Economic Indicators Improving
Both retail sales and consumer sentiment in the U.S. have increased in recent weeks, exceeding projections and prompting new hopes of a stabilizing economy. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, retail sales rose 1.3% in November, while new survey data shows December's consumer sentiment index has risen six points to 73.4. "Confidence improved in early December mainly due to widespread price discounting by merchants attempting to spark holiday sales as well as somewhat more positive expectations for economic growth and employment," said Richard Curtin, director of the University of Michigan surveys of consumers.

According to government reports, sales in November were lifted by strong receipts from gas stations, as well as increased purchases of cars, food, electronics and sporting goods. Additionally, sales of building materials jumped 1.5% last month, while mail and Internet orders rose 1.2%. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in November fell to 10% from a 26-year high of 10.2%, as companies cut 11,000 workers, the fewest monthly number since the recession began in December 2007. Adding to these positive trends, it is expected that this week's meeting of the Federal Reserve will not result in significant monetary policy changes, with interest rates already at historic lows near zero.

Despite the improving indicators, though, a separate report found small business owners continue to struggle. A new survey from American Solutions, a conservative-action group, shows two out of three small businesses plan to lay off a worker in the next six months. The survey also indicated widespread dislike for President Obama's latest small business recovery plan, which proposes a temporary suspension of the capital gains tax. By a three-to-one margin, respondents instead would prefer a cut in payroll taxes.

Leed's Addresses Attack On Web Sites
An official with supplier firm Leed's (asi/66887) says the company's Web sites were attacked by hackers for a full two-week period, necessitating the set-up of a backup site and the implementation of several other measures. While Leed's has successfully restored full access to its sites, it appears unlikely the hackers will ever be found. "This was a denial of service attack, where hundreds of computers around the world requested the site at the rate of up to 20 times per second," says Tom Vogl, Leed's vice president of information services. "Machines that are compromised by viruses or malware become bots or sources for the attack. You can't track down who's responsible."

Vogl says the attack on www.leedsworld.com first began on Friday, November 20. The problem was noticed when the site began running extremely slowly. "We had made changes to our Web site recently, so we first checked to see if that was the reason," says Vogl. "It took us about an hour or two to track down the real cause."

Upon recognizing the issue, Leed's first redirected customers to a backup site, www2.leedsworld.com, which was soon also attacked, forcing the company to provide yet another address at www.leedsworld-backup.com. "At that point, we notified our customers and the media," says Vogl. During the attack, Leed's other Web sites, including www.my.leedsworld.com, www.somuchmore09.com and www.leedsworld.ca continued to operate, although there were some processing delays. Vogl was not able to quantify how the attack affected overall sales.

According to Vogl, Leed's is currently reviewing its procedures to determine if configuration changes need to be made for the future. "This is obviously not something that happens everyday," says Vogl. "This is the first time I can remember this happening here. You can't really prevent this from happening, but there are ways to mitigate the impact."

Tuesday Morning Radio Show Live On The Air
Every Tuesday morning from 10:30 a.m. eastern time to 11:00 a.m., a team of ASI editors debate the most important topics facing the industry. We also, of course, offer our own off-beat look at the market. This morning, we dedicated the show to the first-ever ASI Radiothon, a charity drive to benefit The G.I. Go Fund. Along with a silent auction for high-end promotional products, the show featured callers pledging donations, an interview with The G.I. Go Fund's executive director, and even a surprise television star as a call-in guest.

You can also still make a donation to The G.I. Go Fund at www.gigofund.org/asiradio. And, don't forget to join us next Tuesday, December 22, for our next broadcast. Go to www.asicentral.com/radio at 10:30 a.m. eastern time and give us a call at 215-953-4979. We want to hear from you!

JournalBooks Names O'Boyle General Manager
Charlotte-based supplier JournalBooks (asi/91340) has announced the promotion of Tim O'Boyle from vice president of sales to general manager. In his new position, O'Boyle will be responsible for all company sales and operations. In addition, he will join the management committee of Polyconcept North America, the parent company of Journalbooks, Bullet Line (asi/42424) and Leed's (asi/66887). "I'm extremely pleased and honored," said O'Boyle, in an interview yesterday with Counselor. "My dad started this company and so I literally grew up with people that work here. I'm grateful and have a lot of respect for them."

