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Tuesday
March 13, 2012 Tip of the Day - 5 Benefits of Selling Eco-Friendly ApparelFiled under: Green, Tip of the Day
And with Earth Day rapidly approaching, it got me thinking about the industry and how some people, despite the perception that it can pricey, are really making an effort to sell “green” products. In fact, this month’s Wearables University (in Wearables magazine) has a great little fabric tutorial on the five benefits of selling eco-friendly apparel. Check this edition out now, and in the meantime here are the five benefits:
Friday
March 9, 2012 From the Runway - New York Fashion WeekWith its “Look Book” feature, each issue of Stitches magazine goes in search of the latest in fashion finds from the runway. Billed as a “guide to what’s hot and new,” today’s “Look book” fashion finds could be tomorrow’s hot promotional apparel trend. Don’t miss this month’s edition: New York Fashion Week, written by Julie A. Cajigas. And here are some fashions items from this month. Enjoy!
DELICATE DETAIL Let’s get lacey. Oscar De La Renta combines detail with drama to achieve this high-voltage runway gown. The bodice, neckline and straps feature a delicate black lace, bringing attention to the model’s shoulders and face. Choose lace, crochet and other intricate fabrics to take outfits and accessories to the next level.
POLKA PARTY Walking down the A Detacher runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, this look confirms that polka dots are once again hot. Polka dots might remind you of childhood fashion (or perhaps ’80s fashion), but when used in the right color palette, or in moderation, polka dots can add a lovely femininity to any ensemble. Choose polka dots to adorn an accessory, layer with solids and spice up basic black. Polka dots don’t always have to be the star of the show. They make a wonderful peek-out lining for jackets and bags alike.
COLOR OF THE YEAR Pantone has named tangerine as 2012’s hot color — and the 2012 runways are full of this juicy shade. Here, Sherri Hill paired tangerine with a cool sherbet orange in this stunning gown. “Tangerine is a new, different, refreshing color,” says Susan Gagainis, brand consultant for Geiger (asi/202900). “And, men can easily wear tangerine, too.” On the runway, tangerine is often selected as an allover garment color, but can also be paired with other shades. “The color looks great with other shades,” Gagainis says. “Head to the opposite side of the color wheel and consider blues, teals, greens, browns and reds as complementary colors.” When decorating tangerine garments, choose a color that stands out and stands up to this bright, bold color.
SHIMMER GLIMMER Couture and retail looks were shining and shimmering their way down the Mercedes-Benz runway in preparation for a glowing spring/summer 2012 fashion season. The look? Fabrics that shimmer and glimmer. “Shiny fabrics are great for spring and summer because they are soft, feminine and fluid,” says Jennifer Tsai, vice president of operations and Lilac Bloom designer for Tri-Mountain (asi/92125). “As the weather warms up, women can ditch the chunky knits of winter and slip into slinkier fabrics and more flattering silhouettes.” Seen here on the Ralph Lauren runway, these glowing garments are appearing in various metallic shades along with blush pink and pastel green.
PLASTIC FANTASTIC Spring showers will bring summer flowers – and a bevy of runway-ready rain gear, including this gorgeous jewel-tone jacket from the Irina Shabayeva spring 2012 show. Outerwear always has a high perceived value, making it a great gift, giveaway or incentive – and outerwear is never more important than on a cool, rainy day. In addition to leveraging the trend by providing a fashion-forward raincoat, decorators can put clients’ marks on a unique umbrella or even provide a printed plastic poncho for their outdoor events.
Thursday
March 8, 2012 Vote Now! Best-Designed Promotional ProductsFiled under: Awards
So what are you waiting for? Exercise your rights and get votin’!
Wednesday
March 7, 2012 Tip of the Day - Dealing with Rude Sales Co-WorkersFiled under: Tip of the Day
In it you’ll find a step-by-step guide on how to effectively deal with someone who, while they may make a ton of revenue for the company, can be off-putting and rude to co-workers. The following are the four basic steps: (article contains detail for each step)
And if you have to cut the cord, the article also contains four strategies on getting new hires up-and-running quickly. So check it out now, and good luck!
