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Thursday
February 26, 2009 Win $1000! Take the State of the Industry SurveyFiled under: Survey Hey ASI members, wanna win a $1,000? In this economy, who wouldn’t?! Counselor is currently polling professionals in the industry to see how the market did in 2008. We need your input. We’re inviting both suppliers and distributors to take our annual State of the Industry survey. So, please take some time to click the appropriate link below and complete the survey. You’ll be entered into a random drawing to win up to $1,000.
So what are you waiting for? Vote now and you could be a grand richer! –GRAND daddy
Wednesday
February 25, 2009 ASICentral Unveils New Legal SectionFiled under: Education, site updates
“We want news regarding industry laws and regulations!” And ASICentral has responded with a new section devoted entirely to the latest information regarding everything Legal, including new rules and regs that can affect ASI members. For instance, did you know that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has voted to grant a limited one-year stay on legislation meant to tightly regulate the manufacturing of children’s toys and other items? Or that the SEC is reportedly investigating whether ASI member American Apparel (asi/35297) nearly went bankrupt in December? Or that a new proposed law would limit healthcare market sales? With our new Legal section, you can keep your finger on the pulse of this important segment of the promotional products industry. Check it out here, and come back often for updates. – A. Esai Central, ESQ.
Monday
February 23, 2009 ASICentral Joins FacebookFiled under: General, site updates
Welcome to the new Facebook home of ASICentral.com! Through the new ASICentral Facebook fan page, we can send web site updates and news to all members (”fans”), provide helpful links, broadcast upcoming events, post the latest photos and videos and more, all while encouraging a sense of community. Curious? Become a fan today! – FanBoySlim
Friday
February 20, 2009 Poll Results: Predicting 1st Quarter SalesFiled under: Poll Results Hmmm, I don’t know what to make of the latest poll results on ASICentral. Either we’re all relentlessly pessimistic, or wearing rose-colored glasses because nearly 50% of the 431 votes cast were for two answers on extreme opposite ends of the spectrum pertaining to the following question: How do you expect your Q1 2009 sales to compare to Q1 2008? With 7 answer options as follows:
With the economy in recession, I fully expected the results to lean toward the negative, and they do, but they also lean toward the positive as well. Most respondents, 30.39% (131 votes), feel that 1st quarter 2009 sales will decrease more than 10% when compared to 1st quarter 2008. However, the second most respondents, 16.01% (69 votes), feel that sales will increase more than 10%! I realize that the negative outweighs the positive almost 2 to 1, but it’s still an interesting stat. And this is where I do my famous bottom line routine and try to make sense out of these results. Bottom Line: With the economy in chaos, a stimulus bill nobody can agree on or make sense of, a housing market that’s in shambles and chimpanzees on the loose, I really don’t think anyone’s sure what to make of their first quarter sales in 2009. The sweet thing is we’ll actually have verifiable results soon on ASICentral in our Research section under Industry Sales. Check back soon for results! And here’s the visual results of this month’s poll:
–TeamGreenspan
Monday
February 16, 2009 ASICentral Goes GreenFiled under: Markets, Research
With the eco-friendly market skyrocketing and industry experts proclaiming it’s no longer a fad but a trend, we here at ASICentral decided it was about time to create a home on our web site dedicated exclusively for the Green market. Click here to find information regarding the eco-friendly trend, including:
And much more! – meanVINgreen
Friday
February 6, 2009 ASI Show Dallas: Day 2Filed under: The ASI Show The ASI Show Dallas, Day 2, picked up in the same place as Day 1 … from the portable ASI Radio studios at the Dallas Convention Center. For a half-hour immediately before exhibit booths opened, The ASI Internet Radio team warmed up the crowd and offered up some ideas for how distributors can thrive in 2009. At this morning’s keynote speech at ASI Dallas, author and business consultant Don Hutson shared his entrepreneurial experiences with an energetic audience. Hutson, co-author of The One Minute Entrepreneur, implored distributors in the crowd to have passion for their businesses and make sure to work harder and smarter this year. In a Power Session on the trade show floor ASI Dallas, David Fellman offered attendees ideas on how to expand their businesses from print and forms into the ad specialty market. Counselor caught up with Fellman immediately after his session to find out some ideas on how distributors can expand their businesses. Counselor was on the prowl this morning for the most unique and interesting items on the ASI Dallas show floor. Managing Editor Joe Haley even located a cooler-scooter. And finally, ASI’s Joe Haley interviews attendees at the conclusion of the ASI Show Dallas, 2009! Hope you enjoyed the coverage. Reporting remotely from Trevose, PA … –vicariousVIN
Friday
February 6, 2009 ASI Show Dallas: Party Time!Filed under: The ASI Show Well, I wouldn’t have believed it with my own eyes, but apparently ASICentral’s multi-talented designer/radio engineer/brewmeister Steve “Chinstrap” Hawk is also a hit on the dance floor! (Well, at least in his own mind.) In this video from the famed ASI Show Gala, held Thursday night at Eddie Deen’s Ranch in Dallas, not only does Chinstrap don the ASI TV mic like a seasoned television reporter, but he gets down like Diddy, Line Dance-style. Watch a video of the ‘Strap schmoozin’ the ladies while learning some southern dance moves. Yee-haw, go on with your big self, Steve-O!
And if that’s not enough party video for ya, Stay tuned for coverage from the official Day 2 of The ASI Show Dallas! Reporting remotely — and jealously – from Trevose, PA … –vicariousVIN
Friday
February 6, 2009 ASI Show Dallas: Day 1Filed under: The ASI Show
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a big shout-out to Chinstrap and Spice, two of ASICentral’s finest down in Big D, who make the radio show tick. I just want to let you guys know, we’re all counting on ya! (And you came through again. Leslie Nielsen would be proud.) Once the Radio Show wrapped, the ASI Show floor opened and the cameras were on! Don’t miss the following videos from Day 1:
Stay tuned for coverage from the official Day 2 of The ASI Show Dallas! Reporting remotely from Trevose, PA … –vicariousVIN
Thursday
February 5, 2009 ASI Show Dallas: Education Day VideosFiled under: The ASI Show
From Dallas, the first unofficial day of the show saw all member types attending education sessions ranging from New Distributor workshops like 8 Biggest Mistakes Distributors Make, to Supplier Clinics like 10 Easy Ways to Boost Your ESP Online Visibility. And ASI TV was there capturing interviews with session instructors. Don’t miss:
Stay tuned for coverage from the official Day 1 of The ASI Show Dallas! Reporting remotely from Trevose, PA … –vicariousVIN |
With Facebook becoming an online social networking juggernaut — my mother’s got a facebook account, and she’s 60! — it was just a matter of time before ASICentral found a home there too.
Listen to the archive
Watch a video
The first official day of the ASI Show Dallas kicked off in fine fashion as the ASI Internet Radio gang broadcast live from the Dallas Convention Center. The rousing show included special guests discussing the economy, a game show, commentary from suppliers on the show floor with the Joe Show’s very own Joe Haley, and much more! Didn’t catch the show? 
With the economy reeling, now’s the time for professional self-improvement and to keep on top of the latest industry trends. What better way to learn about the industry and to hone your skills than with Education Day at The ASI Show!