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Tuesday
June 9, 2009 Do you know Word – Really?Filed under: Education, Guest Blog, Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits Now is the time to make sure your company is positioned to take advantage of the Examining and streamlining processes, raising efficiency, and putting in checks and balances, at a time when business is a little slower, is a prudent decision. And, you can be certain that the tools and systems you have in place provide more functionality and can offer more information than you are already using now. I wrote this in Microsoft Word before posting it, but I don’t know all of Word’s other features. I’m constantly using only a small percentage of its capabilities, because I’ve yet to see the value of taking time to learn more. This is true not only for Word, but any software program, including our industry-specific ProfitMaker program for instance (which ASI Computer Systems provides for distributors and suppliers to use for entering orders, tracking inventory and producing business reports). So if you’re a ProfitMaker user, here are recent improvements you might not have used yet that can really help you out: More resources than ever
ESP Online Search
New Activity Manager
Reports
ASI Services directly integrated
Direct Supplier Website Integration
If you’re not a ProfitMaker user, visit www.asicomp.com to learn more about how it can streamline your operations and provide you with more time for selling. Look around your office and think about what programs and resources you already have that can contribute more to your operations, and ultimately, your profitability. – Dave Wirth is president and chief operating officer of ASI Computer Systems. Email him here.
Thursday
May 28, 2009 A Supplier’s Way to Help Distributors – Offer EQPFiled under: Community, Guest Blog, Industry Initiatives Usually I wouldn’t post even slightly commercial guest blogs from ASI members, but I received the following email from a prominent industry supplier and wanted to pass it along. From Tom Between pharma and banking and cut backs from most other companies, we figure distributors could really use some relief. As a supplier, we wanted to help, so we decided to do something we have never done before: offer EQP on everything, with no restrictions or fine print, through August 31. EQP refers to ‘End Quantity Pricing’ – and it is the lowest price a supplier can possibly offer a distributor for an item. It is typically the lowest price offered for high-quantity orders. If our customers have already earned EQP on anther order, then we will provide EQP less 5%. We are trying to give distributors and their sales people ammo to close sales, even if we sacrifice a bit of our own margin. We have urged other suppliers, and even our competitors, to follow our lead. Temporary pain for us may help a few distributors do better.
Monday
May 11, 2009 Cut Costs on Credit Card ProcessingFiled under: Education, Guest Blog, Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits Do you know what you are paying in credit card processing fees for your customer orders? I can tell you most distributors, suppliers and decorators significantly underestimate the rate they are paying associated with accepting credit cards. Your monthly merchant account statement will have a rate posted on the front page. However, hidden additional fees are typically on the back pages. Hidden fees can be confusing and may not even be posted as a percentage. When you add the posted rate and the hidden fees, the effective rate can very easily double and even triple. The ASI Merchant Account Program, provided by Access Group, can help you understand your current costs by providing a FREE, no-obligation savings comparison that will identify your current rate and all of the additional hidden fees. The program typically saves members on average 30%, and can be as much as 50%. Take a minute now to complete the savings comparison form. Also, see how the ASI member program stacks up against other programs and how it provides you with the most value – click here for an analysis. Especially in times like these, I encourage you to take a serious look at this ASI member benefit and see how much you might be able to save automatically on something you’re probably doing everyday in the course of your business. For more member benefits from ASI, click here. – Cathy Martino is affiliate relations manager for ASI. Email her here.
Monday
March 2, 2009 Industry Captain Retiring After 47 YearsFiled under: Guest Blog, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI From Matthew Cohn, vice chairman of ASI Family of Companies: When Judy Moore-Keefe first began working for the Cohn family, the year was 1962 and the company was Santa Claus Industries. Judy started out as a typist for Maurice Cohn (father of ASI chairman Norman Cohn).
From left in photo: Julie Thomas, Dave Wirth, Tim Andrews (president and CEO of ASI), Judy Moore-Keefe, Debra Cohn, and Matthew Cohn (son of ASI chairman Norman Cohn). How times have changed. Fast forward 47 years and there are now more than one billion computers in use worldwide. And Judy is retiring as director of operations at ASI Computer Systems. From now on, every day is Saturday for Judy, who plans to spend more time with family (especially grandkids) and travel more with her husband. ASI Chairman Norman Cohn says of the long-term employee, “Judy has been the hardest working and most consistent force in driving ASI Computer Systems forward. Her tireless efforts and constant attention to detail have proven invaluable to this company as well as to countless organizations and people whom she has worked with over her outstanding career.” Calling Judy an integral part of the team, Dave Wirth, president and COO of ASI Computer Systems, says her leadership and support will be missed. “I wish her the absolute best and hope she can enjoy this next phase of life as much as I have enjoyed my time working with her over the last 30 years,” says Dave. “It is really a tribute to the Cohns and how they went about building good and loyal employees that are willing to work for 47 years for the same company.” At retirement, Judy’s responsibilities included all development, support and training of the ProfitMaker systems. Judy worked most closely with the management team that included Dave and Julie Thomas, director of administration and finance. Together, they brought more than 100 years of experience to the promotional products industry. For over 25 years, ASI Computer Systems has been a leader in providing complete business management software solutions to the promotional products and document management industries. ASI Computer Systems began out of a need for computer software designed specifically for the promotional products industry. Prior to the introduction of the computer division, Maurice and his son, Norman Cohn, had been very active in the specialty advertising industry. At one time their business included five lines that were marketed nationwide. Due to the many years of experience in the specialty industry, the ASI software was born, and included the necessary requirements and specifications essential to the promotional products industry.
