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Friday
May 10, 2013 NYC 2014: New Dates, New DaysFiled under: ASI Shows ASI® ended its recent New York show with an announcement we hope pleases tri-state members as well as the out-of-towners looking for new product ideas and contacts while sampling all the city has to offer. Next year, we’re pushing the dates from midweek to Thursday and Friday, April 3 and 4. Our aim is to make it easier for people to end a long work week with a fun weekend in the city – or to get home knowing they’re heading right into two work-free days. Despite the rain, this year’s event at the Javits Center was everything we hoped, attracting over 2,000 distributors from 10 countries and 275 suppliers showcasing the latest ad specialty products. Since we’re all about making each show as productive and enjoyable as possible, we made a few changes, including moving the show to the brighter, more accessible North Pavilion and cutting back from three to two days, while offering ASI Education throughout the entire show, so members could easily earn more credits toward ASI Certification. I spoke to one new member who said she attended nearly every class and got a lot out of the informed instructors and valuable content. Early feedback shows the Ad Specialty Crash Course: Sell Successfully Now workshop and the Distributor Success Lunch: Use Social Media for Sales Success (both part of the Distributor Success Track sponsored by Fields Mfg., asi/54100) proved especially popular. Your comments are critical. If you like something, please let us know. Equally important, if you think an area needs improvement or could be done differently, your ideas are welcome. Staffers working the booths and meeting with members gathered a ton of positive reactions to ASI New York, including:
I saw a lot of people at Counselor® magazine’s annual Hot Party, which was in a jaw-dropping setting – the nightclub 230 Fifth on 27th Street, in sight of the always-glorious Empire State Building (whose image was captured in a six-foot ice sculpture that doubled as a drink luge, pictured below). In addition to a cool lounge, we could head up to a second rooftop bar, where anyone feeling the chill could snuggle in luxurious red robes supplied by the club. For a complete listing of the 49 Hot List winners we celebrated, click here. And to see photos from the party on ASI’s Facebook page, click here (and if you haven’t already “liked” our Facebook page, please do). The Hot Party was sponsored by AlightPromos (asi/34194), AIA Corporation (asi/109480), Delta Apparel (asi/49172), Castelli North America (asi/44305) and Chulani (asi/45100). If you were at the show, I hope you heard the keynote by Buddy Valastro Jr., aka “The Cake Boss” from TLC’s hit reality show, which is watched by an astonishing billion people worldwide. If you missed it, check out my blog from Thursday, www.asicentral.com or this week’s Promogram® for some of the business tips he shared – or just to read about his fascinating trajectory from small business owner to brandmaster. In addition to the speech, Buddy brought a specially-made cake to share during an afternoon presentation in the Exhibit Hall. The cake went fast, but luckily for the ASI staffers who stayed put in our Trevose office helping other members, we brought back another “Cake Boss” creation for them to sample, too. I think the general consensus was “yum.” While I’m looking forward to kicking back in the garden this weekend, I’m also gearing up for our next show in Chicago (Tues., July 16 through Thurs., July 18) at McCormick Place, which features a keynote by Christopher Gardner, the inspiration behind the award-winning movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” starring Will Smith. And on August 12, ASI hosts a brand-new show in Dallas called Promotions Southwest. The Advantages Roadshow, the industry’s No. 1 traveling roadshow, is in Canada May 14-16 before taking a break until starting again in early August. To learn more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, contact Karen DiTomasso, vice president of sales, at kditomasso@asicentral.com or register today at www.asishow.com.
