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Tuesday
August 10, 2010 2nd Quarter Sales Verdict? Industry’s Looking GoodFiled under: Research
This is great news for the industry and we’re hoping the trend continues through 2010! Also, we’re curious what you’re 3rd quarter 2010 stats will be when compared with 3rd quarter 2009. Please take the poll below.
Wednesday
July 21, 2010 Counselor State of the Industry 2010Filed under: Research, Uncategorized, site updates
From the exclusive Distributor and Supplier Top 40 list to the strategies on how to improve your business, the Counselor 2010 State of the Industry is chock full of stats, facts, how-to manuals and much more! Plus, as an added online bonus, we’ve created a video with tons of charts, graphs, quotes and “Did You Knows” regarding the industry in 2009. So what are you waiting for?! Check out www.stateoftheindustry.com now!
Thursday
June 3, 2010 Top 100 Markets For Ad Specialty SalesFiled under: Markets, Research A recent exclusive Counselor study unveiled the best cities for ad specialty distributors to do business in right now. The list revealed the Top 25 metropolitan statistical areas — or MSAs — that have the most potential for promotional product distributors to find business. For the online version of this feature, we decided to extend the list to the largest 100 markets and give them not only a rank, but a grade too, with the thinking that just because a city made the list doesn’t mean it’s ideal for ad specialty sales. So, the top 20 cities in the list are all considered Grade “A”; the next 20, Grade “B”; etc … all the way to City #100, which, for the sake of this list, received a grade of “F”. And since it’s an online feature, of course we decided to make it interactive and fun! All 100 city/markets are listed alphabetically in a right-hand scrolling area. Click on a city and a full-color image representing that city will pop up, along with a rank and grade as well as pertinent statistical info for that city, including annual ad specialty sales, population, number of small businesses, etc … So without further ado, we present Counselormag.com’s 100 Largest Markets for Ad Specialty Sales! Click here and enjoy!
Friday
March 12, 2010 Win Cash and Prizes Just for Taking Our SurveysFiled under: Research, Uncategorized
But this research would not be possible without the data, which is why it’s so important that any and all ad specialty professionals should be taking the time to fill out our surveys — we want as many submissions as possible so that we know the research is accurate. Of course, filling out surveys can be time consuming and we know time is money. That’s why Counselor is offering an added incentive to both distributors and suppliers to take the surveys. Here are the details.
Please take the survey that applies to you today and help Counselor produce the most important research report done in the ad specialty industry each year. –TeamCentral
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
Sunday
January 18, 2009 Apparel: The Survey Says!My sixth-grade teacher once asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and, without hesitation, I blurted out “Game Show Host!” Of course, this admission became increasingly odder and more uncomfortable as each male student after me proclaimed aspirations of a more manly nature … you know, like cop, fireman or breakdancer (did I mention these were the 80s?). My shortsightedness to feign an interest in what was cool or acceptable at the time resulted in a good, old-fashioned playground pummeling, and I never again spoke about an interest in game shows … until now!
And today I get that chance … well, minus the kissing. WELCOME TO FAMILY FEUD, PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS-STYLE! With this month’s release of its annual Apparel Sales Survey, Counselor magazine has given me the opportunity I have waited a lifetime for … to take the big stage and ask you, the family audience, questions about a topic that we have surveyed — in this case, distributor apparel sales. DIRECTIONS: I’ll provide you with the question posed to industry distributors along with their top answers in random order, and you try to guess which one is the most popular. The winner gets, well, not much, maybe a mention in the blog and a Coke or something, but it’s the best we can do with the economy and all. So be sure to send your answers to feedback@asicentral.com with a listing of all your answers. Got it? Then let’s play the feud!
QUESTION 2: In 2008, which category specified had the highest percent of distributor apparel sales? Top 4 answers are on the board:
QUESTION 3: Relative to all distributor promotional products sales, how would you say sales of apparel have changed over the past year? Top 3 answers are on the board:
QUESTION 4: How did distributor sales volume in uniforms change within the past year? Top 3 answers are on the board:
QUESTION 5: What are the top three purposes for the promotional apparel distributors sell? Top 3 answers are on the board:
QUESTION 6: What are the top markets of apparel purchases? Top 8 answers are on the board:
QUESTION 7: Which category specified represents the highest percentage of overall distributor apparel sales? Top 5 answers are on the board:
QUESTION 8: How important do distributors believe brand names are to promotional apparel sales? Top 5 answers are on the board:
QUESTION 9: What percentage of distributor wearables purchases are manufactured outside the U.S.? Top 3 answers are on the board:
QUESTION 10: Compared to 2007, has the amount of product distributors decorated in-house changed? Top 3 answers are on the board:
QUESTION 11: What percent of all distributor apparel purchases are blanks? Top 5 answers are on the board:
Don’t forget to send answers now and check the blog often for results. Of course, if you want to see how you did, just check out the updated Apparel Research section of ASICentral for the Counselor Apparel Sales Survey … but not before you send your answers! “Love ya, will see ya here on the feud” (I just had to sign off like Richard — he’d be proud.) –TheKissingBandit
Friday
December 12, 2008 New Impressions Study HomeFiled under: Research A few weeks back, at the ASI Power Summit 2008 to be exact, a formal announcement was made about the release of a groundbreaking new study. ASI’s Advertising Specialties Impressions Study revealed that promotional products beat out all forms of TV, radio and print advertising as the most cost-effective form of advertising available. And now, the study and all its peripheral coverage has its very own home on ASICentral.com! Under our “Research” tab, The Impressions Study is now forever immortalized! Check it out here. –VImpressionable |

On the heels of last week’s announcement that industry
Yes, folks, it’s that time of year again! Time to get a raw data look into the overall health of the promotional products industry, as well as gain some insight on how to move your business in the coming years. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to 


Plunked in front of a TV set like 