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Wednesday
December 22, 2010 We Woof You a Happy HolidayFiled under: Community, Research, Using Ad Specialties Dogs that Tweet. Now I really have seen everything. While searching for unique promo pet products we came across a device from Hammacher Schlemmer that lets Hairy Potter share his “thoughts” with Twitter followers. Somehow, a tag figures out what a dog wants to say and shoots off one of 500 pre-loaded Tweets. Which begs the question: What do dogs think? I’m guessing “bacon!” and “squirrel!” are high on the list. If pet Tweets are a tad too high-tech for you, we’ve got nine other gifts on our list that could easily jazz up a pet store opening, dog show or other pet-themed promotional event. Turns out, the pet industry is relatively recession-proof. People may scrimp when it comes to spending money on themselves, but when it comes to Sir Winklebottom, the sky’s the limit. A recent American Express poll reveals 31% of consumers plan to buy their animal a gift this holiday season. Need some ideas? Check out our list of the top 10 coolest pet gifts of 2010:
To see a “Joe Show” demonstration of many of these products, click here. To read our press release, click here. Are you buying your pet dog, cat or rock a gift this year? Let me know by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
November 24, 2010 ’Tis the Season to Shop, Spend and SendFiled under: Industry Initiatives, Members, News About ASI, Research, Using Ad Specialties Whether you shop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, give or receive, we’re hoping a business gift-giving tip sheet and the results from a recent survey on corporate spending will ring your bells. Nearly every company carefully considers what to give and how much to spend when it comes to gifts for employees and clients. According to a recent survey from ASI’s Successful Promotions magazine, this year gift cards trump cash for year-end employee gifts and bonuses, and food and drink win out for clients and customers. For complete survey results, click here. To read our press release, click here. As always, there’s no limit on creativity when it comes to passing along your company name and logo. According to a recent feature on ASI’s popular “The Joe Show” video, this year’s hottest corporate thank-you gift ideas include:
To see a product demonstration, click here. And while food remains a perennial hit, since it can be enjoyed and shared by the whole office or department, there’s no denying the increasing popularity of accessories for high-tech items and techno gifts, like charging docks with a four-port hub or a wireless USB laser pointer. Companies that want to be seen as socially responsible will send eco-friendly products made of bamboo or from recycled material. Still deciding what to give? Here are some tips that might help:
Let me know what your company is sending by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
November 17, 2010 What’s the Big Idea?Filed under: News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties What slips in a pocket, pops in an envelope and makes a perfect leave-behind on sales calls? If you guessed the Spring 2011 Idea Showcase catalog, you’re right. As a testament to its popularity, we’ve already received pre-orders totaling nearly 156,000 for the handy-size catalog. But supplies are limited, so order yours today. Distributors receive free shipping on orders placed by December 1. Budget-conscious end-buyers love Idea Showcase because the 390 products offered range from the practical to the premium, from $1 to $40. There’s even a “Made in the USA” section with specially-marked pages so they can easily pick out products that provide a feel-good oomph for buying American. Other features include:
Despite the current excitement about digital (which we offer!), savvy distributors know to always include paper catalogs in their marketing mix, since research shows that catalogs remain a proven advertising vehicle. Our study shows paper catalogs drive an astonishing 93% of purchasing decisions. What’s more, you can easily brand copies in full color with your logo and contact information on the cover, which is guaranteed to set you apart from the competition. If you want more info, click here or contact Dan Brown, ASI’s executive director of distributor services, at dbrown@asicentral.com or at 800-546-1350. Let me know how catalogs have helped your business by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
November 15, 2010 Spend It to Make ItFiled under: News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties Where’s the beef? According to suppliers, it’s in e-marketing. A survey in this month’s Supplier Global Resource magazine says suppliers invigorated by this year’s sales surge are reinvesting those earnings in trade shows – and marketing. According to the survey, 58% of responding suppliers say they’ll beef up e-marketing in 2011, 27% say they’ll increase trade show participation, and 46% say they’ll boost their total marketing spend. All in an effort to get the word out about their products. As SGR senior writer Betsy Cummings discovers, sales are up and suppliers are on the move. More than half of survey respondents report sales are up for the year overall, which is prompting companies like Counselor Top 40 supplier Ash City to open a second factory and a second lab while also increasing its marketing spend. As we’ve noted throughout the downturn, numerous companies that maintain their aggressive edge are coming out on top now that purse strings are loosening. As SGR reports, the mantra seems to be “spend it to make it.” At Liqui-Mark Corp., for example, a 20% rise in sales from 2009 to 2010 allowed the company to invest more in personnel and equipment. Our survey says action is winning out over inertia: more than two-thirds of suppliers (69%) plan to expand their product line in 2011. Bob Buddenbohn, owner of American Artisan, attributes his recent sales to an investment in new items in the $1 to $5 price range – perfect for end-users reluctant to place pricier orders. Trend reports are just one of many resources available to readers of Supplier Global Resource, where so many suppliers turn for the latest news and ideas. If you’re not reading it, now’s the time to start. There are only 40 days left till Christmas, and a brand new sales year will be upon us before we know it. Let me know what economy-busting ideas are working best for you by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
