Advertising Specialty Institute

Heather Abbott is a survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and founder of the Heather Abbott Foundation, which helps provide customized prostheses to those who have suffered limb loss through traumatic circumstances. After having her left leg amputated below the knee as a result of the horrific event, Abbott became a certified peer counselor for the American Amputee Coalition, providing strength and hope to folks who have gone through the same challenging circumstances. She will be the featured speaker at the ASI Show Chicago Motivational Breakfast on July 10. To register for the Show and to purchase your Breakfast ticket, visit www.asishow.com.

Andrew Graham of Marine Layer talks about the apparel supplier’s T-shirt recycling initiative and how its commitment to creating the softest, most sustainable shirts out there.

Jamie Notter, the co-founder of & culture designer at Human Workplaces in Washington, DC., talks about the current state of the workplace, and how employers need to be employee-focused and responsive to employees’ needs in order to attract and retain sales talent. A companion episode to the Advantages June 2019 Sales Compensation cover story.

ASI's Vinnie Driscoll and Patrick Kennedy are joined by Digital Content Strategist Holly Singletary to discuss whether major social media conferences -- like The Social Shakeup and Social Media Marketing World -- are worth your investment. They also provide important social media takeaways from these conferences as well as trends you should have on your radar in 2019.

Rener Gracie, jiu-jitsu master and CEO of Quikflip Apparel (asi/89364), joins ASI's Vinnie Driscoll and Patrick Kennedy to discuss the role social media has played in his success. Plus, Gracie talks about his upcoming appearance on Shark Tank as well as who he thinks will sit on the Iron Throne at the conclusion of Game of Thrones.

Facebook's Events resource, when used with a business mindset, can be a treasure trove of new sales opportunities. In this podcast, ASI's Vinnie Driscoll and Patrick Kennedy discuss how distributors should be using this powerful prospecting tool to generate leads.

Jim Nistico, president of Proforma Infinity in Syracuse, NY, logs between 700 and 900 miles a week behind the wheel visiting clients. He spoke with Advantages senior editor Sara Lavenduski about the lasting importance of face-to-face sales calls and building client relationships in person. A companion episode to the Advantages May 2019 cover story.

ASI's Vinnie Driscoll and Patrick Kennedy are joined by Counselor Executive Editor Chris Ruvo for a vibrant discussion on how and why you should incorporate video into your social media strategy.

Counselor Editor-in-Chief Dave Vagnoni and ASI Research Director Nate Kucsma analyze the first quarter’s 3.4% increase in distributor revenue. How does that compare to recent industry results? What trends are at play? Could a market slowdown be coming? Are distributors optimistic about the rest of 2019? Get these answers, plus much more reaction and predictions here.

ASI's Vinnie Driscoll discusses ways you can use social media to generate sales leads. Also, he dishes on who he thinks will end up on the Iron Throne at the conclusion of Game of Thrones.

Liz, an experienced social media manager -both at ASI and on her own personal blog – talks with Rick about 5 social media tips you can apply to your company’s marketing efforts. Learn how to improve your posts and increase engagement.

Hannah, an expert website designer at ASI, talks with Rick about 5 website design trends and why they’re important. They review what features your site needs to have and how to make improvements to increase web traffic.

Dave Lakshmanan, ASI’s new chief technology officer, has extensive experience working in ecommerce – including time developing innovations at Amazon. In this exclusive podcast, he teamed up with ASI’s VP of Application Development Ryan Hutchison to share insights on everything from digital commerce to exciting tech advancements coming in the promotional products industry.

Paul Krismer, a positive psychology expert, public speaker, certified executive coach and the Chief Happiness Officer at Happiness Experts in Victoria, BC, spoke to Advantages senior editor Sara Lavenduski on how to be a happier person, and how a more positive outlook impacts employees, clients and overall company productivity. A companion episode to the Advantages March 2019 cover story.

Michele Bell, ASI’s Editorial Director, interviewed Neil Ringel – the new CEO of Counselor Top 40 supplier Polyconcept – and PCNA President David Nicholson on Ringel’s plans for the company, his take on the industry overall and how his previous 23-year tenure at Staples prepared him for his new role as the head of the billion dollar global promo entity. PCNA was the #3 supplier on Counselor’s 2018 Top 40 list, with $606.3 million in North American promo sales.

From "Drink Wine Day" to "Lost Sock Memorial Day," ASI's Vinnie Driscoll and Patrick Kennedy describe how promotional products professionals can use quirky national holidays to their advantage. No, seriously!

Recently promoted to president of Top 40 distributor Fully Promoted (asi/384000), Mike Brugger shares insights on the firm’s successful rebrand, its growth in sales and franchisees, how it balances brick-and-mortar business and online commerce, and new competitive advantages its planning to implement.

Nina Bloomstein Shatz, brand development director at HALO Branded Solutions, discusses the growing availability of retail items in the industry and what that means for distributors. A companion episode to the Advantages February 19 cover story.

Navy Veteran Meg Erber, a sales leader with Top 40 supplier S&S Activewear (asi/84358), shares interesting insights on how her military experience has played a pivotal role in propelling her success in the promotional products industry – and why more promo firms should focus on hiring veterans.

Listen to a podcast with JNI's Josh Ebrahemi -- the 2019 Advantages Distributor Sales Rep of the Year -- and ASI's Editorial Director Michele Bell in which they discuss Ebrahemi's strategy for finding and keeping his Fortune 500 clients and growing his eight-digit annual sales.