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Tuesday
November 11, 2008

ASI Power Summit Video of Distributor-Supplier Roundtable, New Power 50

Filed under: Education, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI

 At the ASI Power Summit we just announced the third annual Counselor Power 50 ranking of the most influential leaders in the advertising specialty industry. 

You might be surprised who’s near the top of the list – especially since there are 13 newcomers – and can find out who’s on the complete ranking at asicentral.com/power50.  Check out an upcoming issue of Counselor for stories behind these dynamic movers and shakers and knowledge you can use for your business.

Also, watch a video with ideas and action items that emerged from the “Distributor & Supplier Roundtable” session, an open discussion focusing on issues affecting distributors, suppliers and end-buyers, including:

  • Views on putting prices in printed catalogs
  • Whether order sizes are going up or down and price increases
  • What level distributors and suppliers feel they’re knowledgeable about compliance (90% of distributors said they’re not)

To watch the video with perhaps surprising results to these questions, click here.

In addition, check out photos from the ASI Power Summit anytime, at asicentral.com/powersummit.  Tell me what you think – post now on the blog or email me at tim.andrews@asicentral.com.

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Monday
November 10, 2008

New Study Reveals Value of Ad Specialties – From ASI Power Summit

Filed under: Education, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI, Research, Using Ad Specialties

The second ASI Power Summit – a meeting of nearly 200 top leaders from our industry is underway and it’s already proving to be interactive and provocative in its first full day.

Last night we heard from Jack Teague – this year’s Counselor Person of the Year and pictured right – in an exclusive on-stage interview during the opening dinner.  He shared his views and concerns about the industry, including:

  • The need for more suppliers to become certified in safety and compliance.  Right now, about 50% aren’t certified, which is important in an industry where 60-70% of products are imported from overseas.
  • We collectively agree that the industry is large, but then how do we continue to improve upon value so that we’re not selling to the same clients over and over? 
  • The fourth quarter will be challenging for us, and market share has been a little soft for us now.  But, this is a soft spot in the economy, and we go through the best of times and worst of times.

Also, in a special session today we released exclusive results from ASI’s new advertising specialties effectiveness study that compares the amount of impressions for various advertising specialties against other forms of advertising – beneficial information for distributors to use to educate end-buyers and to encourage them to invest in ad specialties.

In the study, ASI found that:

  • 84% of people remember advertisers on products they receive.
  • 42% of respondents had a MORE favorable impression of an advertiser after receiving the item.
  • Nearly one quarter, or 24%, said they are MORE likely to do business with the advertiser on the items they receive.

You can learn more findings from this research in the study, located at asicentral.com/study, or in the press release, posted at asicentral.com/pressroom, and I encourage you to forward the links to your customers and prospects.   

Watch the blog for more information and useful business advice and tips from the sessions over the next couple days of the ASI Power Summit. 

Tell me what you think anytime – post now on the blog or email me at tim.andrews@asicentral.com.  Visit youtube.com/timasitv for products from our trade shows.

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Thursday
October 23, 2008

Invest in Technology While Riding the Roller Coaster

Filed under: Education, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI

The news and editors at our magazines and on our ASI Internet Radio show are keeping us updated about the latest economic and market changes – with ups-and-downs like a roller coaster – and many of us may be wondering what the next year is going to look like. 

I believe there’s no need to panic.  But, for ASI, it’s important that we continue to develop products and services that use the power of technology to increase your sales and help your business become more efficient no matter what the economic conditions are.

We’ve recently made huge investments to continue upgrading our products and services, so that they can start working together more seamlessly and so you can spend less time running your business and more time selling.  We’re looking at ways that ESP Online, LogoMall websites and other electronic products can communicate with each other better and become part of a one-stop-shop package, for instance.

Also, we’ve made the following staff promotions to strengthen ASI’s technology department:  Keith Tuskey is now the chief technology officer; John Bush (who you may recognize from trainings at ASI Shows) is now vice president of product management; and Alex Belotserkovskiy has become vice president of application development.  You can learn about their backgrounds in their press releases, at asicentral.com/pressroom. 

Our investments in these technology leaders, who have very talented teams, shows our commitment to provide the best upgrades and industry-leading products and services as a part of your ASI membership.  As a matter of fact, often your investment in ASI membership pays for itself as you grow your business with our tools.   

Is your roller coaster going up or down today?  How are you using technology, or what are you doing otherwise, to become more efficient? 

I want to know – post a blog comment or email me at tim.andrews@asicentral.com. 

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Tuesday
September 9, 2008

Tony Robbins Booked for ASI Orlando

Filed under: Education, Industry Initiatives, Members, News About ASI

I’m excited to announce today that Tony Robbins, world-renowned authority on the psychology of leadership, negotiations, organizational turnaround and peak performance, will be the keynote speaker at ASI Orlando on Monday, January 5.

Seating to this event will be limited and ASI members should register for ASI Orlando at asishow.com to be guaranteed a seat.

For 30 years, Tony has served as an advisor to leaders around the world.  Beyond fathering the life coaching industry, Robbins is the owner of and helps run 11 companies.

Robbins has also been honored as one of the “Top 50 Business Intellectuals in the World” by Accenture; as one of the “Top 200 Business Gurus” by Harvard Business Press; and as one of the world’s “Outstanding Humanitarians” by Justice Byron White.

I’m sure our members will leave Tony’s presentation with new ideas for achieving business success in our industry and growing personally.

Robbins told ASI Show today:  “I am honored to be speaking as part of The ASI Show 2009.  ASI is a leader because its members know how to thrive, not just survive, in any economic environment.  It will be a privilege to address a group that consistently delivers superior results and raises the bar in the industry.”