Thursday
January 29, 2009 Shrink Your Carbon Footprint with Free UPS ProgramsFiled under: Education, Guest Blog, Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits
As you may know, UPS is an ASI affiliate providing members with up to 45% savings on shipments. There are a few ways UPS is thinking green and you can help by using its Reusable Express Envelopes. These are made of recycled paper and can also be reused. With these envelopes, the recipient of a package can use the same envelope to ship back to the sender or to another recipient. Look for the new Reusable Express Envelope in your Register Box from ASI. UPS has also partnered with Costco to recycle computers and electronic devices. Costco members log-in online to calculate an estimated value on the goods. Members print a UPS shipping label and send it to the Costco partner, GreenSight, for free. Credits can be applied to a future Costco purchase.
– 20,000: The number of low-emission vehicles in the “green” fleet. – 126 million: The number of miles driven by UPS alternative fuel vehicles since 2000. – 84 million: Total sheets of paper saved each year using Delivery Information Acquisition Devices (DIADs), the handheld device UPS uses to scan packages. This saves 7,308 trees a year. – 124 million: The number of sheets of paper that could be eliminated annually if UPS customers converted to Paperless Billing. Read about other UPS green initiatives here. Not enrolled in the UPS discount program from ASI? Visit asicentral.com/ups. – Karyn Coates is Executive Director of Member Benefits. Email her here.
Thursday
January 22, 2009 Preview of Power Summit at La Costa Resort in CAFiled under: Education, Guest Blog, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI
We’re delivering the most informed speakers and the hottest networking activities, including a “speed dating” type event to let you meet as many industry leaders as possible. This is your summit: Tell us what topics you want covered by emailing Rich Fairfield, at rfairfield@asicentral.com, or Melinda Ligos, at mligos@asicentral.com. In addition to the rigorous program, we’re sure you’ll agree ASI picked another great destination. Watch this short video, and check out these photos of the resort.
The 2009 Power Summit is Sunday, November 1 through Tuesday, November 3. You can reserve your seat now at a special price. For more information and to register, click here. From what we’ve seen so far here in California, this is an event you won’t want to miss. So make plans early to join us, as the Summit sold out the last two years at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. – Susanne Curry – Rich Fairfield, Publisher and Senior VP, Counselor, Advantages, Stitches, Successful Promotions, Supplier Global Resource and Wearables Magazines
Monday
December 8, 2008 Media Agrees That Promo Products Work, Now Grow Your SalesFiled under: Education, Guest Blog, Industry Initiatives, Media Coverage, Research, Using Ad Specialties From Scott Fuhr, director of corporate communications at ASI: Results from the effectiveness of advertising specialties study from ASI have appeared in multiple outlets over the last several weeks, and Newsday in New York also published an article about how companies should continue investing in corporate gift-giving. Readers of these stories were likely surprised to learn that:
Below are links to some of the stories. I recommend that you forward them to your clients and prospects so that they understand that their message will reach more people when they use promo products. If you have ideas for stories for the media, or know reporters who enjoy covering the advertising business or promotional products, email me at sfuhr@asicentral.com. Watch TV clips of products from ASI Shows, by clicking here. |
turnaround from this challenging economic period. Every organization can find areas where improvements are possible and needed. 
O’Boyle
When ASI Computer Systems was started in 1978, Judy became the original support person and trainer for the system. Back then — when just a half million computers were in use in the U.S. — Judy was a rarity in a field traditionally dominated by men.
We’re blogging from the site of the upcoming ASI Power Summit at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. We’re here to personally inspect every feature available to you come November. The industry’s premier event will be more interactive than ever, with a detailed agenda packed with proven strategies to ramp up your business in any economic environment.
Network at the two PGA Championship 18-hole golf courses, deepen friendships over a heated game of tennis, or swim out the tension in the pools or jaccuzzis.