Tag Archives: ASI

New ASI Study: Promo Products Deliver Bigger, Better Bang for Buck

15 Nov

{News Release from ASI}

New ASI Study: Promo Products Deliver Bigger, Better Bang for Buck
Rank among the most influential, enduring and cost-effective ad mediums available; Commanding advertiser recall among 87% of all recipients

TREVOSE, PA – November 13, 2012 – The Advertising Specialty Institute® (ASI) today released results from a global survey proving promotional products give consumers a more favorable impression of advertisers in every international city surveyed and deliver commanding advertiser recall among 87% of all recipients – up four percentage points over 2010.

In addition, ASI’s Global Advertising Specialties Impressions Study V.3 shows promotional products consistently rank among the most influential, enduring and cost-effective ad mediums available. A cost analysis of promotional products versus other advertising media, the study proves the investment in logoed items is modest, more targeted and more achievable for smaller businesses than other forms of advertising.

With a cost per impression* at about half a penny, promo products offer the best value when compared to local TV or radio, at a fraction of the production cost, the study shows.

The V.3 study, a follow-up to the definitive 2008 and 2010 surveys, includes demographic information broken down by political affiliation, ethnicity, gender, age and income, since knowing the likely recipient of products is paramount for an advertiser. This year, the comprehensive report includes more global markets and additional products, such as USBs.

For the study, conducted from July through September of 2012, ASI’s research team hit the streets and interviewed consumers in 12 North American and European cities. Results show promotional products are consistently popular and persistent, with most people owning about 10 items they generally keep for nearly six months, a far longer time period than any other form of advertising.

The study, launched by ASI’s research team to give its members powerful data to convince clients of the cost-effectiveness of promotional products, was released Monday at the 2012 ASI Power Summit in Naples, Florida.

“ASI’s global study once again proves the lasting value of promotional products and their power to persuade consumers from New York to LA, London, Paris and beyond,” said Timothy M. Andrews, president and chief executive officer of ASI. “Distributors and suppliers now have potent proof to show customers, prospects and end-buyers how ad specialties can increase sales and brand exposure. There is no better tool available to convince end-buyers to spend more of their marketing dollars on promotional products.”

Highlights from the Global Advertising Specialties Impressions Study V.3 include:

  • Cost Per Impression. In the U.S., the cost per impression of a promotional product is 0.6 cents, compared to prime-time TV and national magazines at 1.8 cents each and 0.7 cents for newspapers.
  • Worldwide Wow. Over one-half (52%) of the time, products give consumers a more favorable impression of the advertiser, a trend seen in every country surveyed.
  • Generating New Business. One-third of U.S. consumers say they are more likely to do business with an advertiser after getting their logoed product.
  • Latino Market Magnet. At 54%, Latino consumers own the most promotional T-shirts.
  • Mais Oui. Parisians are far more likely to own promotional USB drives than consumers in other cities, with 27% owning them, versus 9% of U.S. consumers.
  • Safe, Healthy Cities. In Dallas and Montreal, 11% of consumers own promotional health and safety items, versus the U.S. average of 8%.
  • Top 3 Products. Writing instruments (50%), shirts (43%) and bags (29%) were the most popular products by category in the U.S.
  • Superior Pass-Along Value. Sixty-six percent of U.S. respondents give away unwanted items to someone else, up 15 percentage points from 2008.
  • Bags are Big. In the U.S.,29% of consumers who own promo products own a promotional bag, with Asian consumers owning the most of any racial demographic.
  • Voters Speak. More Independents (48%) than Republicans (44%) and Democrats (39%) have a logoed shirt at home.
  • Golden Oldie. As consumers age, they’re more likely to own a promotional calendar.
  • In the Office. Women are more likely to own a promo desk accessory in their offices than men, by a margin of 20% to 14%.
  • Cap-Tastic. White men are the most likely demographic group to own branded caps, versus 15% of African Americans and 12% of women.
  • Cheers. Gen-Xers and older own more promotional drinkware than those under 35. Of 12 cities surveyed, Philadelphians love logoed mugs and glasses the most, with 21% of Philly consumers owning promotional drinkware.
  • You Wear it Well. Higher wage earners are more likely to own a promotional jacket.

“Other advertising mediums interrupt or even annoy consumers, but ad specialties actually provide something useful, like a pen to write with, a shirt to wear or a calendar to pick a date,” said Andrews. “Not only do ad specialties make impressions on everyone who sees them, but messaging is reinforced every time the item is used. No other form of media can allow the advertiser to so closely tie a benefit to the recipient.”