Thursday
May 9, 2013 You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It, TooFiled under: ASI Shows I lived in Hoboken, N.J., back in the early ’80s and must have passed Carlo’s Bakery a thousand times when headed across the river to my Dow Jones internship in Manhattan. I was finally on my way to achieving the dreams I had as a kid, back home in Indiana – but I still had a long way to go. Back then, a 6-year-old Buddy Valastro Jr. was hanging around that same bakery, absorbing his very first lessons in running a successful family business. We might even have crossed paths on Washington Street, where the original bakery is still based. Earlier today – the final day of the ASI New York Show – Buddy shared some of those lessons during a fascinating keynote. Under Buddy’s guidance, the small family business has blossomed into a household name. “The Cake Boss,” the TLC reality show that helped send Buddy into the stratosphere, is now broadcast in 180 countries – and seen by more than a billion people – all while remaining true to his family heritage. Coming up, more bakeries, more products and an even bigger brand. “It’s a dream come true,” he told a standing room only crowd of entrepreneurs who are just like him. “I own a family business. I can relate. I’m like you guys. I’m on TV, but at the end of the day I’ve got to make my payroll every week.” Buddy started working at the bakery at 11 and, at 17, when his father died of cancer, he was thrust into sudden responsibility for 40 employees, with his entire family looking to him to keep the business afloat. College set aside, his business school became an old-fashioned Italian bakery. “I decided to go outside the box and make cakes that didn’t look like anything else,” said the self-described “sugar artist.” He got his first big break when an editor at “Modern Bride” magazine saw his cakes in the window. For the next three years, Buddy’s cakes appeared in every issue of the magazine. Within 10 years, they’d appeared in over 200 other publications. But like many small business owners, he had his share of disappointments, like being passed over by the Food Network, which turned out to be a lucky break, since TLC soon gave him a shot. “I told my agent, ‘I’m Buddy Valastro, I don’t fail.’ I’m a quick learner and I don’t have all my eggs in one basket.” Building relationships and building his brand was the key, he said. “There’s a lot of celebrity chefs, but no celebrity bakers. I want to stay America’s baker. My show is seen in the Middle East, in Africa, Australia. What’s the connection? At its essence, my show is about family and the whole world can agree about family.” He dished up a lot of advice (along with delicious cake served later at the booth of keynote sponsor Showdown Displays):
“I’m my brand,” he said. “I do things the old-fashioned way. When kids come up to me and hug me, they look at me like I’m Superman – so I’m Superman for them.” In closing, Buddy told us he was honored to be with us, and then ended with a dose of reality we can all relate to: “I’m a businessman. If I’m not making money, why be in business? We’re not a charity.” In the photos, here’s Buddy on stage with ASI vice-chairman Matthew Cohn and here I am with “Howard Stern,” (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it) at the ASI Hot Party Wednesday night.
Wednesday
May 8, 2013 New York, New York: A Heckuva TownFiled under: ASI Shows The buzz on the show floor here in New York is all about the Counselor Hot Party and the cool new features in the latest ESP Web® release. One distributor was so excited by the Daily Deals she let out a whoop when she saw it. Now that’s what I call enthusiasm. Daily Deals let you view up to four deals from today, yesterday and tomorrow all at once, along with a quick view of the product and supplier. The other must-have ESP® feature people are talking about is Search Leading Text, which offers near-instant delivery of the most relevant terms and topics being searched for, along with hot product recommendations. Users are really excited by the search suggestions, which can show product ideas you might not immediately consider. If you’re like me, you love anything that can do your thinking for you. I can’t wait to see what our tech gurus think of next. New York is a destination city, a great place to grow your business and forge new relationships – and a can’t-miss place to have some fun. Tonight, we’re heading to the 230 Fifth nightclub for the Hot Party to celebrate the 49 innovators on the 2013 Counselor® Hot List, which you can check out in advance by clicking here. And Thursday morning, we’re kicking off the final day of the show with a keynote by local entrepreneur Buddy Valastro Jr. Valastro will tell us how he went from an 11-year-old kid working at his family’s Hoboken bakery to “The Cake Boss” millions know today. It’s sure to be a terrific study in brand development. The forecast for Thursday – with temps near 70 and only intermittent showers – is a big improvement on Wednesday’s rain, which meant a slower start than usual to the day. And don’t forget – in a new twist, ASI Education is offering classes on both exhibit days, to help members earn even more credits toward their ASI Certification. The show is happening in the North Pavilion of the Javits Center, a new area of the convention center without those pesky columns, which is really helping traffic flow. If you’re at the show, let me know what you think by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Make sure to check out www.asicentral.com for complete coverage of the show, including blogs and videos.
