|
Wednesday
November 24, 2010 “Power” to the People!Filed under: Travel Hi Everyone, Before I share some fun photos I took at this year’s ASI Power Summit at the beautiful Turnberry Isle Resort in Ventura, FL, last week, I wanted to point out a few of my personal highlights: * The industry panelists who really spoke their minds and had the cojones to be controversial were among the best. When asked, on the “Supplier & Distributor Point/Counterpoint” panel, about the issue of distributors trusting suppliers enough to bring them to client meetings, industry veteran Dan Townes, owner/president of Shelbyville, TN-based supplier Shepenco/Shelbyville Pencil, brought down the house with this assessment of the situation: “You have a better chance of throwing a saddle on a unicorn and riding it around than seeing distributors trust suppliers enough to bring them to client meetings.” Bill Korowitz, CEO of Counselor Top 40 supplier The Magnet Group, made this pronouncement during the “Follow the Leader: Meet the Counselor Power 50” panel, on the topic of inventory issues: “Listen, I’m happy to have a million pieces of something in my inventory if you need it; but I can have a million pieces of everything that you may or may not need in my inventory. Distributors need to do a better job conveying what they need to suppliers. Once we know what your inventory needs truly are, we can help you.” * During a discussion session I moderated, in which suppliers and distributors broke off into groups and hashed out some of today’s pressing problems, a distributor approached me on the stage and asked me to convey to suppliers that what distributors really want is “significant benefits at insignificant costs” to help them fight inflation and stay profitable. So, good luck with that one, Suppliers! ; ) * ASI’s exclusive new and updated “Advertising Specialties Impressions Study” was released at the Power Summit and is an eye-opener to the power of promo products. The study went global this time, in that we surveyed businesspeople who use ad specialties in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, as well as London, Sydney, Toronto and Montreal. Click here to see the study and download it as a way to prove to clients that ad specialties really do offer the best bang for the buck. * Sometimes, what you think will end in disaster turns out for the best, as was the case with dinner on the first evening. It was held outdoors, by the beautiful Laguna pool on the resort’s property. Unfortunately, as ASI’s president/CEO Tim Andrews began interviewing the keynote guest, economist Sean Snaith, it began to rain — hard. Not to be deterred, everyone poured inside and headed right to the bar, turning the event into an impromptu fun fest of networking and cocktailing (the open bar was a definite hit!). And Mr. Snaith’s (who was great, despite having a name that sounds like a Harry Potter villain) predictions on the state of our country’s economy and how it will affect the industry? My editorial colleague Andy Cohen interviewed him inside and the video was shown the next day. Click here to see that interview. And now, on to some photos I snapped of various behind-the-scenes events and industry friends frolicking. Next year’s Power Summit (from November 6-8) is at the drop-dead-gorgeous Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, CA. Go to www.asicentral.com/psreg for more info! Enjoy, and Cheers! — M
4 Comments |
Great pics and great event – however, I am a little ticked I did not get invited to the model photo shoot…next time…in Cali!?!
Absolutely, E — you, me, models, surfers and cocktails in Cali for next year’s Power Summit! ; ) Great seeing you, as always! Love ya, M
Hey, I was searching for the photos from that shoot; this is Harmony 🙂
A few other tips I like to write notes on the back of the suppliers’ cards best prutocds, what clients I had them in mind for etc. When we enter the supplier into our database we always include this info. I may also include any personal information that may be relevant later.When attending shows, I look at the season as a whole. If I know that there are people at the EXPO that will not be at the ASI shows I spend more time with them and plan to see the ASI suppliers at subsequent shows.For the education I ask that all our reps (and I myself) prepare a synopsis of the courses they took. They can do it whatever format works for them but the goal is to at least share that 10% of the most important learning experiences and how it relates to themselves, our company, or our clients.