Shows / Advertising Specialty Institute
Advertising Specialty Institute
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) is the largest media, marketing and education organization serving the promotional products industry, with a network of over 25,000 distributors and suppliers throughout North America. ASI leads the industry in technology solutions, providing cloud-based e-commerce, enterprise resource planning software (ERP) and customer relationship management software (CRM). ESP Web is the industry's leading tool for sourcing hundreds of thousands of products. A…
Episodes
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: How Supply Chain Woes & Distributor Creativity Are Spurring Gift Card Sales in 2025
MediaTree, a supplier focused on selling branded gift cards, has recorded year-over-year sales growth of more than 80% so far in 2025. General manager Brian…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Totes, Tumblers, Tiny Turtles & Other Swag Gen Z Loves
Olivia Borgula, a student at the University of Maryland and current intern with ASI Media, talks about promo-heavy events she’s attended lately and gives the…
Advertising Specialty InstituteWhy Your Clients Will Love the Washed Collection by BELLA+CANVAS
Help your clients tell their brand story with unique styles that are iconic from the start. We’re talking about the new Washed Collection from BELLA+CANVAS…
Advertising Specialty InstituteBranding Together: Reinventing a Legacy Print & Promo Business
In this month’s episode, we chat with Lindsey Reid of emblm who bought her parents’ company Direct Printing and Graphics in March of 2020 and underwent a full…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Hot Ideas for Summer Promo Sales
ASI Media Editors Theresa Hegel, Sara Lavenduski and Hannah Rosenberger – plus Editorial Intern Chris Bao – discuss summer and back-to-school sales tips, and…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Top Insights From the First-Ever Study of South Africa’s Merch Market
ASI’s Michelle Bell and Nate Kucsma share key stats and analysis from the groundbreaking report that holds relevance for promotional products companies…
Advertising Specialty InstituteConvergence Corner: Ikey Bensimhon Provides Print & Promo to Big Name Customers
Ikey Bensimhon, CEO of Merch.com, discusses his past in print and promo, and how he got to where he is providing branded merchandise and print to some of the…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Supply Chain Leaders Talk 2025 Inventory Outlook For Merch Industry
Tim Behling and Patrick Noonan, executives at Gemline and SanMar respectively, share insights every distributor needs to know regarding industry stock and how…
Advertising Specialty InstituteConvergence Corner: Eric Brooks Talks Providing Print & Promo For An International Retailer
The vice president of sales for BrandCo. Marketing (asi/455385) delves into that and much more when it comes to having success in the worlds of branded merch…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: A Pillow That Used to be an Umbrella? Kathy Cheng Shares Upcycling Success Stories
In this episode of Promo Insiders, Cheng of Redwood Classics Apparel (asi/81627) discusses the opportunities and challenges of upcycling in the promotional…
Advertising Specialty InstituteConvergence Corner: How My Tribe Print & Promo Tells a Story With Its Work
The Native American woman-owned business combines print and promotional products together for campaigns that go much deeper than the ink on the surface.
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Branding Together: Tips to Help Print & Promo Businesses Blossom
In this month’s episode, we chat with Koell Collins of STBL Strategies about switching between the promo and signage/graphics industries and how to succeed in…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: ASI Media’s Distributor Up-and-Comer of the Year on Growing Sales by Over 300%
Jackson Williams of Counselor Top 40 distributor American Solutions for Business (asi/120075) discusses the power of learning, holding a full-time job in…
Advertising Specialty InstituteGet To Know the Heavyweight Collection by BELLA+CANVAS
The Heavyweight Collection by BELLA+CANVAS (asi/39590) is bold and on trend. Today we’re joined by Cassie Stanczyk, Sr. Director of Sales at BELLA+CANVAS, who…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: The Latest on Tariffs and ASI’s Exclusive Research Data
ASI Media Editors C.J. Mittica and Christopher Ruvo and ASI Senior Research Director Nate Kucsma discuss exclusive sales data from ASI's latest surveys, and…
Advertising Specialty InstituteHarnessing the Power of Heat Printing On Demand
As e-commerce and customer buying habits evolve, it’s important to stay nimble to keep your business as profitable as possible. In today’s podcast, we’re…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Talking Tariff Impacts & Adaption Strategies With Randy Carr
The CEO of Counselor Top 40 supplier World Emblem (asi/98262), whose business has a multi-continent footprint, gets candid on tariffs – and what his firm is…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: 4 Top Relationship-Building Tips with ASI Media's Supplier Salesperson of the Year
Katie Kailik, national account manager at Peerless Umbrella (asi/76730) joins Promo Insiders to talk through why trust, communication and non-product driven…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Sales Growth Tips From ASI Media’s 2025 Distributor Salesperson of the Year
The BAMKO (asi/131431) merch pro, who generated $18.5 million in 2024 sales, shared strategies for building up a customer base, benchmarking sales and more.
