Counselor® PromoGram®
Volume 675 / January 5, 2010
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Colin Powell Speech Headlines ASI Orlando
General Colin Powell opened the second exhibit day of The ASI Show in Orlando this morning with a riveting and motivating keynote speech delivered to a standing-room-only audience. His overall message to the audience: Stay strong in times of great change. "Be confident. Be honest with your people, and keep in constant touch with your customers," said Powell, the former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "You have to be there for them when they’re ready to buy again."

Powell also touched on issues such as the importance of keeping up with technology in the digital age and the interesting transition he has made from public to private life. "You know what I miss the most about being Secretary of State?" he said to the audience. "The plane. It was big, painted blue and white. And it was all mine. And then one day all of a sudden it was gone. They gave it to Condi (Condoleezza Rice) and now Hillary (Clinton). It was cool."

Counselor Editor Andy Cohen caught up with General Powell following his speech to find out some more leadership tips. Click here to watch the video interview.


ASI NEWS


ASI Provides Savings with UPS Ocean Freight
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ASI Show Update: Fashion Show, Colin Powell, Universal Gala
In this third episode of the ASI Show Update, Counselor’s editors scour The ASI Show in Orlando for interviews with VIPs, the ASI Fashion Show models from last night, and even the brave show attendees who toughed out a big roller coaster at last night’s ASI Show Gala at Universal Studios.

Click here to watch the most recent edition of The ASI Show Update news program.


Florida State Rep Hits The ASI Show
Kevin Ambler, state representative from Florida, visited The ASI Show in Orlando yesterday to learn more about the ad specialty market. Ambler, who is running for an open State Senate seat this year, visited with exhibitors, talked to attendees and got a crash course in promotional products. His favorite item: Vinyl bumper stickers. In fact, in an interview with Counselor, Ambler cited a study that showed every vinyl bumper sticker on a car is worth three to six votes for a political candidate.

The representative’s visit to The ASI Show was arranged jointly by the Gold Coast Promotional Products Association and the Promotional Products Association of Florida. Click here to watch a video interview with Florida State Representative Kevin Ambler.


Fashion Show Displays Top Apparel Trends
At last night’s ASI Fashion Show, five suppliers displayed their latest wares on the runway. With a stream of male and female models showing off apparel and accessories, ASI Show attendees enjoyed an evening checking out the hot trends for 2010. The suppliers whose merchandise was featured on the catwalk were: Built NY (asi/42422), Bulova (asi/42427), Hanes/Outer Banks (asi/59528), Perry Ellis International (asi/77715) and Tri-Mountain/Mountain Gear (asi/92125).

Click here to see a gallery of images from the ASI Fashion Show.



Power Session Strategies: Jump-Start Your 2010 Sales
Attendees jump-started their sales plans for 2010 by attending yesterday’s series of Power Sessions, the education classes that took place just outside of the trade show floor at ASI Orlando. Here are three top strategies they picked up:

1. Pick a niche and solve its pain points. "If you’re working with corporate education buyers, talk to them about the challenges they have with diversity, absenteeism, attrition, recruitment, morale and safety," said Cliff Quicksell, industry expert and owner of Cliff Quicksell & Associates, who presented "The ABCs of Selling to the Education Market." He also recommended that distributors call end-buyers every day and ask them what their pain points are. "You need to be the expert in their niche," he said.

2. Go crazy with your decoration presentation. "To stay ahead of your competition, combine unique decorating techniques that aren’t readily available to other distributors and their decorators," said Ed Levy, owner of Digitize4U, who presented "Create Apparel Programs That Will Sell." "Think appliqué with a unique fabric, sequined appliqué, or carved or patterned fills or runs."

3. Create your image on the Web. "Clients are going to discover you on the Internet and make a decision in a nanosecond about whether they’re going to do business with you," said Bobby Lehew of ROBYN (asi/309656), who presented "Social Networking Tactics That Deliver Results." "Remember, you are who Google says you are." He advised attendees to craft their companies’ online presence by blogging, getting Facebook accounts and using Twitter.


Joe Show Day Two
In this day-two episode of The Joe Show, from The ASI Show in Orlando, Counselor Managing Editor Joe Haley shows off some items that caught his eye on the exhibit floor this morning.

Click here to watch The Joe Show day-two edition.


Fashion Finds Day Two
Who says apparel in the ad specialty market can’t match retail trends prevalent in stores right now? Nicole Rollender, editor of Stitches magazine and director of ASI Education, disproves the myth by locating some of the hottest fashions available in the market today.

Click here to watch the day-two episode of Fashion Finds from The ASI Show in Orlando.


Sourcery, E-Dentity Solutions Announce Merger
Sourcery LLC (asi/88209) and E-Dentity Solutions (asi/90841) announced yesterday that they will be merging. The suppliers will do business under the name "Sourcery Solutions," will retain Sourcery’s ASI number and will continue operating out of their respective New York and Chicago-based offices. Financial details of the merger were not revealed.

In a press release announcing the merger, the companies said their "obvious strengths in different areas further supported the idea of broader capabilities though combined operations." The new company says that Sourcery’s emphasis on creativity and complete customization dovetails nicely with E-Dentity’s wide variety of offerings. Sourcery Solutions will unveil a new line of products at the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas later this month.


ASI SHOW

ASI ORLANDO IS TAKING PLACE AT THE ORANGE COUNTY CONV. CENTER
The first show of the year and biggest event on the East Coast, The ASI Show Orlando, is taking place at the Orange County Convention Center! Two action-filled exhibit days (Jan. 4-5) will feature 700+ top suppliers, best-in-class education, around-the-clock networking and a free Keynote by General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.).

Visit www.asishow.com for the complete The ASI Show Orlando schedule. You can register on show site or at www.asishow.com.

THE FREE REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR ASI DALLAS EXTENDED
Due to popular demand, the free registration deadline for ASI members for The ASI Dallas Show, the largest show in the Southwest, has just been extended to Monday, January 18. Featuring 600 leading suppliers, thousands of new items, more than 55 free education sessions, a free Keynote on social networking and daily networking, The ASI Dallas Show is THE place to kick-start 2010.

Register today at www.asishow.com for The ASI Dallas Show. ASI distributor and decorator members can also receive up to $100 toward a hotel room.

EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING FOR ASI SAN DIEGO
Both distributors and suppliers are excited about The ASI Show San Diego! Timed in the first quarter (February 24-26), ASI San Diego will deliver the products, services, ideas and strategies you need to launch 2010 with a bang. Featuring leading suppliers (most of the Top 40), cutting-edge education and non-stop networking, ASI San Diego will be a sales-building event like no other.

The three-day, action-packed schedule includes a Gala Celebration at Stingaree Nightclub and a free Keynote by motivational guru Tony Robbins.

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
Don’t miss 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.

THE ASI ADVANTAGES ROADSHOW IS VISITING THE NORTHEAST (JAN. 18-22)
The industry's #1 traveling show, the ASI Advantages Roadshow, is heading to the Northeast in two weeks (Boston, Jan. 18; Long Island, Jan. 19; New Jersey, Jan. 20; Philadelphia, Jan. 21 and Baltimore, Jan. 22).
Delivering a productive, one-on-one atmosphere for distributors to meet with top suppliers, the Advantages Roadshow features free education (sponsored by Fields Mfg., asi/54100) from 7:45 a.m.-9 a.m. and 1 p.m.-2 p.m. and exhibit hours from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Visit www.advantagesroadshow.com for complete details. All distributors are invited to attend the Advantages Roadshow for free. No pre-registration is required.

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


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