Tuesday
March 6, 2012 Tip of the Day - Optimize Your Online PresenceFiled under: Tip of the Day
If you were quick to jump on the social media bandwagon but have yet to see any measurable results, you’re not alone. Many companies put the proverbial cart before the horse and create Facebook business pages before they even have a plan in place. A recent “Business of Wearables” article by Kathleen Booth presents some great ideas on how you can get the most out of your social media presence which can ultimately impact your business in a positive way. It’s a quick read, so check it out now. And in the meantime, here are 5 secrets to optimizing your online presence:
And remember, this isn’t Field of Dreams here - just because you build it, doesn’t mean they’ll come!
Monday
March 5, 2012 Tip of the Day - 5 Spring Fashion TrendsFiled under: Tip of the Day
This month Wearables magazine went in search of the five hottest spring fashion trends, why they’re in and how you can sell them. Titled “Spring Fashion Preview,” it’s a hot read and I suggest it to any apparel distributor who’s looking to sell their clients something new. BONUS: this issue also includes some of the hottest new products from suppliers, including the Tri Pepper Tee and Lap Blanket! In the meantime, here are the five trends (without detail) for the season … enjoy!
Friday
March 2, 2012 Poll Results - Do You Agree With Plastic Bag Bans?Filed under: Poll Results Another ASI Central poll, another surprise result … well, at least in my opinion. On Feb. 15 — coinciding with the controversial news that the city of San Francisco expanded its plastic-bag ban to include hardware stores, gift shops and eventually restaurants — we launched a poll asking our users if they agreed with the banning of plastic bags. Given that a bag ban would bode well for our industry (re-usable promotional grocery bags could fill the void of plastic bags) but struggling with whether our users would agree with more government control, I eventually concluded that a majority of our users would vote “Nay” on this ban, thinking it would be something to the effect of 60/40. Alas, not only was I wrong but the majority of our users voted in favor of the ban, to the tune of 52%. Here’s the complete breakdown, including chart: (TOTAL VOTES: 227) Do you agree with plastic bag bans? Yes: (118 votes, 52%)
Take the newest poll on ASI Central — Compared to three years ago, customer loyalty today is? — by clicking here.
Thursday
March 1, 2012 Tip of the Day - Get Your Content on GoogleFiled under: Tip of the Day
Fast-forward more than a decade and Google now stands ready for world domination! Well, not really, but anyone on this planet save for a few pygmies in remote Africa has heard of Google, and “if you’re not in Google, you’re not in the Web,” right? Anyway, this month’s sensational Business of Wearables article titled “Google Loves Content” spells out in the simplest of terms just how crucial the search engine and SEO (search engine optimization) has become, especially in the world of online sales. If you want to become relevant in the Google realm, do yourself a favor and read this article. And in the meantime, here are seven quick tips on how to keep your website’s content Google-friendly:
Wednesday
February 29, 2012 Tip of the Day - Top 5 Supplier MistakesFiled under: Tip of the Day
Mistakes and faux pas will happen, sure, but what are the top five supplier mistakes, as identified by industry distributors? That’s the question Supplier Global Resource went in search of for the March/April article titled, most aptly, “The Top Five Mistakes Suppliers Make.” In it you’ll find some great information about the mistakes and advice on how to avoid them, so check it out now! (NOTE: This article is password-protected and only available for Supplier members). In the meantime, here are the top-five mistakes without the detail:
Tuesday
February 28, 2012 2012 Best Places To Work Nominations Now OpenFiled under: Counselor Awards
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When it comes to the environment, I like to think that I do my part. I recycle, take mass transit when I can, and turn off the water when I brush my teeth. I’m good like that.
Distributors, a special notice from 
What happens if your top salesperson is also a top morale-killer in the office? That’s the question 
When it comes to your social media plan, how optimized is your online presence?
Ahh, spring. A time of rebirth, better weather, baseball and, of course, fashion trends!
I’ll never forget the day I realized that Google was becoming bigger than just an ordinary Web search tool: I was watching an episode of 
Now here’s a great little article that our supplier peeps will appreciate …
From 