“With this study, distributors can offer clients compelling evidence that the best way to stamp a brand or message on the minds of consumers is through promotional products,” said Andrews. “As we’ve proven, recipients clearly remember the advertisers on logoed items. Armed with this data, distributors can target an audience and confidently recommend the best, most effective products and ideas to their clients.”

For a downloadable PDF of the study, graphics and a video, click here. To Tweet about ASI’s ad impressions study, use this link: http://bit.ly/SHWqEQ

ASI’s research studies are the most influential in the industry’s history, continuously cited throughout the B-to-B industry and across the advertising and marketing spectrum.

For this study, in addition to on-site interviews in New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Philadelphia, London, Paris, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, an online panel survey was conducted among recipients in the same geographic areas to augment the sample from the man-on-the-street interviews, for a total of 4,468 completed surveys.

Promotional products are defined as items that include pens, T-shirts, mugs, calendars, or any items that have a logo or message from an advertiser on them. They are usually given away for free to consumers in hopes of positively influencing their purchasing preferences or their attitudes toward the advertiser.

For more information, contact Larry Basinait, executive director of research for ASI, at (800) 546-1416 or lbasinait@asicentral.com.

About ASI
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) is the largest media, marketing and education organization serving the promotional products industry, with a network of over 27,000 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 family-owned business since 1962, ASI also provides online research, marketing, advertising opportunities, trade shows, education, award-winning magazines, newsletters, custom websites and catalogs to help members sell, market and promote their brands. Visit ASI at www.asicentral.com and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and the CEO’s blog.

* Numbers derived by ASI from data provided by The Nielsen Company and ComScore Ad Metrix.

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FDA Issues New Sunscreen Guidelines

16 Jun

Reprinted from Counselor®PromoGram® Volume 825 / June 16, 2011

1.9 oz. DivaZ Shimmer SPF 30 Sunscreen w/ Carabineer Clip from Snugz

Aiming to reduce the risk of skin cancer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced new rules for sunscreen testing and labeling, changing guidelines that have been in place for the last 33 years. The agency’s updated regulations will specify whether a sunscreen is a broad spectrum product – meaning it provides protection against both UVB and UVA radiation. “These changes to sunscreen labels are an important part of helping consumers have the information they need so they can choose the right sun protection for themselves and their families,” said Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Set to take effect next summer, the new rules will also ban sunscreen manufacturers from claiming their products are waterproof or sweatproof. Instead, companies will be able list the amount of time in which their product is resistant to water, based on test results. In addition, only sunscreens that have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher will be permitted to claim they reduce the risk of cancer and the onset of skin aging.

“The risks to sun exposure are real and education and clarified label requirements are not a bad thing,” said Brandon Mackay, president of SnugZ USA (asi/88060), which supplies sunscreen products in the ad specialty market. “I don’t think this will have a negative impact on the industry, but I do encourage our buyers and consumers to ask the right questions of their supplier partners and be sure to only use those with the highest standards and testing validation to support their claims.”

Annually in the U.S., more than 68,000 people receive a diagnosis of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Between 1985 and 2008, the incidence of melanomas grew by about 2.6% each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Nearly 9,000 men and women died from melanoma in 2010.

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ASI NEWS RELEASE: Sports World Thinks Pink

30 Sep

[Reprinted of new release from ASI Central. Not so much eco items, but we at AIGM like to support a good cause whenever we can. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For more information on items mentioned in this release contact your local promotional products distributor or email info@proformagreen.com]

express line pink stainless steel bottle

Sports World Thinks Pink
Sports-themed promotional products campaigns join fight against breast cancer

TREVOSE, PA – September 30, 2010 – Following a trend kicked off by the NFL, MLB and NHL, the promotional products industry is helping raise money for breast cancer research with sports-themed items targeted at men, according to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI).

Pink boxing gloves, hockey pucks, baseball bats and beyond are joining the ubiquitous pink ribbons adorning women’s fashion to raise money during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, according to Timothy M. Andrews, ASI’s president and chief executive officer.

“To spread the message about breast cancer and raise all-important research money, the promotional products industry is creating sports-themed items certain to grab men’s attention,” Andrews said. “Anyone trying to raise money for this cause should consider broadening their scope to include men, and what better way to do that than with stuff you can hit, throw, whack and wear?”

The professional sports community jumped on the cancer awareness bandwagon in a major way. The NFL’s A Crucial Catch campaign, in partnership with the American Cancer Society, will auction off pink game apparel worn during October. Major League Baseball auctions off pink Louisville Sluggers during games played on Mother’s Day, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The National Hockey League’s Hockey Fights Cancer joint charitable initiative raises money and awareness for national and local organizations involved in cancer care and research.

