STRATEGY SESSION
Strategy Session is a podcast dedicated to tips and tactics to improve your business. With topics ranging from sales and marketing to social media content and apparel trends, promotional products companies are sure to glean actionable strategies from every episode. Each week, we’ll interview a different expert and ask them for their top tips for business success today.
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5/8/2024
Test 5-8
After months of closed opportunities, doors – and wallets – are finally beginning to open back up.
3/19/2024
Strategy Session – Sell on Value Instead of Price
In this debut edition of ASI’s new Strategy Session podcast, sales growth expert Ryan Sauers details how distributors should continuously strive to prove their value to clients. The key? Create a brand that clients can connect to. Sauers, author of Would You Buy From You: Your Brand Makes the Difference, believes that promo products distributors need to do everything in their power to create value for customers, so that they can ensure they’re not just low-price providers. Ultimately
10/11/2021
Test
After months of closed opportunities, doors – and wallets – are finally beginning to open back up.
11/27/2017
Mastering The New Rules of Sales & Marketing
In this Strategy Sessisales, exert influence and build awareness in our always-on web-driven world. A master of the dynamic rules of sales and marketing in the digital age, Scott has keynoted in more than 40 countries and authored or co-authored 10 books, including The New Rules of Marketing & PR, a modern business classic that has been translated into 26 languages. Scott will be the keynote speaker at ASI Dallas in January.
11/20/2017
Kevin O’Leary: Successfully Growing Your Startup
In this Strategy Session podcast, Kevin O’Leary of ABC’s Shark Tank discusses the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face when growing their business. O’Leary has over 20 years of experience investing in private companies and riding the transition from startup through geometric growth to managing a multi-million dollar enterprise. With his trademark blunt honesty, Mr. Wonderful offers tips on how to develop a winning pitch, expand your staff and when to quit your day job. O’Leary will be the keynote speaker at ASI Orlando in January.
12/22/2016
Strategy Session - Learn Leadership Secrets of Elite Military Pros
In this Strategy Session podcast, Chris Gomez of Afterburner discusses the biggest challenges facing today’s businesses, as well as the traits shared by the most successful leaders. Afterburner is made up of current and former fighter pilots, U.S. Navy SEALs and other elite military professionals who bring the combat-proven and battle-tested processes of high-performing military teams to organizations around the world. Gomez, a decorated former Navy SEAL, holds an MBA from the University of Texas.
11/29/2016
Strategy Session - Staying Positive
In this Strategy Session Podcast, Coach Ken Carter delivers insights on how to build a positive, energetic mindset that will fuel success. An author, motivational speaker and youth advocate, Coach Carter first made news when he famously locked out his undefeated varsity basketball team at Richmond High School in California. He did so to motivate the players to improve their grades. The real-life events inspired the hit movie Coach Carter, which starred Samuel L. Jackson.
11/28/2016
Strategy Session - How To Discover Your Company's Higher Purpose
Whole Foods’ John Mackey: How To Discover Your Company's Higher Purpose In an exclusive podcast, ASI speaks with John Mackey, co-founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, Inc. Named Esquire’s “Most Inspiring CEO,” Mackey will be the Keynote speaker at the ASI Show in Dallas early next year. Mackey transformed his vision for a natural and organic supermarket into a $16 billion Fortune 500 company, attributing his success to discovering Whole Foods’ higher purpose and developing a corporate culture to achieve it.
10/17/2016
Strategy Session - Learned Confidence
In this exclusive podcast, ASI speaks with Dan Marino, one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. In the interview, Marino discusses why learned confidence played a huge role in his ability to become a Hall of Fame quarterback. Marino also reveals the number one thing that makes businesses succeed, how to bring a team mentality into the workplace and how the NFL has changed since he was on the field.
7/12/2016
Strategy Session - Tumultuous Times
In this exclusive interview with ASI, celebrated liberal voice James Carville discusses the chaotic state of this year's Presidential Election, who he thinks will win and whether he ever wishes he was back on the campaign trail. Carville, a political consultant known as "The Ragin' Cajun," also reveals what it was like to be in politics in the tense days after 9/11.
6/14/2016
Strategy Session - Politics & Prosperity
In this exclusive interview with ASI, leading conservative commentator Mary Matalin predicts who will be the next president, talks about challenges facing small businesses and delivers insight on what Washington can do to help power greater prosperity. Matalin, a popular pundit, radio host and political strategist, also reveals why she is “wildly optimistic” about America’s future.
