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Monday
January 24, 2011 ASI’s Grade A Day for EducationFiled under: ASI Shows, Community, Education, Member Benefits, Members, News About ASI We just enjoyed a milestone day in ASI’s education program. Monday, we “pinned” the first graduates of the Advertising Specialty Institute Certification Program and awarded them their certifications in a ceremony at The ASI Show in Orlando. The certifications represent the industry equivalent of a bachelor’s or master’s degree. I was very proud to join ASI Chairman Norman Cohn, Vice-Chairman Matthew Cohn and Corporate Vice President Stephanie Cohn Schaeffer in getting my pin and certificate. To date, 29 industry pros have received either a Master of Advertising Specialty Information (MASI) or Bachelor of Advertising Specialty Information (BASI) certificate. We launched this program to provide members with the skills they need to out-think, out-perform and out-service the competition. And we couldn’t be happier so many members are seizing the opportunity to set themselves apart through quality education. So far, 3,327 industry professionals have registered for classes needed to obtain an ASI certification. In 2010 alone, 4,600 distributors took more than 16,000 live education courses at ASI trade shows, making ASI the largest educator in the $17 billion ad specialty industry. We take education very seriously: Each year, ASI commits $1.3 million to educate its members. The following are now certified: Master of Advertising Specialty Information
And the following ASI employees: Ron Ball, Chris Lovell and Mary Sells. Bachelor of Advertising Specialty Information
And the following ASI employees: Nick DiNicola, Heather DiPrato, Jim Padilla and Pamela Vicik-Smith. The Advertising Specialty Institute Certification Program is the industry’s only free certification program, created on a user-friendly digital platform. All courses are tracked automatically via a digital campus, so participants can easily access their transcripts and remaining course requirements. Register here to get started taking your on-demand courses today. If you’ve taken any education courses toward your certificate, let me know how you’re doing by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
January 24, 2011 Enjoying a Hot Time in OrlandoFiled under: ASI Shows, Community, Members, News About ASI The ASI Show Orlando is off to a dynamic start. Sunday, show-goers took advantage of a bustling Education Day featuring more than 60 sessions, and last night we celebrated the 2011 Counselor Distributor Choice Awards. ASI and Counselor magazine honored Hit Promotional Products as the industry’s most-valued supplier during our premier awards ceremony. In addition, we recognized the most-valued ASI suppliers in 54 product categories, as determined by ASI Supplier Performance Ratings and distributor votes. A record 2,792 distributors across North America cast 79,664 votes in the 2011 competition. More than 250 finalist companies were recognized and 40 suppliers were named winners. As Counselor Editor Andy Cohen puts it, “The winners of our Distributor Choice Awards represent the best of the best suppliers in the ad specialty industry. The winners obviously care about providing the best possible customer service to their distributor customers. They put a premium on the service they offer, and they make it a focal point of everything they do. Distributors honor this level of service by voting for suppliers in this awards program.” After the awards, C.J. Schmidt, Hit’s VP of sales, echoed that sentiment, saying, “It comes from our customers, which means the world to us.” Click here to watch Andy’s interview with C.J. (pictured here) on ASI TV. For the list of winners and finalists, and to view photos from the ceremony, click here. ASI Orlando is being held at the Orange County Convention Center through Tuesday. The industry’s largest event on the East Coast, the show features hundreds of leading suppliers, including 197 new to Orlando. 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. We’ve got lots more coming up – including our Guinness World Record Peppermint Twist-Off contest today at 5 p.m., where we’ll attempt to hold the world’s biggest dance party and set a new world record for doing the twist. Wish us luck!
