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Monday
March 22, 2010 Let the Revolution Begin: ESP Web and ESP Orders DebutFiled under: Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits, News About ASI Tomorrow, one of the most ambitious efforts we’ve ever undertaken becomes reality when we start rolling out the new ESP Web and ESP Orders during our first virtual trade show of 2010. If you haven’t seen what ESP Web and ESP Orders will do to revolutionize how distributors and suppliers interact, watch the video here. The roll-out is the culmination of more than a year’s worth of work on the next generation of ESP and a new product, called ESP Orders. From the start, we put you – our members – front and center, and we reviewed thousands of your comments to develop revolutionary new services that satisfy your business needs. We also relied on a number of beta testers, like Bobby Lehew, director of operations for Robyn Promo (asi/309656), who took the new services out for a test drive and provided feedback. His conclusion? “ESP Web is simple sophistication at its best. I submitted a project to a client within minutes of using it for the first time. I have the freedom to access ESP Web from anywhere and it lets me concentrate on my clients and their needs.” This next generation of ESP is now browser-based, meaning it will run in Explorer, Firefox, Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome. ESP Orders, brand-new, will allow distributors to easily transfer information from ESP into a sales order and then into standard purchase orders that can be sent to suppliers with the click of one button. The data will be easily integrated into ASI Computer’s ProfitMaker, QuickBooks or your own enterprise financial system. No one has to rekey data, and this is a huge time-saver everyone will love. It sounds simple, but getting this right required an entirely new approach to ESP – figuring out how to provide a true web-based platform, preserve the functionality users depend on every day and reduce inefficiencies between distributors and suppliers. ESP Web and ESP Orders will start rolling out to segments of ESP users during the virtual trade show taking place live from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT tomorrow, Tuesday, March 23. A graduated rollout will continue throughout the spring. Training videos covering major new features of the services will be available on the log-in screen of ESP Web. Demonstrations of ESP Web and ESP Orders will continue in the training room at the ASI booth and in select “power session” rooms at all upcoming super regional ASI Shows, including ASI New York and ASI Chicago. I’d love to know what you think so please, kick the tires and take it for a spin if you can. Then post a comment or email me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Friday
March 19, 2010 ASI Named a “Best Places to Work”Filed under: Community, News About ASI There’s no doubt tough times cause businesses to ask a great deal of employees. So it was especially gratifying to me that so many of our employees recently voted ASI one of the region’s “Best Places to Work.” Greater Philadelphia Media sponsored a contest to recognize top employers, based on employee nominations. Altogether, more than 100 local companies received nominations. In the end, ASI was nominated in nine categories and won the “Best Places to Work” award among companies with more than 200 employees. This week, our human resources department (pictured, along with me and ASI vice chairman Matthew Cohn) picked up the award and enjoyed a celebratory luncheon. We all share this award with Carol Albright, our SVP of HR, her team and everyone who works here. When employees talk about why they like working at ASI, they usually mention benefits like our on-site day care, training classes and wellness program, which rewards participants for things like going to the gym and stopping smoking. And four times a year, we recognize individual employees or teams for outstanding efforts and accomplishments. Not surprisingly, a lot of companies are cutting back on such programs, thinking it’s a way to save some money. But, as a recent story in ASI’s Successful Promotions magazine shows, companies are wise to continuously reinvigorate their incentive and recognition programs to keep loyal employees. ASI’s Counselor magazine also has “best places to work” competitions – for the promotional products industry – and you learn what past winners have done correctly in their profiles here. Let me know what your company does for its employees by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
March 18, 2010 Register Now for 2010’s First Virtual Trade ShowFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI This Tuesday, we launch our first virtual trade show of 2010. It’s free for distributors – and there’s still time to register by clicking here. The show, taking place from 10 a.m-3 p.m. EST, features virtual show booths, multimedia demos, digital catalogs, online sample requests, a complete passport program and more than $17,000 in prizes. The event has already attracted more than 20 top suppliers, including the Magnet Group (asi/68507), PrimeLine (asi/79530) and Snugz USA (asi/88060). Enjoy online ASI Education sessions while networking and selling in real-time through interactive multimedia booths. During the show, we’ll also launch the much-anticipated, revolutionary new ESP Web and ESP Orders services. ESP Web and ESP Orders will start rolling out to segments of ESP users Tuesday and a graduated rollout will continue throughout April. We held two virtual trade shows in 2009, and based on feedback, both qualified as successes. The shows are an ideal way for distributors and suppliers to connect, learn and sell without even leaving the office. At a time when we all could use innovative methods to be more efficient, these shows are perfect for reaching new prospects, grabbing market share and getting educated. A virtual show doesn’t replace face-to-face meetings you get at national shows (ASI New York is around the corner in May), but for some sales staff who can’t travel, virtual shows present prime selling opportunities. Even if you can’t attend Tuesday’s show, you’ll be able to access it on demand once it’s posted online. In addition, ASI will host three additional virtual trade shows on April 28, June 16 and September 22. Let me know your experiences with virtual trade shows by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Wednesday
March 17, 2010 The Secret to Success: Do What You LoveFiled under: Community, Members, News About ASI In a recent radio interview, I was asked about my early goals and how they helped me realize my dreams. In short, I live by a pretty simple guiding rule: do what you love.