Tuesday
May 7, 2013 In a New York State of MindFiled under: ASI Shows Everything moves a little faster in New York City. Even when you have no place special to go – you still feel an urgent need to get there. This week, ASI® employees are moving at warp speed, setting up the two-day ASI Show at the Javits Center kicking off Wednesday. In a new twist, ASI Education is offering classes on both days, to help members earn even more credits toward their ASI Certification. You’ve got plenty of options to choose from, whether you’re interested in boosting sales or increasing your social media presence or are a new owner looking for a class geared specifically to your business. The ASI Show® takes place Wednesday and Thursday in the North Pavilion of the Javits Center, a few blocks from Penn Station on the city’s west side, which is packed with plenty of new restaurants and easy access to subways you can take uptown, downtown or to Times Square and beyond. Be sure to stop by the ASI booths while you’re there for the latest product demos — and for answers to any question you might have on ESP, catalogs, mobile, education — you name it and we’ll tell you all about it. Of course, it wouldn’t be Manhattan without a hot party to attend, and ASI is hosting its latest one yet – starting off at 11 p.m. Wednesday at the rooftop nightclub 230 Fifth, featuring an incredible view (see pic at right) of the iconic Empire State Building. If it rains, we’ll move the party inside to the 20th floor lounge, which is just as stunning. At the party we’ll celebrate the 49 innovators on the 2013 Counselor® Hot List, who you can check out in advance by clicking here. A dedicated “foodie,” I’m also really looking forward to our keynote Thursday morning by local entrepreneur Buddy Valastro Jr., known to millions as “The Cake Boss” from TLC’s hit reality show. Valastro began working alongside his father at the family’s business, Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, N.J., at age 11. After his father died, when Buddy was 17, he became the new “Cake Boss,” eventually launching the Italian bakery into the reality TV stratosphere. While I’m interested in what business tips Buddy can offer us during the keynote, I’m also dying to see the cake he’ll present to ASI in the Exhibit Hall at 1:30 Thursday (sponsored by Showdown Displays, asi/87188). Be sure to stop by both events, which are free (napkin included!). If you’re with us in New York, let me know what you’re looking forward to most by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Make sure to check out www.asicentral.com for complete coverage of the show, including blogs and videos. And don’t forget to check out the next ASI Show in Chicago (Tues., July 16 through Thurs., July 18) at McCormick Place, which features a keynote by Christopher Gardner, the inspiration behind the award-winning movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” starring Will Smith. On August 12, we’re hosting a brand new show in Dallas called Promotions Southwest, sure to be the place to prepare for those all-important fourth-quarter sales. The Advantages Roadshow, the industry’s No. 1 traveling roadshow, is in Canada May 14-16 before taking a break until starting again in early August. To learn more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities for 2013, contact Karen DiTomasso, vice president of sales, at kditomasso@asicentral.com or register today at www.asishow.com.