Thursday
December 30, 2010 Out With the Old, In With the NewFiled under: Community, Members, News About ASI The end of one year and the start of the next is a great opportunity to review your company’s jeers and cheers, set future goals and determine if you want to shake things up or maintain the status quo. This year, for the first time ever, I sent out a “Letter from the CEO” to tens of thousands of members and prospects recapping the top 10 things ASI accomplished in 2010. We also published the letter in our magazines. In response, I received a flood of emails. The compliments made me proud. The detractors made me doubly determined to do an even better job for our customers – rightly described by one publication as, “an unpaid army of advocates.” In today’s Twitterific world, online customer opinions are as potent as New Year’s Eve punch. And if you didn’t learn that lesson in 2010, make it your No. 1 resolution for 2011. Social networking is so hot, people are trading texts instead of kisses as the ball drops at midnight nowadays. Talk about new age. All in all, 2010 was a good year for the promotional products industry. During the downturn, our industry lost thousands of sales reps – and about $4 billion. But we’ve definitely turned a corner. Through the first nine months of 2010, the ad specialty industry expanded by 8.2%. Full speed ahead! We’ve got a terrific year ahead of us, which starts next month at our big show in Orlando January 23-25. Michael J. Fox is our keynoter, and we’re also counting on participants to help us break a Guinness World Record for most people to dance the Twist with a Peppermint Twist-Off featuring chart-topper Joey Dee. How’s that for a fun start to the 2011 selling season? After that, it’s smooth sailing all the way to Dallas Feb. 16-18, New York March 22-24, San Diego May 18-20 and Chicago July 19-21. No matter how you celebrate the New Year – whether it’s with champagne, spiked prune juice or a good book by the fire – I hope it’s a happy one for you and yours. Let me know what you have in store for 2011 by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
December 22, 2010 We Woof You a Happy HolidayFiled under: Community, Research, Using Ad Specialties Dogs that Tweet. Now I really have seen everything. While searching for unique promo pet products we came across a device from Hammacher Schlemmer that lets Hairy Potter share his “thoughts” with Twitter followers. Somehow, a tag figures out what a dog wants to say and shoots off one of 500 pre-loaded Tweets. Which begs the question: What do dogs think? I’m guessing “bacon!” and “squirrel!” are high on the list. If pet Tweets are a tad too high-tech for you, we’ve got nine other gifts on our list that could easily jazz up a pet store opening, dog show or other pet-themed promotional event. Turns out, the pet industry is relatively recession-proof. People may scrimp when it comes to spending money on themselves, but when it comes to Sir Winklebottom, the sky’s the limit. A recent American Express poll reveals 31% of consumers plan to buy their animal a gift this holiday season. Need some ideas? Check out our list of the top 10 coolest pet gifts of 2010:
To see a “Joe Show” demonstration of many of these products, click here. To read our press release, click here. Are you buying your pet dog, cat or rock a gift this year? Let me know by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Tuesday
December 21, 2010 A Gift of Great ArtFiled under: Community, News About ASI I love this time of year,
There’s nothing I love more than touting the work of artists like Jim Campbell and Joshua Kirsch. So I was delighted when editors at Bucks Life magazine asked to feature some of the art and hand-crafted furniture I have in my home in their December holiday issue. The accompanying story talks about the way art imprinted my life as far back as grade school and shows off some pieces built by Hunterdon County, N.J.-based craftsman Tom Schlack. Click here and here to read the story and see the photos, which include a piece by Joshua in my living room. December turned out to be a showcase month for me. Recently, The Palm Restaurant in Orlando, FL, where we host one of our annual trade shows, honored me by including a caricature of my likeness on its wall. The Palm is known for posting 200 to 300 local notables’ likenesses alongside caricatures of regulars and celebrities. It’s a huge deal to be included and I’m delighted to be considered a “local” in a city where I have so many great show memories. If you haven’t yet registered for the ASI Orlando show taking place January 23-25, please click here. I hope your December’s been as fun as mine. Let me know how you’re spending your holidays by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