As I told radio show host Herb Cohen, my family was on food stamps when I was young. But, that never stopped me from pursuing ambitious goals. After college, I left the great Midwest for New York City, starting out as a national copyreader for Dow Jones News Service – and ending up president and chief executive of Dow Jones Reuters Business Interactive. Under my management, Dow Jones was one of the first companies to provide business information to corporate desktops over the Internet. Today, I head a company that’s equally ambitious and forward-thinking. Here at ASI, digital products now make up 70% of our service lineup, up from 20% just a few short years ago. Our emphasis on cutting-edge technology – and an investment in the people who drive that technology – sets ASI apart and keeps us finely attuned to business today and the future. In a real sense, I’m still following the same dream I had as a kid: doing what I love. You can hear what I had to say about our industry during the Executive Leaders Radio interview, a weekly roundtable with executives and CEOs, live this Friday from 8-9 a.m., on WWDB Radio. Just click here to listen to the live stream of the show during that hour. Let me know your secrets to success by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
March 11, 2010 Texas Here We Come: Advantages Roadshow Continues 2010 TourFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI There’s no sweeter phrase in business than “We’re number one” and that distinction belongs to ASI’s Advantages Roadshow. The industry’s most successful traveling show is just 5 weeks into its 16-week tour and has already attracted more than 3,000 distributors. Next week, the 2010 tour hits Texas: Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Last year, the Texas portion of the tour drew 617 distributors and 73 supplier companies, giving exhibitors the opportunity to spend time with many more clients and prospects than they could by making traditional sales calls. It’s free for distributors to attend! Texas – home to the second largest number of distributors – is a lucky state for ASI. In February, ASI Show Dallas attracted distributors from 1,383 firms, along with about 500 suppliers. The show – the largest industry event in the Southwest – returns to Dallas next February 16-18, 2011, so mark your calendars. Each year, the Advantages Roadshow visits more than 70 cities throughout North America, including Canada, providing suppliers with an intimate, one-on-one environment to introduce products and services to quality distributors and decorators. And, three times a year, the show co-locates with the Stitches Roadshow. The two-for-one shows provide decorators with opportunities to meet equipment, software, supply and service providers face-to-face, see new wearables vendors, enjoy valuable education and network with other decorators. Let me know how the Advantages Roadshows have worked for you by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
March 8, 2010 Take the State of the Industry Survey TodayFiled under: Guest Blog, Research
So, why is it important? Because of the in-depth reports each year on key sales, marketing and operational metrics that industry practitioners can then use to build their businesses. Nowhere else do you get the scope of this detailed information about our industry. And, it’s free to ASI members. What do you have to do? All we ask is that you take 10 minutes to complete the survey. And you could win some great prizes just for participating. There are distributor winners chosen at random for cash prizes totaling $1,500, and suppliers can win one of three full-page ads in an ASI publication of their choice. If you’re a distributor, take the survey here. If you’re a supplier, take the survey here. If you’d rather take a paper version of the study, email me at lbasinait@asicentral.com and I’ll send you the PDF you can mail back to us. But hurry, the deadline is Friday, March 19. Thank you in advance for your participation in this important research. For additional research from ASI, click here. — Larry Larry Basinait is ASI‘s executive director of research services.
Wednesday
March 3, 2010 When Irish Eyes Are Shining, Promo Products Strike GoldFiled under: Community, Using Ad Specialties
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. |
Each year, ASI conducts the most comprehensive and important research about our industry, the Counselor State of the Industry.