Advertising Specialty Institute

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.

It may sound counter-intuitive during a crisis to ramp up social media ad spend, but that's exactly what you should be doing says ASI's Vinnie Driscoll and Melissa Newman. Find out why, as well as the dos and don'ts of posting social media ads during a pandemic, in this informative Social Angle podcast.

As governors begin to lift closure orders, offices with remote work forces prepare for the physical and emotional challenges of reinstating in-person work. Just as organizations needed to help employees transition to home offices, they’ll need to do the same as they welcome them back to a workplace that’s going to look and feel very different from when they left it in March. In this episode of Promo Insiders, Sara Lavenduski, senior editor of Advantages magazine, discusses this next phase with Mike Goldman, a New Jersey-based business leadership coach and the author of "Breakthrough Leadership Team: Strengthening the Heart and Soul of Your Company."

After nearly a decade at Top 40 supplier Next Level Apparel (asi/73867), former CSO Mark Seymour has left due to the COVID-19 crisis. In his first public statement since his exit, Seymour – a member of Counselor’s Power 50 – opens up to senior writer John Corrigan about adjusting to life at home and what his next chapter may look like.

Patrick McHargue of promo products recruitment agency PromoPlacement offers practical tips that will help you land your new position.

Jake Krolick and Vinnie Driscoll discuss the current state of live events, where the opportunities are for promo products professionals, and what lies ahead for the future of one of the most important markets in the advertising specialty industry.

In this episode of Promo Insiders, first aired during a Facebook Live session, Theresa Hegel, executive editor of digital content, talks with apparel industry veteran Brian Burr about what he thinks are the most important qualities a mask should have, why fit and comfort are key, why it’s important for apparel decorators and distributors to educate themselves on masks and how they can market the items to their own customers.

Get sharp insights and practical advice from a promo products distributor who has grown sales and strengthened client relationships despite COVID-19’s challenges.