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Monday
January 18, 2010 ASI Pledges $100k to Education InitiativesFiled under: Education, Industry Initiatives, Media Coverage, News About ASI, Research, Using Ad Specialties ASI is seriously committed to education, so it should come as no surprise we’re committing a serious amount of money – $100,000 – to our latest campaign to demonstrate the value of promotional products to end-buyers. Taken together, ASI’s latest broad-based education efforts will encourage buyers to increase their use of advertising specialties in their marketing plans while creating a bigger buzz about the power of promotional products in the national media. We definitely hit the ground running. Check out highlights of the campaign: Media blitz. Aggressively pitching stories to media nationwide, highlighting the reach and effectiveness of promotional items. A recent ASI story about the dramatic increase in sales of hand sanitizers resulted in nearly 100 media mentions nationwide, including spots on CBS Money Watch, Philadelphia Business Today and Live 5 News. ASI Show-related publicity. Increasing pursuit of media coverage of advertising specialties among the five metro areas of the ASI Shows. Florida State Representative Kevin Ambler and Senator Paula Dockery visited the just-completed Orlando show and the Orlando Sentinel wrote an article about it (comments accepted online) and posted ASI TV videos featuring interviews with the politicians on its blog. Orlando’s CBS station, Local 6 News, also provided a sneak-peek of the show. Successful Promotions magazine campaign. ASI’s award-winning editorial team is sending a monthly e-newsletter to 600,000 marketers, filled with case studies and education. A PowerPoint presentation about the positive return-on-investment (ROI) of promo products has already been featured, available to download here. Also, a new Facebook fan page for the magazine will be launched first quarter, providing additional resources and editions of The Joe Show. ASI Marketing Advisory Board. This recently-formed board of business leaders is driving the industry forward by connecting with end-buyers and sharing their feedback and suggestions with the industry. Research. ASI Research published an advertising specialty impressions study in 2009 for distributors to send to their clients and prospects, showing them the high ROI of promotional products. The study will be updated this year. For more details, read the press release by clicking here. Tell me which initiative you think will have the most impact – or what ideas you may have – by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
January 14, 2010 Imprint This!Filed under: Industry Initiatives, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties Every day, hundreds of thousands of harried end-buyers thumb nervously ASI now offers full color imprinting on all catalog publications. This allows distributors to create a strong brand in the marketplace by carrying over the same logo they have on their website and placing it on their catalog covers too. It builds brand awareness and gives distributors a more professional image when they mail or hand their catalogs to clients. Research says catalogs work. According to a recent ASI study of end-buyers, paper catalogs drive 93% of purchasing decisions. Further, the study shows that 91% of the time recipients take action as a result of something they noticed in a paper catalog, with nearly half (49%) purchasing a product. The full results of the exclusive study from ASI are available by clicking here. Adding your full color logo on ASI catalogs is free of charge, with no additional fees. To order online, click here. For more information, contact me, executive director of distributor services, at dbrown@asicentral.com or at 800-546-1350. — Dan Brown
Thursday
January 7, 2010 ASI Names Members of Advisory BoardsFiled under: Community, Industry Initiatives, Members, News About ASI A new era of industry leadership is upon us, thanks to the men and women who stepped-up and accepted a position on ASI’s latest advisory boards. I applaud all of you! Click here for the complete list of all new members. Hundreds of ASI member companies did their part by voting during the online balloting period to help choose leaders of the boards. Here is a sampling of the new members: The ASI Advisory Board —
Marketing, Public Relations & Industry Research Advisory Board —
The Safety & Legislative Advisory Board —
Technology & Operations Advisory Board —
The effort doesn’t stop here. I encourage everyone to share their thoughts and ideas with ASI, and especially with these new board members, as we move forward into a new year and confront and conquer fresh challenges. Tell me what you would do to improve the industry by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
January 6, 2010 Educating Buyers on Bumper Stickers – Orlando Sentinel and ASIFiled under: ASI Shows, Media Coverage, News About ASI How many bumper stickers do you have on your car? And do you think they’ve ever influenced your vote? Two Florida politicians interviewed by Counselor editor Andy Cohen at ASI Show Orlando endorsed the bumper sticker as a key promotional product for their campaigns. The interviews were posted today on an Orlando Sentinel blog. Click here to read the post and watch the two interviews. Rep. Kevin Ambler, who is running for the Florida Senate, told Andy his favorite promotional item is the tried-and-true bumper sticker – which he said his research shows accounts for about three to six votes for a candidate. Andy spoke to Ambler and Sen. Paula Dockery, who is running for governor, and both interviews are posted on the Orlando Sentinel‘s business blog along with information on the show. The paper has a circulation of over 206,000 in Central Florida. Let me know what bumper stickers are on your car by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Tuesday
