Spring is here! I even polished my toenails for their unveiling and am wearing sandals (goodbye boots, as much as I love you). Take a two-minute Spring break to enjoy this first edition of Spring 2012 and send your feedback directly to me at: khuston@asicentral.com. It may be published in a future issue of Advantages magazine. For free information on products featured in Advantages, click here: www.advantagesinfo.com.
– Kathy Huston, editor

Sales Tip of the Week

Share Your Story!
Have you overcome a big sales challenge? Have you gotten a sale through your savvy use of social media? Closed the big one on the golf course? Persistently pursued that hard-to-reach decision-maker, with great final results? Fulfilled a seemingly impossible order? I want your story for a new section in Advantages magazine, called "How I Did It." Send me an e-mail and I'll be in touch: khuston@asicentral.com.

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The Joe Show: New Products, Hot Ideas
In this episode of The Joe Show, Managing Editor Joe Haley shows off some new products and offers promotional ideas for each one. Want a unique concept to show to any client exhibiting at an upcoming event or trade show? Looking for new marketing ideas for the traditional click pen? Check out the video.     

Click here to watch this new-products episode of The Joe Show.

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Take a Little Trip
The Pitch: So travel is sure to be heating up and I came across this interesting article about the best tools for booking the perfect hotel room: http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/20/travel/booking-perfect-hotel/index.html?hpt=hp_bn9. Along with the perfect hotel room, you need some great travel essentials and I like item #0011-17 from Leed's (asi/66887). It's the Elleven Jet Setter nylon travel wallet. It features a passport slot, four slotted pockets for credit cards, mesh ID holder, zippered coin pocket, pen holder, slotted pocket for boarding pass, and a Techtrap area for a Smartphone, USB or other item. Pitch this for travel and tech promotions. Pricing starts at: 36; $22.12. Click here: www.leedsworld.com.
The Bottom Line: Holds everything.

Sensible Cedar
The Pitch: Here's something you may never have considered as a promotional product: Cedar Products by Allen Edmonds (asi/44359).This supplier offers a wide array of cedar products, from shoe trees, hangers, blocks and shapes, all meant to protect shoes and clothing.The aromatic cedar helps to repel moths and other insects and the all-natural shoe trees absorb moisture from footwear. It also acts as a deodorizer. These products would be ideal for clothing and shoe boutiques, dry-cleaners, hotel closets and more. To see their line of products, read about the history of cedar and get more info, click here:  www.woodlore.com.
The Bottom Line: Fresh start.
 
Turn Up the AC
The Pitch: Temps are rising, players are ballin' it up (that's what my teenage son says when he's going to shoot hoops) and there are plenty of folks who are going to need to cool down. Well, look no further than Darose Int'l. Ltd. (asi/48507), which carries the Chill Towels line.These individually wrapped, self-cooling cotton/terry-cloth towelsprovide instant cooling, without refrigeration, right out of the resealable package! These are just the right item for walks, runs, camps, teams, outdoor events and much more. Pricing on the medium size (item CH1220EMB) starts at: 144; $4.98. See them for yourself: www.chilltowels.com.
The Bottom Line: Bet on sweat.

Moms Rock
The Pitch: Mothers' Day is not far off and you can help restaurants and more spread the love with "World's Greatest Mom" buttons from ButtonStar (asi/42678). They are round with a pin back. Free packaging in bags of 100 buttons. Pricing starts at: 50; $1.40. Also, why not pitch this to flower shops as a gift-with-purchase of a bouquet or arrangement? For more info, click here: www.buttonstar.com.
The Bottom Line: Word to your mother.

Last Chance To Vote For The Best-Designed Products
The results are in: Counselor magazine has selected the finalists for its annual Product Design Awards. Here's where you come in. Click here to vote for the products you think are the best-designed, considering both aesthetic appeal and functionality. You can select up to three products in each of the 14 featured categories.

It only takes a few minutes to vote, and your input is very important. However, only distributors are eligible to vote. The winners will appear in the May 2012 issue of Counselor. Click here to vote now.