Monday
March 25, 2013 Long Beach Show Strikes GoldFiled under: ASI Shows, News About ASI Our inaugural ASI Show in Long Beach, CA was a true success, from Friday’s full day of education through two very busy exhibit days. Suppliers who wondered how the weekend dates would affect attendance were happily surprised by the turnout, and feedback overall was terrific. Stacy Horton, of Dard Products (asi/48500), dubbed the show “awesome” and said she was so slammed by heavy foot traffic she had to call for help in her booth. “ASI did a great job of getting the right distributors here,” she told us. “I honestly think next year many more suppliers will attend and take larger booth spaces. I have so many requests to follow up on.” Peter Zeiger, of Geiger (asi/202900), brought a team of 15 to the show, which he rightly described as an “event,” thanks to education, a Gala Celebration at Gladstone’s, tons of suppliers and big-name keynote Ben Stein. “Attending an ASI Show,” he said, “allows you to take your game to the next level.” We moved the show from its traditional berth in San Diego about 120 miles north so thousands of greater LA distributors could take advantage of a more affordable, accessible alternative. Distributors and suppliers alike said they loved the spectacular waterfront location and easy access to major highways, three airports and first-class accommodations. New shows can be a risk for everyone. Happily, the show delivered, attracting a solid turnout of industry distributors who aren’t ASI® members but who either joined on-site or who likely will in coming weeks. All told, The ASI Show™ Long Beach, which took place Friday, March 22, through Sunday, March 24, at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, featured 61 education sessions (attended by 400+), over 300 top-flight suppliers and 11 team-building distributor sales meetings. Our keynoter, Ben Stein (pictured with me, backstage), really packed the house. We had so many people we had to bring in extra chairs. If you only knew Stein through his turn as the stone-faced teacher in the “Ferris Bueller” movie, you were in for a treat. Funny, frank and informative, Stein shared his unique take on small-business success. Click here for an ASI TV interview with Stein, taped after his keynote, and click here for a previously recorded ASI Radio interview. Laura Hook, of EmbroidMe of Cypress (asi/384575), told us Stein made her laugh and cry. “What more could you ask for?” she said. “His point on not taking things for granted was a good one and an impactful one. We cannot sit around and whine about what’s not happening because we are the ones who need to get up and make things happen.” What a great takeaway! Although it was tough to leave 70-degree weather behind to return to a spring snowstorm back East, I’m happy to be home – and eager to hear what you thought of the new show. Please let me know by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Important note about Long Beach 2014: it’ll take place during the week, Tuesday, March 25 through Thursday, March 27. And don’t forget: Other upcoming 2013 ASI Shows are New York (May 8-9) and Chicago (July 16-18). To learn more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, contact Karen DiTomasso, our sales VP, at kditomasso@asicentral.com.
Thursday
March 21, 2013 ASI Launches New Long Beach ShowFiled under: ASI Shows, News About ASI ASI® will be on the West Coast this week for our inaugural show in Long Beach, a spectacular waterfront city whose motto is “where the action begins and the fun never ends.” Located less than 20 miles from Los Angeles, Long Beach provides distributor and supplier members from the West Coast and greater LA areas an affordable location along with easy access to major highways, airports and first-class accommodations. The ASI Show™ takes place Friday through Sunday at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. We’re expecting over 300 top-flight suppliers, 11 team-building distributor sales meetings, a value-added Education Day featuring 61 business-building sessions – and lots of action on the show floor Saturday and Sunday. Our keynote speaker on Sunday morning is the very smart, very funny economic commentator and “Ferris Bueller” star Ben Stein, who promises to tell us all “How to Ruin Your Life – and How to Make it Great.” If you only know Stein from his famously funny turn as the stone-faced teacher from the 1986 John Hughes movie (“Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?”), you might be amazed by his largely conservative insight into some pretty serious economic issues. Along those lines, I’m looking forward to talking to our West Coast members about the California economy, which after five long, hard years appears to be finally turning a corner. According to the local papers, there’s solid evidence of job growth, economic stability, a resurgent housing market and rising spirits in a state that was among the worst hit by the recession. It would seem that in a state that’s struggling