Counselor® PromoGram®
Volume 709 / May 4, 2010
Click here to read this and past issues online.

BIC Graphic And Norwood Announce Sales Leadership
Counselor Top 40 suppliers BIC Graphic USA (asi/40480) and Norwood have introduced a new sales leadership team for North America under the direction of the recently hired Quenten Wentworth, general manager of the two companies. The appointments were formally announced at a BIC/Norwood joint sales and trade marketing meeting in Tampa, FL.

Appointed to the leadership team were Dave Saracino, Joe DeVault and Jill Stirnkorb. Saracino will serve as vice president of field sales for the U.S. and Canada, while DeVault will serve as vice president of national accounts and calendars for North America. Stirnkorb was named inside sales director and will be responsible for both BIC Graphic and Norwood inside sales teams.

According to Wentworth, the BIC Graphic and Norwood brands and sales teams will continue to remain separate. All customer service contacts for quotes, ordering and artwork will also remain unchanged for both companies. "We are confident that distributors' day-to-day business processes will not be altered by our change in sales management," said Wentworth. "I am very impressed with both Norwood and BIC Graphic's commitments to customer service and distributor partnership. I look forward to working with both teams to determine best practices from each and implement a refined sales approach that will offer our customers industry-leading service and selling tools."

A former executive at Philip Morris and Pepsi Bottling Group, Wentworth was appointed as vice president and general manager of BIC Graphic and Norwood on April 12. He continues to integrate the two companies which combined have become the largest supplier in the ad specialty market with total 2009 revenues of $410 million.
ASI NEWS

ESP Searches Jump After Virtual Shows
Exhibiting suppliers experience an average 24% increase in ESP searches the day after each show.

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Admints & Zagabor Acquires Yummy Photo
Admints & Zagabor (asi/31516) announced it is expanding its gourmet food gifts offerings with the acquisition of Yummy Photo (asi/98885). Financial terms of the acquisition, which was completed on Sunday, were not disclosed. “We are very excited to add the delicious products of Yummy Photo to our company,” said Admints President Brett Hersh. “Yummy Photo has built a reputation of high-quality food products with first-class decorating that will be a complement to our expanding gourmet food gift line.”

Yummy Photo specializes in directly printing food grade inks onto cookies, chocolates and other food items. “They have the best technology of direct printing on any food product,” Hersh remarked. Admints plans to maintain the Yummy Photo name as a line in its collection, and will keep the company’s ASI number and website for at least a year. Dialog with Yummy Photo about a deal went on for four-six weeks as Yummy Photo planned to focus on its retail business and get out of the promotional products industry.

Hersh says that the supplier is planning to expand Yummy Photo’s offerings with new cookie shapes and expanded gift packaging options. “We’re in the process of researching some new products [with this technology] to offer some new items,” he said.



WorkflowOne Promotes Truitt To CEO
Counselor Top 40 distributor WorkflowOne (asi/333647) announced yesterday that Dean Truitt, formerly president and COO, has been promoted to the position of CEO of WorkflowOne. Truitt will continue to report to Dave Davis, chairman and CEO of Workflow Management and senior managing director of Perseus L.L.C.

"Since October 2008, Dean has served in senior leadership roles including vice president of operations and most recently, president and chief operating officer," said Dave Davis. "With his depth and experience in executive leadership and restructuring companies, he has positioned WorkflowOne as a successful and competitive company within the industry."

Truitt has nearly 30 years of experience in leading turnarounds, performance improvement programs, growth initiatives and merger integrations for Fortune 500 companies. He was previously with AlixPartners, a leading global business advisory and turnaround firm, where he assisted CEOs and private equity firms with major turnarounds and served in interim senior management roles for clients.

WorkflowOne reported ad specialty sales in 2009 of $82.8 million, an 8% drop from 2008 when it was the 15th-largest distributor in the industry.


The Joe Show: New Products
In this episode of The Joe Show, Counselor Managing Editor Joe Haley shows off some of the newest items to hit the ad specialty market. Have clients looking for the latest and greatest to wow their promotional recipients? Check out these items. 

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

Want more videos? Subscribe now to our YouTube videos.



Obituary: Ted Olson, President Emeritus Of PPAI
H. Ted Olson, president emeritus of PPAI, died on Wednesday, April 28, after a short illness. Olson, a member of the PPAI Hall of Fame, was 81 years old.

From 1979 until his retirement in 1996, Olson was president of PPAI, serving then as one of only two presidents in the association's history. Prior to his career at PPAI, Olson also served as director of human resources for Union Carbide, a large chemical company. Throughout his life, Olson worked tirelessly in the community, serving with organizations such as the Salvation Army, the Boy Scouts of America, the Irving, TX, Rotary Club and the Dallas-Fort Worth Humane Society.

Olson is survived by his wife Kathleen, daughter Chris, son-in-law Bo, granddaughter Erin and great-granddaughter Kylie. A memorial service was held today at Calvary Church in Irving, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, the Dallas-Fort Worth Humane Society of Irving and the PPAI Foundation.



