CA Set To Pass Plastic Bag Ban
Following months of lobbying and legislative debate, California's Senate will vote today to determine if the Golden State will become the first in the nation to ban plastic bags at grocery, drug and certain convenience stores. The ban, which passed the Assembly in June, already has the support of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has said he would sign the bill into law. "We are taught to reduce, reuse, recycle in that order because we can't recycle our way to a better world," said Assemblywoman Julie Brownley, who authored the legislation. "This bill gets to the root of our litter problem by reducing our use of disposable bags."

After a flurry of changes in legislative committees last week, the latest bill encourages retailers to provide reusable bags, but still allows them to offer recycled paper bags. Also, retailers would now only be permitted to charge customers a fee for the cost of a paper bag, rather than allowing them to charge an additional five cents per bag. Finally, stores would also be required to provide bags to customers who can't afford them.

According to Brown, the bill would save Californians substantial money, helping to offset the roughly $25 million a year spent on cleaning up bag litter. Yet opponents of the bill, including the American Chemistry Council (ACC), argue the bill would be a quasi-tax on residents who are already suffering through a down economy in California. "This bill is bad for the economy and bad for the environment," states the ACC website. "It will eliminate several hundred California manufacturing jobs and dismantle existing plastic bag recycling programs."

If the Senate were to pass the ban today, the new bill would be returned to the California Assembly for final approval. Schwarzenegger would then likely sign the bill by September 30, meaning the plastic bag ban would go into effect at supermarkets and large pharmacies beginning in 2012. Smaller grocers, convenience and liquor stores would have to comply by 2013.

Oriental Trading Files For Bankruptcy
Citing heavy debt and high shipping costs, Omaha-based distributor Oriental Trading Company (asi/287740) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, initiating a massive restructuring effort to pay off creditors. Under the plan, the company estimates it will reduce its funded debt by 70%, from $700 million to $200 million. "We have been active in our discussions with our lenders and have reached an agreement that will bring our capital structure in line with the current economic environment and needs of the business," said Sam Taylor, CEO of Oriental Trading Company.

In announcing the filing, the company also revealed it has obtained financing of $40 million from a group of its existing lenders, which will cover operational costs during the restructuring. The financing will also allow Oriental Trading Company to continue normal business operations with no expected impact on customers. "We are pleased with the ongoing support we have received from our lenders and believe this process will lead to a sustainable, long-term financial foundation for the company," said Taylor.

Oriental Trading, which is the largest direct merchant of party supplies and novelty items in the country, has been burdened by significant debt since it was sold in 2006 to the Carlyle Group, a private-equity firm, for $1 billion. Founded in 1932, Oriental Trading employs more than 3,000 people, manufacturing the majority of its products in China. The company's overall annual revenues are roughly $500 million, according to various investment services.

Tuesday Morning Radio Show Live On The Air
Every Tuesday morning from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET, 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 shared ways to foster corporate innovation and discussed the best strategies that companies can use to do more with less. Plus, the hosts offered advice to callers who were looking for unique ways to close business from hesitant clients. 

If you missed the show, a recording is now available at www.asicentral.com/radio. And, don't forget to join us for our next broadcast on Tuesday, September 7. Log on to www.asicentral.com/radio at 10:30 a.m. ET to listen to the show – and give us a call at (215) 953-4979 to hear your voice on the air.

Halo/Lee Wayne Announces Name Change
Counselor Top 40 distributor Halo/Lee Wayne (asi/356000) announced that the company is undergoing a rebranding effort and will be known as Halo Branded Solutions as of January 1, 2011. The move will retire the Lee Wayne brand after 58 years in the industry.

"We surveyed our sales force nearly a year ago and the message was clear: We needed to go to market under one brand. Research revealed that brand recognition and brand retention for the Halo Branded Solutions name was substantially stronger than for Lee Wayne," says Marc Simon, CEO of Halo. "We have also provided millions of dollars in sales leads to our sales force, and over 80% of those leads have come from the Halo website. The business case for the name change was compelling."

Counselor Reveals 2010 Best Places To Work
One of the most anticipated lists in the industry is now live. Counselor's Best Places to Work, the ranking of industry companies that were judged by their own employees as the best companies to work for, can now be found on our website and a special new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BestPlacestoWork.

Click here now to view the full list of 75 companies, and to read a profile of the number-one Best Place to Work: Dacasso (asi/48125), the Gainesville, FL-based supplier.

