Florida Amends Health Care Gift Ban
In a reversal that’s a victory for the ad specialty industry, legislators in Florida have amended a law that prohibited “remuneration of any kind” – including promotional products – to any doctor, nurse or referral source in the health care sector. A new bill, which passed in the final minutes of Florida’s 2012 legislative session, provides an exemption for ad specialties that have an individual value of $15 or less.

“We’re pretty much on top of the world with this result,” says Wayne Greenberg, legislative chairman for the Promotional Products Association of Florida (PPAF). “Our main message was that promotional products are not 'gifts.' Promotional products are the most cost-effective advertising vehicle there is for small businesses.” 

Specifically, the amended law provides an exemption for “a plaque, a certificate, a trophy, or a novelty item that is intended solely for presentation or is customarily given away solely for promotional, recognition, or advertising purposes.” The new legislation does not change a major purpose of the original bill – to eliminate kickbacks and large gifts (vacations, country club memberships, etc.) to health care professionals.

PPAF and the Gold Coast Promotional Products Association worked closely together for three years to win the legislative amendment, meeting with state officials, hiring a lobbyist and holding two separate promotional products days in the state capitol to raise awareness. Largely through the support of Senator Jack Latvala and State Representative Jim Frishe, the amended bill passed earlier this month. “I think this sets a precedent and I really hope this bill serves as a model for other states around the country,” says Greenberg. 

Tekweld Acquires Premier 1 Products
Farmingdale, NY-based Tekweld (asi/90807) has acquired supplier Premier 1 Products (asi/76820), the companies have announced. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "We're continuing to grow and add more exciting products," says Taylor Tadmor, president of Tekweld. "Premier 1 has been a very custom line with a lot of focus on the pharmaceutical industry and insurance agencies. We want to revive the Premier 1 line with all our capabilities here."

Per the deal, Randy Seltzer, the owner of Premier 1 and former president of Premium Shapes (asi/79387), has joined Tekweld as vice president of marketing. Seltzer is helping to launch a new plastics division at Tekweld, featuring Premier 1 designs of luggage tags, magnets, growth charts, coasters and several other products. "Taylor and I had been talking for months about teaming up and we're really going to put our energy together," Seltzer says.

Known for its health and beauty products, Tekweld increased its sales by 23% in 2011, investing heavily in new equipment and processes, according to Tadmor. "We're on pace to get above 20% growth again in sales in 2012," he says.

Hiring Increases, Layoffs Decrease
Layoffs are decreasing and hiring is on the rise at U.S. companies. The Labor Department said Thursday that claims for jobless benefits dropped to their lowest level in four years last week. Applications for unemployment fell by 14,000 to 351,000 in the week ending March 10 – the lowest level since March of 2008.

"The labor market is gaining momentum," Kevin Cummings, an economist at UBS Securities LLC, told Bloomberg Media. "Claims corroborate the pickup in employment we saw in February and suggest the pace of the job growth is likely to continue."

Hiring has become more robust in recent months. Payrolls shot up by 227,000 in February, beating forecasts and marking the end of the best six months of job growth since 2006. Additionally, the number of people collecting jobless benefits decreased by 81,000 in the week ended March 3 to 3.34 million. The number of people collecting emergency and extended unemployment payments dropped by 73,900 to 3.33 million in the week ended February 25.

The Joe Show: New Products, Hot Ideas
In this episode of The Joe Show, Managing Editor Joe Haley shows off some new products and offers promotional ideas for each one. Want a unique concept to show to any client exhibiting at an upcoming event or trade show? Looking for new marketing ideas for the traditional click pen? Check out the video.     

Click here to watch this new-products episode of The Joe Show.

Want more videos? Subscribe now to our YouTube videos.

Higher Gas Prices Impacting Small Businesses
American small businesses are straining under the burden of higher gas prices. More than 70% of small business owners who responded to a survey by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council said that escalating gas prices are impacting their firms. "The fragile economy is being undermined by high gas prices," says SBE Council President Karen Kerrigan. "The weak recovery and policy uncertainties are already weighing on the confidence and minds of small business owners. Now they must find a way to cope with higher fuel costs."

In some instances, that coping has taken the form of cutting employee hours and raising prices. According to the survey, 41% of small businesses said expensive gas was affecting their plans to hire, while 40% have raised prices and 22% reduced staff hours. Additionally, 43% of respondents feel their businesses will not survive if energy prices remain high or increase. "Very few businesses are immune from the negative effects of rising energy costs," says Ray Keating, SBE Council chief economist.

Many business owners believe Washington is failing to do enough to curtail the impact of rising fuel prices. No less than 61% of survey respondents said they're dissatisfied with the economic policies of the federal government. "The surge in gas prices underscores the need for the administration to move without haste on advancing pro-energy polices," says Kerrigan. "The U.S. cannot allow world events, supply disruptions and global demand surges to control the fate of our economy or global competitiveness." 

