Counselor® PromoGram®
Volume 746 / September 9, 2010
Click here to read this and past issues online.

San Francisco Weighs Promo Toy Ban
The city of San Francisco has introduced legislation that would ban toys in kids' meals that don't meet certain health requirements. Under the proposal, fast food restaurants would have to include fruits and vegetables in each meal, as well as meet limits for calories, percent of calories from fat and sodium content for food and drinks. "Our legislation will encourage restaurants that offer unhealthy meals marketed toward children and youth to offer healthier food options with incentive items or toys," said Eric Mar, a city supervisor who introduced the legislation.

Criticism has been strong and swift since the proposal was initially submitted. In a letter from FreeToChooseOurMeals.com to San Francisco restaurant owners, Bob Cutler wrote that politicians were blaming restaurants for providing food that people want. “Regardless of the real cause for obesity in this country,” writes the CEO of Creative Consumer Concepts, a youth-focused marketing firm, “your political leaders have now decided to launch the first of what will be future assaults on your ability to market your business." A similar law is already in place in nearby Santa Clara County, but it only affects unincorporated areas and a small number of fast-food restaurants.

This isn’t the first recent incident where toys in kids meals have drawn scrutiny. Earlier this summer, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) announced it would sue McDonald’s if the fast food giant continued to include toys in its Happy Meals. “Regardless of the nutritional quality of what’s being sold, the practice of tempting kids with toys is inherently deceptive,” said CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson. “I’m sure that the industry’s defenders will blame parents for not saying ‘no’ to their children. Parents do bear much of the responsibility, but multi-billion-dollar corporations make parents’ job nearly impossible by giving away toys and bombarding kids with slick advertising.”

In a response letter, McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner wrote, “Parents, in particular, strongly believe they have the right and responsibility to decide what's best for their children, not CSPI. It really is that simple.”

ASI NEWS

Who's the Sexiest Celebrity Marketer?
Check out the Top 10 list from Successful Promotions magazine and discover why sex still sells.

Find out more.

ASI Gets the Gold
ASI wins first place for the second year in a row from Proforma owners pleased with the company's service.

Find out more.
ASI welcomes the following Suppliers to the LogoMall Network
Find out more...
Find, review, and purchase the latest exclusive ASI products...
Find out more...

Industry News On Video
In this episode of Counselor’s Industry Update video, we discuss positive profitability trends for distributor customers and reveal the activity that Americans do online more than any other – hint: it’s not e-mail. Plus, why are restaurants in California concerned about their future marketing plans? Check out the video to find out.

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.



Breast Cancer Awareness Takes Off
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebrates its 25th anniversary next month, promotional products are increasingly in the spotlight for many promotions and drives. Besides the ubiquitous pink ribbons that remind wearers of the cause, there are a range of other ways tangible products can help get the message out. T-shirts continue to be a popular product for hospitals and organizations promoting breast cancer awareness. Diana Haake, owner of Promotional Product Partners, created several hundred shirts for a breast cancer awareness event last year. "It brought in students from several local high schools for an all-day event, and they received the shirt for participating," she says. "It was very well received."
           
Another distributor, Win Oppel, president of Ad-Merica (asi/107275), recently created breast cancer awareness umbrellas for a client. He has also worked with St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation in Connecticut on developing a set of ornaments, featuring a logo designed by a volunteer at the foundation and her niece. Every year they create a new ornament featuring the logo, and the ornaments are available for purchase and given to volunteers and donors, as well as doctors and nurses at the hospital. This year will be the ninth time they have collaborated on the promotion. "To do these longevity programs, the client has to know that it will take a couple years to get some traction, and now they have people asking, "What's the next ornament?" says Oppel. "It's a message mover, and it makes people think about what that ornament means."
           
While events and charity walks are often the most visible cause marketing platforms, promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month can be done through even more low-key ways. Distributor firm Lasting Impressions (asi/249926) has worked with clients on a large variety of campaigns, from traditional t-shirts and ribbons for a big event, to pink polo shirts or highlighters to pass out in the office. Angela Dabiero, marketing coordinator for Lasting Impressions, believes that branding these products has a positive impact for the cause and the brands that associate themselves with it. "Whenever you take a branded name—whether Kroger or Home Depot—and add that to the ribbon or product, it enhances the message by saying "these people support the cause," says Dabiero. "Others are going to want to get on board."



Podcast: Selling To Golf Tournaments
On Tuesday’s ASI Internet Radio Show, the hosts interviewed Phil Immordino, president of the Golf Tournament Association of America, to find out how distributors can improve their sales to golf tournaments. Wondering what products work best for events on the links? Looking to expand your business from golf tournaments? Listen to this clip from the show. 

Click here to listen to the golf tournament interview 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 on Tuesday, September 14, for our next broadcast, when we’ll be giving away special prizes (digital camera, Flip video recorder, netbook computer, and more) all show long. 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.



Counselor Unveils 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. Right now, we’ve asked people for their stories and pictures from their favorite corporate summer outing this year. Join us now to show the industry why your company had the coolest outdoor event this summer.  


Nominate The Supplier Global Resource Sales Rep Of The Year
Supplier Global Resource, the industry's only magazine dedicated to ad specialty suppliers, is holding its inaugural Supplier Sales Rep of the Year contest to recognize outstanding performance, exemplary service and top-notch professionalism.

Do you work with a supplier sales rep who has gone above and beyond for you this year? Do you have a supplier partner who always puts you and your customers' needs first and has a "do whatever it takes" attitude to make you shine?

