Advertising Specialty Institute

A travel expert and a professor of travel and hospitality join the podcast to discuss the current state of the travel industry and occasions for promo products sales.

ASI Media’s Vinnie Driscoll is joined by Jenna Quaranta, VP of sales and business innovation at Knoss Apparel, to discuss how you can use social media to prospect for sales.

The ASI Media team unpacks the most interesting findings and trends in the promotional products industry from our annual survey.

Lisa Smith established her Texas company with a mission: to provide the best customer service and a flexible work environment.

ASI's Nate Kucsma, Chris Ruvo and Vinnie Driscoll discuss this year’s show during a live Twitter chat.

Owner Dan Townes shares stories and wisdom from decades of working in promo.

The chief strategy officer at Nadel reflects on her early days at the Top 40 distributor and her career trajectory that’s led her to become a beloved peer mentor.

Daniel Cardozo of Ethix Merch and Lauren Piller of Eco Marketing Solutions talk about strategies they use to convince clients to purchase sustainable products.

Theresa Hegel, Sara Lavenduski and Chris Ruvo give synopses of recent stories involving the supply chain, product trends, sustainability, apparel and more.

In this live Social Angle discussion -- recorded on June 30, Social Media Day -- ASI Media’s Vinnie Driscoll is joined by a panel of rock stars for an in-depth roundtable discussion about the state of social media in the promo industry. What does the industry do well? What can be improved? And what are the trends you should be mindful of? Don’t miss this important discussion!

Each year, the ASI State & Regional Sales Report gives you an exclusive look at promo sales across the United States. And unlike last year, the numbers in this year’s report are incredibly positive. All 50 states increased promo sales in 2021, and 30 of those states increased by double-digit percentages. The South and West posted growth of 16% and 13%, respectively, while the Midwest grew by 9% and the East by 7%. As the promo industry bounced back from the lows of 2020, the growth seen in 2021 was not typical historically. “In normal years we’ve seen growth rates as low as 2.5%, 3% by region,” says ASI Senior Executive Director of Research & Corporate Marketing Nate Kucsma, who puts together each year’s report. “If the industry might have gone up by 6% in a previous year, a lot of that 6% would be heavily weighted toward one or two of the regions. Definitely not all four. So no, in a normal year, these would be stagnantly large numbers. But even with that said though, in the abnormal year that 2021 was,

From referrals and catalogs to content marketing and attending events, there are many ways a distributor can stay top of mind with current clients while also gaining new business. And one of the easiest – social media – can also be one of the most effective. In the latest Social Angle podcast, which was recorded from a live Twitter Space, ASI Media’s Vinnie Driscoll chats with Erin Rolo, marketing manager of distributor services at ASI, about several ways you can grow and nurture your promo business, including best practices for social media. If you’re looking to keep that sales funnel flowing then this episode is for you!

Now that summer is officially underway, it’s time for some serious discussion: Are you a born-and-bred beachcomber or more of an amusement park aficionado? And what’s your favorite treat to beat the heat? In this lively episode of Promo Insiders, ASI Media’s Theresa Hegel, Elieza Bague, Nyah Marshall and Brooke Bisceglia discuss their favorite vacation spots, taste test some summertime snacks and discuss ideas for how the right promotional products can be a breath of fresh air during the warmer months.

In the latest Social Angle podcast, which was recorded from a live Twitter Space, ASI Media’s Vinnie Driscoll chats with Britney Godsey, chief revenue officer at supplier Gold Bond, about why the business decided to rebrand and how long it took, their approach to social media, and much more.

Three successful industry executives deliver powerful strategies distributors can use to overcome the challenges of an economic downturn.

In this episode of Promo Insiders, ASI Media’s Sara Lavenduski and Theresa Hegel spoke with Elizabeth and Jennifer Grojean about the start of their company, their commitment to sustainability, the importance of self-care and how they give back to the community.

“Workwear” is an ever-evolving concept, especially as companies adopt hybrid business models with employees working both at home and in the office. As such, the corporate sector is leaning into the “casual” in “business casual”, seeking to provide their employees with comfortable garments they’ll feel good wearing during their 9-5. Leading supplier Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) noticed this change, directly contributing to their exciting partnership with retail giants GAP and Old Navy, now available for the promo industry. Today we’re joined by Josh Appelbaum, Chief Strategy Officer at Vantage Apparel to get the scoop on why this partnership is so important and how these huge brands can be leveraged to meet client demand for uniforms, event apparel and gifts.

In the latest Social Angle podcast, ASI Media’s Vinnie Driscoll chats with Matt LaWell, managing editor of GCI magazine, about how you can get started with monetizing your podcast, the keys to ensuring you continue to make money, and much more.

In the latest Social Angle podcast, ASI Media’s Vinnie Driscoll chats with John Morris, executive director of brand, about Club Colors’ social game, some of their fun initiatives, like the Monthly Sales Championship Belt, and the networks with the best ROI. Morris also dishes on the company’s approach to content creation ... and you won’t believe his answer!

Two leaders in Canadian promo joined us on Twitter Spaces for a frank discussion on the state of promo, economic challenges and predictions for the months ahead.