New Small Business Lending Program Unveiled
Aiming to loosen the credit market and create jobs, President Obama announced a plan this week that would invest $30 billion in a new small business lending program. The proposal would take money from the government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and provide it to community banks, encouraging lenders to help small businesses. "Jobs will be our number one focus in 2010," Obama said, speaking at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire. "We're going to start where most new jobs do – with small businesses. These are companies that begin in basements and garages when an entrepreneur takes a chance on his dream, or a worker decides it's time she became her own boss."

If the program is approved by Congress, it would direct funds to banks with assets of $10 billion or less. Banks that boost lending to small businesses would be rewarded with dividend tax rate deductions for up to five years. The latest Obama proposal follows the introduction of a separate plan announced last week that would free up $33 billion to be used for small business tax credits. Under that plan, business owners would receive a $5,000 tax credit for every new worker hired in 2010, with reimbursements for Social Security taxes also granted when employee wages are increased.

In addition to those proposals, Obama has also recently announced his desire to eliminate the capital gains tax on investments in small businesses. Analysts agree that a zero-rate capital gains tax would likely attract private investors, while also rewarding entrepreneurs willing to face the risk of starting their own business. Obama also supports tax incentives for facility and equipment purchases, attempting to ease the effects of depreciation.

Video Report: Industry News Of The Week
In a new feature, Counselor PromoGram is offering a video news report that will highlight the top stories every week. Called Industry Update, each episode will detail the most important trends and news items impacting the ad specialty market.

In this episode, we discuss a new initiative to help small businesses, as well as some comings and goings of industry distributors and suppliers. Click here to watch Counselor PromoGram’s Industry Update.

If you have any news you’d like to see covered on Industry Update or in Counselor PromoGram, please send it to newsdesk@asicentral.com.

Obituary: Natalie Chase, Founder of Natalie Chase Marketing
Natalie Chase, founder of Natalie Chase Marketing and longtime multi-line rep, passed away last Thursday in New Jersey after battling a lengthy illness. Chase fought ovarian cancer for just over five years. "I never met anybody else who was like her," says Jason Rotgun, Chase’s son. "She had an impact on more people than anyone I know."

Chase entered the ad specialty industry nearly 30 years ago, working with companies such as Jarco (asi/63160), Barlow (asi/38480), Garrity Industries and Delong Sportswear. Later, she started her own firm, where she stayed until her illness forced her to retire and leave Southern California last year.

A devout Jew, Chase was known for inviting friends to large Friday evening Sabbath dinners, where she would happily discuss promotional products and marketing trends. "There were two things that were so important to her – her faith and the ad specialty industry," Rotgun says. "She loved being on the road at trade shows meeting people and helping whoever should could." In recent days, Rotgun has received hundreds of e-mails from industry professionals expressing condolences. "She touched so many people," Rotgun says.

A funeral service was held for Chase soon after her death last week. "There was a big turnout," Rotgun says. "We’re in the process of trying to put together sort of a life celebration for her in Southern California. We don’t have it together yet, but it could be in March."

Chase is survived by her son Jason and her brother Howard. Memorial donations may be made to the Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society, 768 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205.

Podcast: How To Overcome A Sales Slump
On Tuesday’s ASI Internet Radio Show, the hosts took calls from audience members looking for ideas on how to tackle the challenge of a sales slump. Looking for ways to deal with pricing and margin issues in the face of a business downturn? Check out this podcast.

Click here to listen to the slump-busting segment from Tuesday’s show.

If you’d like to check out a recording of the whole online radio show, go to www.asicentral.com/radio. And, don’t forget to join us next Tuesday, February 9, for our next broadcast. Log on to www.asicentral.com/radio at 10:30 am eastern time and give us a call at 215-953-4979 or e-mail us at radio@asicentral.com to participate on the show. We want to hear from you.

Click here for the first edition of Show Update filed at ASI Dallas.

Click here for the second edition of Show Update.

Click here to watch both editions of The Joe Show, where Managing Editor Joe Haley shows off some of the newest items he found at ASI Dallas.

Click here to see how Dallas show attendees kicked back during the famed ASI Show Gala at Eddie Deen’s Ranch.

Take The State Of The Industry Survey
Counselor is currently polling professionals in the industry – both distributors and suppliers – to see how the market did in 2009 and to get impressions on where the industry is headed in 2010. We need your input. Please take some time to click the appropriate link below and complete the annual State of the Industry survey. Your responses will remain anonymous and you'll be helping to create Counselor's annual State of the Industry report.

Distributors click here to take the distributor State of the Industry survey.

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: Green Apparel From A-Z: Grow Your Eco-Wear Business. Wearables makes up 30% of the nearly $20 billion ad specialty industry annual sales -- and that includes its growing eco-wear subset. In this course, we’ll teach you about the most fundamental eco-friendly fabrics, the important global standards and practices, and the tips to help sell eco-wear and improve your business. 
Course Track: New Distributor Success
* Nailing Down the Basics
* Write Your Business Plan
* Marketing Your New Business
* Steps to Selling Success
* Creative Case Studies
* Avoid These First-Year Pitfalls
* Managing Your Business
* Wearables Crash Course
* Building Profitable Client Relationships.
Coming Next Month:
* Social Networking Tactics That Deliver Results

In The News
Brandelope (asi/41544) and Thanks A Dozen (asi/63625) have moved to a new location at: 1722 Chase Drive, Fenton, MO 63026. The companies also announced that they can now be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Dard Products Inc. (asi/48500) won the 2010 PPAI Supplier Achievement Award in the category of Supplier Self-Promotion.

HandStands (asi/59525) recently donated several hundred gadget grips to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts in Haiti. Each grip includes a reminder to text a $10 contribution to the Red Cross.

Hub Pen Co. (asi/61966) was named a 2010 Supplier Star Award nominee ($20 million-$50 million category) by PPAI.

Noteworthy (asi/74360) has announced customer upgrades to its full color plastic bags, including lower prices, no setup charges and 100-piece minimums for seven of its styles.

Renaissance Promotions (asi/307074) announced that it has joined The Premier Promotional Group.

Spector & Co. (asi/88660) was honored with the Supplier of the Year Award at the Promotional Product Professionals of Canada Image Awards in Toronto. The company also won awards in several other categories, including Decoration, Product Development and Customer Service.

The PeerNet Group (asi/292772) has donated $5,000 to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts in Haiti.

TSC Apparel (asi/90518) has announced it will open a 100,000 sq. ft. distribution center in central Georgia and a sales office and pickup warehouse in Atlanta. The facilities are expected to be open in April.

People On The Move
Affinity Express Inc., an ASI affiliate, has hired Reggie Gonzalez as sales director. 

Ash City (asi/37127) has appointed Brent Rebus to the position of chief operating officer.

Best Promotions Inc. (asi/138557) has announced the following additions: Leslie Shepherd (account executive); Valerie Bennington (executive assistant to general manager); Maggie Sahakian (production coordinator); Jenna Peak (research and sales assistant); and Gisella Torres (receptionist).

Crystal D (asi/47759) has hired Emily Garzon as an order manager and Corey Wilson as an awards advisor account manager. The company has promoted Mike Irvine to vice president of operations, Jen Contreras to customer service manager and Randy Givens to supply chain manager.

Visstun (asi/93975) has hired Yunita Hoo as marketing coordinator.