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Thursday
March 19, 2009 Help Requested for Arts Council of PrincetonFiled under: Community, News About ASI
The Arts Council of Princeton (I’m on the board) moved into a wonderful new building a few months ago, assuming several years ago that it would be paid off by construction’s completion. While $8 million was raised, there’s still a $2 million mortgage. Given the current economic situation, raising big dollars has been tough. So, we’re keeping the mortgage for now, to the tune of $10,000 per month. The Arts Council of Princeton deserves to thrive. We provide low-cost arts programs — painting, music, dance, theater — to the community and no-cost arts programs to underprivileged children who otherwise wouldn’t experience the power of the arts. I think the arts can impact people in very positive ways, and know in my heart that my early exposure to the arts made me realize there were more possibilities in life than what I saw growing up. I’d like your assistance to help the Arts Council. Any amount of money is very appreciated. It could be $10, $20, $50 or $1,000 — or $10,000 if you just hit the lottery. And I really mean any amount. We’ve already downsized the staff, and there isn’t much more we can do on the cost side. To donate online, click here. If you prefer to mail your contribution, the address is: The overall site, at artscouncilofprinceton.org, explains the programs and why the organization is so vital to the community. For those of you who don’t know, Princeton is in Mercer County, New Jersey. The Arts Council serves the entire county and beyond, which includes a number of economically-challenged areas. (You aren’t giving to a bunch of Princeton fat cats.) If you are involved and passionate about another charitable organization and prefer not to support the Arts Council, I understand and appreciate that. In that case, I’d suggest you make a contribution to that group if you can. I’ll tell you that every charitable group needs help — overall giving is off 30-50% in most places. Thanks very much for considering my request, and for doing what you can for whatever charitable cause you want to support.
Wednesday
March 18, 2009 Promo Products to Keep us Focused – VideoFiled under: ASI Shows, Education, Members, Using Ad Specialties
The beauty of our industry is that promoting your business during downturns is cost-effective with promotional products, and now is the time to educate your clients about the high ROI advertising specialties provide. I mentioned earlier that my friends and I decided to take a break one weekend from the doom and gloom of the recession coverage in the media and I hosted a “Recession Calls it Quits” gathering. We traded ideas and looked at our glasses as half-full. For attendees I ordered – what else? – promotional products, and I wanted to share them with you so you could see what several industry suppliers created to help make the event memorable:
And during our recent ASI Show in New York, I found a clever bumper sticker saying “I Refuse to Participate in a Recession,” from Gill Studios (asi/56950). Click here to watch the video with the sticker now. I’ve had numerous conversations with people about what they’re doing to build their business. Tell me your ideas – post a comment now or email me. Also, visit YouTube to watch my video of hot products from New York and share it with your clients.
Wednesday
March 18, 2009 ASICentral Enhances Navigation, Education and SearchFiled under: Education, Industry Initiatives, Member Benefits, News About ASI, Research One thing that really makes my day is when I visit a website that’s well-designed, easy to navigate, and provides useful information – which is why I’m delighted to announce ASI’s recent upgrade of ASICentral.com. The new website is all part of our commitment to provide the best industry education for our members and to also help buyers and prospects understand the power of promotional products – especially now.
The user-friendly design and enhanced content enables suppliers and distributors to find the tools to help them grow their business, and provides more interactive videos and educational articles and webinars from the award-winning Counselor magazine and all of ASI’s six publications. Here are some more great enhancements:
There’s lots more. Click here to read the full press release. Let me know your favorite websites by posting a comment on the blog now.
Tuesday
March 10, 2009 Hot Products Video and Strong New York AttendanceFiled under: ASI Shows, Education, Using Ad Specialties New York is a great show town in every sense of the word and preliminary attendance is nearly 2,800 distributors from 1,338 firm firms – up more than 7% from 1,247 firms last year. Education Day attracted nearly 450 distributors and is up 8% from year ago. Read the press release here. Add New York’s numbers to the attendance at ASI Orlando in January and a record-setter in Dallas and we’ve delivered the industry’s most successful first-quarter shows. And the products I saw at the ASI Show this week were the top of the heap (as the song goes). Watch my products video from the ASI booth featuring unique items like:
Also, I visited Otto Cap International (asi/75350) and discovered innovative cotton caps that have UV protection. Caps are among the most popular advertising specialties and click here to watch the video right from the booth. And, at ReturnMoi (asi/82261), I found proactive security ID labels that help you find things you lose, even pets. Click here to watch the video. In other show news, this morning, the Oprah of Madison Avenue – Mary Lou Quinlan – rocked the crowd with some awesome insight every businessman on the planet will certainly attest to: understanding female consumers provide the key to unlocking what works in providing customer service excellence. In addition to networking and education, last night attendees also enjoyed very special evening at the top of Rockefeller Center. No matter how many times I see the NYC skyline, it never fails to thrill me – especially from the 64th floor. Tell me your New York stories. Post a comment on the blog now or email me at tim.andrews@asicentral.com.