to find its economic footing, promotional products’ high ROI and relative low cost would be the perfect angle to pitch on any sales call. If you’re at the show, don’t forget to stop by the ASI booths for a demo of our increasingly popular and highly-rated ESP Mobile™ apps for iPhone, iPad and Android, which have topped 10,000 downloads since launch. We know the apps are popular because ESP Mobile for iPhone users, for instance, have awarded that app 4.5 stars. As further evidence of user engagement, product searches in ESP Mobile nearly doubled in the last three months alone. Click here for an overview of cool app features, including speak to search and virtual samples. And don’t forget: Other upcoming 2013 ASI Shows are New York (May 8-9) and Chicago (July 16-18). To learn more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, contact Karen DiTomasso, our sales VP, at kditomasso@asicentral.com. And for complete coverage of the Long Beach show, including blogs and videos, check http://www.asicentral.com/. Finally, if you’re with us in Long Beach, please let me know what you think of the new location by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
February 8, 2013 Dallas Show Ends on High-Energy NoteFiled under: ASI Shows, Members, News About ASI The Dallas show that closed Friday attracted over 500 top suppliers and 16 team-building distributor sales meetings, including Counselor® Top 40 distributor American Solutions for Business’ winter conference. All of us at the show got incredible feedback, which is always great to hear. It’s clear a ton of deals took place on the show floor and during numerous networking opportunities. Here’s a small sampling of reactions: Barry Lipsett, CEO of Charles River Apparel (asi/44620): “We did so well we are going to double the size of our booth next year!” Larry Zavadil, CEO of American Solutions for Business (asi/120075): “ASI Education has been great, and we found tons of ideas on the show floor. Every vendor we’ve come across has a unique solution to offer.” Gabe McGraw, from Gold Bond (asi/57653): “Distributors are coming in with a list, which makes it easy because that translates into orders and everybody benefits. We’ve been so happy with ASI Dallas – in fact, with all of The ASI Shows – because they’re really big producers for us.” The show was such a hit it even attracted the local news. Fox featured ASI Dallas on its Wednesday broadcast, showing off many of the hottest products at the show (despite the unfortunate use of the word “swag”). On Friday, we kicked off the final day with a wonderful keynote by three-time Super Bowl champion and 2006 “Dancing with the Stars” winner Emmitt Smith, who advised a packed house on successful small business strategies (see pic). He was such a nice guy he even posted a photo of the two of us on his Facebook page. It’s amazing to me how many of our keynote speakers turn out to be so gracious. Maybe they know how lucky they are – and how lucky we are to have them share their fascinating experiences and secrets of success! As we reported in a special show edition of Counselor® Promogram®, Smith’s main message was: “Be bold with your goals.” “Your attitude determines your altitude,” he told attendees. “You have to believe in yourself and your own abilities to be able to reach new heights. But, the only way to get there is to write those goals down. It’s only a dream until you write it down. That’s when it becomes a real goal.” Counselor Editor Andy Cohen interviewed Smith after his keynote session to get more motivational advice. Click here to watch the video. In addition to a lot of work, we had a ton of big Texas fun at the show, too. As you can see from the picture of our happy bull-rider, the industry came together at a boisterous Gala Celebration on Thursday night at the world-famous Gilley’s, the inspiration for the John Travolta/Debra Winger blockbuster “Urban Cowboy.” I’m always on the lookout for Hoosiers and was thrilled to spot John Burr at the show (pictured in the Indiana tee shirt with me). John’s an account executive with American Solutions for Business. I first met him 6-7 years ago at an ASI show in Philadelphia and he’s now working in Pleasantville, NY. In many ways, that’s the best part of any show: making – and renewing – connections. Fortunately, many of the people who attended the show are from the Southwest, so they didn’t have any trouble getting home. But many of us who planned to head back to the Philadelphia-NJ area are being delayed by the “Nemo” blizzard. I hope everyone Back East stays warm, dry and safe and that everyone traveling gets home OK. Make sure to check www.asicentral.com for notices of any industry companies affected by the storm. And if you were at the show, please post a comment or e-mail me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Finally, don’t forget, on August 12, ASI® returns to Dallas for the inaugural Promotions Southwest expo at the state-of-the-art Irving Convention Center. Click here for more info and to |
