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Thursday
July 7, 2011 Celebrating a New CatalogFiled under: News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties Launching a new catalog like the 2011 Spectrum Celebration is a really big deal. We forged ahead for two key reasons: because it provides distributors with a catalog featuring the newest products from top suppliers, and it helps them boost sales during the all-important second half of the selling year. As Dan Brown, our executive director of distributor services puts it, “Clients are always looking for what’s new and now, distributors have the answer.” To view sample pages of Spectrum Celebration and to order online, click here. For more information, contact Dan at dbrown@asicentral.com or at 800-546-1350. Spectrum Celebration is available in this brand new summer/fall edition with a special “select” section featuring the top-rated suppliers everyone wants. But jump on it now before it’s too late. Guaranteed circulation is 200,000 and we’ve already received pre-orders totaling nearly 41,000 copies. The catalog contains over 200 products from over 50 suppliers, in all price ranges, and of course comes with full-color imprinting for distributor logos on the front cover. Other features include:
If you have any suggestions or comments, post a comment or e-mail me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
July 6, 2011 2012 Keynotes AnnouncedFiled under: ASI Shows, Community, News About ASI Can you imagine gaining exclusive access to some of the greatest business thinkers and social commentators of our time – for free? Look no further than ASI’s 2012 lineup of keynote speakers. We spent months surveying the industry and researching new programs to offer next year, and I have every confidence this unprecedented lineup will score, especially since it’s a unique balance of education, motivation, information and debate. The ASI team that plans our shows has really put together an incredibly powerful set of keynotes, activities and entertainment at shows in Orlando, Dallas, San Diego, New York and Chicago. Dan O’Halloran, our executive VP of distributor services, tells me several Top 40 distributors have already committed to bringing 700+ salespeople to ASI Orlando alone. Expect full details soon. The list of scheduled programs includes:
In addition to education and inspiration, The ASI Shows feature world-class entertainment for ASI members:
Online registration is now open for the five 2012 ASI Shows, including Orlando (Jan. 16-18), Dallas (Feb. 1-3), San Diego (April 2-4), New York (May 8-10) and Chicago (July 17-19). Visit www.asishow.com for complete details on The ASI Show and to make your hotel reservations. Discounted hotel rates are available through the official ASI Show housing bureau, Travel Planners. Each ASI Show features a three-day schedule, with a full day of ASI Education and two exhibit days. ASI distributor and decorator members receive free admission and qualify for a free hotel room. Call 877-ASI-SHOW with any questions. To learn more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Karen DiTomasso, VP of sales, at kditomasso@asicentral.com. Let me know what you think of our line-up – and if you have any suggestions or comments post a comment or e-mail me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
June 27, 2011 Crazy, Hazy Days of SummerFiled under: Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties I love learning about new crazes. It gives me something to talk about at a party or while stuck in line at the DMV. Recently, Joe “The Joe Show” Haley turned me on to disc golf, which is a game played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc. The object is to complete each hole in the fewest number of throws, instead of strokes. Joe discovered this newest sports fad sweeping college campuses and the burbs while researching products for our annual list of sizzling summer products. Par One (asi/75912) makes the discs, which come with a great grip and a large imprint area to promote everything from beach resorts and golf outings to company picnics and swim clubs. Since there are just 92 days in summer, I’m sure you’re working hard to take advantage of every one. If you have any products you think we should feature, send on a sample to Joe here at ASI. You never know when it’ll hit a list like the one below. The Top 10 List of Sizzling Summer Products:
Click here to watch a Joe Show demo of the products. Click here for more photos and complete product descriptions. And if you have any super summer promotions planned, post a comment or email me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
June 22, 2011 That Championship SeasonFiled under: News About ASI I always wonder how champions feel right after a major win. Do they immediately start thinking of the next year, the next game, the next big trophy? I’m betting ASI’s latest winners – our editorial team – are already planning their next triumph. But first they’ll certainly celebrate winning a total of 18 awards for writing, editing, research, design and photography from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. I’m half expecting them to come to my office and pour gatorade over my head during a victory lap! All told, ASI publications have won an incredible 57 editorial awards in recent years, including three Jesse H. Neal Awards, considered the Pulitzer Prize of the business press. I give a lot of credit to Melinda Ligos, ASI’s editor in chief and senior vice president of professional development, and to Rich Fairfield, our executive vice president and publisher, for guiding editorial to so many championship seasons. ASBPE is the professional association for full-time and freelance editors and writers employed in the business, trade and specialty press. The organization is widely known for its annual Awards of Excellence competition, which recognizes the best in editorial, design and online achievement. Every year, ASI’s five magazines are up against heavy hitters like BusinessWeek – and usually end up mopping the floor with the competition. For their efforts, the national Azbee Award winners will be honored at a banquet in Chicago August 4. Northeastern regional winners will be feted at a banquet in New York City on July 27. I’m sure you’ll recognize a lot of the award-winning stories, photos and designs, so here’s a list of the national awards:
