ASI New York Video Recap
Counselor's editors were on the scene – with cameras in hand – at last week's ASI Show in New York to seek out insights from some of the show's VIPs and identify some of the most popular products on the exhibit floor. Want to get a full feel for the trade show?

Here are 13 videos we compiled during the whole event. To see all of the videos, go to www.asicentral.com. Take a look and let us know which one you like best by sending an e-mail to Andy Cohen at acohen@asicentral.com.

Joe Show Day 1 Click here		Interview with Keynoter Barbara Corcoran Click here
Interview with Jack Teague, Person of the Year Click here		Interview with Jonathan Isaacson, International Person of the Year Click here

Staples Makes Takeover Bid For Corporate Express

Corporate Express Chief Executive Peter Ventress released a statement after the bid this morning saying that his company would now consider the sweetened bid, a step his company wouldn't take when an offer was made earlier this year. "We are willing to have discussions with Staples, and clearly this still applies also on the basis of today's announcement," Ventress' statement said.

Corporate Express Promotional Marketing is the second-ranked distributor on Counselor's Top 40, with $247 million in North American ad specialty sales in 2007. Staples Promotional Products ranks as the fourth-largest distributor, with $215 million in ad specialty sales last year.

Edwards Garment Acquires Andrew Rohan
Edwards Garment Co. (asi/51752) has acquired HMB Inc./Andrew Rohan (asi/58794) in a cash deal. Terms were not disclosed. "When we approached the owners, timing wise it worked out because they were ready to move on into retirement," says Gary Schultz, Edwards' CEO. "They felt very comfortable turning the company and relationships over to us."

The purchase gives Edwards a full line of sweaters, which it had only dabbled in over the years. "We felt that sweaters were an important segment but didn't know how we were going to add them to our line," says Schultz. "We've offered a few over the years but we found that if you are going to be in a category you need to have more than one or two items. With Andrew Rohan we get a full line from a brand name that is well-known and respected."

Edwards is in the process of moving the inventory and customer service to its main office in Kalamazoo, MI over the next 30-60 days. Some employees, including several in sales, product development, inventory and production planning, will also be making the move. The company expects a smooth transition with no interruption in service. It will continue to use the Andrew Rohan name but will not retain its ASI number. "This purchase plays into our strategic goal to broaden our line and offer more solutions and options for product to the promotional product industry," says Schultz. "We will use it to capitalize on our position in the market and continue to grow it."

New Postal Rates Implemented

Suppliers, on the other hand, that do more mailings of catalogs and other collateral material, will likely feel the increase a bit more. Logomark (asi/67866) has been aware of the increase for a while and has responded by refining its mailing lists and optimizing its mailers. "We're working very closely with our distributor partners to give them exactly what they need, when they need it," says Damian Want, senior vice president. "So we are trying to be more precise in distributing our materials. Logomark is focused on gathering pre-orders from distributors and printing up only the amount they require. That's both from a cost and the environment perspective. We'll also be looking closely at all our marketing to see what is really necessary and cutting those that aren't."

A recent federal mandate changed the Postal Service from a break-even business to a for-profit business with annual rate increases that can't exceed the rate of inflation. These rate increases come after an announcement that the post office lost $700 million in the second quarter due to reduced mail volume and rising fuel prices.

Industry Companies Avoid Major Tornado Damage
More than a dozen tornados tore through parts of the South and Midwest on Saturday night resulting in at least 23 deaths. Storms touched down in Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia and Arkansas, but resulted in little damage to industry distributors and suppliers. Nearly a dozen companies were contacted across the affected areas with almost all reporting little or no damage.

One company that was affected was Drummond Printing Inc. (asi/50873) in Stuttgart, AR, which is located southeast of Little Rock. Vice President Amberlea Barnes says the tornado hit the small rural town of 10,000 with high winds and rain that damaged part of the company's roof, resulting in water damage to the building and some of the inventory. They have rerouted phone and faxes lines to a neighboring town. "We have someone operating as a call center and we're returning messages with our cell phones as quickly as possible," she says. "We expect e-mail communication to be restored by the end of the week."

