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Monday
April 2, 2012 Golden State OpportunitiesFiled under: ASI Shows, News About ASI The three-day ASI Show in San Diego is off to a great start, with a full day of education followed by a full slate of exhibitions, activities and all-important networking. We’re expecting great weather and wicked surf out here in southern California. If you’re joining us this week, please make sure to say hello. Tuesday, we’ll host our first Executive Power Program over lunch with a business presentation by branding and leadership expert Warren Greshes. That night, we’ll head to the Gas Lamp Quarter for a party at Belo nightclub. We have so many members on the West Coast, and it’s great to get a chance to relax and reconnect in between business deals. Wednesday morning, actor and Parkinson’s activist Michael J. Fox is sure to thrill the crowd with positive messages and his trademark humor. This will be Michael’s second ASI keynote, and I know everyone is looking forward to his frank and funny take on life. As always, keep checking in on ASI Central for coverage of all the action, including videos, interviews and hot product offerings. And if you haven’t already, register today for the next ASI Show in New York (May 8-10) and ASI Chicago (July 17-19) at www.asishow.com. To learn more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, contact Karen DiTomasso, vice president of sales, at kditomasso@asicentral.com. If you’re here in California, please let me know what you’re looking forward to the most by posting a comment or e-mailing me.
Thursday
March 22, 2012 Vote for Promo ProductsFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, Using Ad Specialties There’s no end to the creativity – and money – to be found in ele Some election products, like dog T-shirts, iPhone cases, basketball jerseys, can koozies, cufflinks, martini glasses, jewelry and tote bags, are for sale, while more standard fare like bumper stickers, buttons, signs and T-shirts will be given away free to promote the president. Click here to read a story on Obama products and what promises to be a hot topic in our industry from now through November – and especially after the Republicans finally choose their nominee. ASI’s executive director of research, Larry Basinait, estimates $350 million will be spent on federal election-related promo products alone in 2012. That’s big business by any measure. In case you want to stock up, Obama’s official online campaign store is advertising “merchandise madness” and “daily deals” on items like “I Shamrock Obama” T-shirts and “I Bark for Barack” Bo car magnets. Featured items in the official GOP store include “I Really Miss Reagan” buttons and the GOP apron and spatula set. How many election-related products have you seen so far this year on trade show floors? How many of you are already selling election-related goods? Let me know by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. I’ll let you know what I spot on the show floors at ASI San Diego, taking place April 2, 3 and 4, followed by ASI New York, May 8-10, and ASI Chicago July 17-19. Click here for more info and to register.
Thursday
March 1, 2012 A Master Class In Common SenseFiled under: ASI Shows, News About ASI I admire anyone with the guts to take a stand on unpopular issues – whether I agree with those positions or not. So it was refreshing to hear former Mayor Richard Daley discuss hot-button topics like gun control, education and competing with China in his recent interview with ASI Radio. After the Ohio school shooting, Daley said frankly: “There are just too many guns in America.” During his interview with ASI Radio, Daley said we’re becoming numb to violence: “I know it’s very controversial and people want to stay away from it, but we are arming America … It’s just another headline, and people don’t realize what it does to families and to the children in these schools.” The interview advances Daley’s July 19 keynote at the ASI trade show in Chicago titled “City CEO: Rising to Challenges and Change.” Click here to listen to the interview in its entirety, and click here to register for the keynote and the meet and greet with Chicago’s longest-running mayor. In his keynote, Daley will share turnaround stories and discuss changes that affect businesses at all levels. He’ll also offer a hands-on lesson in leadership, crisis management and preparing for future business challenges in any economy. Daley, who served Chicago for 22 years, is credited with revamping the city’s public school system and overhauling public housing. Since leaving City Hall in May, Daley joined a law firm and became a distinguished senior fellow at the University of Chicago. In the interview, Daley made a great point about the state of U.S. manufacturing: There isn’t one college or business school in America that teaches manufacturing. Wisely, he suggests that what business leaders learn in plants, steel mills, factories and the like can easily be applied to government. Daley thinks the best way to battle bureaucracy in either business or government is to appoint project managers to get things done. “You really have to be a problem-solver,” Daley said. “Bring people together and take a holistic approach. Hold people accountable. That’s key.” The best way to accomplish something? Stop studying issues to death, Daley said. “Make a decision and move on.” Anyone who’s ever sat through endless rounds of meetings where nothing seems to get accomplished can relate to that, I’m sure. Let me know what you think of the interview by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
February 3, 2012 A Record-Breaking Show In DallasFiled under: ASI Shows, Members, News About ASI They make everything big in Dallas – hats, steaks, hair and especially trade shows. We just ended our three-day event in Texas and set a new all-time record for distributor companies with 1,556. Dallas had it all – 837 distributors enjoying classes Wednesday, including the industry’s biggest speed networking event, and a keynote Friday by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, who shared humorous comparisons between Twitter’s beginnings and the networking relationships built between industry suppliers and distributors. Stone was as laid-back as a highly-successful tech dude could be. He spoke in a series of stories, about everything from the founding of his mega-successful company to a German film that helped fuel his reach-for-the-stars philosophy. In the end, everyone in the audience was left with inspiring advice they can apply to their own business to boost their success rate. “The only real way to succeed is to just jump off the cliff,” said Stone, pictured with me here at the meet and greet. “You really have to go for it; you can’t hedge.” The three-day show itself drew a ton of raves, including ones from Missy Herring, of South Texas Custom Printing, asi/529109, who called it “tremendous,” and another from Sergio Munoz, of Debco, asi/48885, who said: “ASI Dallas has been just great for us – amazing traffic and a great quality of attendees. Distributors are asking questions and coming prepared with projects they need help with. We’ve been getting great leads, and it’s been a very productive show.” Last night we let loose at our very first gala at the Dallas House of Blues, where they celebrate America’s best musical art form with a giant dose of good ole fun. We’ll definitely be back. If you missed us in Dallas, check out photos and videos on www.asicentral.com. If you were at the show, let me know what you thought by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. And don’t forget to register at www.asishow.com for upcoming ASI Shows in San Diego (April 2-4), New York (May 8-10) and Chicago (July 17-19). To learn more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities for 2012, contact Karen DiTomasso, vice president of sales, at kditomasso@asicentral.com.