Numerous promotional products companies are donating a portion of profits from pink items to the cause, including Alumicolor (asi/34910), of Fort Collins, Colorado, which donates 10% of the list price of aluminum pink rulers to breast cancer research, and Kingport Industries (asi/64875), of Northbrook, Illinois, which donates a portion of profits from its “pink ribbon” collection to the American Cancer Society and other affiliated organizations.

Here are the top 10 “think pink” promotional items at the center of numerous breast cancer awareness promotions and fundraising drives:

  • Pink foam hockey puck, from Foamworx (asi/54886). Hockey teams at all levels can give out pink foam hockey pucks with information on breast cancer awareness.
  • Pink mini replica baseball bat, from Hillerich-Bradsby Co. (asi/60835). Bats can be sold at games or online. Neat fundraising product for baseball teams to raise money and call attention to the cause.
  • Pink aluminum sports bottle, from Direct Link Promos Inc. (asi/49813). A PBA-free water bottle is perfect for 5k fundraising runs and walks.
  • Pink boxing gloves, from Online Fitness (asi/75093). Boxing promoters can use these gloves in a promotion to “punch out” a cure for breast cancer.
  • Pink polo shirt, from Perry Ellis Int’l (asi/77715). Real men wear pink, and polo shirts are ideal gifts for October golf tournaments.
  • Pink tie, from Wolfmark (asi/98085). Corporations big and small can provide pink ties to male employees to wear during October.
  • Golf balls with pink ribbon, from Norwood Tee Off (asi/90740). A great tee gift giveaway at golf tournaments.
  • Pink mini football, from Diamond Imprints (asi/49641). Pro, college, high school and club teams can raise awareness by selling logoed footballs or by tossing them into the crowd during halftime.
  • Sports-car-shaped stress reliever, from Jetline (asi/63344). Ties into men’s love for their cars and racing.
  • Auto racing kit, from Ready 4 Kits (asi/80882). Includes sunscreen, pain reliever, antacid, wet naps and earplugs, all in a pink pouch. Hospitals, doctors and breast cancer awareness activists can hand the pouches out at race tracks during October races.

About ASI
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) is the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a membership of over 26,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers) of advertising specialties.  Supplier firms use ASI print and electronic resources to market products to over 22,000 ASI distributor firms.  Distributor firms use ASI print and electronic resources, which contain nearly every product in the industry from more than 3,500 reputable suppliers, to locate supplier firms and to market services to buyers.  ASI provides catalogs, information directories, newsletters, magazines, websites and databases, and offers e-commerce, marketing and selling tools.

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ASI's Top 10 Eco-friendly Giveaways for Earth Day

24 Mar

The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) is the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a membership of over 26,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers) of advertising specialties.

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 around the world, and according to ASI more companies than ever before are using eco-friendly giveaways to promote their commitment to caring for the environment. Here is the ASI’s recently release top ten items list for Earth Day 2010.

The top 10 eco-friendly giveaways for Earth Day 2010 are:

1.  Elephant-Poo Notebook – The ultimate recycled item, great for colleges and trade shows. 
2.  Bamboo Dinnerware – Perfect for office picnics, outdoor concert venues and fairs.
3.  Seed Paper Postcard – Ideal for environment-themed mailings and print promotions.
4. Shower Timer – Municipalities and utilities can promote water conservation.
5.  Recycled Tires Jar Opener – Auto dealerships and mechanics can give these to customers.
6.  Pine Tree Seedling – Employees can participate in a tree-planting day at the office campus.
7.  Organic T-shirt – Give one to each Earth Day event organizer and volunteer.
8. Compostable Pens – Hotels, banks and shops can use these biodegradable pens.
9.  Nonwoven Bag – Local grocery stores can eliminate plastic and paper.
10.  Hemp-Blend Polo – Companies can use this earth-friendly shirt for summer uniforms.

To see photos of the products and purchasing information for each, and to watch a video with the editor of Counselor magazine featuring the items, visit asicentral.com/earth.  If you are interested in any of these items to promote your own business, contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

According to an exclusive study from the Advertising Specialty Institute, end-buyers identify promotional products as the most effective medium among all advertising, next to the Internet.  In addition, the study reveals that nearly one-half, or 48%, of respondents feel that promotional products are expected to deliver a positive return on investment.

For more information on this list and ASI in general contact Scott Fuhr, corporate communications director, at sfuhr@asicentral.com.

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