3/17/2016
Strategy Session - Complexities Of The 21st Century
Aaron Dignan, founder of The Ready and author of the upcoming book The Responsive Organization, speaks to ASI in this exclusive interview on how organizations can succeed in a world where digital forces are disrupting decades of tradition. Dignan also shares his experiences helping established business leaders adjust to the complexities of the 21st century.
12/29/2015
Strategy Session - Secrets of Entrepreneurial Success
Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Camping World and host of the hit CNBC series The Profit, speaks to ASI in this exclusive interview on why some entrepreneurs are raving successes – and why others are destined for failure. Ultimately, he says, it comes down to leadership. “Business success – and success for smaller, entrepreneurial companies – is based around the person in charge and how good of a leader they are,” says Lemonis.
12/22/2015
Strategy Session - Inspiring Ownership at Every Level
In this podcast, author and business-leadership speaker Meridith Elliott Powell talks about redefining personal responsibility and how it can be used as a leadership strategy. She also shares insights on assembling a winning sales team, the importance of focusing on customer experience and the most critical traits for an effective leader. Powell also has some great advice for other women business owners.
12/17/2015
Strategy Session - The Easiest Ways To Retain Customers
Decorated-apparel industry veteran Craig Mertens, president of Digital Art Solutions (asi/14970), shares some of his insights about the wearables marketplace’s current landscape and future opportunities and challenges. How will the election year affect decorated-apparel sales? What are the top ways that distributors and decorators can retain clients? How important will social media marketing be to expanding your client base? Mertens shares all that and more (including his number-one goal for his company in 2016) in this podcast.
12/10/2015
Strategy Session - Building A Promo Business
In the latest edition of ASI’s Strategy Session podcast, Marli and Jeff Thibodeau, owners of Brio Promotions, share strategies for how to build a promotional products and decoration business. Plus, they give listeners advice for helping clients increase their brand awareness. How can a brand remain relevant over time? What can distributors do to ensure their clients create brand loyalty? And, what should be done to survive a brand crisis?
12/1/2015
Strategy Session – Millenials in Promotional Products
Erin Reilly, CEO of Pop! Promos (asi/45657), shares her unique perspective as a millennial running a thriving industry supplier. What was the greatest challenge for her and co-founder Sterling Wilson in starting their business in college? What can the promotional product industry do to entice younger workers? And as a repeat member on the Counselor Best Places to Work list, what’s the key to creating a great workplace culture? Reilly shares all that and more in this podcast.
11/24/2015
Strategy Session – Building A Sales Team
In the latest edition of ASI’s Strategy Session podcast, Bill Powell, owner of P3 Consulting, discusses how to build a sales team during a period of growth. What should you look for in your first salesperson? Is it best to offer salary, straight commission or a combination of the two? What kind of training programs should you offer? With a focus on startups and small business, P3 Consulting and Powell offer helpful insights to creating a top-notch sales team.
11/17/2015
Strategy Session – Integrity Selling
In the latest edition of ASI’s new Strategy Session podcast, sales guru Diane Ciotta dishes insights no selling professional can miss. Want to build strong, long-term relationships with clients? Interested in being more productive? Want to improve your consultative selling skills?
11/10/2015
Strategy Session – The Increasing Popularity Of Made-In-The-USA Products
In the latest edition of ASI’s new Strategy Session podcast, David Bronson from supplier firm Unionwear details why there has been a resurgence of interest in products that are manufactured in the United States. Why are Made-in-the-USA items becoming more popular? What markets are best to sell USA-made items to? Will next year’s presidential election further enhance the interest in this category?
11/3/2015
Strategy Session – Apparel Sourcing Best Practices
In this edition of Strategy Session, David Bebon, the CEO of DBEBZ Apparel, talks about apparel sourcing best practices and emerging markets overseas. The long-time industry expert discusses his views on whether apparel pricing will increase or decrease next year, and also touches on new opportunities for decorated-apparel sales and the latest style and decorating trends in woven shirts. An expert with extensive knowledge of Bangladesh, China and overseas sourcing, Bebon has sourced woven shirts to the promotional industry for three decades.
10/27/2015
Strategy Session – How To Gain Referrals
In this edition of Strategy Session, sales expert and networking guru Alice Heiman shares her top strategies for gaining referrals and growing your online presence.