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Thursday
April 22, 2010

Media File Flying Off Shelves

Filed under: News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties

Nothing says “success” like “going-going-gone,”so I’m happy to share the news that we’ve already pre-sold 70% of our 2010 Media File, the world’s largest promotional products catalog. But you’re not too late – we’re still taking orders for this handsome, hardcover book, which sales reps and their customers have relied on for 55 years.

This essential sales and sourcing tool contains thousands of products from hundreds of suppliers in all price ranges. Price and product indexes make it easy to choose products to suit any client’s budget and every promotional objective. 

Whether you’re looking for aprons, beach balls and computer gadgets or whistles, wristbands and wine accessories, Media File is the go-to catalog you’ll turn to first. There are also green products, unique items and a special wearables section.

Some sales reps liken Media File to a yearbook – the one they give to their top clients and proudly display at the front of their showroom.

As always, the front cover can be imprinted in full color with the distributor’s logo and contact information – any time throughout the year. 

To order the 2010 Media File online and to see sample pages, click here.

And let me know how Media File has helped you over the years by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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Wednesday
April 21, 2010

Live Green, Love Green, Buy Green

Filed under: Media Coverage, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day we’re offering a one-day sale of our best-selling, eco-friendly Green Catalog. From 8 a.m.-7 p.m. ET Thursday, all new sales of the 2010 Green Catalog are just $1 each.

Paperless orders only: Call 800-546-1392. For more info, click here. 

And, I’m happy to report the most-watched morning show in Texas featured products from ASI’s first-ever top 10 list of eco-friendly Earth Day giveaways. Turns out, Fox 4 “Good Day” consumer reporter Steve Noviello is a big fan of elephant poo products. To find out why, click here to watch the video.

Click here to check out some of the items featured on the air, and how to order them or find out more information. Some of the products on our list include:

  • Digitally Printed Shirt: When combined with any eco-friendly tee, digital printing requires no screens and no harsh chemicals. All inks are water-based and produced using no PVC, phthalates or heavy metals, so there’s little waste. From Pony Xpress Printing.
  • Shower Timer: Tells you when your five minutes are up. Utilities, local municipalities and environmental groups can promote water conservation by offering this practical item. From All-In-One.

  • Recycled Tires Jar Opener: Made from rubber tires. Auto dealerships, mechanics and tire manufacturers can give these to customers for Earth Day or any time year-round. From Americanna.
  • Hemp-Blend Polo: This cotton and hemp organic shirt is naturally antibacterial, making it perfect for summer uniforms. From High Performance.
  • Compostable Pens: This pen completely breaks down in a landfill in 90 days (except the spring and refill). Hotels, banks and shops can use these and give them away to customers. From Shepenco.

Let me know how you or your company observe Earth Day and reduce your carbon footprint (recycled printer cartridges? carpooling? telecommuting?), and tell me your most popular green products by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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Wednesday
March 24, 2010

Top 10 Giveaways for Earth Day

Filed under: Industry Initiatives, Using Ad Specialties

It’s easy to observe Earth Day, coming up on April 22.  You can use public transportation, car pool, plant trees, participate in community clean-ups and use plenty of eco-friendly promotional products.  

Here at ASI, we’re getting in the spirit with our very first “Top 10 Eco-Friendly Earth Day Giveaways” list – out today.  More companies than ever before are using eco-friendly giveaways to promote their commitment to the environment. 

Editors of Counselor magazine searched for creative giveaways in ESP (our exclusive promo products database) and found marketers snatching up everything from notebooks made of elephant poo to shower timers to paper embedded with wildflower seeds.     

Here’s the list:

1.  Elephant-Poo Notebook – The ultimate recycled item, great for colleges and trade shows. 
2.  Bamboo Dinnerware – Perfect for office picnics, outdoor concert venues and fairs.
3.  Seed Paper Postcard – Ideal for environment-themed mailings and print promotions. 
4.  Shower Timer – Municipalities and utilities can promote water conservation.
5.  Recycled Tires Jar Opener – Auto dealerships and mechanics can give these to customers. 
6.  Pine Tree Seedling – Employees can participate in a tree-planting day at the office campus.
7.  Organic T-shirt – Give one to each Earth Day event organizer and volunteer. 
8.  Compostable Pens – Hotels, banks and shops can use these biodegradable pens.
9.  Nonwoven Bag – Local grocery stores can eliminate plastic and paper.
10.  Hemp-Blend Polo – Companies can use this earth-friendly shirt for summer uniforms.

You might think elephant-poo products are just a clever-sounding marketing gimmick. Think again.  Since the paper uses no trees, it’s perfect for eco-conscious buyers.  Such products continue to pick up steam, including dinnerware made from bamboo, which grows up to four feet a day and is 100% biodegradable!

To see photos of the products and purchasing information for each, and to watch a video with the editor of Counselor magazine featuring the items, visit asicentral.com/earth.

What does your company do to help the environment?  Let me know by posting a comment or emailing me here.  I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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Wednesday
March 3, 2010

When Irish Eyes Are Shining, Promo Products Strike Gold

Filed under: Community, Using Ad Specialties

They say the whole world is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.  I’m Irish (and Scottish) year-round, but you still won’t catch me downing any green beer.  Instead, I’ll browse our very first list of luckiest promo products for ideas to pump up my celebration.