If you know a perfect contender, e-mail the nominee's name and details regarding what makes him or her award-worthy to Michele Bell, editor of Supplier Global Resource, at mbell@asicentral.com by September 15, 2010. The winner will be profiled in ASI's magazines, receive an array of awesome prizes and get to bask in his or her own fabulousness for the year.



Voting Opens For ASI Advisory Boards
Elections for the 2011 ASI Advisory Boards are now open. Be sure to take a minute to review the nominees and cast your vote to help make a difference in our industry! Current board members can be viewed at http://asiadvisory.blogspot.com/

The ASI Advisory Boards, developed in 2010, cover four distinctive subjects: Technology & Operations, Marketing & Research, Safety & Legislation, and General Industry Issues. They keep an eyeful watch on matters that affect our industry and the way we do business. Board members share thoughts and ideas to develop solutions to ensure the success of advertising specialty companies.

Click here to review the slate and place your vote for those you believe will best represent the industry to ensure the success of all industry participants. Only votes from active ASI member employees are allowed. Voting closes on September 30, with the election results being announced at the 2010 ASI Power Summit in early November.



Special Prize Giveaway Radio Show Next Week
If you like cool, high-tech gadgets and enjoy the weekly ASI Radio Show, then we have some news for you.

Tune into our special prize giveaway show next week, September 14, when we’ll give away items like a digital camera, a netbook computer, and a Roomba vacuum cleaner. All you need to do is call us during the show and provide a word of the week from each of the previous four shows. Can’t remember what the contest words were from the past four shows? Listen to the archives now at www.asicentral.com/radio - and don’t forget to take notes.

For more information, including the prizes you could win, click here. And make sure to tune in next Tuesday to our special giveaway show.


In The News
All-In-One (asi/34256) has introduced its new USB Flash Express service that includes free 24-hour delivery on in-stock drives, new pricing including 2,500-piece pricing on orders of 100 or more drives, free setup, free data upload and free virtual proofs. For more information, go to www.AllinOneLine.com/USB.

iClick (asi/62124) has been ranked number 660 on the 2010 Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies.

Magnus (asi/68529) and Trevelyan Limited (asi/92035) have announced a strategic partnership  in which the suppliers will share a 72,000-square-foot facility, as well as personnel and client promotion. The companies have moved into the facility at: 125 Nantucket Blvd. in Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1P 2N5. The companies are hosting an open house on Monday, September 13.

R.S. Owens (asi/75530) built a replica of its 1964 Clio Award for use as a prop in the August 29th episode of AMC Television’s Emmy Award-winning show Mad Men. The real Clio Award was received by the show’s creator Mathew Weiner in 2009.



People On The Move
Bella (asi/39590) and Canvas have hired Suk Chang as their head pattern maker.

iPROMOTEu (asi/232119) announced that 15 distributors affiliated with the company in August, and combined they have an estimated annual sales volume of approximately $3 million. The new affiliates include Jenny Crane of Dash Promotions in Dana Point, CA; Michael Crowley of Universal Printworks Inc. in Placentia, CA; George Garcia of Geo Promotions LLC in Santa Fe Springs, CA;  Lee Giles of Giles Moran in Richardson, TX; Loree Hall of A Better Solution in High Point, NC; Andrea Harper of Harper & Harper Creative Group LLC in Atlanta, GA; Mark Holm of Ideal Printing Promos & Wearables Inc. in Folsom, CA; Kimberly Joiner of Custoz Inc. in Jacksonville, FL; Stephen Marotta of Stephen Marotta Advertising Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Michael Paul of Compass Promotions USA in Stuart, FL; LaDonna Pauls of Logo Envy in Wichita, KS;  Lewis Riddick, Jr. of VIP Marketing & Dist Co in Washington, DC; and Jim Vermeer of PM Incentives Inc. in Pella, IA.

Motivators Promotional Products (asi/277780) has named Annette Johnson to a new position in the company: human resources manager.

Proforma (asi/300094) announced that it welcomed six new owners to its network in August: Lynn Griffin, Proforma Solutions 360, Muscle Shoals, AL; Lesli Covell, Extraordinary Promotions, Powered by Proforma, Richmond, TX; Rob and Harriet Tomaseski, Proforma R & H Solutions, Hampton, VA; Chuck DiPace, Proforma Interactive Print Solutions, Simsbury, CT; Phyllis Scroggs, Proforma Prophyllis, Tulsa, OK; Dave Leash, Proforma Brave Marketing Concepts, Denver, CO



ASI SHOW

ASI HOLIDAY PREVIEW IS NEXT WEEK IN LAS VEGAS
Looking for the hottest items for the holidays? Look no further than the ASI Holiday Preview, a new table top event taking place next Monday, September 13, and Tuesday, September 14, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.
With minimal time out of the office you will be able to meet with leading suppliers, find hot items for the holidays, participate in amazing education led by David Blaise and network with other ad specialty professionals.
Click here for the complete schedule and register now at www.asishow.com. All distributors are invited to attend for free.

ATTEND THE ADVANTAGES ROADSHOW WHEN IT VISITS THE WESTCOAST
The industry's #1 traveling show, the ASI Advantages Roadshow, is visiting the West Coast in just over a week (Van Nuys, Sept. 20; Ontario, Sept. 21; Newport Beach, Sept. 22; San Diego, Sept 23 and Phoenix, Sept. 24). 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.

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