O'Boyle has spent the last 20 years at JournalBooks, working in manufacturing, customer service and sales. He was named vice president of sales in 1996. "I started at the bottom and worked my way up," O'Boyle says. "Again, our sales success has been based on the work of our great employees."

"We're very excited to have Tim as the leader at JournalBooks," says David Nicholson, president of Polyconcept North America. "With Tim's background and experience, JournalBooks is well positioned to build upon its successful track record."

Not anticipating "drastic" changes to the company, O'Boyle is forecasting "moderate growth" for JournalBooks in 2010. "We're planning some strategic initiatives with sales and products that we think will win new business," O'Boyle says. "As a company, we will continue to strive for perfection and settle for excellence."

The Joe Show: 2010 Hot Products
This time of year, Counselor Managing Editor Joe Haley is on the prowl for the hottest new products available in the market. In this episode of The Joe Show, he shows off some new items for 2010 that suppliers have recently sent to him. Check out the video, and grab your nearest pen and notepad to jot down ideas on the coolest new items for 2010.

Click here to see this 2010 new-products edition of The Joe Show.

College Bowl Games Reveal Gift Suite Trends
Looking to win business from college football bowl committees, an increasing number of distributors have begun offering items for gift suites, rather than traditional packages of apparel and basic logoed merchandise. The suites are literally rooms, often set up in team hotels, where athletes, coaches and staff can choose from a variety of high-end items. "It's not a secret that electronics are becoming a big deal," says Jon Cooperstein, a salesperson at Memphis, TN-based Davene Inc. (asi/176080). "We work directly with Sony."

According to Cooperstein, Davene is providing items for 20 out of the 34 bowl games taking place over the next month, including several BCS games. "Exactly what we provide depends on the bowl and the location," Cooperstein says. "Everybody wants to be different."  

The latest trend in collegiate gift-giving was started two years ago at the Champs Sports Bowl and Capital One Bowl. Athletes were taken to a local Best Buy in Orlando for a quasi-shopping spree, where they could each spend up to $400 on merchandise. Then, last year, executives representing the Orange Bowl reserved a suite at the team hotels of participants Virginia Tech and Cincinnati. Players visited the suite and were told to choose up to $300 worth of items that would then be shipped to an address they provided.

This year, officials from the Sugar Bowl will try yet another approach, setting up an on-campus room prior to the game, stocked with Sony electronics, Trek mountain bikes, Weber grills, Garmin GPS systems and Apple iPods. "There is intense competition [for services]," Cooperstein says. "For us, it's about service and never taking the client for granted. You have to know the right people and then service them well."

Call For Entries: Counselor Product Design Awards
Counselor magazine is looking for innovative products for its Product Design Awards competition. Suppliers are invited to nominate their favorite eye-catching products in the following categories:

In order to enter, please submit the following three items: 1. A sample of the product. (We recommend that the product be exclusive to the supplier that is submitting it, although this is not a requirement.); 2. A quick description of the product, including any special features; 3. The category that the product should be considered for. There is a limit of one submission per category, per company. All submissions will be judged on the following areas: design appeal, functionality and the ability to attractively feature a logo (when appropriate). Winners will be featured in the June issue of Counselor.

Please send all entries to: Karen Akers, Awards Editor, Counselor Magazine, 4800 Street Road, Trevose, PA 19053. Questions? E-mail Karen Akers at kakers@asicentral.com. Please note that only products from North American suppliers will be considered and that submissions will not be returned unless specifically requested.

New Course Available on ASI Education's OnlineLearning Center 
Be sure to register at http://www.asicentral.com/asionlinelearning for some exciting new courses available exclusively to ASI members. Brought to you by ASI Education, Online Learning is the newest and most convenient way for distributors to get educated. Here are some of the courses from our New Distributor Success Track available now:

NEW
Write Your Business Plan. You've gotten your feet wet in the advertising specialty industry. You've aced all of our tests on industry terms, ASI numbers, artwork requirements and purchase order standards. Now, it's time to really delve into your own business by writing a business plan -- this is how you really develop a strategy for exactly how you're going to achieve success in this growing industry. In this course, we'll teach you how to write a business plan, how to determine the best markets to target, how to create a margin strategy, and how to choose the right supplier partners.

