Cintas Reports Sales Increase
Counselor Top 40 distributor Cintas (asi/162167) has reported revenues of $909 million for the quarter that ended on May 31, a 3.5% year-over-year increase. The company’s quarterly profits jumped to $55.5 million, or 36 cents per share, easily beating the forecasts of analysts. “We are pleased with our fourth quarter results, which exceeded our internal plan,” said Cintas CEO Scott Farmer. “Throughout this recent economic downturn, we have worked hard to position ourselves to grow revenue when conditions improve and jobs are added.”

In the last quarter, which ended Cintas’ 2010 fiscal year, revenue from the company’s rental uniform business was flat at $648 million, but revenue from other services rose 13% to $262 million. For the entire 2010 fiscal year, Cintas reported sales of $3.5 billion, a 6% drop compared to 2009. Counselor estimates the company’s promotional products sales dipped 19.5% last year to $134.4 million. Cintas’ balance sheet, however, remains strong as the company increased its cash and marketable securities in fiscal year 2010 by $316 million. Free cash flow was $450 million in the last fiscal year, an increase of 24% over 2009.

Despite a sluggish fiscal 2010 overall for sales, Farmer is predicting Cintas will build on its most recent gains and realize 2011 fiscal year total revenues of more than $3 billion. “After two years of very difficult economic times, we expect a return to growth in sales and profits,” Farmer said. “We look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead for Cintas.”

Audio Report: Exclusive Interview With Olivia Newton-John
Counselor Top 40 distributor Geiger (asi/202900) announced this week that it is the exclusive promotional and small retail provider of a new groundbreaking item called Liv. The breast self-exam item, created by Emmy-award-winning singer Olivia Newton-John and Dr. Ernie Bodai, is FDA-approved and is meant to make it easier and more accurate for women to examine themselves for breast irregularities.

Newton-John, a breast-cancer survivor, is the spokesperson for the product, which will be sold by Geiger's new unit, called Livgeiger (www.livgeiger.com). The item has a retail price of $19.95 apiece. Companies and organizations can use it as a promotional product by placing logos or messaging on the device's handle, packaging and carrying case.

In this exclusive interview, Newton-John sits down with Counselor to explain her vision for the product and how it fits into the ad specialty market. Click here to listen to the podcast.

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 discuss how an FBI raid has put one mid-size distributor out of business and we reveal financial information for one Top 40 distributor. Plus, new data shows that companies are looking to add to their headcount. Check out the video to find out why.

Click here to see the trends and 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.

Business Hiring Forecasted To Increase
Nearly one-third of U.S. businesses added employees during the second quarter, according to a new survey released by the National Association for Business Economics (NABE). Data also shows that 39% of respondents expect to hire more workers over the next six months, the largest display of optimism since January of 2008. “NABE’s July 2010 survey confirms that the U.S. recovery continued through the second quarter, although at a slower pace than earlier in the year,” said William Strauss of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

According to NABE data, manufacturers reported the strongest increase in demand and profitability between April and June, while the finance, insurance and real estate sectors had the slowest growth. More than half of respondents reported sales increases in the second quarter, with 25% reporting higher profit margins. “Industry demand increased for a fourth consecutive quarter,” said Strauss. “Price and cost pressures were contained, allowing profits to edge higher.”

Additionally, about 20% of economists surveyed by NABE believe gross domestic product (GDP) will expand by more than 3% this year and 67% believe the economy will expand by at least 2%. During the first quarter, GDP grew at an annual rate of 2.7%, according to government estimates. Following a recent policy meeting, the Federal Reserve now expects GDP to grow between 3% and 3.5% this year, down from its earlier expectation of growth as high as 3.7%.

Podcast: How To Overcome Price Objections
On Tuesday's ASI Internet Radio Show, the hosts took questions from callers looking for advice on how they can quell the price concerns of their customers. Looking for ways to combat objections and turn those price-cutting questions into opportunities? Listen now to this clip from the show. 

