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Wednesday
March 14, 2012 Bow Wow WowFiled under: Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties I think the world can be divided into Dog People and Cat People. Which one are you? Although I have nothing against cats, I think I fall into the “dog” camp. Either way, you should check out a recent hot list we sent out to press highlighting some of the industry’s top pet gifts. Statistically, an astonishing 62% of U.S. households now care for at least one pet, paying for everything from veterinary care and food to grooming, toys and treats. This month, ASI’s Advantages magazine offered a great business primer on the booming pet market. So if you haven’t yet added pet stores, vets, kennels, pet insurance companies, dog groomers and municipal dog parks to your roster of potential clients, now’s a great time to start. To me, a dog dish with a funny picture on it is fancy. So I was genuinely amazed at how creative some of these gifts are. Did you know, for instance, that you can now bake your own dog biscuits? Just don’t mix them up with the cookies you baked for your child’s school! Things like premium treats, natural food and fashion-forward accessories helped push U.S. pet industry sales to $58 billion in 2011, with sales expected to reach $74 billion in 2015, according to research firm Packaged Facts. For more info, click here for a “Joe Show” product video and click here for photos. Click here for the Advantages story on the burgeoning pet market. Below are some of the products we selected for this year’s pet gift list:
Let me know the greatest gift your pooch ever got by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
March 1, 2012 A Master Class In Common SenseFiled under: ASI Shows, News About ASI I admire anyone with the guts to take a stand on unpopular issues – whether I agree with those positions or not. So it was refreshing to hear former Mayor Richard Daley discuss hot-button topics like gun control, education and competing with China in his recent interview with ASI Radio. After the Ohio school shooting, Daley said frankly: “There are just too many guns in America.” During his interview with ASI Radio, Daley said we’re becoming numb to violence: “I know it’s very controversial and people want to stay away from it, but we are arming America … It’s just another headline, and people don’t realize what it does to families and to the children in these schools.” The interview advances Daley’s July 19 keynote at the ASI trade show in Chicago titled “City CEO: Rising to Challenges and Change.” Click here to listen to the interview in its entirety, and click here to register for the keynote and the meet and greet with Chicago’s longest-running mayor. In his keynote, Daley will share turnaround stories and discuss changes that affect businesses at all levels. He’ll also offer a hands-on lesson in leadership, crisis management and preparing for future business challenges in any economy. Daley, who served Chicago for 22 years, is credited with revamping the city’s public school system and overhauling public housing. Since leaving City Hall in May, Daley joined a law firm and became a distinguished senior fellow at the University of Chicago. In the interview, Daley made a great point about the state of U.S. manufacturing: There isn’t one college or business school in America that teaches manufacturing. Wisely, he suggests that what business leaders learn in plants, steel mills, factories and the like can easily be applied to government. Daley thinks the best way to battle bureaucracy in either business or government is to appoint project managers to get things done. “You really have to be a problem-solver,” Daley said. “Bring people together and take a holistic approach. Hold people accountable. That’s key.” The best way to accomplish something? Stop studying issues to death, Daley said. “Make a decision and move on.” Anyone who’s ever sat through endless rounds of meetings where nothing seems to get accomplished can relate to that, I’m sure. Let me know what you think of the interview by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
February 17, 2012 ASI Leads The WayFiled under: Member Benefits, News About ASI As the New York Giants can surely attest to, it’s great to be No. 1. So it gives me great pleasure to announce that ASI now leads the industry in the critical areas most important to its 27,000 clients, including No. 1 rankings in ESP users, show attendance and magazine circulation. ESP now has a record 46,000 users, up 12% from the last year. In addition, ESP – the most powerful software in the industry – generated an unprecedented number of product and supplier searches (29 million), end-buyer presentations created (1.35 million) and supplier ratings (36,000) in 2011. At the same time, the economy is turning the corner – the government announced this week that U.S. jobless claims are the lowest since 2008 – and our industry has reported growth in the last eight quarters. It seems fitting that ASI, the largest full-service organization serving suppliers and distributors in the business, is helping lead the way for our industry, scoring record results while providing the most technologically advanced tools available, year after year. In addition to record-breaking numbers for ESP, ASI leads the industry in eight key areas:
At the end of the day, it all comes down to this: Providing you with the critical products and services needed to succeed in what’s now an $18.5 billion industry. Our mission is to make you more successful. When that happens, the whole industry succeeds. And that’s the best game-winning touchdown I can imagine.
Friday
February 3, 2012 A Record-Breaking Show In DallasFiled under: ASI Shows, Members, News About ASI They make everything big in Dallas – hats, steaks, hair and especially trade shows. We just ended our three-day event in Texas and set a new all-time record for distributor companies with 1,556. Dallas had it all – 837 distributors enjoying classes Wednesday, including the industry’s biggest speed networking event, and a keynote Friday by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, who shared humorous comparisons between Twitter’s beginnings and the networking relationships built between industry suppliers and distributors. Stone was as laid-back as a highly-successful tech dude could be. He spoke in a series of stories, about everything from the founding of his mega-successful company to a German film that helped fuel his reach-for-the-stars philosophy. In the end, everyone in the audience was left with inspiring advice they can apply to their own business to boost their success rate. “The only real way to succeed is to just jump off the cliff,” said Stone, pictured with me here at the meet and greet. “You really have to go for it; you can’t hedge.” The three-day show itself drew a ton of raves, including ones from Missy Herring, of South Texas Custom Printing, asi/529109, who called it “tremendous,” and another from Sergio Munoz, of Debco, asi/48885, who said: “ASI Dallas has been just great for us – amazing traffic and a great quality of attendees. Distributors are asking questions and coming prepared with projects they need help with. We’ve been getting great leads, and it’s been a very productive show.” Last night we let loose at our very first gala at the Dallas House of Blues, where they celebrate America’s best musical art form with a giant dose of good ole fun. We’ll definitely be back. If you missed us in Dallas, check out photos and videos on www.asicentral.com. If you were at the show, let me know what you thought by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. And don’t forget to register at www.asishow.com for upcoming ASI Shows in San Diego (April 2-4), New York (May 8-10) and Chicago (July 17-19). To learn more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities for 2012, contact Karen DiTomasso, vice president of sales, at kditomasso@asicentral.com.