Business Owners: Economy Is Weak
As the U.S. economy continues to show signs of weakness, small businesses have grown more concerned. A recent Discover Small Business Watch Survey showed that more than half of business owners rated the economy as poor and nearly three quarters said it was getting worse. Many distributors, however, are optimistic about the ad specialty industry's prospects this year because marketers are shifting their dollars to cheaper forms of advertising. Julie Martin, owner of Martin Promotions LLC (asi/262965), is fortunate enough to have a hot dog and sausage manufacturing plant among her most largest and loyal clients. "When the economy is down, their sales go up," she says. "This gives them the ability to bless their employees with incentive gifts, rewards and the marketing department has more funds to use for promotional products."

It is undeniable, though, that certain sectors of the economy are getting slammed. Real estate, contractors and other sections of the housing industry are deeply depressed, as is the American auto industry. "We've been in a recession a lot longer than people have been talking about it because the Michigan area is linked to the auto industry," says Ann Reinman, co-owner of Pinnacle Printing & Promotions (asi/304844). "People are continuing to advertise. They know they need to do it, but they are extremely cost conscious. No one says ‘I don't care what it costs, I want the best' anymore. It is ‘I want the best as far as pricing."

Schools have also felt the pinch with budgets in many areas being slashed. This has hurt Lori Gilson's business. The owner of Award Depot and Promotions (asi/128021) says, "That part of my business is suffering. I'm usually into my busy season." While demand citizenship badges and the like are down, she has seen her online corporate awards business pick up so "we're doing ok."

Overall, the Discover poll found that 77% of business owners felt that economic conditions in the U.S. are getting worse and 53% rated it as poor. Nearly half (47%) experienced cash flow issues during the 90 days leading up to the survey.

"That is the highest number Discover has seen and it is likely fueling a lot of concern among business owners," said Sastry Rachakonda, director of Discover business credit card.

4imprint Introduces "glide" Technology for Instant Pricing
ASI Top 40 distributor 4imprint Inc. (asi/197045) announced that it is now offering clients a new approach to online ordering. The company's latest technology, glide (SM), allows end-users to obtain instantaneous pricing for the amount of goods ordered. The most innovative feature of this techno gizmo? Price breaks aren't set in stone, so a customer can order 51, 68 or 172 pens, let's say, and still immediately receive a matching quote.

"Customers felt locked in by pre-set quantities and prices. They had to increase their orders to the next published quantities in order to see a reduction in price," says 4imprint president Kevin Lyons-Tarr. "glide (SM) eliminates this arbitrary inflation. Now, if you order 364 pens, you get the 364-pen price."

Here's how it works: A client goes online, logs into the glide tool, and drags the volume control (which looks like an "i") until you get it to the quantity you want. The price-per-item changes in a snap. The system utilizes patent-pending technology developed by 4imprint. "This is the B2B equivalent of hot dog and bun makers getting together and agreeing on the number of items to put in each package," Lyons-Tarr says. "glide (SM) eliminates a pain point for customers. It's a big win." For more information, visit www.4imprint.com/introducingglide for a test trial.

In The News
4imprint (asi/197045) donated $32,500 in promotional product grants to nonprofits.

Jack Nadel International (asi/279600) honored David Falato with the Sherm Teller Award for outstanding sales achievement, professionalism, leadership and peer recognition.

Prime Line (asi/79530) released its spring/summer 2008 catalog. Distributors can download it at www.primeline.com.

HandStands (asi/59525) hired Patrick White as director of marketing.

The Hub Pen Co. (asi/61966) appointed Paul Suyetsugu of PS Sales & Marketing as its rep in CA, AZ and NV.

Indoff Inc. (asi/231011) announces four new sales partners: John Eaton will service Scotia, NY; Chris McKinnon, Raleigh, NC; Glenn Peterson, West Des Moines, IA, and Robert Russell oversees Oakland, TN.

Jack Nadel International (asi/279600) named Shelly Slubowski and Paul Navabpour vice presidents.

Newton Manufacturing Co. (asi/283300) promoted Molly Beavers to senior marketing manager; Sheri Veber to publication director; Paula Moore, marketing services director, and David Schaaf to communication administrator.

Pioneer Balloon Co. (asi/78200) hired Katherine Larson as national sales manager.

Press-A-Print International (asi/299086) named Connie Briggs operator relations VP.

WorkflowOne (asi/333647) hired Mark Strauss as VP of business development for SAP.

The following are the dates and locations for The ASI Show in 2008:
Chicago: July 22-24

Plus, don't miss the ASI Advantages Roadshow, the industry's #1 traveling show. Visit www.advantagesroadshow.com for the complete 18-week schedule!