http://asicentralblog.com/blog Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:05:06 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The expansion of gambling into other states and the increasing popularity of poker in recent years makes a gambling theme fun for lots of promotions: Commercial casinos are legal in 13 states. 28 states have Native American casinos. Related markets include racetracks, lotteries and poker tournaments. From Advantages magazine Success Stories. http://asicentralblog.com/blog/2010/03/15/tip-of-the-day-market-to-casinos/ When it comes to selecting ad specialties, marketing communications firm Pinckney Hugo Group is very selective. “You need to really think about what might I need, use or really wear,” says partner Aaron Hugo. “I wouldn’t pick anything I wouldn’t use or wear myself.” For his client Salada tea bags, Hugo ... http://asicentralblog.com/blog/2010/03/12/tip-of-the-day-quality-pays-off/ Each year, Counselor magazine goes to great lengths to research and report on the health of the advertising specialty industry. Through its annual State of the Industry issue, Counselor reports on everything from profits and sales volumes to top markets and products. But this research would not be possible without the data, which ... http://asicentralblog.com/blog/2010/03/12/win-cash-and-prizes-just-for-taking-our-surveys/ ASI Suppliers, have we got news for you! Not only have we added the ability to reserve your 2010 and 2011 ASI Show booths online in the ASI Store, but if you act this month you can save big $$ on booths and marketing. The following are the deals being run ... http://asicentralblog.com/blog/2010/03/11/asi-store-reserve-your-asi-show-booth-online-and-save/ Ad specialty distributors often spend so much time on tasks that don’t involve selling – fulfilling orders, following up on invoices and talking to suppliers, just to name a few – that they neglect their main objectives. Yes, you need to create as much time in your day as possible ... http://asicentralblog.com/blog/2010/03/10/tip-of-the-day-create-more-selling-time/ Here are the top 10 phrases that kill creativity: Yes, but … The boss will never go for it I don’t have time Get a committee to look into it We tried that before It’s not in the budget It’ll never work No! We’ve always done it this way It’s not my job Source: Chic Thompson http://asicentralblog.com/blog/2010/03/09/tip-of-the-day-top-10-phrases-that-kill-creativity/ Of the 4 major U.S. regions (Northeast, South, Midwest, West), which do you think did the best in overall promotional products sales in 2009? What were their top markets and hottest items? Unemployment numbers? Give up? Well Advantages' magazine has done a terrific feature this month called What's Hot in Your ... http://asicentralblog.com/blog/2010/03/08/interactive-map-hottest-us-sales-region/ Just a few years back it seemed that everyone was jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon. Whether you were buying an electric car or an organic t-shirt, "going green" was the hip thing to do and it was said to be more than a fad, but a trend that was here to ... http://asicentralblog.com/blog/2010/03/02/poll-is-green-movement-losing-steam/ While we here in the Philly area suffer through Snowmageddon Part III, my pal Joan Chaykin is basking in the lovely California weather at the ASI Show San Diego. She also brought along a camera to further rub in just how nice it is out there on the Left Coast. Joan, ... http://asicentralblog.com/blog/2010/02/25/photos-from-the-asi-show-san-diego/ Ahh, what an industry. When I first started working with promotional products, I thought it was gonna be all pens, notepads and T-shirts. Alas, I've discovered that promotional products can be more than that, including journals made of elephant poop, motorized coolers and USB drives in the shape of just about ... http://asicentralblog.com/blog/2010/02/23/got-a-favorite-promotional-product/