Advertising Specialty Institute

Emblems and patches are two of the most popular decoration products in our industry – and with current needs for this decoration method on the rise, it’s important to know why you should sell them and how to speak to current customer concerns. In this podcast, learn from Alison Zuccaro, Strategic Product Manager of STAHLS’, a leading decoration materials manufacturer as she breaks down everything you need to know. Listen now to learn what exactly all the different types of patches and emblems are, how they’re used and expert recommendations to exceed expectations on every order.

Distributor Joseph Sommer saw some of the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic firsthand in his native New York City. But he’s found ways to adapt and keep business moving – something he shares here.

Businesses are reopening to a new reality, so there's no better time like the present to assess your current social media strategy and make changes. In this episode, Melissa Newman walks you through conducting a social media audit, and then speaks with Jeremy Picker, CEO and creative director of AMB3R Creative, on defining your company’s mission statement and how that influences quality content and branding on social media.

Be nice and tell the truth. Marty Lott attributes his nearly 50-year career and the massive growth of Top 40 supplier SanMar to those two kindergarten lessons. In this Promo Insiders episode, Lott reflects on growing SanMar from his parents’ basement and discusses how the company has endured the COVID-19 crisis.

In this Promo Insiders podcast, Jo-an Lantz, CEO/president of Top 40 distributor Geiger(asi/202900), discusses everything from how to lead effectively, to dealing with the impact of COVID-19, to ways forward for the promo industry, to why empathy, making mistakes and perseverance are essential to success.

Counselor's Michele Bell talks to Spencer Kramer, Chris Ferriter and Scott Latimer of Sobe Promos.

In June, Counselor asked the promotional products industry to share the most creative and interesting imprinted masks and other personal protective equipment they’ve worked on since the coronavirus pandemic started. The Decorated PPE Challenge had more than 50 entries, all of which were impressive in their own right. ASI writers and editors narrowed the field to 10 finalists, then opened the voting up to our readers, through an online poll. The winner, by a wide margin, was Toronto-based supplier Canada Sportswear (asi/43682). The company received more than 2,600 votes for the lighthearted masks it designed for a children’s ward of a Halifax hospital. In this episode of Promo Insiders, Theresa Hegel, executive editor of digital content, speaks with Michelle Wilson and Ron Brownstein of Canada Sportswear about how their winning entry came together and why PPE is here for the foreseeable future.

Diane Hall, owner of distributorship Promotions Plus, knows what impact promotional products have in politics better than most, as she also happens to be the mayor of Milo, IA. In this episode of Promo Insiders, senior writer John Corrigan talks with Hall about how she used promo in her own campaign and how promo can still be effective during this unprecedented election year.

Labor and employment lawyer Michael Elkins of MLE Law shares important information on free speech rights in the private sector.

Vinnie Driscoll and Melissa Newman interview Jay Busselle, social media guru and Marketing Director of Equipment Zone, to discuss how promo pros can successfully use LinkedIn to generate business.

Eloisa Gutierrez, an intern in ASI’s editorial department this summer, shares her experiences of working from home and first impressions of the promotional products industry.

Nancy Schmidt became CEO of Top 40 distributor AIA Corporation (asi/109480) in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her insights here are an interesting lesson in leadership and perseverance during a crisis.

Jake Krolick and Vinnie Driscoll discuss the promo opportunities that exist for the summer as states begin opening up again.

ASI's Vinnie Driscoll and Melissa Newman discuss two new Twitter features -- Voice Tweets and Twitter Replies -- in the latest Social Angle Podcast.

Distributors and suppliers are reporting an uptick in sales of traditional promotional products, but reported surges of COVID-19 in certain areas could threaten progress.

In this episode of Promo Insiders, senior writer John Corrigan talks with Andy Keller, founder and CEO of California-based ChicoBag Company (asi/44811), about the COVID-19 crisis disrupting the bag market. Keller’s business has been hit hard during the coronavirus pandemic, in large part due to reusable bags being discouraged because of fears that they spread the disease.

In this episode of Promo Insiders, Sara Lavenduski, senior editor of Advantages magazine, speaks with product safety and compliance expert Larry Whitney, managing partner of Whitney & Whitney Consulting Group, about what promo firms need to know when selling face masks and coverings. Since the products come in contact with the mouth and nose as well as sensitive skin on the face, it’s important to work with trusted manufacturers and make sure purchased products are tested and labeled.

Two leaders in the European promotional products market provide perspective on the state of the industry there amid COVID-19, offering insights that apply across the pond as well.

Memorial Day weekend marked the unofficial start of summer, but with the coronavirus pandemic ongoing and many states still in lockdown, tourism is going to look a lot different, compared to years past. In this episode of Promo Insiders, members of the editorial team – Theresa Hegel, executive editor of digital content; Sara Lavenduski, senior editor of Advantages; and John Corrigan, senior writer – discuss their (lack of) vacation plans, their shared love of ambrosia salad, despite the naysayers, and how distributors can take advantage of the new opportunities that this drastically different leisure landscape has brought.

After 11 weeks of working from home, senior writer John Corrigan has grown quite content. Meanwhile, Nate Kucsma, executive director of research & corporate marketing at ASI, can't wait to get back to the office. In this edition of Promo Insiders, the colleagues debate the pros, cons and logistics of permanently working from home.