The SBE Council conducted the survey between Feb. 21 and March 2, polling 304 business owners. Between Feb. 27 and March 12, the weekly average price for gasoline climbed from $3.641 per gallon to $3.747, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Last Chance To Vote For The Best-Designed Products
The results are in: Counselor magazine has selected the finalists for its annual Product Design Awards. Here's where you come in. Click here to vote for the products you think are the best-designed, considering both aesthetic appeal and functionality. You can select up to three products in each of the 14 featured categories.

It only takes a few minutes to vote, and your input is very important. However, only distributors are eligible to vote. The winners will appear in the May 2012 issue of Counselor. Click here to vote now.

ASI Radio: Avoid Customer Churn
On today's Tuesday Morning Show, the hosts took questions from callers who were looking for advice on how they can win over the loyalty of their current clients. Plus, we shared our Favorite Things, provided the reasons why top employees leave their companies, and offered the do's and don'ts of customer relations today.      

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 – Tuesday, March 27. Log on 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.

Counselor's How-To Minute: Sell To The Education Market
In a video report, Counselor presents a business strategy video each week that focuses on how distributor firms can overcome a specific challenge or rise to the occasion on an opportunity in front of them. This week: How to win business from local schools and collegiate clients.

Having trouble securing orders from public school districts? Not sure how to develop contacts? Been wondering how to apply for a collegiate license? Check out the video for information you can use.

In a quick, minute-long video, Counselor Senior Editor Dave Vagnoni walks viewers through three simple steps they can take to build up their education market sales. Click here to watch.

Is Your Company A Best Place To Work?
For the fifth 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 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.

Take The State Of The Industry Survey
Counselor is currently polling professionals in the industry – both distributors and suppliers – to see how the market did in 2011 and to get impressions on where the industry is headed in 2012. We need your input. Please take some time to click the appropriate link below and complete the annual State of the Industry survey. Your responses will remain anonymous and you'll be helping to create Counselor's annual State of the Industry report.

Distributors click here to take the distributor State of the Industry survey.

Suppliers click here to take the supplier State of the Industry survey.

In The News
Better Life Line (asi/40390) announced that it has changed its corporate name from FirstPoint, LLC to Better Life Industries, LLC.

Crown Products (asi/47700) announced that factory representative Sue Kennedy, who represents Crown in IA, MN, ND, SD and WI, has been named VIP Supplier Rep of the Year for Spartan Promotional Group (asi/331150).

Gildan launched a new website called Gildan Genuine Stewardship. Available in English, French and Spanish, the site represents the company's eighth consecutive Corporate Citizenship Report and offers information about sustainability programs and initiatives. Visit www.genuinegildan.com for more information.

InnerWorkings (asi/168860) announced that the company has been recognized as a Partner-level supplier for 2011 in the John Deere Achieving Excellence Program. The Partner-level status is Deere & Company's highest supplier rating.

Proforma (asi/300094) announced that 11 new Proforma Owners were inducted into the Million Dollar Club during a celebratory trip to the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, FL. Members are recognized for achieving annual sales greater than $1 million.

PromoShop (asi/300446) announced that it was named Class III Supplier of the Year at the 2012 Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council Awards Dinner and Silent Auction.

Tess Oral Health (asi/90916) announced that it is now offering brightly colored, personalized toothbrushes that are perfect as Easter gifts and campaigns. For more information, visit www.brushesfast.com.

TRASA has announced that K.C. Fields of K.C. Fields and Associates (asi/822150) received the Multi-Line Rep of the Year award at TRASA's Annual Awards Program during the recent Carnival of Ideas Expo in Mars, PA.

People On The Move
EME has announced that Lauren Fox has been hired as vice president.

Lanco (asi/66224) announced that Bill Nault has been hired as a regional sales manager, covering CT, MA, RI, ME and NH. Additionally, Eric Thibault has been hired as a regional sales manager and will be responsible for FL, TN and Puerto Rico.

The Corporate Marketplace (asi/46743) has named Mary Ann Fontana of Mid-Atlantic Factory Reps (asi/820134) multi-line rep for Eastern PA, DE, MD, Washington DC, VA and WV.

Staples Promotional Products (asi/120601) has announced the retirement of Howard Trilling, vice president of global markets, after 35 years of outstanding service.

ASI SHOW

THE NEXT ASI VIRTUAL TRADE SHOW IS JUNE 13!           
Mark your calendar today and don’t miss the ASI Virtual Trade Show taking place Wednesday, June 13, 2012, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. EST. Registration will be open soon!

You’ll enjoy all this and more from the comfort of your own office. . .

• Chat with innovative suppliers about your client challenges
• Find new and unique ad specialty items
• Download new catalogs, sell sheets and white papers
• Participate in 25 online ASI Education sessions
• Earn credit toward your ASI Certification
• Network with other sales professionals in the Lounge

It’s never been easier to stay one step ahead of the competition. All distributors can attend for FREE! Visit www.asivirtualtradeshow.com for more information. Registration will be open in a few weeks!

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 2012:
San Diego, April 2-4, 2012
New York, May 8-10, 2012
Chicago, July 17-19, 2012

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.