Friday
February 3, 2012 Super Bowl Means Super SalesFiled under: ASI Shows, Member Benefits, Using Ad Specialties No matter which team scores the Super Bowl trophy, ASI member companies printing T-shirts, jackets and other sports-related memorabilia will be big winners this weekend. Hundreds of ad specialty companies are sure to work into the wee hours Sunday into Monday to get Super Bowl items to eager sports fans. We spoke to Jay Meyer, president of Blue Dolphin Screen Print & Embroidery (asi/141732) of New Hampshire, which is one of the companies working tons of OT this weekend to keep sports fans happy. If the New England Patriots win in the big game against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI, Blue Dolphin expects to print at least 25,000 shirts overnight in the initial order. “The big sports stores start showing up around 3 a.m. because they want to have the apparel ready in the morning when they open,” Meyer told us. “If it’s really doing well, they’ll reorder, probably another 5,000. Last week after the AFC championship, we printed 7,000 shirts.” Over 40 employees will work on the initial order, starting by the game’s third quarter. Printing starts as soon as the game finishes. And even if the hometown team fails to take home the title, Meyer said Blue Dolphin still expects to print at least 9,000 Giants shirts. We’ll be back from the ASI Show in Dallas – where Twitter co-founder Biz Stone wowed the crowd this morning with business and social media tips – and I can’t wait to see the newest commercials along with Madonna’s half-time performance. And the game of course! Who’s your Super Bowl pick? Let me know by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedInand YouTube.
Wednesday
February 1, 2012 Promo Products Star In DallasFiled under: ASI Shows, Media Coverage, News About ASI We kicked off the ASI show in Dallas in a really big way, with a terrific slate of education – and national news coverage of our industry. Steve Noviello, an Emmy Award-winning consumer reporter for the Fox affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth, reported a series of hot product segments from the Dallas Convention Center that were aired across the country. The segments were seen by viewers in 13 markets, reaching a total potential audience of 610,606 — with a total publicity value for the industry of $27, 642. The reports, which ranged from 1-2 minutes, aired in Dallas, LA, Chicago, Philadelphia, DC, Atlanta, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando, Salem NC, Louisville KY and Gainesville, FL.
Steve discussed the power of promotional products and the strength of the industry itself while showing off some of the newest products we have to offer. He also included some election products, mentioning that the very first promotional products in the U.S. were commemorative buttons dating back to the election of George Washington in 1789 – and how much money the industry is expecting to make off the 2012 election. Click here to view one of the segments, broadcast in Phoenix. KDFW (also known locally as Fox 4) broadcasts more local news per week than any other station in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the most of any television station in Texas. Steve’s team was terrific to work with, joining Counselor senior writer Dave Vagnoni and ASI Show’s executive director of operations, Cheryl Childers, at the Dallas convention center before sunrise to set up the segments that aired continuously across the country. Joe “The Joe Show” Haley worked hard at gathering all the products showcased during the segment and made sure everything arrived safely – and on time – in Dallas. Thursday and Friday are exhibition days in Dallas, and Friday morning we’re in for a special treat with a keynote by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. I hope to see many of you there! Let me know what you think of the news coverage for our industry by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Tuesday
January 31, 2012 Onward To DallasFiled under: ASI Shows, Community, Media Coverage, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties We’re winging our way to the ASI show in Dallas for a three-day event that promises to be as action-packed as the great state of Texas itself. Education day on Wednesday features the “Industry’s Biggest Speed Networking Session”. As always, all sessions are eligible for credits in the ASI Certification Program. In addition to two days of exhibits featuring the industry’s hottest new products, Dallas features a brand-new gala at the Dallas House of Blues and a keynote by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. In addition to offering up some awesome business tips, Stone will let us know how one of the most influential social media outlets in the world opened opportunities in marketing, politics and philanthropy. We’re definitely on a roll, especially considering what a great success we enjoyed in Orlando, with record-breaking education, a SRO keynote and 2,100 people whooping it up at Disney’s Animal Kingdom gala. If you missed us in Orlando, check out some video highlights: Click here to see an interview on the Orlando Fox affiliate with keynoter James Carville, a Democrat who sparred onstage with Republican pundit Bill O’Reilly. Click here for a wrap-up video with highlights from a barn-burner of a show. Click here for best-selling product highlights from our Supplier of the Year, Hub Pen (asi/61966). And click here for a roundup of terrific products for the adventurer set, featuring Counselor Distributor Choice Award winners. Featured products include Tekweld natural insect repellent mister (asi/90807); carabiner bottle opener watch and matching wristwatch from Logomark (asi/67866); Elleven Amped checkpoint-friendly compu-backpack from Leed’s (asi/66887) and the Port Authority Nootka jacket from SanMar (asi/84863). Let me know if you’re joining us in Dallas by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. |
ction-related ad specialties. As of this week, the Obama campaign reported already stocking nearly $800,000 in merchandise and apparel in its Chicago election store. 