November 8, 2010 New Members Join Advisory BoardsFiled under: Community, Members, News About ASI When we put out a call to the industry for nominations to ASI’s four newest advisory boards, we expected a reasonable response. Turns out, we received a whopping 1,300 votes – perhaps the highest industry-wide response ever to such a query. The boards meet regularly to discuss and debate important issues affecting the marketplace and participants recommend and take action to drive the industry forward. We thank every member – new and existing – for their time, energy and willingness to confront and conquer issues important to all of us. We shared the names this week with industry members attending the fourth annual ASI Power Summit in Aventura, Florida. Now, I’m sharing them with all of you. Congratulations go to: The ASI Advisory Board:
Technology & Operations Advisory Board
Marketing, Public Relations & Industry Research Advisory Board
The Safety & Legislative Advisory Board
The boards join ASI’s existing advisory boards for ASI Show, ASI Education and ASI’s six magazines. All boards meet in-person at least once each year and via quarterly conference calls. As always, I’d love your thoughts so please let me know what issues you think the boards should tackle first by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
November 5, 2010 ASI Called “A Formidable Force”Filed under: Community, Members We recently invited a panel of suppliers and distributors to ASI to talk to employees about ways they use our products and services to run and grow their business. It was illuminating in more ways than one. The businesspeople had a combined 120 years worth of industry experience – so when they talked, we knew to listen. They described their day-to-day activities and very frankly shared what worked for them – and what didn’t. In the end, I think everyone learned a lot. One of my favorite comments came from supplier Brett Hersh, president of Admints & Zagabor (asi/31516), who said he’d recently interviewed a sales candidate who asked how he could possibly market all of the company’s products and services. Hersh’s reply: “There’s a very clear answer: ASI. I’m a big fan.” Distributor Norbert McGettigan Jr., VP of Impact Dimensions (asi/230321), told us having one central clearinghouse makes his job easier. Distributor Glenn Wampole, secretary/treasurer of the Waitz Corporation (asi/354100), credited ASI for its quality people and products and said ESP has made him more productive. He shared a story about getting a call for a rush, 25,000-unit order and being able to get a quote out within three minutes, thanks to ESP. Supplier Joe Hoffman, VP of business development for Jetline (asi/63344), said that he complements a small sales force with ASI’s marketing services, ESP and catalogs. “You guys run a top-flight operation,” he said. When asked to describe a typical day, distributor Larry Altman, a partner in Bluestar Marketing (asi/141977), cited quoting, reaching out to customers and putting out fires, which is often helped by ASI. “You guys are a formidable force and sometimes we take you for granted,” he said. Distributor Anne Manuel told us the biggest issue she faced starting out was getting her name out there. Anne, president of Virgo III Ltd. (asi/352485), compared getting her ASI membership number to a freshman actor finally scoring an Actor’s Equity card. “I know everyone in this room supports our efforts,” she told our employees. “I’m looking forward to more exciting things.” No matter what size or type of business they’re in, the panelists shared similar challenges and goals: getting product to clients on time, cultivating better relationships, managing competition – and dealing amicably with each other. “I call suppliers my partners,” said Larry. “We have nothing to sell without them.” After an hour’s discussion, we opened the floor to questions. When asked for the one thing ASI could change to improve service, one distributor said: “More filtering out of suppliers who sell direct.” Another panelist suggested making the CreditConnect monitoring service more functional. “Evolve ProfitMaker to a more modern platform to improve integration,” was also suggested. Other “magic wand” items included “moving into the cloud” (which means storing and securing more information online instead of on your computer), adding mediator services to resolve disputes between suppliers and distributors, and making loading in PromoShop easier. When asked how to prevent clients from buying direct online, panelists agreed that most customers who try it for cost-saving eventually return for service. While “green” and American-made products continue to sell, until prices come down, they won’t sell more. I’d suggest that any company try inviting clients in for a discussion with employees. It really opened the lines of communication and, in addition to giving us ideas to explore, let us know just what areas need improvement. Has anyone else ever tried this? If so, let me know by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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