Koozie Group launches Kai Link, the branded merchandise industry's first MCP connector. New connector, part of the Koozie Group AI (Kai) platform, lets distributors check order status, quote products, confirm inventory, and more, simply by asking the AI assistant they already use (August 6, 2026 - Clearwater, FL) Koozie Group today announced the beta launch of Kai Link, the first Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector in the branded merchandise industry. Kai Link is the newest addition to Koozie Group(R) AI (Kai), the company's growing suite of AI tools that includes Kai Assistant, launched last year. Kai Link lets distributor customers look up information, including orders, product details, pricing, live inventory, and more, inside AI assistants they are already using, with no software to build and no new system to learn. Distributors currently field a steady stream of routine inquiries that require logging into a portal, clicking through screens, or waiting on a callback. With Kai Link, a distributor can simply type a question into the AI assistant they already use, including Claude, ChatGPT, or Microsoft(R) Copilot, and get a quick, accurate answer drawn from Koozie Group's live systems, whether it's "Where's my customer's order?" or "I need 5,000 red Koozie(R) can coolers for an event on September 1. Are they available immediately?" "Our customers shouldn't have to stop what they're doing, log in to a portal, and click through screens to answer a simple question about an order," said Phil Gergen, CIO of Koozie Group. "With Kai Link, they just ask. Most distributors are already leaning into AI, but few have the time or in-house expertise to build a custom integration into their own systems. We built the industry's first MCP connector so that gap disappears. The way distributors and suppliers work together is about to change fundamentally, and we intend to lead that change." MCP is the open standard, introduced in late 2024 and since adopted across every major AI platform, that makes this kind of connection possible: one common way for an AI assistant to securely reach a company's data and respond with it. Security is built into the connector's design. Kai Link is strictly read-only. It can look up and report information but can never place, edit, or cancel an order, and every request is automatically limited to the customer's own account. Authentication uses OAuth 2.1, the same modern standard used by enterprise software, and customers can rotate or revoke their own credentials at any time. Kai Link launches with seven capabilities spanning orders, products, and inventory: recent order history, orders needing attention, status checks by PO number, complete single-order detail, shipment summaries, full product search with pricing and quantity breaks for quoting, and real-time inventory with inbound replenishment dates. Distributors don't need to learn the underlying tools. They simply ask their question, and the assistant selects the right capability automatically. "Koozie Group has been a valued partner of Custom Ink for years," said Rob Deckert, Director of Product Management at Custom Ink, "and their willingness to keep pushing the technology forward is a big part of why that partnership works. Getting early access to their MCP, and watching the scope of what it exposes grow so quickly, is a great example of the kind of forward-thinking collaboration we value. We're excited to keep exploring what it can do for us." "Distributors win business by being the fastest with an accurate answer. Kai Link puts our catalog, live inventory, and every one of their orders at their fingertips, inside the same tools where they already write emails and build presentations," stated Pierre Montaubin, CEO of Koozie Group. "No new system to learn, no development work required. It's another step in making Koozie Group the easiest supplier in the industry to do business with, turning a fifteen-minute lookup into a fifteen-second question." Availability Koozie Group Kai Link launches today as a beta release. Koozie Group customers can sign up now to request beta access through their Koozie Group web login, with access granted on a rolling basis. To request access, log in at kooziegroup.com, click the My Account drop-down menu, and select Kai Link. The full release will roll out to all Koozie Group customers later this summer. Beta participants receive the Koozie Group Kai Link Partner Guide with complete setup instructions, and their feedback will help shape the full release.

TSC Miami/Monster Digital names Eric Stockl as CEO. Stockl previously served as chief operating officer at Counselor Top 40 distributor Custom Ink. Key Takeaways - TSC Miami has named Eric Stockl as CEO, replacing Steve Cochran, who will remain on the company's board of directors. - Stockl brings extensive operations and e-commerce experience, most recently as chief operating officer of Counselor Top 40 distributor Custom Ink (asi/173232). TSC Miami/Monster Digital has a new CEO. The print and fulfillment provider specializing in on-demand solutions has announced that Eric Stockl will move into the top role, succeeding Steve Cochran. Cochran will remain with the company on its board of directors. Eric Stockl, TSC Miami Stockl has more than two decades of promotional products, apparel and manufacturing experience. Most recently, he served as the chief operating officer at Counselor Top 40 distributor Custom Ink (asi/173232), where he oversaw strategy and operations for Custom Ink's value chain, including supply chain strategy, in-house manufacturing, fulfillment and logistics, vendor network and customer service. He was also instrumental in helping Custom Ink transition into digital printing. Prior to that, he was the COO at branded foot supplier C.H. Guenther & Son, overseeing global operations across 29 facilities and managing six acquisitions. He's also served in vice president roles at Ecolab and Procter & Gamble. "Eric is a highly respected operator with deep experience scaling manufacturing and e-commerce businesses globally," said David Coriell, managing director at Trilantic North America, the private equity firm that owns TSC Miami. "Eric brings direct experience leading a scaled custom apparel and e-commerce platform through operational transformation, making him uniquely well-positioned to lead TSC through its next phase of growth." Stockl, for his part, is excited to build on what TSC Miami has already created. "TSC has a strong foundation built on long-standing customer relationships, a talented team and capabilities that truly stand out in the market," said Stockl. "This is a business where execution, reliability and customer partnership matter deeply, and I believe TSC is well-positioned to continue building on its strong reputation and market leadership. I'm excited to join the organization and capitalize on our strengths to ensure consistent, profitable growth while continuing to invest in operational and technology capabilities to better serve customers and make TSC a more valuable partner." Founded in 2001, TSC Miami has approximately 1,000 employees and operates 550,000 square feet of manufacturing and distribution facilities across Columbus, OH; Juárez, Mexico; and El Paso, TX.

- Leadership Expansion: Counselor Top 40 distributor Custom Ink (asi/173232) has named Phil Auerbach as chief marketing officer, Justin Swietlik as chief financial officer and Kane Posner as senior vice president of strategy - all reporting directly to CEO David Doctorow.