November 8, 2010 Promotional Products Beat Prime-Time TVFiled under: Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits, News About ASI, Research, Using Ad Specialties ASI just released the results of a landmark study that proves advertising specialties beat out prime-time TV, radio and print advertising as the most cost-effective advertising medium available. Soon, we’ll send the message about the power of promotional products to the world via a far-reaching public relations campaign. The most significant findings of the 2010 Global Advertising Specialties Impressions Study show advertising specialties are less expensive per impression than most other media – just a half a cent! – and are very affordable and effective when compared to other forms of media. Click here for the global study results, an explanatory video and supporting graphics. Everyone in this industry should make it their business to deliver this message loud and clear to customers, prospects and end-buyers, across every channel available to you. Bring the data with you on every sales call. Perhaps even include the study’s link on your email signature. To help, we’ve prepared a pdf of the study to download, and we encourage you to send it out and especially to chat it up on your social networks. Click here for the pdf to pass along. To Tweet about ASI’s 2010 ad impressions study, use this shortened link: http://bit.ly/diQ6zp. We released the study at the 2010 ASI Power Summit, an exclusive annual gathering of the best minds in the business, taking place this week in Aventura, Florida. Hopefully, everyone there will immediately start spreading the news. The study is the result of 3,332 online and in-person surveys, including interviews with businesspeople in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, London, Sydney, Toronto and Montreal metro areas. The 2.0 study, a follow-up to the definitive 2008 survey, includes new demographic information on politics, ethnicity, gender and age, since knowing the likely recipient of products is paramount for an advertiser. This year, the comprehensive report also adds global markets and includes more products, such as automotive accessories and food. Among key findings, results show:
There’s good reason ASI’s research studies are the most influential in the industry’s history, continuously cited throughout the B-to-B industry and across the advertising and marketing spectrum: They work. I credit ASI’s executive director of research services, Larry Basinait, and his research team, for delivering the material that can help us once again prove the undeniable power of promotional products. At $0.005, the average cost-per-impression (CPI) of an advertising specialty item is less than nearly any other media. To make that claim, Larry gathered data from the Nielsen Company, Outdoor Advertising Association of America, Columbus Dispatch and AdAgeOnline.com. What this study shows us is that even smaller companies can deliver the kind of high-impact punch enjoyed by multi-million-dollar companies. It’s also important to note that the pass-along rate has actually increased 11 points from just two years ago – which speaks directly to the global recycling trend. Not only do ad specialties make impressions on everyone who sees them, but messaging is reinforced every time the item is used. No other form of media can allow the advertiser to so closely tie a benefit to the recipient. So start spreading the news. All we ask is that you properly credit ASI when distributing the study. Let me know your ideas for getting out the message by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Tuesday
October 19, 2010 Court Votes with Promo ProductsFiled under: News About ASI, Research, Using Ad Specialties In a few weeks, ASI will unveil the newest version of the industry’s most influential survey: the 2010 Advertising Specialties Impressions Study. The much-anticipated study provides rock-solid proof of the cost-effectiveness of promotional products. This week, in the lead-up to the hotly-contested November 2 elections, we’re providing a sneak-peek at some of the results, which reveal what Democrats, Republicans and independents think about promotional products, a.k.a. swag (stuff we all get) and freebies, millions of which are distributed during election season along with bumper stickers, buttons and yard signs. Who knew Republicans preferred food baskets – and Democrats liked pens so much? It’s worth knowing next time you court the business of your state or local campaign office. Here are some other study highlights:
Full results of the 2010 study will be released at the ASI Power Summit at the Turnberry Isle Resort & Club in Aventura, Florida, November 7-9. We’re certain the 2.0 version will be of great interest to you – and especially your clients – since the 2008 study continues to be widely circulated and consistently cited. In the meantime, check out our press release about the promotional preferences of the two political parties, and independents, by clicking here. Let me know which results took you by surprise by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
October 18, 2010 Get Happy with Affinity ExpressFiled under: Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits, Using Ad Specialties How many times do you wish you had an extra pair of hands to manage heavy workloads? If you’re like me, extra work and projects that need to be done “yesterday” have a habit of arriving when you’re already struggling to keep your head above water. Additional orders are always welcome, but the reality is that in addition to more sales, they mean more artwork. Obtaining perfect (or even usable) artwork can be as painful as a root canal – putting even more strain on you and your design department. Since we’re in the midst of the industry’s peak season, I thought this would be a good time to let you know about a secret weapon that many leading industry companies are utilizing: outsourcing artwork to ASI affiliate Affinity Express helps businesses enhance turn times, improve product quality, save money and, more important, keep customers happy by meeting and even beating deadlines. Happy customers mean repeat orders! Here’s how they can help: Affinity Express can produce embroidery digitizing files for almost all machines and garment types. They have over 800 designers on staff who are experts in Wilcom, Pulse, Punto and Ethos, as well as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, CorelDRAW and dozens of other software programs. And each digitizing order receives a sew-out swatch so you’ll know what your item will look like before you even sew a stitch. Need vector artwork? No problem – Affinity Express can take raster images or raw input and recreate, or redraw, to provide vector artwork for any product/any size. I’ve seen beautiful artwork Affinity Express created from drawings on a cocktail napkin (which looked like they were done by my 6-year-old grandson). And, you can store all your artwork in a free password-protected design locker so it’s at your disposal 24/7, all year round. In addition to fast, realiable turn times, Affinity Express offers very competitive pricing. As a matter of fact, they’ve recently taken pricing to a new level with “Affinity Express Basic,” which can save you 66% on vector artwork and 38% on embroidery digitizing. Now that you know the secret, be sure to contact Affinity Express to help you continue to keep things flowing smoothly. Click here or call Kelly Glass, 847-930-3205, for more information. – Cathy Cathy Martino is ASI’s affiliate relations manager. |
