Counselor® PromoGram®
Volume 700 /April 1, 2010
Click here to read this and past issues online.

Consumer Confidence Rises In March
Following a sharp fall in February, consumer confidence improved in March, according to the latest survey released by The Conference Board, a private research firm. The Consumer Confidence Index climbed to 52.5 last month, up from 46.4 in February, demonstrating a cautious increase in optimism regarding the economy. “Consumer confidence managed to recoup most of the loss in March,” says Lynn Franco, director of consumer research at The Conference Board.

According to data, consumers have an improving short-term view of the business climate and labor market. Among respondents in March, 18.3% expect economic conditions to become better over the next six months, up from 16.1% in February. In March, those claiming business conditions are good rose to 8.6%, increasing from 6.8% a month earlier. Additionally, 14.6% of respondents anticipate more jobs will soon become available, a modest jump from 13.2% in February.

Separately, the U.S. Commerce Department released mixed economic news this week, announcing consumer spending rose slightly in February while personal income remained flat. Disposable income was also unchanged in February, and with no income growth, national savings slipped to its lowest level since October 2008, according to government reports. In a reversal from earlier in the year, payrolls of goods-producing industries dropped $3.5 billion in February, with manufacturing slipping $1.4 billion following a $5 billion gain in January.

Further obscuring an already unsettled long-term outlook for many consumers, the private sector cut an estimated 23,000 jobs in March. However, analysts believe overall U.S. employment numbers could actually rebound in March, buoyed by temporary hiring related to the 2010 Census. A full Bureau of Labor Statistics report will be released tomorrow.
ASI NEWS

ESP Web and ESP Orders Debut
ESP Web is revolutionizing how distributors and suppliers interact.

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ASI offers full color imprinting on all catalogs.

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ASI STORE
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Video Report: Industry News Of The Week
Every week, Counselor PromoGram offers a video news report that highlights the industry’s top stories. Called Industry Update, each episode details the most important trends and news items impacting the ad specialty market.

In this episode, we reveal information about a supplier management shake-up and discuss how the new health care bill will impact ad specialty sales to medical companies. Plus, two large suppliers disclose their 2009 financial results. Click here to check out the trends and to watch Counselor PromoGram’s Industry Update.


Obituary: Connie Millar, President, Abacus Enterprises
Connie Millar, co-founder and president of Tampa, FL-based Abacus Enterprises (asi/101830), passed away yesterday, surrounded by family, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Millar was 62. “She was an incredible woman and a huge inspiration,” says Sharie Stewart, vice president of Abacus and close friend to Millar. “She showed such strength through it all. She elevated the company to one of the most respected in the industry. She was also a Christian woman and her family meant everything to her.”

Along with two others, Millar founded Abacus in 1984. Millar concentrated on operations, while her partners focused on sales. “She was the backbone of the company,” says Stewart. “She’ll be missed.” For several years during the 1990s, Millar also served on the Board of Directors of the Promotional Products Association of Florida. She was active in her church and supported several other local organizations. “She put God first and made marriage and family an unwavering part of her life,” says Christa Summers, Millar’s daughter. “Even though she was dealing with difficult times, she still felt blessed.”

Millar is survived by her husband of more than 40 years, Gene, as well as two daughters and two grandchildren. Visitation will be held tomorrow evening at Garden of Memories Chapel in Tampa, with funeral services held at the same location on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Millar’s name to: Camp Sonlight (www.campsonlight.org) or Donetsk Ministry, Inc. in Culloden, GA.



Podcast: How To Win Back Lost Clients
On Tuesday’s ASI Internet Radio Show, the hosts took questions from the audience about how to win back dormant customers. Lost a client because your main contact left the company? Can’t get business out of a formerly good customer because their budget has been cut? Check out this podcast to get answers to those questions – and more. 

Click here to listen to the regaining lost-business segment of 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, April 6, 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.





Share Your Story With Counselor Mag & Earn $100
Have you recently lost a client because he's had his budget cut, moved on to another job or simply gone to a competitor? Share your story with Counselor magazine's reporters and we'll have a team of experts offer you valuable strategies you can use to regain that client's business. Plus, we'll feature you in an upcoming issue of Counselor AND give you a $100 American Express Gift Card for your efforts.

If you're interested, please send an e-mail to acohen@asicentral.com and tell us in 100 words or less how you lost a recent client (you needn't reveal the name or company of the client) and any efforts you've made to win him/her back.



Nominate Your Company For The Best Places To Work Contest
For the third year in a row, Counselor is setting out to identify the industry companies that employees simply love to work for. These are the distributors and suppliers that have a loyal work force and that provide a work environment which employees want to go to every morning.

Counselor will be unveiling its second-annual Best Places To Work issue in September, and it will undoubtedly include an elite list of industry companies. Do you want your company to be considered? Getting involved is easy – and it’s completely free to participate. The only necessary qualification is that a company has at least 10 employees. To nominate your company, or any others in the market that you think deserve to be recognized, simply click here. Also, there’s no risk to participating. Only the honorees – those companies with the best scores from the survey – will be published in Counselor.

So, don’t delay. Click here to register your company to be considered for one of the most exclusive lists in the ad specialty market: Counselor’s Best Places To Work.


ASICentral: Vote Now For Your Fave Promo Product
Last month our Facebook users uploaded images of their favorite promotional products. From the Cigar Holder Divot Tool to the Meat Tray Compressed T-shirt, we got a lot of great submissions, many of which are both fun and functional. Check out the products and their descriptions, then vote for the one you like best.

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:Twitter Facebook YouTube.


Last Chance To Vote For Best Ads Of 2009
The finalists have been chosen for the Advertising ASI Spirit Awards. Now, all we need is your input. Please click here to vote in the Best Ads categories for Counselor, Email Express, ESP Online, catalogs and Advantages, and for Best Innovative New Product. You can select up to three per category; limit of one ballot per person, please.

The ballot will be available for a limited time only, so vote now!


In The News
4imprint (asi/197045) contributed to 254 charities in 2009, donating $127,000 of items through its one by one giving program.

Corvest has established a new domestic warehousing and fulfillment program, offering reduced pricing through large-quantity purchases. The program includes USA-made and decorated products as well as stock and custom items manufactured overseas.

Crystal D (asi/47759) has launched an additional Web page that will feature educational videos for distributors. The site can be found at: www.crystal-d.com/d_tv.

Facilis Group has introduced a new client update feature to its business management system, allowing customer service reps to improve communication throughout the order and delivery process.

Hanes (asi/59528) has been honored with the 2010 Environmental Protection Agency Energy Partner of the Year Award for its work in reducing carbon emissions.

Imprints Wholesale (asi/62486) has added five new fleece styles to its J. America product line, including a fleece hooded sweatshirt, a long sleeve thermal T-shirt and a track jacket.

VisionUSA (asi/80060) has announced that it is now shipping products to China.



People On The Move
Hospitality Mints LLC (asi/61820) has hired Robby Cordes as director of ad specialty.



ASI SHOW

The following are the dates and locations for The ASI Show in 2010:
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 and go to www.asishow.com for information on all ASI Shows.


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