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 offered a live report from this week's ASI Show in New York, looked at the latest T-shirt trends impacting the market, and shared the worst words to ever say in a workplace. Plus, listeners called in to get the hosts' advice for how they can do better prospecting. 

If you missed the show, don't worry. A recording is now available at www.asicentral.com/radio. And, don't forget to join us for our next broadcast on Tuesday, May 11. Log on to www.asicentral.com/radio at 10:30 a.m. ET to listen to the radio show, and give us a call at 215-953-4979 to hear your voice on the air.



Get On Counselor's Hot List
Are you doing something unique, hip, fun or trendy in the industry right now? Do you know somebody who is? 

Counselor is looking for nominations of people for its third annual Hot List, which will be published in August – our Hot Issue. We're on the lookout for anyone in the industry who is taking an interesting approach to business, shaking up the status quo or simply networking like a maniac at all hours of the night. We're in search of those people who are making the industry a unique marketplace that's fun and energetic. 

Send an e-mail to Karen Akers at kakers@asicentral.com explaining in 50 words or less why your nomination should be recognized on Counselor's Hot List in August. And, please make sure to include a picture of the person you're nominating.



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.


New Course Available On ASI Education's OnlineLearningCenter
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.

NEW: Customer Service Tactics to Increase Sales and Snag Market Share
Want to increase your revenues? Steal market share from competitors? Win over your clients to create long-term partnerships? In this course, we'll teach you how to implement 14 proven customer service strategies at your company that will help you keep customers loyal and increase your bottom line. Register now!

Get a sneak peak at ASI Education's newest online course. In this course video, Nicole Rollender, Stitches editor and director of ASI Education, talks about one smart customer service strategy: the best ways to obtain client feedback.

Coming Soon:
Cold-Calling Clinic: Get More Appointments Now



In The News
IDProductsource (asi/62088) has changed its line name from Aspinline to IDPAspinline, effective immediately. Because of recent growth, the company has also moved to a new location at: 651 NW Enterprise Drive, Suite 102, Port St Lucie, FL 34986. The company also announced new marketing initiatives that include a new 32-page online catalog, a new enhanced website, and the addition of a new line of lanyards and three new product categories of metal keychains, PVC keychains and solid zinc or brass challenge coins. 

Imprints Wholesale (asi/62486) is now offering Comfort Colors by Chouinard, a new garment dye line available in 11 styles and 33 colors.

Promotions Unlimited has announced that it has changed its name to Verite Inc. (asi/301340) to better reflect its branding as a strategic partner in the health care market.

Thinc Actionwear (asi/91120) recently held an open house for clients featuring its 2010 collection. Through admission costs, the company was able to donate $1,000 to the Portland (OR) Food Bank.



People On The Move
Touchstone (asi/345631) has hired Linda Hamrick as a senior account executive.




ASI SHOW

ASI NEW YORK TAKING PLACE NOW AT THE JAVITS CENTER
ASI New York, the industry's first and only major trade show in New York, is taking place now — May 4-6 — at the Javits Center!
From wearables, caps and writing instruments to electronic and healthcare products, you are sure to find what's hot and new for the second half of the year. See hundreds of top suppliers, including more than 170 not exhibiting at Promotions East, participate in dozens of free education sessions (sponsored by Fields Mfg., asi/54100 and MediaTree, asi/70303) and attend a free Keynote on how to Build Your Brand & Your Business with Social Networking (sponsored by RatePoint, Inc.).
Visit www.asishow.com for the complete three-day schedule.

DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR FREE TICKET TO THE ASI CHICAGO GALA
ASI distributor and decorator members who register for ASI Chicago (July 13-15), the largest show of the summer, by May 9 can request a free ticket to the popular ASI Show Gala Celebration. (up to two per company)
This year's ASI Chicago Gala Celebration, taking place July 14 at 6:30 p.m. at hotspot HUB 51, is a not-to-be-missed networking event. Enjoy a dinner buffet, open bar, great DJ for dancing and quiet areas for conversation.
As the biggest event in the Midwest, ASI Chicago, will feature leading suppliers, thousands of new items, top-notch education and a free Keynote, entitled "Your Biggest Deal Ever," (sponsored by Bullet, asi/42424).
Registration and housing are both open at www.asishow.com. ASI distributor and decorator members can attend ASI Chicago for free and receive up to $100 toward a hotel room.

EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING FOR THE ASIHOLIDAY PREVIEW IN LAS VEGAS
Both suppliers and distributors are talking about the ASI Holiday Preview, taking place Monday, September 13, and Tuesday, September 14, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.
The event opens with the popular "New Distributor Success Track" from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, September 13. Tuesday, September 14, will feature "Exhibitor Presents" from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., tabletop exhibits from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a closing networking reception at 4 p.m.
Register now for the ASI Holiday Preview in Las Vegas at www.asishow.com . Plus, reserve your hotel room. The Venetian Hotel is the official show hotel, where a limited number of hotel rooms have been secured at $149 (half off the usual rate of $300). 
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:
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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