January 5, 2010 ASI Orlando Energizes Industry for 2010Filed under: ASI Shows, News About ASI The ASI Show Orlando kicked off a brand new show season – and a new year – at what we all hope is a turning point in our industry. This show really had it all – a rousing inspirational speech by General Colin L. Powell before 900, a “Gala Celebration” at Universal Studios attended by more than 700, and a strong Education Day attendance of nearly 1,200. ASI Orlando, which ended Tuesday after three action-packed days, proved to be an interactive event that allowed thousands of distributors to find the newest products, catalogs and pricing for the start of the sales season. We believe the show positioned suppliers and distributors for a great recovery year in 2010. Here’s what a few of them they had to say: Margit Fawbush, marketing manager of Norwood Promotional Products: “This year has been excellent. The traffic is steady. Distributors are eager to start new projects and are coming in with very specific requests as to what they are looking for. We have found ASI Orlando very beneficial.” Scott Anderson, national sales manager of Leed’s: “All the metrics that we consider important for a show are being hit and traffic’s been good. We’re very pleased with The ASI Show Orlando.” Gary Tuchler, VP of the south region for Brown & Bigelow: “ASI Orlando is a great way to kick off the New Year. We can get everyone together, get them motivated and ready to go. There are lots of new ideas, lots of excitement and lots of energy on the show floor.” Dave Crofoot, CEO of Western Associates: “The ASI Show Orlando has been great. Our salespeople are excited and have found many new ideas on the show floor.” You can read the full press release by clicking here. And watch full video coverage of The ASI Show Orlando at asicentral.com, with several education sessions from the New Distributor Success Track, as well as ASI-TV coverage of the 2010 ASI Fashion Show. Don’t forget: It’s not too early to register for the ASI Show in Dallas, from Monday, February 1, through Wednesday, February 3, and the all-new ASI Show in San Diego, from Wednesday, February 24, through Friday, February 26, at asishow.com. Tell me about your Orlando experiences by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Tuesday
January 5, 2010 Hot Orlando Product Videos and Interview With General PowellFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI The last day of ASI Show Orlando is upon us and by all accounts education day (more than 60 learning opportunities!) and networking have been above par. This morning, a packed house greeted General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), the former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State. Show-goers hung on the general’s every word during his keynote, “Leadership: Inspiration for Extraordinary Times.” A standing-room-only crowd of more than 900 distributors, suppliers and decorators cheered as the Bronx-born four-star general told stories of overcoming challenges to lead organizations of all sizes – from a few dozen people to millions – through stressful times that required change, development of new solutions to problems and seeing beyond today. He cautioned the audience to avoid looking back in rearview mirrors, advising that looking forward is the only way to succeed. Giving your “followers” – whether they’re colleagues, family members or customers – superior tools, products and support is the way to win in a difficult economic climate. To watch Counselor editor Andy Cohen’s interview with Gen. Powell, click here. And last night, we also enjoyed a really fun fashion show – ASI’s third march down the runway. For photos, click here. In addition, I’d like to share four “Tim’s Takes” videos, shot right after my “Hot Seat” interview with Mark Godsey, president of Gold Bond and this year’s just-named Supplier of the Year. Mark gave us the inside track on what his company is doing to thrive, his 2010 outlook, and Gold Bond’s focus on customers – the true VIPs. Straight from the Advantages New Product Showcase, hot products highlighted in the videos include: Pocket-sized hand sanitizer from Custom HBC (asi/47935), which won in the Health & Beauty Category at the Counselor Distributor Choice Awards. This handy item is huge seller right now in the flu season. A two-in-one pocket calculator and business card holder from Bullet (asi/42424), a Distributor Choice Awards finalist. I just love combo products and this is really innovative – and practical. The nitro tumbler from Gold Bond (asi/57653), which keeps ice up to 15 hours without melting. I tried it this week and it really does work. Tell me what you think is this year’s hottest product by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
January 4, 2010 ASI Provides Savings with UPS Ocean FreightFiled under: Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits, News About ASI Good deals are wonderful. Great deals are even better, which is what supplier members now get when they ship ocean freight with UPS. This latest ASI benefit can add up to annual savings between $3,000-$10,000. The UPS Ocean Freight program provides suppliers with a full array of global freight and transportation solutions for almost any size shipment, including less-than-container loads, full-container loads, special equipment, and oversized cargo. We specifically chose UPS because it’s a world-class supply chain and transportation leader, with over 100 years of proven service, which is exactly what companies need to help them maneuver today’s complex shipping regulations. For complete details, click here to read the press release. And if you’re at ASI Show Orlando, look out for UPS representatives, who will be on site through Tuesday to discuss the new benefits. I’d love to know how similar benefits have saved your company money, so post a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. |