And here’s a list of regional awards:
Please join me in congratulating everyone involved. I’m sure they’re already hard at work on the next big batch of award winners. If your organization has been recognized recently, let me know by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
June 16, 2011 Time to Read, Write and SellFiled under: News About ASI Kids across the nation are singing “No more pencils/No more books/No more teacher’s dirty looks” as they exit school for summer. While I wish I could join them at the mall or in the pool, instead I’m thinking about upcoming fall promotions while flipping through our 2011 schools edition of the Idea Showcase catalog. We’ve already sold 200,000 copies of the pocket-size catalog, which comes with a money-saving coupon section and slides perfectly into a No. 10 envelope. Whether you’re looking for a reliable standard like a pen or stress ball or something far out like rally hair or glowing ice cubes, Idea Showcase offers plenty of campaign ideas. Features include:
In addition, each copy of Idea Showcase can be imprinted with a distributor’s full-color logo and contact information on the cover any time throughout the year. To order Idea Showcase online or to see sample pages, click here. For more information, contact Dan Brown, executive director of distributor services, at dbrown@asicentral.com or at 800-546-1350. Distributors receive free shipping on orders placed by July 15. Now if I can just get Alice Cooper’s classic June anthem “School’s Out for Summer” out of my head, I’ll head back to work. Let me know what you’re planning for summer by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
June 15, 2011 Keys to a Virtual KingdomFiled under: ASI Shows, Community, News About ASI When I was a kid we loved nothing better than watching the Ed Sullivan Show. When he promised “a really big show,” Ed delivered. I like to think ASI delivers every time we host a show, whether it’s bricks and mortar or virtual. This week, we earned a terrific confirmation from a participant at our latest virtual show, who commented: “My fingers are cramped from so much typing because we’ve been busy.” Whenever we can cramp some fingers, I know we’ve done good! In addition to great education and lots of show traffic, we gave away an Apple iPad and more than $17,000 in prizes. Throughout the all-day event, participants were treated to top suppliers, multimedia demos, digital catalogs and online sample requests. Altogether, more than 1,500 visited the show, which generated 1,037 one-to-one chats. In addition, visitors viewed a total of 1,858 documents and 757 webcasts, staying at the show an average of 78.5 minutes – not bad for a free day with no expensive travel. The best part is no matter where you are – or how you’re dressed – you can log on and learn, network and sell. And if you missed this week’s virtual event, you can access it on-demand here. Stay tuned for our next show, scheduled for September 14. We know the all-day, online events are effective because exhibiting suppliers experience an average 24% increase in ESP searches the day after each show. And, don’t forget – you can attend education classes that are applied to your BASI or MASI certificates right from the virtual show floor. While virtual events won’t replace in-person shows (Chicago is July 19-21), you can’t beat the ease and value. 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.
Friday
June 10, 2011 Play a Winning Sales GameFiled under: ASI Shows, News About ASI As the NFL players’ lockout drags on amid wrangling over $9 billion in annual revenue, I got to thinking about some of the greatest moments in football history. The once-in-a-lifetime gridiron dramas, like Franco Harris’ game-winning “Immaculate Reception” and Tom Dempsey’s 63-yard field goal, help me recall the glory in a truly glorious game. Another ace moment: Iron Mike Ditka’s final touchdown in the Dallas Cowboys’ 24-3 win over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. Lucky for us, Ditka – one of the only people ever to have won a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach and head coach – will be our keynote speaker at the ASI Chicago show Thursday, July 21. While I can’t wait to hear what he has to say about the lockout, I’m also anxious to get his views on a cause dear to his heart: aiding retired players suffering physical and financial problems. As he pointed out during a recent talk in Michigan, a lot of players left the game hurting in more ways than one. In Ditka’s first year with the Chicago Bears, when he was named Rookie of the Year, he made only $12,000. Compare that to what players take home today and you can see why some of the old-timers need help with their end game. In his speech at the Chicago show, Ditka will highlight the key characteristics people need to fully achieve their personal and business goals. Early admission tickets are still available, but the meet and greet is sold out. Click here for more info and to register for early admission. The keynote itself, as always, is free. Ditka’s talk, touted as one of the best in all of the NFL, is sure to be inspirational, funny and chock-full of great football moments. Even if you’re not a football fan, the lessons you’ll learn from one of the greatest American success stories – and son of a steel-mine worker – will certainly help you improve your sales game. So please join us for what’s certain to be a highlight of show season. And let me know how you think the lockout will end by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. |