And, make sure to join the Counselor Best Places to Work community by going to www.facebook.com/BestPlacestoWork.
Add your own thoughts to the conversation about what makes a great workplace. Each week, we'll reveal a new profile of one of the 75 companies on the 2010 Best Places to Work list. Plus, we'll host contests and moderate conversation topics based around workplace issues, challenges, and successes. Join us now.

The Joe Show: What's Hot Now?
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. Want to wow clients with unique and new products? Start with these. 

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

Want more videos? Subscribe now to our YouTube videos.

• A gutsy entrepreneur who started her business with nothing and grew it into a super company
• A million-dollar salesperson who can pitch any product and close any deal
• A marketing maven who always knows just how to create the right business buzz
• A social networking wizardress who has taken cyberspace by storm
• An ad specialty veteran who's the favorite mentor for industry newcomers
  

Win Prizes: Take Part In ASI Radio Contest
If you like cool, high-tech gadgets and enjoy the weekly ASI Radio Show, then we have some news for you.

Tune into each radio show (Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. ET) leading up to a special prize giveaway show on September 14. During each show, the hosts will reveal a special "Word of the Week," and then during the September 14 show, we'll solicit calls from listeners to identify which word went with which week.

ASI Online Learning Center
What fabrics should you be using for heat transfers? Which fabrics should you shy away from? You'll learn the basics of heat transfers, along with two other hot decoration options, in this course.

Did you know you can take self-paced, on-demand courses at ASI Education's Online Learning Center? This is the newest and most convenient way for distributors, decorators and suppliers to get educated.

In our newest course, "Unique Decoration Techniques: Chenille, Heat Transfers and Crystals," you'll learn the basics of chenille, heat transfers, and crystals and rhinestones, so that you can make an informed decision about whether you'd like to add these unique techniques to your services.

Click here to take the course.

In The News
Affinity Express, an ASI affiliate company, has been included in the 2010 Global Services 100.

Charles River Apparel (asi/44620) was featured on local channel Fox 25 in their Zip Trip segment.

Ecorite (asi/51654) has announced that it will be offering a free-freight credit equal to 5% of the order value on all orders $500 or more, starting September 1. The promotion will initially run until October 31. For full program details, go to www.ecorite.com.

Proforma (asi/300094) announced that seven of its owners have earned seven spots on Inc. magazine's list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The companies recognized on the Inc. 5,000 include Proforma Spectrum Print Graphics, ranked 337; Proforma Printed Images, ranked 412; Proforma InPrint Management, ranked 2,437; Proforma Print Marketing, ranked 3,225; Proforma Brand Proformance, ranked 4,626; Proforma Albrecht & Co., ranked 4,743; Proforma Promotion Consultants, ranked 4,996.

Source Abroad Inc. (asi/88242) announced that it achieved the number 2,287 ranking on the Inc. 500/5,000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America, making it the third consecutive year the supplier has made the list.

The Vernon Company (asi/351700) announced that Jose Molina has become the 500th member of the company's sales achievement Million Dollar Club.

Visstun (asi/93975) has reduced the minimum order quantity to 125 pieces for products including W212 & W217– 12 & 17 oz. White Plastic Cups, H912 & H917– 12 & 17oz. Paper Hot Cups, WG12 – 12 oz. Grow Kits. Up to one-day rush service is now available for orders of 5,000 products or less.

People On The Move
Bella (asi/39590) has hired Tanner Elza as technical package developer.

Fey Promotional Products Group (asi/54040) has announced the addition of Ron Williams as director of marketing.

ASI SHOW

TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO SAVE ON THE 2nd ANNUAL ASI WOMEN'S SUMMIT
Register today, August 31, for the 2nd annual ASI Women's Summit taking place on February 18, 2011, during ASI Dallas at the Adolphus Hotel's French Room and pay only $249! (Co-sponsored by Fields Mfg., asi/54100, J. Charles Crystalworks, asi/62985, Logo Mats, asi/67849) 

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 afternoon schedule 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. 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.

ATTEND THE ADVANTAGES ROADSHOW THIS WEEK IN THE NORTHEAST
The industry's #1 traveling show, the ASI Advantages Roadshow, is visiting the Northeast this week (Boston, Aug. 30; Long Island, Aug. 31; Philadelphia, Sept. 1; and Baltimore, Sept. 2). All distributors are invited to attend for FREE!
Delivering a productive, one-on-one atmosphere for distributors to meet with top suppliers, the Advantages Roadshow features free education from 8 a.m.-9 a.m., 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.-2 p.m. and exhibit hours from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Visit www.advantagesroadshow.com for complete details. No pre-registration is required.

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 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.