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Thursday
April 21, 2011 Check Out the Show Stats ReportFiled under: ASI Shows, Member Benefits, News About ASI The ASI Show now offers exhibitors a monthly report that allows them to track attendance metrics and determine their all-important rate of return. Show Statistics is a great tool for exhibitors showcasing their wares at ASI trade shows and the Advantages Roadshows. When combined with ASI’s monthly media stats report, it’s sure to help exhibitors to maximize results and meet business goals and plans. Key stats in the report include exhibitor leads scans by show and by region and number of scans compared to competitors based on usage of Showcare’s scanner, the official ASI Show leads-retrieval provider. A team at ASI consolidates data from a variety of sources to create comprehensive reports tracking all ASI shows and roadshows for exhibitors and sponsors. The tailored reports are emailed monthly along with ASI Media, ESP and LogoMall media statistics. The reports are also available online. The Show Statistics report features:
Every year, ASI hosts five annual ASI Shows in Orlando, Dallas, New York, San Diego (coming up fast May 18-20) and Chicago (July 19-21), along with over 70 Advantages Roadshows and ASI Holiday Preview Tours. If you have questions about any of the shows or the new reports, contact Karen DiTomasso, ASI’s VP of sales 215-953-3768 and kditomasso@asicentral.com. Or post a comment or email me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
April 20, 2011 Log On and LearnFiled under: ASI Shows, News About ASI The phrase of the day at our most recent Virtual Trade Show was “social media.” Everyone wants to know how to better promote their business using online hawkers like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Hopefully, everyone’s questions were answered at ASI’s social media class during the show, which in itself attracted more than a thousand visitors. All told, there were an average 524 visitors per booth, and visitors stayed an average 63.5 minutes, conducting 723 one-to-one chats and viewing 1,025 documents and 562 webcasts. One participant told us she was thrilled to attend in her PJs and slippers, which is the real beauty of virtual shows. No matter where you are – or how you’re dressed – you can log on and learn, network and sell. If you missed this week’s virtual event, you can access it now on-demand – another great perk. And stay tuned for our next show, scheduled for June 14. As always, it will feature top suppliers, virtual show booths, extensive education, multimedia demos, digital catalogs, online sample requests, and tens of thousands of dollars in prizes. Registration is free. We know the all-day, online events are effective because exhibiting suppliers experience an average 24% increase in ESP searches the day after each show. And, don’t forget – you can attend education classes that are applied to your BASI or MASI certificates right from the show floor. While virtual events won’t replace in-person shows (San Diego is May 18-20) you can’t beat the ease and value. If you were at the show, tell me your experience – and offer any suggestions for improvement – by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
April 20, 2011 Pick a Product and Grow SalesFiled under: News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties If Guinness World Records had a category for largest promotional products catalog, ASI would surely have a winner in the 2011 Media File. The 56th annual edition clocks in at 287 pages and is packed with thousands of products from hundreds of suppliers in all price ranges – including 51 new suppliers. It’s got a bit to go before it can compete with the world’s largest book, a 346-page tome that weighs about as much as a Mack truck, but we’re on our way. Media File is so popular, we’ve already pre-sold 75% of all available copies. But there’s still time to order yours. To order online and to see sample pages, click here. For more info, contact Dan Brown, executive director of distributor services, at dbrown@asicentral.com or at 800-546-1392. This year, as an added bonus, we’ve added promotional planning guides and end-buyer case studies that support our catalog research studies, which say over 86% of active distributors think catalogs to be important or even essential for generating sales. The hardcover book contains every product you can imagine, including eco-friendly items and a special wearables section. Our easy-reference calendar makes creating campaigns a snap and you’ll love the price and product indexes since they make it easy to choose products to suit any client’s budget. Media File is the one book to include in your sales arsenal. Display it proudly in your showroom and hand it out to your most favored clients. As for me, now that it’s finally spring, I’m going to get started on breaking the world record for largest tomato plant. I’ve only got to grow one bigger than the one that covered 610 feet at Disney’s Epcot Center. If you think I can do it, let me know by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. 
