Couldn’t make it out to Orlando, Florida for the 2012 Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) Show?  Not to worry — the folks at ASI continue to regularly post content on the organization’s YouTube page!  Today, ASI’s Chris Ruvo interviewed Mark Graham from Rightsleeve, a promotional design agency, following his ASI Show educational seminar.  The topic?  Low-cost (or free) ways to build your business.

Graham’s got three tips for how to keep costs low while growing your business:

1.  Facebook

Most within the promotional items industry already have a Facebook page, but are you using it correctly?  “People who mine that social graph are really able to get huge rewards,” said Graham.  It’s a powerful business tool.

2.  End user shows

An end-user show, at which end users are invited in to view new and upcoming lines, can be hosted for free.  Hold a show in your office; not only does everybody get a sneak-peek at the new items, but it’s also a great networking opportunity!

3.  Make people smile

Simply put, people buy from people they like.  Showcase your company’s personality and culture, and give people a reason to smile, and it will go a long, long way.

Check out the entire video below:

Counselor magazine recently featured a piece entitled “Everything Old is New Again.”  And it’s true — style, trends, and fads have proven cyclical over the past 40 to 50 years.  The article got me thinking:  Do I use any items or dress in any styles that were popular in the 50s, 60s or 80s?

According to Counselor magazine, there are several “iconic apparel items” that were hot but then not, and are once again chic.  One example is the t-shirt.  The magazine reports that the image “of James Dean in a white T-shirt and leather jacket … solidified his place forever in American fashion lore.”  Perhaps I’m biased because I’m a James Dean fan, but his famous look is one I try to achieve often.  It’s true, then, that promotional t-shirts have and probably always will cool.

Another item that’s recently seen a revival is Wayfarer-style sunglasses.  Originally manufactured in the 1950s, the style was popular through the 1960s.  They reappeared in the 1980s and again in the mid-2000s.  The promotional sunglasses are still worn by many today!

Other products have seen their ups and downs, too; Counselor lists leg warmers, off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, and fedora hats.  What products and trends do you think will see a resurgence in 2012?

As those within the promotional items industry know, the PPAI Expo takes place this week in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Attendees have reported back on new, unique products, a keynote by Captain Mark Kelly and Jeffery Zaslow, and much more.  Another big take-home point came from Jason Sadler of iwearyourshirt.com.  Sadler spoke to distributors about using social media to grow their businesses.

According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), Sadler and his coworkers spend their days “spreading the company’s message through a variety of social media outlets, including viral videos, Facebook, Twitter and an online TV show.”  But what might come as a surprise is what Sadler says not to do: “Too many people use outlets like Twitter for sales or marketing messages,” he says. “That doesn’t work.”

So then, what does work in social media?  According to Sadler, companies should focus on highlighting their personal side.  He offered the following tips:

1.  When it comes to making connections, focus on quality rather than quantity.

“If you have 20 followers on Twitter, you’re kicking ass,” Sadler said. “Those are 20 real people you can establish relationships with.”

2.  Create interesting content

On Facebook, for example, users love seeing photos.  But rather than showing a boring stock photo of a product, post an image of your product in use.

3.  Derive inspiration from other sites

Social networking is difficult to master, so it’s smart to browse the Web for inspiration.  The more you search around, the more inspired you’ll be.  Plus, staying on top of social media trends will help you remain ahead of the curve.

Today is the final day of the PPAI Expo.  What have you learned while attending the huge trade show event?

In this digital age, it’s almost impossible to sustain a successful business without having a presence online.  And the most important starting point for building that presence is to have a company Web site.  If you haven’t yet created a Web site for your organization, or if you’re just looking for ways to improve your site, you’ll want to check out the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI)’s latest YouTube video: “How to Improve Your Company’s Website – Counselor’s How-To Minute.”

ASI’s Dave Vagnoni has a few tips on improving your Web site.  Here’s a quick summary of Vagnoni’s points:

1.  Make your page faster

If it takes too long for potential customers to load your Web site, you may lose them before they’ve even seen your products.  To keep your page as fast as possible, remove large photos and files.  One resource for testing your Web site’s speed is Pingdom.com — it measures your Web page’s components.

2.  Provide special services

What sets you apart from your competition?  Offer services such as online chat, a unique search, etc.

3.  Optimize your site for mobile devices

Almost everyone has a smartphone today, meaning that often times people will be accessing your content from their mobile devices.  How does your Web site look on a cell phone?  Reformat and code your site’s information so that it will also fit on a smartphone screen.

Watch ASI’s video below, and you’ll be one step closer to making your company’s Web site even better!