Whether your tastes run to lucky shamrocks or tricked-out pints, there’s a product for you and your clients, along with plenty of ways to launch St. Paddy’s Day advertising campaigns throughout March.  

Joe “The Joe Show” Haley struck gold at the end of the rainbow with a new video featuring the products.  Click here to watch the video and click here for photos and purchasing information.

Here are the 7 luckiest promo products:

1.  Irish Rubgy Shirt – Great for sports team promotions throughout March. 

2.  Shamrock Tattoo – Include these in themed mailings to college students.

3.  Light-Up Bottle Ring – Partygoers will love getting this fun bonus from their local tavern.

4.  Leprechaun Hat – Local restaurant servers and staffers can wear these to greet patrons.

5.  Necktie with Shamrocks – The perfect business gift for customers at banks and offices. 

6.  Irish Pint Glass – A classy pewter emblem adorns this business-gift favorite for executives.

7.  Plush Shamrock Toy – Daycare centers would enjoy giving these to children.

Let me know what products you’re bringing to the party by posting a comment or emailing me here.  And don’t drink too much green beer!  I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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Friday
February 26, 2010

New Full-Color Catalog Imprinting – Video

Filed under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties

“New” is the word of the week here at ASI Show San Diego. New show.  New city.  And a new full-color imprinting machine, featured for the first time at our catalog booth on the show floor.

Click here for my interview with ASI’s Jack Flohr, catalogs marketing director, as we demonstrate how quick and easy it is to imprint full-color logos. Distributors tell us this popular new feature is already ratcheting up their sales.

Every catalog you order can be imprinted and personalized with your logo and contact information in full-color any time throughout the year.  Catalogs, which are great for either mailing or a leave-behind, are a perfect vehicle for distributors to promote their brand and increase traffic to their website.

According to a recent ASI study of end-buyers, paper catalogs drive 93% of purchasing decisions  — and 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. 

Let me know how catalogs have boosted your sales by posting a comment or emailing me here.  I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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Friday
February 26, 2010

Tips for Marketing to Women

Filed under: ASI Shows, Using Ad Specialties

Today, more than half of all businesses are owned by women, who make or influence 85 percent of all purchasing decisions – to the tune of $7 trillion a year by some estimates. Their favorite products?  Ones that serve a dual purpose or support a good cause.

Click here for my video with some tips from an education session at the ASI Show San Diego on marketing to women.  I also showcased a number of great products I found at the show that women – and many men also – might enjoy, including:

  • Pack-A-Sack, from Bag Makers (asi/37940).  A big, sturdy imprintable bag with tailored edging that folds into a pocket-sized pouch for easy transport and helps support the Race for a Cure.
  • Walk-N-Roll, Ariel Premium Supply (asi/36730).  A radio pedometer that tracks how far you’ve run, walked or jogged – to the tune of an AM or FM station.
  • Eyeglass Cleaner Keychain, also from Ariel.  A handy cleaner complete with toggle and pads to quickly clear gunk from your glasses.
  • 5-Piece Manicure Set, from Sunscope (asi/90075).  Perfect compact carry-all comes in multiple colors with a large imprint area.  

And remember, every ASI Show features a women’s networking event and an education session with Promo Biz coach Rosalie Marcus.  Also, register now for our first-ever Women’s Summit May 4 in conjunction with ASI Show New York, with a keynote by celebrity real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran.

Which of your products are a hit with women? Let me know by posting a comment or emailing me here.  I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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Thursday
February 25, 2010

Educating San Diego on FOX TV

Filed under: ASI Shows, Media Coverage, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties

There’s a noticeable vibe on the show floor here at ASI San Diego, so much so that FOX 5dispatched a crew to the convention center for a segment on products catching everyone’s eye.

Click here to watch the video.  And click here for photos and info about the products featured on-air, including:

  • Guitar Shirt, from Think Geek (asi/91123).  Strum and play the front of this unique shirt, sure to be a hit with music fans and aspiring Van Halens. 
  • Eco-Friendly Golf Balls, from Phoenix Sports Promos (asi/77961).  The culmination of efforts of scientists to deliver the first “eco-friendly” ball to actually perform on the course.

  • Foaming Hand Sanitizer, from Humphrey Line (asi/62050).  Comes in a clear bottle with a white pump-top and is great for people on the run.
  • Elephant Poo Journal, from Spector & Co. (asi/88631).  Perfect-bound 3″x5″ jotter has a hard cover and 32 blank sheets made from 100% recycled and odorless paper.  And, yes, it’s actually made from elephant poo.
  • BBQ Set with Apron, from Gold Bond Inc. (asi/57653).  Includes a large spatula, and fork and tongs with wooden handles.  Perfect for tailgaters and grill-outs.
  • Spirit Hair, from Vonco Products (asi/94180).  Mohawk-style hair attached to a matching headband.  Ideal for parades, fund raisers, parties and festivals.

Let me know your favorite products by posting a comment or emailing me here.  I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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