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Tuesday
July 26, 2011 Vampires, Superheroes … And Ad Specialties?Filed under: Industry Initiatives, Media Coverage, News About ASI, Research, Using Ad Specialties Whether you’re a geek or a Gleek, you probably saw news reports on Comic-Con, a gigantic comics fanfest in San Diego. As CNN reports, promotional products were an undisputed “star” of the 42,000-strong annual convention. Conventioneers collected free T-shirts and tote bags along with branded buttons, sunglasses and other souvenirs promoting popular franchises like True Blood, Twilight and the upcoming movie Captain America. Click here to view the CNN report (wait past the inevitable commercial) and to take a look at numerous examples of imaginative ad specialties in action. Cape and alien mask optional for viewing. On another “good news” front, I recently saw a blurb about a “prop drop” for the popular TV show The Office. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, a real organization in a real city where the fictional TV show takes place, asked local businesses to bring in promotional products touting their companies for possible display on the desks of characters like Dwight, Pam and Jim. They asked for pens, mugs, magnets and the like in triplicate to be sent on to the show, which is about to embark on its eighth season on NBC. So next time you tune in, look closely at desk items to see what ad specialties you can spot. All of this is boffo news for our industry, which Counselor Promogram just reported enjoyed the sixth consecutive quarterly increase in Q2 revenues. Ad specialty industry distributors increased their revenues by 5.9% in Q2, with sales totaling $4.6 billion, rising by $257 million compared to the same period in 2010. This follows a sales gain of 7.6% in Q1. According to the survey conducted by our executive director of research services, Larry Basinait, the majority of surveyed firms are also forecasting continued growth during the rest of 2011. The number of distributors anticipating an increase in sales this year is four times greater than those that expect a decline. That’s a great big “woo-hoo” for all of us, especially on the heels of a very successful gathering in Chicago. Let me know which Office character you resemble and what you think of our latest survey by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
July 22, 2011 It’s a WrapFiled under: ASI Shows, Media Coverage, Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties The heat wave followed us home from the Midwest, but we’re trying to stay cool with a final wrap-up from a very successful show in Chicago. Total distributor attendance was 4,500 – up 9% from last year – from 1,930 distributor firms. The show generated a ton of positive feedback, and I’d like to thank everyone who tweeted about our events and their show floor experiences. NBC in Chicago sent two reporters to the convention center and from the looks of it, they had a great time. Click here to see the story and dozens of pics from the show floor, featuring numerous products along with video demonstrations and an interview with Counselor senior writer Dave Vagnoni. NBC posted everything to its business website Inc.Well, a how-to blog for Chicago business. Speaking of products, click here to check out my latest hot products video, featuring three great items for the fourth-quarter selling season: a gigantic fortune cookie from Good Fortunes (asi/57689), a vinola from Logomark (asi/67866) and a heart-shaped mirror from Hirsch Gifts (asi/61005). And if you missed former NFL coach Mike Ditka (at right), click here for a recap of his keynote. We also enjoyed a terrific reception and “pinning” ceremony in Chicago for recipients of our gold standard education certificates: Bachelor and Masters of Advertising Specialty Information. Click here for a recap and interview with Melinda Ligos, our senior VP of professional development. We now have 7,000 people registered for classes and working toward their certification. Let me know what you learned at the ASI Chicago show by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
May 20, 2011 On the Air with ASIFiled under: ASI Shows, Media Coverage, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties The ASI Show San Diego’s most popular morning show, on KUSI-TV, came to the convention center Thursday and aired several long segments with senior writer Dave Vagnoni demonstrating some of the hottest products the industry has to offer. Click here to watch. Veteran reporter Mike Castellucci’s enthusiasm for our industry was infectious. He told his viewers all about the cost-effectiveness of promo products while showing off cool items like the guitar shirt, scented T-shirts and even pillowcases that smelled like waffles. We couldn’t have paid for better advertising! That wasn’t all. In addition, CBS affiliate KFMB-TV San Diego and Fox 5 News at 10 also aired extensive clips on the San Diego show Thursday. Click here to watch CBS and click here for Fox. We had a great time in San Diego this week and a barrel of laughs with comic Wayne Brady at his show Thursday night. It was like an episode of the hit show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” – but featuring all of us. Click here for my Tim’s Take on highlights of the show. Wednesday, we honored the industry’s best at the Counselor Awards. For a word about our sponsors, click here to watch my Tim’s Take. Click here to see photos of all the action. We’ve got a full day if exhibits today – and then it’s on to Chicago, July 19-21. If you’re at the show, let me know what you liked – or what needs improving. I’m always open to your suggestions. Post a comment or email me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