Course Track: New Distributor Success
* Nailing Down the Basics
* Marketing Your New Business
* Steps to Selling Success
* Creative Case Studies
* Avoid These First-Year Pitfalls
* Managing Your Business
* Wearables Crash Course
Coming Soon: 
* Building Profitable Client Relationships

ASICentral: How Well Do You Know Designers?
Everyone knows pop icon Gwen Stefani ... lead singer of the 90's band No Doubt, successful solo recording artist, wife of Gavin Rossdale, mom. But did you also know she designs clothes?

Of course you did! But do you know who she's designed clothing for? A-ha! Bet you know a lot of designers, but the brands they've worked for might not be so obvious. So, we've come up with a game that tests your knowledge of designers. Introducing the ...

Take the challenge now!

Got questions, comments or any type of feedback regarding anything ASICentral, don't hesitate to contact us at feedback@asicentral.com. Also, follow ASICentral at .

In The News
Broder Bros., Co. (asi/42090) has added eConscious organic and sustainable apparel to its 2010 product selection.

Cooler Graphics (asi/80345) will offer environmentally-friendly, recycled PolyEthylene Terephtalate (PET) materials in its 2010 product line, which will be launched at the ASI Show in Orlando.

Cotton Connection (asi/46777) announced that it is providing free freight on all tote bags through December 31.

People On The Move
Pingline (asi/78137) has announced the addition of Jacqui White, who will be responsible for sales in the Midwest region.

ASI SHOW

THE LARGEST SHOW ON THE EAST COAST IS LESS THAN ONE MONTH AWAY
The first show of the year and biggest event on the East Coast, The ASI Show Orlando (January 3-5, 2010), is just a few weeks away. Featuring 700+ top suppliers, best-in-class education, around-the-clock networking and a free Keynote by General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), there is no better place to kick-start 2010.
Register today at www.asishow.com for The ASI Show Orlando. ASI distributor and decorator members can attend for FREE when they register by December 21 and will receive up to $100 toward a hotel room.

EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING FOR THE LARGEST SHOW IN THE SOUTHWEST — ASI DALLAS
The ASI Show is bringing its innovation and fun to the Lone Star State on February 1-3, 2010. Be prepared for your strongest sales year ever by attending The ASI Dallas Show, featuring 600 leading suppliers, thousands of new items, more than 55 free education sessions, a free Keynote on social networking and daily networking.
Register today at www.asishow.com for The ASI Dallas Show. ASI distributor and decorator members enjoy free admission and can receive up to $100 toward a hotel room.

ASI SAN DIEGO — A FIRST-QUARTER WEST COAST SHOW
Timed in the first quarter, The ASI Show San Diego (February 24-26) will deliver the products, services, ideas and strategies you need to launch 2010 with a bang. Featuring leading suppliers, such as BIC Graphic, Prime, Hit Promotional Products, Bodek and Rhodes and Sweda, cutting-edge education and non-stop networking, ASI San Diego will be a sales-building event like no other.

ASI San Diego's three-day schedule includes a number of exciting events, including the Gala Celebration at Stingaree Nightclub and a free Keynote by motivational guru Tony Robbins.

Join the excitement and register for ASI San Diego at www.asishow.com. ASI distributor and decorator members enjoy free admission and can receive up to $100 toward a hotel room.

A BRAND-NEW EVENT FOR WOMEN IN THE AD SPECIALTY BUSINESS
Just announced, the ASI Women's Summit taking place May 4, 2010 at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City from noon-3:30 p.m. Designed for women in the advertising specialty industry, the ASI Women's Summit will provide a lively environment to develop new relationships while discussing new business approaches with colleagues. The action-packed afternoon schedule will include a networking reception, luncheon and two Keynotes by real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran and Rosalie Marcus, The Promo Biz Coach™.

Register at www.asishow.com by March 31 and pay only $149.

Follow The ASI Show on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook today!

The following are the dates and locations for The ASI Show in 2010:
Orlando: January 3-5
Dallas: February 1-3
San Diego: February 24-26
New York: May 4-6
Chicago: July 13-15
Holiday & Incentives Expo, Las Vegas: September 14-16

Plus, don't miss the ASI Advantages Roadshow, the industry's #1 traveling show. Visit www.advantagesroadshow.com for the complete schedule!