The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI)’s Web site boasts that members “get group buying-power on products and services” that will help build their businesses.  But there’s really so much more to it.  Check out ASI’s latest YouTube video which outlines the benefits of joining ASI:

The testimonials really say a lot about how ASI promotes success among promotional items distributors and suppliers.  From helping organizations to be mobile to providing the tools necessary to exceed customers’ needs, ASI allows members to stay ahead of their competition.  If you haven’t yet looked into an ASI membership, now’s the time!

It’s hard to believe it’s already December 19; where did the year go? 2011 has surely had its ups and downs. But now’s your chance to be ahead of the curve and take a peek at what’ll be trending in 2012.

According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), there are five trends that will impact the promotional products industry over the course of the year. Let’s take a look at what they are:

1. Local Elections
2. Altering Buying Habits
3. Brand Focus
4. Fierce Competition and Pricing
5. Emphasis on Customer Service

Do you agree with ASI’s predictions? Share your thoughts below!

If you’re in the promtional products industry, chances are you utilize a variety of social networking platforms to reach your customers.  But are you using them to their fullest potential?  Check out the video below in which Counselor magazine’s Dave Vagnoni shares tips on how to succeed with Twitter:

To summarize, Dave’s got three steps to success:

1.  Ask & Answer — Engage customers and potential customers by asking questions.  Don’t forget to acknowledge and respond to mentions, too!

2.  Market & Search — You can use Twitter to share your blog posts, upcoming events, and more.

3.  Follow Poeple that Matter — Follow people in the industries you’re looking to work with, and create a network!

These are some really fantastic tips.  Have any others you’d add?  Share your thoughts!

Last week, the Obama administration announced that it’s going to be making some spending cuts.  The federal government is aiming to slash spending on travel, mobile phones, laptops, and other items in an effort to save approximately $4 billion each year.  And while I’m sure we can all agree that cutting out wasteful expenses is a step in the right direction, we may not agree on what “wasteful” is.

A recent Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) study revealed that “Consumers made a purchase after receiving a promotional product (20.9 percent) more often than after viewing a print ad (13.4 percent), TV commercial (7.1 percent) or online ad (4.6 percent).”  And yet part of President Obama’s cuts is a “swag ban,” as stated by the Washington Post.  What exactly does that mean?  Obama doesn’t feel that “coffee mugs, pens, T-shirts and other public relations articles that federal government agencies purchase with taxpayer money to promote their work” are as effective as other forms of advertising.

Those of us within the promotional items industry know that Obama’s reasoning behind giveaway cut-backs is unfounded.  Matt Bertram, president of Fields Manufacturing, told the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) that Obama’s position “is extremely troubling and shows how little he knows about the industry.”  Indeed, the president’s quick decision seems to come from false grounds.

Where do we go from here?  Fred Albrecht, owner of Proforma Albrecht & Co, said the spending cuts are actually an opportunity. “I believe we need to continue to promote the cost effectiveness of our products as the absolute best media available to create brand awareness,” Albrecht told Counselor magazine.  The idea here is that we need to reiterate the fact that our industry brings value to the world of advertising.

What do you think — are Obama’s reasons behind cutting back on promotional items reasonable?  If not, what are your plans moving forward? Tell us how you feel!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Or, at least, we’re almost there.  How will you attract new clients and customers this holiday season?  The latest episode of the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI)’s The Joe Show covers some of the industry’s most useful and appealing holiday products.  Check out the clip below!

So what’s your favorite holiday gift? Is it the custom designed holiday ornament? Maybe you like the tough and durable custom imprinted gloves.  Whatever you choose, your clients are sure to love ‘em!

Are there any products that you think Joe missed?  Share your comments!

On Tuesday, the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) released a study documenting how buyers and end-users of promotional items really feel about what’s being delivered.  It’s being hailed as a “landmark study;” it is the first of its kind.

ASI’s report, entitled “Defining the Disconnect: An Analysis of Channel Beliefs vs. Customer Needs in the Advertising Specialty Industry,” is a detailed analysis that reiterates the importance of delivering what your customers want and need.

Here are some of the study’s most significant findings:

1.  Customers expect high quality

According to ASI, “Distributors understate the importance of high-quality shirts to males.”  The report even asserts that men have higher expectations about the quality of their promotional products.

2.  Brand isn’t everything

ASI reports that 75% of distributors and suppliers thought branded items were a priority for customers.  However, only a third of end-users agreed.  This shows a major disconnect.

3.  End-user participation

If you’re not interacting with your customers, you’ve got to make a change.  According to ASI, end-users would like to take surveys, visit trade show booths, and communicate via social media platforms in order to receive giveaways.

For a full look at ASI’s report, click here.  Are the findings surprising to you?  Share your thoughts!