Tuesday
March 3, 2009 Top 5 Reasons to Advertise With Catalogs During a RecessionFiled under: Education, Industry Initiatives, Using Ad Specialties
And yes, catalogs are key, especially during a recession. In fact, research suggests that companies that market themselves more during a recession increase value and sales immediately, and up to three years beyond the end of the recession. Catalogs provide a great way to market yourself, and here are five additional reasons why you should consider using catalogs to gain serious market share right now: Top 5 Reasons to Advertise With Catalogs During a Recession: 5. Wise investment. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that for every dollar a business reduces its advertising by in a downturn, it will need to spend three dollars after the recession to recapture the original market share. 4. Smart. Catalogs are targeted, strategic and niche-driven marketing vehicles that also drive 50%-70% of online sales. 3. Brand yourself. Only ASI invests in graphic designers, a photo studio and consultants to create catalogs that build your professional brand and speak to the latest trends and buying habits of your customers. 2. Proven reach. The average catalog is viewed by three or more prospective customers. Even online auctioneer eBay is shipping catalogs to reach its customers and prospects. 1. Unmatched success. Research from the Direct Marketing Association shows that catalogs are still the largest revenue generator, averaging nearly 50% of all sales in 2007 and 2008. Now’s the time to be smarter with your spending and to increase your advertising with catalogs. – Dan O’Halloran is Senior Vice President of Distributor Services. Email him here.
Monday
March 2, 2009 Industry Captain Retiring After 47 YearsFiled under: Guest Blog, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI From Matthew Cohn, vice chairman of ASI Family of Companies: When Judy Moore-Keefe first began working for the Cohn family, the year was 1962 and the company was Santa Claus Industries. Judy started out as a typist for Maurice Cohn (father of ASI chairman Norman Cohn).
From left in photo: Julie Thomas, Dave Wirth, Tim Andrews (president and CEO of ASI), Judy Moore-Keefe, Debra Cohn, and Matthew Cohn (son of ASI chairman Norman Cohn). How times have changed. Fast forward 47 years and there are now more than one billion computers in use worldwide. And Judy is retiring as director of operations at ASI Computer Systems. From now on, every day is Saturday for Judy, who plans to spend more time with family (especially grandkids) and travel more with her husband. ASI Chairman Norman Cohn says of the long-term employee, “Judy has been the hardest working and most consistent force in driving ASI Computer Systems forward. Her tireless efforts and constant attention to detail have proven invaluable to this company as well as to countless organizations and people whom she has worked with over her outstanding career.” Calling Judy an integral part of the team, Dave Wirth, president and COO of ASI Computer Systems, says her leadership and support will be missed. “I wish her the absolute best and hope she can enjoy this next phase of life as much as I have enjoyed my time working with her over the last 30 years,” says Dave. “It is really a tribute to the Cohns and how they went about building good and loyal employees that are willing to work for 47 years for the same company.” At retirement, Judy’s responsibilities included all development, support and training of the ProfitMaker systems. Judy worked most closely with the management team that included Dave and Julie Thomas, director of administration and finance. Together, they brought more than 100 years of experience to the promotional products industry. For over 25 years, ASI Computer Systems has been a leader in providing complete business management software solutions to the promotional products and document management industries. ASI Computer Systems began out of a need for computer software designed specifically for the promotional products industry. Prior to the introduction of the computer division, Maurice and his son, Norman Cohn, had been very active in the specialty advertising industry. At one time their business included five lines that were marketed nationwide. Due to the many years of experience in the specialty industry, the ASI software was born, and included the necessary requirements and specifications essential to the promotional products industry.
Wednesday
February 25, 2009 Time to Get Focused on the RecoveryFiled under: Using Ad Specialties
While certainly many of us have been affected by the economic environment, there are many things we can do to help us improve sales – like marketing smarter, networking more, being better informed and asking clients how business has changed so you can understand how to help. I also think we need to get out of negative thinking as a group and be responsible for improving our own psychological outlook. So for a few hours this weekend, I’m hosting a gathering of friends to celebrate my own personal declaration of the end of the recession. Here’s part of my invitation: “So, rather than wait for the economists and their cloudy crystal balls, several of us looked into our glass half-full and saw in tiny print: Recession calls it quits.” Maybe you could host a networking or business social for your clients and friends in your area? You might get some new prospects, learn how you can help your customers be more successful, and maybe get a new order? I’m having snacks and beverages at mine and ordering several promotional products with the logo you see in this post to drive my message home with attendees and to remind them that we need to remain focused. What are you doing to find ways to win in this economy? Tell me what you think anytime – post a comment now or email me at tim.andrews@asicentral.com. |
While we’re acknowledging the economic challenges of today, we’re not burrowing our heads in the sand. Instead, we’re leading the way to aggressively help distributors find opportunities for success. 
When ASI Computer Systems was started in 1978, Judy became the original support person and trainer for the system. Back then — when just a half million computers were in use in the U.S. — Judy was a rarity in a field traditionally dominated by men.
I’m getting tired of the doom and gloom about the economy in the news media, which was originally quick to call the beginning of this recession and is happy to continue providing the play-by-play on an hourly basis.