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Thursday
January 14, 2010 Imprint This!Filed under: Industry Initiatives, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties Every day, hundreds of thousands of harried end-buyers thumb nervously ASI now offers full color imprinting on all catalog publications. This allows distributors to create a strong brand in the marketplace by carrying over the same logo they have on their website and placing it on their catalog covers too. It builds brand awareness and gives distributors a more professional image when they mail or hand their catalogs to clients. Research says catalogs work. According to a recent ASI study of end-buyers, paper catalogs drive 93% of purchasing decisions. Further, the study shows that 91% of the time recipients take action as a result of something they noticed in a paper catalog, with nearly half (49%) purchasing a product. The full results of the exclusive study from ASI are available by clicking here. Adding your full color logo on ASI catalogs is free of charge, with no additional fees. To order online, click here. For more information, contact me, executive director of distributor services, at dbrown@asicentral.com or at 800-546-1350. — Dan Brown
Thursday
January 7, 2010 ASI Names Members of Advisory BoardsFiled under: Community, Industry Initiatives, Members, News About ASI A new era of industry leadership is upon us, thanks to the men and women who stepped-up and accepted a position on ASI’s latest advisory boards. I applaud all of you! Click here for the complete list of all new members. Hundreds of ASI member companies did their part by voting during the online balloting period to help choose leaders of the boards. Here is a sampling of the new members: The ASI Advisory Board —
Marketing, Public Relations & Industry Research Advisory Board —
The Safety & Legislative Advisory Board —
Technology & Operations Advisory Board —
The effort doesn’t stop here. I encourage everyone to share their thoughts and ideas with ASI, and especially with these new board members, as we move forward into a new year and confront and conquer fresh challenges. Tell me what you would do to improve the industry by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Tuesday
January 5, 2010 Hot Orlando Product Videos and Interview With General PowellFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI The last day of ASI Show Orlando is upon us and by all accounts education day (more than 60 learning opportunities!) and networking have been above par. This morning, a packed house greeted General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), the former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State. Show-goers hung on the general’s every word during his keynote, “Leadership: Inspiration for Extraordinary Times.” A standing-room-only crowd of more than 900 distributors, suppliers and decorators cheered as the Bronx-born four-star general told stories of overcoming challenges to lead organizations of all sizes – from a few dozen people to millions – through stressful times that required change, development of new solutions to problems and seeing beyond today. He cautioned the audience to avoid looking back in rearview mirrors, advising that looking forward is the only way to succeed. Giving your “followers” – whether they’re colleagues, family members or customers – superior tools, products and support is the way to win in a difficult economic climate. To watch Counselor editor Andy Cohen’s interview with Gen. Powell, click here. And last night, we also enjoyed a really fun fashion show – ASI’s third march down the runway. For photos, click here. In addition, I’d like to share four “Tim’s Takes” videos, shot right after my “Hot Seat” interview with Mark Godsey, president of Gold Bond and this year’s just-named Supplier of the Year. Mark gave us the inside track on what his company is doing to thrive, his 2010 outlook, and Gold Bond’s focus on customers – the true VIPs. Straight from the Advantages New Product Showcase, hot products highlighted in the videos include: Pocket-sized hand sanitizer from Custom HBC (asi/47935), which won in the Health & Beauty Category at the Counselor Distributor Choice Awards. This handy item is huge seller right now in the flu season. A two-in-one pocket calculator and business card holder from Bullet (asi/42424), a Distributor Choice Awards finalist. I just love combo products and this is really innovative – and practical. The nitro tumbler from Gold Bond (asi/57653), which keeps ice up to 15 hours without melting. I tried it this week and it really does work. Tell me what you think is this year’s hottest product by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
January 4, 2010 ASI Provides Savings with UPS Ocean FreightFiled under: Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits, News About ASI Good deals are wonderful. Great deals are even better, which is what supplier members now get when they ship ocean freight with UPS. This latest ASI benefit can add up to annual savings between $3,000-$10,000. The UPS Ocean Freight program provides suppliers with a full array of global freight and transportation solutions for almost any size shipment, including less-than-container loads, full-container loads, special equipment, and oversized cargo. We specifically chose UPS because it’s a world-class supply chain and transportation leader, with over 100 years of proven service, which is exactly what companies need to help them maneuver today’s complex shipping regulations. For complete details, click here to read the press release. And if you’re at ASI Show Orlando, look out for UPS representatives, who will be on site through Tuesday to discuss the new benefits. I’d love to know how similar benefits have saved your company money, so post a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
January 4, 2010 Counselor Distributor Choice Award Winners and “Tim’s Take” VideoFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, Members, News About ASI We’re having a terrific time at the first show of the year in Orlando, despite getting caught in the same cold snap hitting the rest of the nation. Last night, we warmed things up by honoring the industry’s best at the 2010 Counselor Distributor Choice Awards and presenting the Supplier of the Year award to Gold Bond (asi/57653). The awards recognize the most-valued ASI suppliers in 50 product categories, as determined by ASI Supplier Performance Ratings and votes cast by over 2,500 distributors (a record for the competition). Nearly 150 finalists were recognized and 51 suppliers were named winners at a really fun ceremony. For the list of winners and finalists, and to view some awesome photos, visit asicentral.com/dcawards. Also take a look at a new video we just posted called “Tim’s Take,” which offers my insight into the industry and the new year, based on an interview I did for ASI TV with Editor-in-Chief Melinda Ligos. As I say in the video, as we greet 2010 and the first trade show of the year – which is shaping up as a success – I’m bullish as ever. Please let me know your outlook for 2010 by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
December 30, 2009 Sneak-Peek Video of ESP Web and ESP OrdersFiled under: Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits, News About ASI For my final blog post of 2009, I’d like to offer my best wishes for a very happy New Year – and share with you a cool video we just posted (final edits to come) with a sneak-peek of the new ESP Web and ESP Orders – click here to watch. In the fall, many of you replied to my email requesting feedback on ESP Online and we took literally hundreds of your comments and incorporated them into the new version of ESP and our all-new ESP Orders product. This revolutionary new ESP Web is available across standard Internet browsers — including Explorer, Firefox and Apple’s Safari — for instant access anytime and anywhere to products, supplier data, orders and customer information. The intelligent search engine allows users to find just the right product for clients, and it uses the same technology on sites like Barnes & Noble and Wal-Mart. ESP Orders is a total order management system available with ESP Web that allows distributors to create sales orders, purchase orders and invoices without rekeying any information. The video covers the highlights, but if you or a colleague want to find out more, and you’re at ASI Orlando, Sunday, January 3, through Tuesday, January 5, attend one of the quick free demos of ESP Web and ESP Orders in the training room at the ASI booth (you can’t miss it!) and in “Power Session” rooms. Please let me know any questions you have (or any reactions) by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Tuesday
December 22, 2009 Vote Now For New Advisory Board MembersFiled under: Community, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI Voting is now open to select members of ASI’s four new ASI advisory boards. To vote, simply click here by Thursday, December 31, and follow the on-screen instructions. Final board members will be announced in January. The four new boards are: * ASI Advisory Board * Technology and Operations Advisory Board * Marketing, Public Relations and Industry Research Advisory Board * Safety and Legislative Advisory Board So make it an early New Year’s resolution to vote today. And let me know what you think of the candidates by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. |