April 27, 2011 ASI Spreads the NewsFiled under: Industry Initiatives, Media Coverage, News About ASI If you were in Times Square recently, you could have looked up at one of the world’s largest digital signs and seen a 32-foot-tall ad for promo products. The ad featured a planter can with seeds and soil packet that allows users to grow herbs inside. It’s from Points of Light Inc. (asi/78825) and was among 11 eco-friendly items featured in an ASI press release we issued before Earth Day. We then posted the release headline and photo in Times Square. The 11 screens on the Reuters building that make up the “Reuters sign” (pictured, right) where they were displayed occupy more than 7,400 square feet in Times Square, which receives over 1.5 million impressions daily and annual visits by 30 million tourists. As far as advertising real estate goes, Times Square is a pretty prime piece of the pie. The release and the Times Square display are just part of the many efforts ASI makes to publicize our industry. Every month, we issue an average of six press releases, which enjoy potential circulation of 200 million cities across America, as well as Europe, India, Australia and beyond. In the last year alone, ASI and the promo products industry have been featured on TV stations in New York City, Dallas, San Diego, Chicago and Arizona. And some of you might be interested in a story that just came out in Expo magazine on show and event executives in our industry selected for the mag’s very first list of “Expo Elite.” It was an honor for me to be included on the list, but what I found most useful were the stories and strategies from other professionals. Hopefully you’ll discover some ideas for your own organization. If you have any ideas on other ways ASI might spread the news about our industry, post a comment or email me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
February 28, 2011 ASI Makes Some NoiseFiled under: ASI Shows, ASICentral, Media Coverage, Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties In an ongoing effort to increase awareness of the ad specialty industry, ASI has stepped up its public relations initiatives. Those efforts really paid off during our recent show in Dallas, where we scored unprecedented TV coverage. Former first lady Laura Bush – who spoke at the show and during the ASI Women’s Summit – generated a ton of news coverage, including a lengthy feature in The Dallas Morning News and more TV coverage than any other single ASI event to date. Click here to watch segments from Fox, NBC and CBS. Click here to listen to a KRLD radio clip. In addition, ASI and Laura Bush received mention on more than 278 online sites and publications, for a total potential circulation of 41 million. And Promo Man, the new “face” of the industry, piqued the interest of the city’s ABC affiliate, which broadcast from the convention center floor to showcase a number of products. Click here to watch. Featured suppliers in the segments include Clique Here Inc. (asi/4535) and their scented tees, Limb Gear (asi/67554) with iHoodies, Golden Pacific (asi/55549) and the solar powered briefcase, Cruzin Cooler (asi/47747) and their ride on cooler and Think Geek (asi/91123) with electric guitar shirts. In each case the important keywords “advertising specialty” received prominent mention. When’s the last time your company was on TV? Did the mention generate any new business? Let me know by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
February 18, 2011 Lights, Camera, Action from DallasFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, Media Coverage, Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties We’re enjoying a terrific show in Dallas this week and if you’re not there, ASI TV is a great way to keep in touch with all the excitement. First up, a recap of my Town Hall meeting. At each show, I open the floor up to questions so we can discuss the industry’s most pressing issues and look for solutions that serve all of us. In Dallas, we tackled the rising cost of cotton, the best use of video – and more. Click here to join the action. Next, I took a look at innovative pet products, which are virtually recession-proof, according to Counselor magazine. Check out:
Click here for a purr-fect video recap. Finally, if you missed the first segment WFAA-TV broadcast from the show floor Thursday morning, check out their second interview with Promo Man by clicking here. Last night, we celebrated at the Ultimate Texas Bash at Eddie Deen’s ranch. As you can see from the photos posted here, we were definitely livin’ large. For more pics, check out www.asicentral.com. Let me know your favorite part of the Dallas show by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
February 17, 2011 Promo Products Star in DallasFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, Media Coverage, Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties Look! What’s that, up in the sky? A bird? A plane? No, wait, it’s Promo Man! And he’s flying straight to a television set near you. Promo Man – the new superhero of the promotional products industry – had his TV debut Thursday on a morning show broadcast by the ABC affiliate in Dallas. Direct from the ASI Show floor in the Dallas Convention Center, Promo Man showed off some of the hot products being showcased during this week’s Texas trade show. Promo Man’s TV appearance is all part of ASI’s on-going public relations efforts to educate end-buyers on the power of promotional products. To see the clip, click here. Reporter Wyatt Goolsby took his Instant Live 8 camera to the convention center at 4:30 a.m. to get ready for on-site cutaways throughout WFAA-TV’s 5-7 a.m. morning show. Promo Man demonstrated numerous products for the Dallas TV audience, including the ride-on beer cooler from Cruzin Cooler (asi/47747) and solar-powered briefcase from Golden Pacific (asi/55549). All in all, it was great publicity for the industry. WFAA serves the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, one of the top ten media markets in North America. I’ll keep you posted on other Promo Man appearances. For now, keep checking the skyline. If you’re at the show, let me know what you think so far by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. |
