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.
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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. |
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.
|
Counselor® PromoGram® is
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All Rights Reserved. |
If you'd like us to send Counselor PromoGram FREE to anyone else at your company (or to your off-site sales reps), go to www.asicentral.com/newsletters and complete the online form. |
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