Tony was selected based on surveys taken by ASI members and he consistently ranked among the top individuals that people most wanted to see.

To see Tony Robbins, register now for ASI Orlando, at asishow.com, or call 1-800-546-3300.  Space is limited, so in order to be sure you get a seat, register by September 30.

Tell me what you think.  Post a comment now on the blog or email me at tim.andrews@asicentral.com.  Enter your email in the “Enter your email for updates” window in the gray shaded area at the top right of the screen, and you’ll get an email when there’s a new blog post.

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Tuesday
September 2, 2008

AlphaGraphics Recognizes Service and Support

Filed under: Community, Industry Initiatives, Members, News About ASI

The “Supplier of the Year” award from AlphaGraphics recognizes a supplier that provides outstanding service, responsiveness and support to their 230 U.S. business centers.  This year, AlphaGraphics presented the award to ASI.

Congratulations are in order for the entire team at ASI – I feel that the award signifies that we provide the best resources and services to help all of our distributor, supplier and decorator members improve their businesses and increase their sales everyday. 

Our people and products truly help distributors and suppliers excel professionally and personally, but of course no one is perfect and we’re striving to improve in all areas across-the-board for our members all the time. 

The award was presented during the recent AlphaGraphics Annual International Conference in Montréal, Canada and ASI was one of only three suppliers recognized by the AlphaGraphics system this year.

Tell me what you think anytime – post now on the blog or email me at tim.andrews@asicentral.com.  For new products from our shows, watch my videos on YouTube, at youtube.com/timasitv.

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Tuesday
August 5, 2008

ProfitMaker Upgrade: Make Money with Better Reporting, Top Suppliers and Credit Card Billing

Filed under: Industry Initiatives, Members, News About ASI

ASI Computer provides ProfitMaker – the leading business management and accounting software for our industry – and today we’re upgrading it so you can make more money.

The new features of the upgrade are powerful and include enhanced reports, integration with top apparel suppliers, supplier ratings and credit card billing – all of which will increase sales, improve your service and streamline workflow:

  • Enhanced reporting capability will allow users to access profitability reports, open order reports and order histories from any computer’s Web browser.  Distributors and suppliers will be more efficient and information will be more easily accessible and available in greater detail.
  • ProfitMaker also provides ordering and inventory integration with more apparel suppliers, in addition to the current Web ordering feature offered by Top 40 supplier SanMar.  Distributors can now easily enter orders through ProfitMaker directly with Bodek & Rhodes, Alpha Shirt Company and Broder.  
  • Supplier ratings are now available.  Distributors can check a supplier’s rating in ProfitMaker as they are completing a purchase order to ensure the quality of the supplier, and can rate their transactions within ProfitMaker and send supplier ratings directly to ESP Online.

In addition, the upgrade provides a credit card processing system that allows ProfitMaker’s distributors to send invoices through email, along with a link inviting customers to pay by credit card online immediately.  Using this feature makes payment processes quicker and improves cash flow and collections.  

The new release also includes an activity manager that provides a way to schedule and manage all daily activities through Outlook, including phone calls, emails, faxes and letters.  Also, suppliers who subscribe to ASI CreditConnectTM can see a distributor’s real-time credit score when viewing a customer record or an order, and suppliers can access the customer’s credit alert information.

To learn more about the ProfitMaker upgrade, contact Mike Place, director of sales and marketing for ASI Computer, at 1-800-544-1274, or at mikep@asicomp.com.  For an online demo, visit asicomp.com/products/profitmaker.asp. 

Tell me what you think anytime – post now on the blog or email me at tim.andrews@asicentral.com.  For new products from our trade shows, watch my videos, at youtube.com/timasitv.

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Wednesday
July 23, 2008

Photos From HOT Party – People, Trends and Products

Filed under: Industry Initiatives, Members, News About ASI

We just wrapped up the HOT party celebrating the first-ever Counselor HOT issue that reveals cool trends and products and the exclusive list of 37 HOT people who are shaking up the marketplace. 

The HOT list was announced last night and honors dynamic people who are leading the way in industry trend-spotting, building a powerhouse organization or developing attention-grabbing new products.

Event photos are at asicentral.com/hotpartyphotos and watch for the official HOT issue coming next month to subscribers of Counselor.

Who’s on the HOT list this year?  They are:

  • Jason Black
  • Kari, Lori & Jodi Caden
  • Dov Charney
  • Larry Cohen
  • Billy Dolan
  • Chuck Fandos
  • Shauna Feldman
  • Brian Fron
  • Jordy Gamson
  • Trevor Gnesin
  • Allison Gower
  • Marc Held
  • Charley Johnson
  • Joyce Johnson-Miller
  • Cindy Jorgensen
  • Memo Kahan
  • Michelle Kajan
  • Trish Karter
  • Dale Kirby
  • Becky Lamken
  • Lon McGowan
  • Terry McGuire
  • Craig Morantz
  • Vera Muzzillo
  • Pam Myers
  • Tim O’Boyle
  • Nadine Panetti & Mark Hobbs
  • Catherine Pilgrim
  • Herb Piller
  • Danny Rosin
  • Ross Silverstein
  • Doug Stayman
  • Lyndsey Tidwell
  • Tom Vann
  • Kathy Vichakchon
  • Rob Watson
  • Mark Ziskind

If you’re a distributor principal and want to subscribe to Counselor, visit asicentral.com/counselor.   

Tell me what you think anytime – post now on the blog or email me at tim.andrews@asicentral.com.  For new products from our shows, watch my videos on YouTube, at youtube.com/timasitv.

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