Wednesday
February 1, 2012 Promo Products Star In DallasFiled under: ASI Shows, Media Coverage, News About ASI We kicked off the ASI show in Dallas in a really big way, with a terrific slate of education – and national news coverage of our industry. Steve Noviello, an Emmy Award-winning consumer reporter for the Fox affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth, reported a series of hot product segments from the Dallas Convention Center that were aired across the country. The segments were seen by viewers in 13 markets, reaching a total potential audience of 610,606 — with a total publicity value for the industry of $27, 642. The reports, which ranged from 1-2 minutes, aired in Dallas, LA, Chicago, Philadelphia, DC, Atlanta, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando, Salem NC, Louisville KY and Gainesville, FL.
Steve discussed the power of promotional products and the strength of the industry itself while showing off some of the newest products we have to offer. He also included some election products, mentioning that the very first promotional products in the U.S. were commemorative buttons dating back to the election of George Washington in 1789 – and how much money the industry is expecting to make off the 2012 election. Click here to view one of the segments, broadcast in Phoenix. KDFW (also known locally as Fox 4) broadcasts more local news per week than any other station in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the most of any television station in Texas. Steve’s team was terrific to work with, joining Counselor senior writer Dave Vagnoni and ASI Show’s executive director of operations, Cheryl Childers, at the Dallas convention center before sunrise to set up the segments that aired continuously across the country. Joe “The Joe Show” Haley worked hard at gathering all the products showcased during the segment and made sure everything arrived safely – and on time – in Dallas. Thursday and Friday are exhibition days in Dallas, and Friday morning we’re in for a special treat with a keynote by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. I hope to see many of you there! Let me know what you think of the news coverage for our industry by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Tuesday
January 31, 2012 Onward To DallasFiled under: ASI Shows, Community, Media Coverage, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties We’re winging our way to the ASI show in Dallas for a three-day event that promises to be as action-packed as the great state of Texas itself. Education day on Wednesday features the “Industry’s Biggest Speed Networking Session”. As always, all sessions are eligible for credits in the ASI Certification Program. In addition to two days of exhibits featuring the industry’s hottest new products, Dallas features a brand-new gala at the Dallas House of Blues and a keynote by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. In addition to offering up some awesome business tips, Stone will let us know how one of the most influential social media outlets in the world opened opportunities in marketing, politics and philanthropy. We’re definitely on a roll, especially considering what a great success we enjoyed in Orlando, with record-breaking education, a SRO keynote and 2,100 people whooping it up at Disney’s Animal Kingdom gala. If you missed us in Orlando, check out some video highlights: Click here to see an interview on the Orlando Fox affiliate with keynoter James Carville, a Democrat who sparred onstage with Republican pundit Bill O’Reilly. Click here for a wrap-up video with highlights from a barn-burner of a show. Click here for best-selling product highlights from our Supplier of the Year, Hub Pen (asi/61966). And click here for a roundup of terrific products for the adventurer set, featuring Counselor Distributor Choice Award winners. Featured products include Tekweld natural insect repellent mister (asi/90807); carabiner bottle opener watch and matching wristwatch from Logomark (asi/67866); Elleven Amped checkpoint-friendly compu-backpack from Leed’s (asi/66887) and the Port Authority Nootka jacket from SanMar (asi/84863). Let me know if you’re joining us in Dallas by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
January 27, 2012 2011 Industry Sales Top $18.5 BillionFiled under: News About ASI, Research The numbers are in, and the results couldn’t be much better. ASI’s 2011 distributor sales research report shows total industry sales of $18.5 billion, up 6.2% from 2010. Sales have increased for eight straight quarters, with a 6.5% 2011 fourth-quarter sales increase reported – the highest since the first quarter of 2011. What this proves is that the industry rebound begun two years ago is real – and lasting. A majority of distributors feel optimistic about 2012 sales, which is another indication of continued growth. The bottom line is that companies, charities, schools, hospitals, teams – you name it and there’s a logo on it – are continuing to buy ad specialties for a very simple, undeniable reason: they work. Highlights of the survey, conducted by ASI’s executive director of research, Larry Basinait, include:
To read the report, click here. ASI commissioned the exclusive survey to estimate industry sales for 2011. The industry outlook for 2012 was also included in the study. Invitations went to ASI distributor members who were the primary contact with their firms, and had been in business at least one year. One thing we can’t do is become complacent. We need to keep the economic ball rolling throughout 2012 – and beyond. So let me know what you’re planning to do this year to keep your numbers up, or tell me what worked best for you in 2011, by posting a comment or e-mailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. |
