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Monday
June 21, 2010 Discount Credit Lines for Your Equipment NeedsFiled under: Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits, Members, News About ASI At a time when banks and credit card companies are tightening up lines of credit, ASI is smoothing the way for members to increase their cash flow while building their business through another new member benefit. The discount program – now available through ASI affiliate InteliLease – will save members an average of $800 on every $20,000 credit line used for new or upgraded equipment. That means any company, large or small, new or established, can apply for a line of credit at the lowest, most competitive rates available to lease everything from computers, furniture and phone systems to copiers, software (including ASI ProfitMaker) and more. Program features include:
ASI extensively researched numerous equipment leasing programs before selecting InteliLease for its low rates, personalized service and ease of application. For more information, click here to read our press release. And let me know your favorite ASI benefit by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
June 11, 2010 We’ve Got Your NumberFiled under: Guest Blog, Member Benefits, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties What would you say if someone offered you a complete customer service center – for free? That’s exactly what ASI is now offering distributors who buy our 2011 Spectrum catalog. In December, the first 100,000 Spectrums will come complete with an 800 number on each page that leads to an ASI call center. When end-buyers need info on any of over 500 products, a representative will happily provide it. Better yet – the ASI representative will then contact the distributor to let them know they have a hot lead and an interested client. There’s no additional cost. The catalog just needs to be preordered before August 4. For more information, click here to read our press release. With this latest program, distributors can better market themselves as a sophisticated, full-service operation – no matter their company size. And suppliers now have a way to track the performance of their advertising in the catalog. Spectrum is already one of the most recognized catalogs in the industry, and the 2011 edition will still feature all of the qualities that make it so successful: • “Customer Favorites” section, highlighting the most popular products Spectrum, which prints in November with a total circulation of 625,000, is just one of nine customized catalogs offered by ASI as sales-generating tools for suppliers to advertise a wide variety of products and for distributors to sell, market and promote their brand. Please contact me at dbrown@asicentral.com or at 800-546-1350 if you’re interested in learning more about the program. Since we’re printing a limited number, this will be on a first-come, first-served basis, so I urge to be the first to take advantage of this special program today. – Dan Dan Brown is ASI’s executive director of distributor services.
Wednesday
June 9, 2010 Advisory Board Nominations Now OpenFiled under: Community, News About ASI The only idea worth having is the one worth sharing. And one of the best idea-sharing forums in the industry is now accepting nominations. Now through July 31, you can nominate yourself or someone else for a term on any of four ASI Advisory Boards. It’s simple. Just click here for more info and to submit a name. The ASI nominating committee (comprised of advisory board members and ASI staff) will review all nominations and open the pool to voting from September 1-30. The new board members will be announced at the ASI Power Summit in November and start their new terms in January 2011. The four ASI advisory boards that help guide ASI and the industry are:
Who knows? Your next great idea could make a world of difference. As always, I’d love to know your thoughts, so please post a comment or email me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
May 26, 2010 On the Road with the Advantages Roadshow in 2011Filed under: ASI Shows, News About ASI By his own estimate, ASI’s Nick DiNicola has logged about a half-million miles since the first Advantages Roadshow in 2007. He’s not done yet. The industry’s largest and best-attended traveling show just announced its 2011 schedule, which will take the roadshow general manager throughout the United States and Canada, including a first-time stop in Birmingham, AL (home of the Vulcan, the world’s largest cast-iron statue at 56 feet and 120,000 pounds). After nearly four years on the road, Nick’s seen a lot of country – and collected a mountain of trivia. In 2011, he’ll learn a whole lot more. In 16 weeks, he’ll bring together thousands of suppliers, distributors and decorators during 76 local roadshows throughout North America. To see the entire schedule, click here. And please note: Suppliers can now reserve 2011 space at 2010 prices. So far this year, more than 5,000 distributors have attended an Advantages Roadshow, where they learn new sales tools, discuss client challenges and needs with other pros while discovering innovative items that’ll give them a competitive edge. All in a few short hours. Top suppliers choose the show as their platform to introduce new products, making it a big part of their annual exhibition plan. To exhibit, suppliers can call their ASI Show sales rep at 800-546-3300 or contact Nick directly at ndinicola@asicentral.com. Just don’t challenge him to a game of Trivial Pursuit. I’d love to know about your roadshow experience, so please post a comment or email me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