Advertising Specialty InstituteBeyond Bluewashing: How To Build a Socially Conscious Promo Business
Lindsey Cole of Ethix Merch explains why sustainability initiatives ring hollow without a focus on the workers who produce products and building ethical supply…
Advertising Specialty InstituteBranding Together: The State of Sustainability in Print & Promo
Ben Grossman of SwagCycle and Mel Lay of Allmade Apparel talk about the progress the print and promo industry have made when it comes to sustainability – and…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: What a Distributor and a Supplier Learned from Their Rebrands
Dryvve and Bold Promo share their best advice and explain why rebranding was a necessary and welcome change.
Advertising Specialty InstituteConvergence Corner: Hitex Marketing Group Is Harnessing Creativity for Packaging and Promo
Enrique Perez, president and founder of Hitex Marketing Group (asi/515762), tells the story of the company's journey into print as a result of following…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Our Favorite Moments from ASI Fort Worth 2025
ASI Media editors Sara Lavenduski and Hannah Rosenberger discuss the informational sessions on tariffs, classroom education with business experts, energizing…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders - How Three Sisters Turned Maple Ridge Farms Into A Family Affair
Jodie Schillinger, Joelle Stahlecker and Jamie Johnson have all built careers at the Wisconsin-based Maple Ridge Farms (asi/68680) – inspired by their mother…
Advertising Specialty InstituteConvergence Corner: Understanding Quad’s Big Bet on Promo
Oliver Kimberley, general manager of Quad’s managed services division, gives a behind-the-scenes look at the multibillion-dollar marketing firm’s new branded…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Top Economist Talks Outlook for 2025 Economy, Tariffs & the Promo Products Industry
Dr. Mary Kelly, a renowned economist and U.S. Navy veteran, delivers data-backed insights to bring the economic picture into focus – and there’s better news…
Advertising Specialty InstituteCreating Self-Promo Campaigns the Sustainable Way
Ahead of Earth Month, Kris Robinson of Jackalope Creative shares tips for promoting sustainability with your self-promos and pitching eco-friendly merch to…
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Branding Together: How Print & Promo Pros Can Leverage Luck
In this month’s episode, we chat with Rick Roddis, business unit president of Counselor Top 40 distributor Taylor Promotional Products, who talks about his…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePodcast: New Patches & Emblems - How To Take Advantage of Trendy Decoration
Let’s talk on-trend, beginner-friendly decoration. On today’s podcast, we’re joined by Dave Conner, Content Director at STAHLS’ (asi/88984), who’s sharing…
Advertising Specialty InstituteBranding Together: Exploring the World of Print on Demand
Josh Ellsworth of Stahls’ discusses the growing importance of on-demand decoration. *Please excuse the technical difficulties with our audio.*
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: The Evolution of Women’s Apparel – And Why It’s So Important
What does it mean for apparel and sports uniforms to be female-focused – and why is that an important consideration for promo pros to consider when selling?…
Advertising Specialty InstituteConvergence Corner: How Domonique Downing Leverages Her Science Background in Print & Promo Career
With a PhD in chemistry and past working for Coca-Cola, Dominique Downing relies on the scientific method to troubleshoot problems – and to drive an…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: What Promo Pros Need to Know About the White-Collar Recession
ASI Media editors Hannah Rosenberger and Christopher Ruvo offer insights into how the employment phenomenon is impacting the branded merchandise business.
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Spring into Sales
ASI Media editors Theresa Hegel, Sara Lavenduski and Hannah Rosenberger reflect on noteworthy promo campaigns, share sales tips for the spring and summer…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Sorting Through Sustainability Certifications: Choose What’s Right For Your Company
In this episode of Promo Insiders, Kate Nash of Raining Rose discusses the value of sustainability certifications, how to choose which is right for your…
Advertising Specialty InstituteConvergence Corner: Navigating A Last-Minute Reprint On a Million-Plus Unit Project
Ryan Cady, director of client success at Imprint Engine (asi/190620), tells the story of how one massive promotional campaign across more than 300 college…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: A Comprehensive Recap on Tariffs and the Impact on Promo Companies
ASI Editors C.J. Mittica and Christopher Ruvo sum up the blitz of tariff news and how suppliers & distributors companies are dealing with it.
