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Wednesday
March 23, 2011 Green Going GangbustersFiled under: News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties Before the economy took a nosedive, green products were all the rage. Now, their value and appeal is rising anew. ASI’s Green Catalog, on sale now, goes so far as to include tips, keys to being green and ways to promote eco-friendly products as a responsible alternative – something consumers are clamoring for and a perfect pitch to make to clients. Featuring 120+ products from more than 30 suppliers, in all price ranges, the catalog showcases everything from biodegradable denim, recycled desk products, ringtone cards and grow cups to lead-free key tags, organic lip balm, eco-friendly golf balls, eco watches and all-natural dog treats. Products are also grouped by easy-to-use categories, including bags and briefcases, clothing, drinkware, health and beauty, home, office, outdoors, pets and sports. The Green Catalog has already sold over 80,000 copies. To get yours, contact Dan Brown, executive director of marketing services, at dbrown@asicentral.com or at 800-546-1392. To order the Green Catalog online and to see sample pages, click here. The book ships free from now until April 15, and a free digital version comes with the print purchase. The front of each copy can be imprinted in full color with the distributor’s logo and contact information, and ASI offers this feature at any time throughout the year. Selling through catalogs continues to be an effective marketing medium for distributors and suppliers. Results of an ASI research study indicate that over 86% of active distributors declare catalogs to be important or even essential for generating sales. Let me know what green products are your top sellers by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
March 17, 2011 Go for the GreenFiled under: Members, Using Ad Specialties Test your St. Pat’s Day knowledge: What color was originally associated with the patron saint of Ireland? If you guessed blue, you’d be right. Today, of course, we brighten Irish-themed celebrations with all things green – including the rivers in Chicago. Here at ASI, we’re celebrating with our second-annual list of the top 7 promotional products lighting up St. Patrick’s Day marketing promotions, advertising campaigns and themed parties. You can bet your lucky shamrock the products below will bring you some promotional green:
To watch a “Joe Show” video featuring the products and to see photos and purchasing information for each, click here. And let me know how you’re celebrating by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
February 28, 2011 ASI Makes Some NoiseFiled under: ASI Shows, ASICentral, Media Coverage, Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties In an ongoing effort to increase awareness of the ad specialty industry, ASI has stepped up its public relations initiatives. Those efforts really paid off during our recent show in Dallas, where we scored unprecedented TV coverage. Former first lady Laura Bush – who spoke at the show and during the ASI Women’s Summit – generated a ton of news coverage, including a lengthy feature in The Dallas Morning News and more TV coverage than any other single ASI event to date. Click here to watch segments from Fox, NBC and CBS. Click here to listen to a KRLD radio clip. In addition, ASI and Laura Bush received mention on more than 278 online sites and publications, for a total potential circulation of 41 million. And Promo Man, the new “face” of the industry, piqued the interest of the city’s ABC affiliate, which broadcast from the convention center floor to showcase a number of products. Click here to watch. Featured suppliers in the segments include Clique Here Inc. (asi/4535) and their scented tees, Limb Gear (asi/67554) with iHoodies, Golden Pacific (asi/55549) and the solar powered briefcase, Cruzin Cooler (asi/47747) and their ride on cooler and Think Geek (asi/91123) with electric guitar shirts. In each case the important keywords “advertising specialty” received prominent mention. When’s the last time your company was on TV? Did the mention generate any new business? Let me know by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
February 18, 2011 Lights, Camera, Action from DallasFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, Media Coverage, Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties We’re enjoying a terrific show in Dallas this week and if you’re not there, ASI TV is a great way to keep in touch with all the excitement. First up, a recap of my Town Hall meeting. At each show, I open the floor up to questions so we can discuss the industry’s most pressing issues and look for solutions that serve all of us. In Dallas, we tackled the rising cost of cotton, the best use of video – and more. Click here to join the action. Next, I took a look at innovative pet products, which are virtually recession-proof, according to Counselor magazine. Check out:
