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Friday
February 18, 2011 Dallas Show Sets RecordFiled under: ASI Shows, Community, Members, News About ASI I’m very pleased to share the news that our Dallas show attracted nearly 3,600 distributors, an increase of 8.6% from last year, representing 1,545 distributor firms, up 10.5% – and a new record. In addition to education and 500 exhibitors, the three-day event featured a keynote by first lady Laura W. Bush, who addressed nearly 600, a record keynote attendance. Mrs. Bush also hosted an intimate cocktail and lunch reception during the 2nd Annual ASI Women’s Summit. From among 30 finalists, the summit included the first-ever “Top Women to Watch in the Advertising Specialty Industry” Awards ceremony. In this pic, Mrs. Bush graciously poses with some of the women in attendance. We got lots of great feedback from the show. Kristina Fredericks from Moderne Glass (asi/71920) said the traffic was strong. “We’ve received a lot of great leads and sample requests and are putting together a number of programs. It’s been a fabulous show and we’re very pleased.” Lori Bauer from Norwood BIC Graphic (asi/40480) agreed. “Distributors are excited for the new sales year. We are seeing lots of order opportunities and business is already coming in. ASI Dallas was the perfect event to launch our latest promotion for Norwood Bags and Drinkware.” Mark Gammon from The Vernon Company (asi/351700) called the show “terrific” and said, “It’s the perfect way to kick off the new year – by seeing our preferred suppliers and discussing our clients’ needs with them.” Michael Hartney from That First Impression LLC (asi/343536) summed it all up when he said, “I’m leaving with great sales ideas.” Without a doubt, our 2011 show momentum indicates no sign of stopping as we forge ahead to the ASI Show in New York City in Tuesday, March 22, through Wednesday, March 24. Let me know your thoughts by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
February 18, 2011 Laura Bush Inspires Dallas CrowdFiled under: ASI Shows, Members, News About ASI Former first lady Laura Bush wowed a standing room only crowd of nearly 600 at our keynote address in Dallas Friday morning. The audience laughed, cried – and gave her several standing ovations. Mrs. Bush described life in and out of the White House and spoke of finding her identity as First Lady through advocacy on issues near to her heart, such as improving education, literacy initiatives and enhancing the lives of women around the world through education and health awareness. “To sit here and hear her say that we’re women and we can do anything and this is a women’s world was moving,” said Norma Westphal of Proforma JETT Eagle Advertising. “She made me cry.” She got a huge laugh when she showed off her favorite promotional item – a Laura Bush bobblehead (pictured) her aides found in a Washington, D.C. gift shop shortly after the Bush presidency ended. The worst part? The bobblehead was already on the discount rack. Mrs. Bush also spoke of her first night in the White House. After a whirlwind of inaugural balls, she lay down with aching feet and felt only peace because her immediate family was safe and together. “How often do you have nearly everyone you love under one roof?” she asked. She spoke movingly of the turbulent times surrounding September 11, and recounted how a secret service agent first informed her of the attacks. She said she sat stricken with Senator Ted Kennedy in his office as the scope of the tragedy became clear and that night she and her husband hunkered in a subterranean bunker, fearing a direct attack on the White House. “We awoke on September 12 to a different life,” she said. In addition, she mentioned the personal pain her husband felt when he talked with families of military personnel killed in Iraq. Mrs. Bush also discussed her Texas roots and said she and her husband were glad to be living again in the place they’ve always thought of as home.” We’re living the afterlife in a state George calls the promised land,” said Mrs. Bush. She was a genuine crowd-pleaser. “I really liked her humor and all the tidbits about her life that she shared,” said Martha Smith of AIA/RC Sales. During an afternoon keynote, Mrs. Bush addressed attendees at ASI’s second annual Women’s Summit at the Adolphus Hotel. Highlights included her thoughts on how empowering women is the most effective way to improve a society’s quality of life. She also shared details of her initiatives as first lady, such as advocating for women’s rights in Afghanistan and promoting women’s health. If you were at the keynotes, let me know what you thought 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.
Wednesday
February 16, 2011 A Hot Time in TexasFiled under: ASI Shows, Education, News About ASI The ASI show in Dallas opened Wednesday with a bustling Education Day featuring six dynamic new speakers and a slew of sessions – all of which qualify toward the Advertising Specialty Institute Certification Program. We’re hosting a “Build Your Industry Contacts” networking reception and Thursday we start two days of exhibiting – including nearly 120 suppliers that did not exhibit at Dallas last year. There are tons of wild and crazy new products – from the wacky and weird to the super cool and high-tech. I’ll showcase some of them in upcoming Tim’s Takes videos. Thursday night, we return to what’s always a hootin’ hollarin’ good time at the Ultimate Texas Bash at Eddie Deen’s Ranch. Friday, a sold-out crowd will enjoy a morning keynote by former first lady Laura Bush, who’s also addressing a lunchtime crowd at our second annual ASI Women’s Summit. I can’t wait to hear what she has to say about her days in the White House and especially her advocacy work on behalf of women’s rights in Afghanistan and women’s health. Stay tuned for updates all this week. On with the show! If you’re in Dallas, tell me about your experiences 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. |