Advertising Specialty InstituteBranding Together: Tim Andrews & Dave Leskusky Discuss Strategic Partnership
In this month’s episode, we delve into what the partnership between ASI & PRINTING United Alliance means for the print and promo industries – and what’s in…
Advertising Specialty InstituteConvergence Corner: Tactive CEO Courtney Bills on Print and Promo's Role In a Digital World
Courtney Bills, CEO of Tactive (asi/299441), discusses the company's recent acquisition of Concept Prints Inc. (asi/166238), blending print and promotional…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Failing, Facing Fears and Finding ‘Superpowers’ With Torsten Gross
Gross, a marketing executive and competitive race car driver who also happens to be a C6 quadriplegic, will be a keynote speaker at ASI Fort Worth in March.
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: The Current State of Nearshoring in Mexico
Scott Edidin and Scott Pearson of supplier 6AM Sourcing (asi/46173) discuss the promo industry’s opportunities in Mexico, following President Donald Trump’s…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Former Ralph Lauren Exec Francis Pierrel on Bringing ‘Elevated Brand’ Ethos to Promo
In this episode of Promo Insiders, Francis Pierrel, talks about moving from the luxury retail space to becoming the CEO and partner of LR Paris (asi/246857).
Advertising Specialty InstituteBranding Together: Resolving to Highlight the Converging Worlds of Print, Promo & Decoration
In the inaugural episode of Branding Together – a monthly video podcast hosted jointly by ASI and the PRINTING United Alliance – editors Theresa Hegel and…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Recapping Trends, Strategies & Inspiration from ASI Orlando 2025
ASI Media’s Christopher Ruvo and Brendan Menapace sweep you through some of the most pertinent takeaways from promo’s first major trade show of the year.
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: 9 Bold Predictions for 2025
Three ASI Media editors weigh in on industry sales, tariffs, AI and their guess for Product of the Year.
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Don’t Sleep on Payment Card Interchange Fee Settlement
Jeffrey Schrimmer, president of Brighter Promotions, explains how promo firms can file a claim in the $5.5 billion settlement in an antitrust class action suit…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: 10 Big 2024 Stories You May Have Overlooked
Three ASI Media journalists share stories with important significance for the promo products industry that they believe deserve another run in the spotlight.
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Top Trends to Know for 2025
Mary Furto of Counselor Top 40 supplier PCNA (asi/66887) gives an overview of several consumer trends to watch in the months to come, and presents promotional…
Advertising Specialty InstituteConvergence Corner: How One Proforma Owner Saw the Value in Print and Promo Together From the Start
Convergence Corner: How One Proforma Owner Saw the Value in Print and Promo Together From the Start by ASI
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Savvy Strategies For Reviving Your Business or Brand
Stephanie Stuckey, chair of Stuckey’s, a roadside oasis famous for its pecan log roll, provides tips and engaging tales that will you breathe fresh life into…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: 6 Markets To Target Now With Print
Rusty Pepper of Taylor OnDemand shares tips for selling print to clients in six of promo’s top sectors.
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: How Supplier Wayo Is Using AI To Alleviate Overseas Supply Chain Complications
Wayo co-founder and CEO Julia Xu joins ASI Media to discuss the tech at the heart of the supplier: AI. The company has built an AI model based on information…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Distributors’ Strong Q3 Puts Industry Annual Sales Record In Reach
ASI’s top research executive and news director discuss the numbers and narratives behind the merch market’s third quarter, how Q4 is shaping up and what lies…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: The Reality and Future of AI
Multiplai CEO Isar Meitis and ASI Director of Software Engineering John Young discuss how AI can transform your business and the best practices to start using…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Five Big Takeaways From The ASI Power Summit
AI, consolidation and the election dominated the discussion at this year’s event, which brings together the leaders of the promotional products industry.
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Spooky Season Sales
ASI Media’s editors talk fall selling opportunities and taste-test unique snacks.
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Takeaways from ASI’s 2024 End-Buyer Research Series
As the end-buyer research series wraps up, ASI Senior Executive Director of Research Nate Kucsma outlines a few key trends and takeaways from the study’s 26…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Strategies For Successful Staff Succession Planning
Jeff Butler, CEO of TrinityFix, delivers actionable tips to help get this essential aspect of business continuity correct in what’s a preview of his upcoming…
Advertising Specialty InstitutePromo Insiders: Stealth Greenwashing - A Deeper Dive Into Misleading Sustainability Claims
Lou Elliott-Cysewski of CoolPerx, a member of the Promo for the Planet Editorial Advisory Board, talks about greenwashing and how to avoid it – both in your…