Click here to listen to the price-objection 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, July 27, for our next broadcast. Log on to www.asicentral.com/radio at 10:30 am ET 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.

Make Big Deals A Reality
Tom Searcy, the keynote speaker at last week’s ASI Show in Chicago, has one message for all companies: do everything you can to close the largest deals possible. “You can make your year with just a couple of deals,” he says. “But you have to focus and work hard on making these kind of big sales happen.”

In this video interview, Counselor catches up with Tom Searcy, author of Hunt Big Sales, to find out how ad specialty distributors can tailor their businesses to ensure they’re focusing their efforts on big clients and large sales.

Click here to watch the interview.

Nominations Open For 2010 Counselor Power 50
Counselor is now compiling its Power 50 list for 2010 – our recognition of the industry's most powerful individuals – and we're looking for feedback from you. Click here to see the list of last year's Power 50 and let us know whether you think the members are more or less influential today than they were a year ago.

Plus, this is also the place to nominate new people who you think should be on the 2010 Power 50 list. Scroll to the bottom of the survey to submit new candidates for the Counselor Power 50 list. Please write their name and company in the space provided.

Click here to take the survey and make new nominations.

ASICentral: Counselor State Of The Industry 2010
Yes, it's that time of year again. Time for a boatload of industry facts, stats, top 40s and how-to manuals. Want to know how to prepare your business for growth today, throughout 2011 and even beyond 2012? Then you don't want to miss this special ASICentral.com feature! Click here to check it out.

In The News
Boxercraft (asi/41325) has released the Walk About Boot (X251), Perfect Fit V-Neck tee (T21) and Show Stopping Sport Short (N61) in its new fall catalog.

Crystal D (asi/47759) has named its second quarter WOW Champs: Ann Robinson for respect, Troy Scarborough for commitment, Chris Doering for integrity, Mike Cygan for quality and Mike Goetz for passion. Each quarterly WOW Champ is now in the running to be named one of Crystal D's Value Champions.

GatewayCDI (asi/202515) has announced its recent donation of $2,500 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Proforma Stewart & Associates' (asi/300094) owner Bruce Copeland served as a judge for the Technology Student Association's (TSA) National Competition on June 30 and evaluated entries in the promotional graphics category.

SanMar (asi/84863) has announced that it will introduce its 2010 Holiday Gift Guide in early September. Pre-orders are available now at www.sanmar.com.

The WOV-IN Group (asi/92980) announced that it has launched Promopet, a line focusing solely on pet products.

People On The Move
American Solutions for Business (asi/120075) has named Gary Skordahl, ASB sales associate from Willmar, MN, to its Board of Directors.

Crystal D (asi/47759) has hired new employees in various positions: Jesse Pageant as production manager, Emilia Fillmore as account manager, Brent Larson as graphic artist and Sasha Cohen as marketing coordinator.

ASI SHOW

HAVE LUNCH WITH FORMER FIRST LADY LAURA W. BUSH
Join us at the second annual ASI Women’s Summit taking place on February 18, 2011, during ASI Dallas at the Adolphus Hotel’s French Room. During the Summit, you’ll have the exclusive opportunity to network with other women professionals in the ad specialty industry, as well as hear a motivational Keynote by former First Lady Laura Bush.

The Summit will feature registration and networking from noon until 1:30 p.m., where you’ll be able to share stories with colleagues while mingling with Mrs. Bush; a sit-down lunch with Keynote from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; an interactive hot topics discussion from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. and an awards presentation highlighting the “Top 10 Women to Watch” from 3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Register today at www.asishow.com and pay only $249. After August 31, the registration fee will be $329. All attendees will receive a free autographed copy of Mrs. Bush’s new book, "Spoken from the Heart," a New York Times #1 best seller.

The following are the dates and locations for The ASI Show in 2010 and 2011:
ASI Holiday Preview in Las Vegas, September 13-14, 2010
Orlando, January 23-25, 2011
Dallas, February 16-18, 2011
New York, March 22-24, 2011
San Diego, May 18-20, 2011
Chicago, July 19-21, 2011

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.