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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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Wednesday
October 8, 2008

Learning From Startups, Wearables Trends and Rising Prices

Filed under: Education, Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties

ASI was the winner of four national awards for editorial and design from FOLIO: magazine recently, recognizing coverage in our magazines of wearables trends, rising prices, and challenges running successful startups – among other topics important to your business right now.

The awards were for two Counselor articles, one entitled “Anatomy of a Startup,” by Andy Cohen, Joe Haley and Melinda Ligos, that won a Bronze Award for ‘Best Feature Writing’ and chronicled the ups-and-downs of three new distributorships during their first few months in business.  The other article, “Sticker Shock,” by Michele Bell, won a Gold Award for ‘Best Feature Writing’ and included six reasons why prices of advertising specialties are rising and offered a plan to help distributors sell clients on a price increase.   

In addition, the June issue of Wearables (Nicole Rollender, editor), received a Gold Award for ‘Best B-to-B Full Issue’ and was selected for covering the latest apparel trends, including underwear and five different categories of novelty T-shirts.  And, the article “Damage Control,” by Michele Bell in Supplier Global Resource, won a Silver Award for ‘Best Feature Writing’ and was chosen for providing information about handling potentially toxic products and what the ethical responsibilities for testing are.

I urge you to read each of the magazine issues – because they are packed with information that is likely affecting how you’re selling products to customers right now or running your business at the moment.  To read the winning articles, click here.

In the FOLIO: competition, more than 100 judges reviewed 2,800 entries and magazines from ASI were recognized among several legacy publications throughout North America, including Fast Company, National Geographic, Newsweek and TIME. 

Tell me what you think – post a comment now on the blog or email me at tim.andrews@asicentral.com.  You can also watch my videos of new products, at youtube.com/timasitv.

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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 26, 2008

Guest Blog: Rob Spike Named VP, Distributor Services

Filed under: Guest Blog, News About ASI

From Dan O’Halloran, SVP of Distributor Services:

Many of you may know Rob Spike, a dedicated resource here at ASI for distributors. 

Rob has been helping thousands of distributors grow their businesses everyday for the last 15 years and I’m pleased to announce that he’s been promoted to vice president of distributor services.

He will expand upon his roles as sales consultant and mentor in his new position, providing business solutions for distributors and helping his team of ASI account executives advance personally and professionally.  

Rob began his career with ASI in 1994 as a catalog account manager, advancing through sales and management roles of increasing responsibility before serving in his most recent position of executive director of distributor services.    

Tim Andrews, president and CEO for ASI, said this about Rob in a press release today:  “Rob’s promotion to vice president is to recognize his continuous sales excellence, his leadership and reputation for providing superior client service.  Rob always challenges himself, and the organization, by raising the bar to new heights previously unimagined.”

Rob sets the example for our team and has mentored many ASI account executives and ASI members to help them achieve business success.

In addition to his professional duties, he still finds time to volunteer for the Jewish Relief Agency of Greater Philadelphia, delivering food and daily living supplies to those who have no means to get them.

Please join me in congratulating Rob on his promotion.  You can reach him at rspike@asicentral.com.   

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Wednesday
August 13, 2008

ESP Upgrade Rolling Out Today – New Confirmed Supplier Data

Filed under: Members, News About ASI

We’re starting to rollout the new ESP Online upgrade today. 

If you’re a current ESP Online user, expect to get your upgrade automatically during the next several weeks at no additional charge.  

With a number of new features, I wanted to note several personally that are important to your business.

In addition to our own work here at ASI, for some time suppliers have been logging into ESP Online regularly to update their information and product data so distributors can have late-breaking information for their sales efforts. 

With this upgrade we’re providing an additional measure of assurance and suppliers who have confirmed their information now have a distinguishing logo next to their product in ESP Online.  So far, over 2,600 suppliers have already confirmed their data with ASI, ensuring that you have the best data in the business.

ASI employs a team of 70 data specialists and invests over $2.5 million in updating information every year.  Numbers that matter.  And, as of today, we have over 3,800 supplier catalogs from 2008 current in ESP Online.  That’s the most available anywhere.

The new upgrade also features sharper product images and improved virtual samples.

If you’re not using ESP Online, call 1-800-546-1423 for a free demo, or visit asicentral.com/esp.  If you’re one of our 40,000 registered users of ESP, you can learn more at asicentral.com/elearning. 

Happy selling.

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 all my videos, at youtube.com/timasitv.

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