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Wednesday
March 18, 2009 ASICentral Enhances Navigation, Education and SearchFiled under: Education, Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits, News About ASI, Research One thing that really makes my day is when I visit a website that’s well-designed, easy to navigate, and provides useful information – which is why I’m delighted to announce ASI’s recent upgrade of ASICentral.com. The new website is all part of our commitment to provide the best industry education for our members and to also help buyers and prospects understand the power of promotional products – especially now.
The user-friendly design and enhanced content enables suppliers and distributors to find the tools to help them grow their business, and provides more interactive videos and educational articles and webinars from the award-winning Counselor magazine and all of ASI’s six publications. Here are some more great enhancements:
There’s lots more. Click here to read the full press release. Let me know your favorite websites by posting a comment on the blog now.
Tuesday
March 3, 2009 Top 5 Reasons to Advertise With Catalogs During a RecessionFiled under: Education, Industry Initiatives, Using Ad Specialties
And yes, catalogs are key, especially during a recession. In fact, research suggests that companies that market themselves more during a recession increase value and sales immediately, and up to three years beyond the end of the recession. Catalogs provide a great way to market yourself, and here are five additional reasons why you should consider using catalogs to gain serious market share right now: Top 5 Reasons to Advertise With Catalogs During a Recession: 5. Wise investment. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that for every dollar a business reduces its advertising by in a downturn, it will need to spend three dollars after the recession to recapture the original market share. 4. Smart. Catalogs are targeted, strategic and niche-driven marketing vehicles that also drive 50%-70% of online sales. 3. Brand yourself. Only ASI invests in graphic designers, a photo studio and consultants to create catalogs that build your professional brand and speak to the latest trends and buying habits of your customers. 2. Proven reach. The average catalog is viewed by three or more prospective customers. Even online auctioneer eBay is shipping catalogs to reach its customers and prospects. 1. Unmatched success. Research from the Direct Marketing Association shows that catalogs are still the largest revenue generator, averaging nearly 50% of all sales in 2007 and 2008. Now’s the time to be smarter with your spending and to increase your advertising with catalogs. – Dan O’Halloran is Senior Vice President of Distributor Services. Email him 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.
Wednesday
February 4, 2009 $1 Million in Data Protection and Texas Trivia at ASI DallasFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits, News About ASI
Did you know the name “Texas” actually comes from an Indian word meaning friends? So, it’s no surprise how much networking there is at the show and especially during today’s 70 free education sessions. Here in longhorn country, everything is big, which makes it the perfect place to announce ASI’s investment of over $1 million to protect industry data – information you rely on every day to run your business. Check out the full details in the press release here. What it comes down to is this: If there’s a natural disaster or other emergency, ASI has acted to help ensure that our products — including ESP Online and over 10,000 LogoMall Websites — will be operating. We’re providing the most up-time to give you more time for selling, especially in this challenging economic environment.
The remote location depends on a different portion of the nation’s power grid and source, and is located alongside backup systems for Fortune 500 companies and some of the world’s largest financial services firms. Even if a regional power grid crashes, we can respond quickly by activating this facility. How’s that for peace of mind? Read the full press release here. If you have any other Texas-sized ideas, I’d love to hear them. Post a comment on the blog now or email me anytime at tim.andrews@asicentral.com.
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
Tuesday
January 13, 2009 Enhancing LogoMall with More CustomizationFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties One resolution I haven’t had any trouble keeping is helping industry companies become stronger and more streamlined throughout 2009 and ASI is delivering.
The new ASIsecure design manager now provides distributors and suppliers with a time-saving way to update their site’s design and content, including featured products, and to pick up client order requests and traffic reports in one place. Users can also export orders, leads and catalog inquiries in batches to an electronic file to eliminate double entry and streamline order processes. Also, LogoMall customers who use ProfitMaker will have the ability to export shopping cart orders directly into ProfitMaker, allowing for a more seamless ordering system. ProfitMaker, from ASI Computer Systems Inc., is advanced business software that provides electronic links between distributors and suppliers. If you’re not a web designer you’ll also be happy to learn that ASIsecure doesn’t require you to know HTML coding, and comes with all the support, video tutorials and tips you need to create a more visually exciting online presence – one that clients are sure to notice. All of these features will provide distributors and suppliers with more time to hone in on selling.
Also, check out the earlier posts for four videos of unique products from ASI Orlando, and visit my YouTube channel for more product videos and ideas for your clients from our shows. If only sticking to the rest of my resolutions was this easy! |
While we’re acknowledging the economic challenges of today, we’re not burrowing our heads in the sand. Instead, we’re leading the way to aggressively help distributors find opportunities for success. 
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.
