Advertising Specialty Institute

Promo expert and author Darryl Jenkins explains how embracing diversity can deepen relationships, promote personal growth and improve company performance.

Brandon Mackay of SnugZ USA and Jim Hagan of Sweda discuss SnugZ’s acquisition of Sweda and what it means for the companies – and the industry – going forward.

Sales and persuasion expert Carolyn Strauss, who is speaking at ASI Shows this year, serves up strategies for success.

Content marketing is vital for businesses, especially in the pandemic era when so many eyeballs are glued to social media for entertainment and education. “This is where people are looking for information,” says Jessica Gibbons-Rauch, a partner at Trendependent and a speaker at the 2022 ASI Shows. A smart social media and content marketing strategy can humanize brands, both large and small. But how do you get started when there are so many platforms to choose from? And what if content creation doesn’t come naturally to you? In a preview of her sessions planned for ASI Shows, Gibbons-Rauch talks with ASI Media’s Theresa Hegel about how to get started with content marketing.

Dawn Raquel Jensen, founder of Virtual Options and an education speaker at the upcoming 2022 ASI Shows, discusses establishing digital authority and thought leadership over social media and shares how to generate content that converts.

Dr. Noshua Watson, founder of Interwoven Impact, a social impact analytics consultancy for content companies, shares strategies for promo companies that want to make their swag more sustainable.

In this episode of the Social Angle podcast, ASI Media's Vinnie Driscoll is joined by aspiring author and motivational influencer Samantha Demers to discuss how you can take the leap from being an observer to a creator on social media. In this recorded live discussion from Twitter Spaces, Demers and I discuss everything from how stage fright and imposter syndrome plays into the fear, tips on how to create great content, and much more.

Steve Cuthbert, previously a vice president of sales at The North Face, shares insights on everything from trends to leadership.

In this special edition of Promo Insiders, ASI Media's Vinnie Driscoll discusses NFTs with three promo pros who have their fingers on the pulse of this digital tech: Lisa Fosdick, Meg Erber, and Jeremy Picker. In this podcast, which was recorded live on Twitter Spaces, they discuss examples of how NFTs work, their potential impact on the promo industry, and much more.

ASI Media’s Michele Bell talks to Jersey native and Poland-based Lynka President John Lynch on the ups & downs of getting his first novel (a thriller topping the charts in Poland) published and his recent merger with Top 40 supplier Vantage Apparel.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. That’s right, ASI Media Editors Theresa Hegel and Sara Lavenduski are once again pre-gaming Thanksgiving, sampling a veritable cornucopia of odd flavor combinations. For this year’s “snacksgiving” celebration, there’s no gravy-infused vodka cocktail or green bean-flavored candy corn. But foraging through picked-over supermarket shelves did yield some unexpected rewards – including pumpkin spice ramen, flan-flavored KitKats and radioactive green cotton candy that tastes just like a dill pickle (without the satisfying crunch). In between taste testing, the editors share a few things the promo industry has to be thankful for in this challenging year, whether it’s the technology that’s made everything from remote work to kitting and drop-shipping possible or the loyal customers who have stuck with suppliers and distributors through thick and thin.

ASI Media's Vinnie Driscoll talks with Erin Reilly and Logan Oh of Pop! Promos about a viral TikTok video Logan created to help drive interest in open positions at the company. The video, which quickly went viral, gained over 30,000 views in just a few hours, and over 80,000 views by the end of the week. More importantly, the video helped Pop! Promos receive a flood of resumes from candidates all over the country.

In this episode of Promo Insiders, ASI Media Executive Editor Sara Lavenduski speaks with valuation expert Dave Bookbinder, managing director at B. Riley Financial, about creating an exit plan and how to get the most value from your business.

In this episode of Promo Insiders, Theresa Hegel, executive editor of digital content, chats with Trey Reed, an editorial intern with ASI Media, about the hottest promo trends he’s seeing on campus. Reed is a senior at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he’s studying broadcast journalism at the Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications.

The Facebook Papers. Allegations of knowingly hosting hate speech and illegal activity. A high-profile rebrand. Facebook is under fire and and facing a firestorm of PR. What does this mean for the social media giant? ASI Media's Vinnie Driscoll and Peerless Umbrella's Charity Gibson discuss in the latest Social Angle podcast.

It’s officially hoodie season, so now’s the time to plan your sales for everyone’s favorite type of soft and cozy outerwear. Yup, we’re talking about fleece. Today we’re joined by Eric Simsolo, VP of Business Development at Next Level Apparel. We’ll find out what new fleece products, colors and cuts Next Level brought to market this year, plus maybe even a sneak peek on what’s to come in 2022.

The end-of-year holiday rush is in full swing. Make sure you know the top trends and in-demand branding ideas to make your gift and incentive orders stand out this year. Today we’re speaking with Rachel Corey, promo fulfillment manager at STAHLS’ to learn popular products, decoration methods and kitting tips to end Q4 strong.

How was the Seattle Kraken brand created and how is branded merchandise being used to support the NHL’s newest team? Co-owner Jay Deutsch, also founder/CEO of Top 40 distributor BDA, explains here.

In this special edition of the Social Angle podcast, adapted from an ASI Media #PromoSpace discussion held on Twitter Spaces, ASI’s Digital Content Director Vinnie Driscoll picks the brain of Twitter marketing expert Madalyn Sklar about the basics of the network.

ASI Media’s Christopher Ruvo delves into the supply chain crisis facing promo and explains how distributors can best navigate it.