May 19, 2010 Working for You: Promo Products on CBS StationFiled under: Education, Industry Initiatives, Media Coverage, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties CBS affiliate WFMY of Greensboro/Winston-Salem (weekly audience: 671,980) recently showcased a number of promotional products on its long-running “Good Morning Show,” including caffeinated soap, the electric riding beer cooler and the “instant abs” tee shirt. The segment was centered on the “Top 10 Wacky Ways to Promote a Business in 2010,” a recent promotion that’s part of ASI’s ongoing push to educate end-buyers about the power of the $16 billion ad specialty industry. To view the segment, click here. The Top 10 Wacky Ways to Promote a Business in 2010:
For photos of all products and purchasing information, click here. So far, the ASI press release touting the “Top 10 Wacky Way to Promote a Business in 2010” has been picked up or posted by more than 150 news outlets and blogs. I’d love to know what promotions are working for you, so please post a comment or email me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Tuesday
May 11, 2010 Savvy Solutions Provide Keys to SuccessFiled under: ASI Shows, Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties I recently put MediaTree President Rob Watson on the “Hot Seat” at our New York Show to discuss how his company rode the Internet wave to become one of the world’s leading digital advertising agencies exclusive to the promo products industry. In my Tim’s Take video, which you can watch by clicking here, Rob describes MediaTree as hip and cool, and I have to agree. I met up with Rob and MediaTree CEO Bill Grassmyer at last week’s Counselor Awards, when Bill was named Supplier Entrepreneur of the Year. Barely 30, Rob was named MediaTree’s president in April 2008 after enjoying major success as the company’s director of marketing. Since starting up 15 years ago, MediaTree has developed online solutions for brands and Fortune 500 companies from Agway, Bayer and Coca-Cola to ReMax, United Airlines and Whirlpool. It works like this: MediaTree partners with select promotional product distributors to develop customized promotional and incentive programs. Having exclusive relationships with the most recognized online content providers, MediaTree offers virtually unlimited content and content combinations. Knowing the savviest distributors are now selling full, turnkey solutions, MediaTree took that same model and is now the solution provider for the online part of the equation. In my interview, I asked Rob about the credit quandary some distributors are reporting in this economy and he said the best solution is for distributors to develop as strong a relationship as possible with suppliers in order to obtain the best possible terms. His company further stokes those relationships by making sure company reps have superior sales sheets and PowerPoint presentations to take on sales calls to entice potential clients. Let me know what solutions your company is providing that set you apart by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
May 6, 2010 ASI Show New York: A World of WonderfulFiled under: ASI Shows, News About ASI I’m pleased to share the news that our New York show – which just closed – posted a strong attendance of 2,500 distributors from 1,177 firms. All told, distributors were drawn to ASI New York from 38 states and 13 countries, including 49 from Canada, six from Trinidad and Tobago, five from Russia, as well as others from Columbia, Honduras, the Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom. With thousands of new products and services for the start of the second half of the year, along with three days of free, industry-specific education, ASI New York delivered 344 suppliers, including 112 exhibitors who weren’t at ASI New York last year and 178 not exhibiting at Promotions East. You know you’ve put on a good show when participants like Michelle Mickelson, of Dard (asi/48500) uses words like “terrific” to describe the show floor action. Jason Emery, of Logomark (asi/67866), told us, “This show has been fantastic. There aren’t many shows out there where we can write orders right on the show floor.” And Harry Rosenberg, of Ariel (asi/36730), who was honored at the Counselor awards with the Marvin Spike Lifetime Achievement Award, said they were so busy he had three people working the booth. Distributors like Ross Silverstein, of iPROMOTEu (asi/232119), loves coming to the city because there’s so much to do and said he left the show pumped up for the summer sales season. To read the press release with all the results, please click here. And don’t forget – it’s never too early to register for our next show in Chicago July 13-15. I’d love to know your favorite part of ASI Show New York, so please post a comment or email me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. |