Click here for a purr-fect video recap. Finally, if you missed the first segment WFAA-TV broadcast from the show floor Thursday morning, check out their second interview with Promo Man by clicking here. Last night, we celebrated at the Ultimate Texas Bash at Eddie Deen’s ranch. As you can see from the photos posted here, we were definitely livin’ large. For more pics, check out www.asicentral.com. Let me know your favorite part of the Dallas show by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
February 17, 2011 Promo Products Star in DallasFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, Media Coverage, Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties Look! What’s that, up in the sky? A bird? A plane? No, wait, it’s Promo Man! And he’s flying straight to a television set near you. Promo Man – the new superhero of the promotional products industry – had his TV debut Thursday on a morning show broadcast by the ABC affiliate in Dallas. Direct from the ASI Show floor in the Dallas Convention Center, Promo Man showed off some of the hot products being showcased during this week’s Texas trade show. Promo Man’s TV appearance is all part of ASI’s on-going public relations efforts to educate end-buyers on the power of promotional products. To see the clip, click here. Reporter Wyatt Goolsby took his Instant Live 8 camera to the convention center at 4:30 a.m. to get ready for on-site cutaways throughout WFAA-TV’s 5-7 a.m. morning show. Promo Man demonstrated numerous products for the Dallas TV audience, including the ride-on beer cooler from Cruzin Cooler (asi/47747) and solar-powered briefcase from Golden Pacific (asi/55549). All in all, it was great publicity for the industry. WFAA serves the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, one of the top ten media markets in North America. I’ll keep you posted on other Promo Man appearances. For now, keep checking the skyline. If you’re at the show, let me know what you think so far by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
February 10, 2011 All’s Fair in Love and Promo ProductsFiled under: Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties No matter how you celebrate “love and affection between intimate companions” – the official Wikipedia definition of Valentine’s Day – you might get some fresh ideas after browsing our annual top 10 list of sexiest products. There is really no end to creativity when it comes to romance – and promo products. Consider the chocolate lip balm, feathered bikini top and edible bubble bath on our list and think about ways clients could use them in special, themed promotions. For a YouTube video featuring a demo of some of the products, click here. For photos and info, click here. Whether your intimate companion is a special spouse or a beloved calico cat, I hope you enjoy this year’s list:
Let me know how you celebrate the special day by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
February 10, 2011 O Canada: Buyer’s Guide Now AvailableFiled under: News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties Every year, ASI’s The Professional Buyer’s Guide sells out – for good reason. It helps increase sales. For 2011, distributors are loving full-color imprinting and 120 pages of product ideas. This year, pre-sales for the go-to catalog for the Canadian marketplace are even stronger. Guaranteed circulation is 50,000, and we’ve already received pre-orders totaling nearly 39,000 copies. I thoroughly enjoy my visits to Canada, a great nation that offers everything from the cool jazz of Montreal to the glorious vistas of the Canadian Rockies. And who doesn’t tear up when hearing their moving national anthem, “O Canada”? ASI Canada is in the very capable hands of VP Fred Oesen and Jay Ostrow, our executive director of distributor services. For more info on ASI Canada, check out the website here. The Professional Buyer’s Guide is elegant-looking and features select products from elite suppliers in all categories across all price ranges. Whether you want antibacterial products, auto accessories and awards or watches, whistles and wine accessories, this catalog has it all. The catalog features numerous Canadian-made products, from apparel to custom wooden boxes, and an exclusive selection of environmentally friendly “green” goods. There’s even quick-response-code technology for smartphones to deliver additional info and specials. With exclusive full-color imprinting, The Professional Buyer’s Guide can now include the distributor’s color logo and contact information on the cover any time throughout the year, which means distributors can create a personalized marketing approach to differentiate themselves from their competition, build strong brand awareness and create a more professional image for clients. Why should distributors include catalogs in their marketing mix? It’s simple: Research shows they remain a proven advertising vehicle. According to a recent study of end-buyers, paper catalogs drive 93% of purchasing decisions. It’s hard to argue with stats like those. To see sample pages or order online, click here. For more information, contact Dan Brown, executive director of distributor services, at dbrown@asicentral.comor at 800-546-1350. Distributors receive free shipping on orders placed by Monday, February 14. Let me know how catalogs have helped you increase sales by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. |