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Thursday
April 14, 2011 ASI Needs Dynamic SpeakersFiled under: ASI Shows, Guest Blog, Member Benefits, Members, News About ASI How’d you like to join the ranks of dynamo speakers like Michael J. Fox, Laura W. Bush and Mike Ditka? Well, now’s your chance. All you need to do is qualify to become an ASI Show speaker. Right now, the ASI Education team is looking for top-notch industry educators who can deliver compelling presentations on the most effective tools and techniques used in business today. Click here to connect with us. ASI is serious about education. In 2010 alone, 4,600 distributors took more than 16,000 live education courses at ASI trade shows, making ASI the largest educator in the $17 billion ad specialty industry. Each year, ASI commits $1.3 million to educate its members, and we’re really proud to be able to offer industry professionals free, up-to-the-minute live and online education In 2010, in response to lots of member requests, we launched the ASI Certification program, which recognizes industry professionals with Bachelor of Advertising Specialty Information (BASI) and Master of Advertising Specialty Information (MASI) certificates, the industry equivalent of a bachelor’s or master’s degree. These certifications are awarded to industry professionals who have demonstrated their commitment to service and continuing education. To date, 6,700 industry professionals have registered for classes needed to obtain an ASI certification. And, participating in the certification program is free, user-friendly and hassle-free for our members. We track all of the live and online ASI Education courses that members take automatically via our Online Learning Center (www.asicentral.com/onlinelearning), so they can easily access their transcript and remaining course requirements. If you want to help educate the advertising specialty industry, ASI is where it’s at. We’d love to learn more about you and your expertise. Click here to tell us about yourself. You never know where it will lead you. If you have any other questions, email me at nrollender@asicentral.com. – Nicole Rollender
Thursday
March 31, 2011 ASI = AwesomeFiled under: News About ASI It’s one thing for employees to say they’re happy. It’s another thing altogether for them to vote anonymously to get their company officially named a great place to work. Recently, enough of them did just that, helping ASI score an official award from Greater Philadelphia Media, which sponsored a contest to recognize top regional employers, based on nominations by their employees. For the second year in a row, ASI won the “Best Places to Work” award among companies with more than 200 employees. I’d like to congratulate our entire HR team, ably headed by Senior Vice President Carol Albright, who’s worked at ASI since 1986. In addition to the top award, ASI was nominated by its employees in the categories of Best Place for Working Moms, Best Employer Overall and Best Employer on the Job Training. We’re now actively recruiting for numerous positions, so if you know anyone with a stellar resume who wants to work at one of the best places in the state, please email Nicole Saba in HR at nsaba@asicentral.com and check www.asicentral.com for more info on the company. We especially need account executives, a QA engineer and a junior Web developer, among numerous other positions. ASI offers competitive salaries, an award-winning wellness program and an array of educational programs, including an innovative mentor program and in-house training classes about the advertising specialty industry, the company and its products. We also have a lot of fun. Every year, employees enjoy a killer field day, ice cream social, Halloween bash and holiday mixer. And we never fail to recognize outstanding professional achievements through quarterly president’s awards and an annual employee awards ceremony. So if you think you or someone you know has the right stuff, please get in touch. Let me know what you think makes for a great place to work by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
March 24, 2011 NYC Show Ends on High NoteFiled under: ASI Shows, Community, Members, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties ASI just wrapped its New York City trade show and I’m pleased to announce an increase in distributor firms of 4% over last year. Like an army of dedicated mail carriers, 2,400 distributors from 16 countries braved unseasonably cold weather and surprising spring sleet and slush to head to the Javits Center this week. One of my favorite events was Thursday’s speed-networking session – the industry’s biggest. Click here for my Tim’s Take on the session and an interview with ASI’s professional development manager, Dana Reaume (pictured below). How many of you hate getting your photo taken because it never looks professional enough? We hear you, which is why we set up the ASI Social Networking Booth, where a professional photographer will take your photo for use on all your social media sites. Perfect for your Facebook page. So far, nearly 500 members have taken advantage of this free service. If you missed it at the New York show, don’t worry. We’ll be in San Diego, May 18-20, and in Chicago, July 19-21. I promise you, it’s a snap. Click here to take a look. The New York show is always one of my favorites because I worked in the city for so many years and it always feels like going home. I love seeing old friends and checking out all the innovative new products. This year, we saw thousands of items showcased by 350 suppliers, including more than 100 exhibitors who weren’t in New York last year. We got tons of positive feedback from suppliers and distributors who were excited by steady traffic during the two exhibition days. Jeremy Rich from Debco (asi/48885) heard great things about the 75 new products his company exhibited and Lindsay Mortensen from SnugZ USA (asi/88060) described the show as a good mix of quality and quantity. Distributor Gary Goodhart from AIA Corporation (asi/109480) said they bring sales reps in from all over. “They really benefit from the great education,” he said, “meeting with suppliers and seeing everything that’s new for the year.” Let me know what kind of show experience you had and if you have any suggestions for next year by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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. |
