McNamee, whose team he was part of when they moved to Boundless together in 2014. “Everything I learned about the sales side of the business, I learned from her. Having the right people behind you can make a huge difference."