Advertising Specialty Institute

The new CEO (who's also new to promo) joined Michele Bell, ASI's senior vice president of Editorial, Education & Global Alliances, to discuss opportunities he plans to pursue at the Counselor Top 40 supplier and what success will look like over the next three years.

It's hard to believe it, but the holidays are already right around the corner. Now's the time to make sure you know how to deliver memorable and successful gifts and incentives for your clients' end-of-year needs. But don't worry, you're not in it alone. Today, we're joined by Lizz Riedy, content marketing specialist at STAHLS' (asi/88984), who's sharing everything you need to know to help your clients create emotional connections and lasting impressions with their holiday gifts, but without the stress that typically comes with the holiday season.

With PRINTING United Expo around the corner, Cassie Green and Theresa Hegel discuss the value of attending trade shows and conferences in the digital age.

The account executive from MadeToOrder walks through a custom order that required a bit of imagination.

In honor of FEMA's National Preparedness Month, Counselor Digital News Editor Tara Lerman sits down with experts across the emergency response and logistics industries to find out how promo companies can prepare and recover from a natural or weather-related disaster.

Ian Bentley, who founded the leather goods brand with his wife Brittany in 2014, is on a mission to empower women in Ethiopia through sustainable job opportunities – all while creating a lasting premium product.

Counselor Editor-in-Chief C.J. Mittica and ASI Research Director Nate Kucsma

Colin Sinclair McDermott, the Online Print Coach, talks helping printers learn from the mistakes he's made over the years and the differences between the U.S. and European print and promo industries.

The vice president of editorial and content strategy for PRINTING United Alliance delivers key points from her ASI Show Chicago presentation.

The executive vice president of the fashion blanks supplier discusses what the acquisition by Counselor Top 40 supplier SanMar means for its future.

ASI's Nate Kucsma and Hannah Rosenberger break down the promotional products industry's 2.5% second quarter sales growth – and why some distributors thrived while others struggled.

In this episode of Counselor's Promo Insiders Deep Dive podcast, Digital News Editor Tara Lerman uncovers the intricacies of the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement – with the help of a couple trade and compliance experts.

Brendan Menapace, content director for Print & Promo Marketing, reflects on covering his first ASI Show at McCormick Place, from insightful professional development to an inspiring keynote and memorable Counselor Awards.

Jodie Schillinger, executive vice president at Maple Ridge Farms and Counselor's 2026 Woman of Distinction. joins this week's episode of Promo Insiders to discuss mentorship, meaningful leadership and why creating a sense of belonging can transform workplaces, careers and communities.

Justin Zavadil, recently named CEO & president, reflects on the company's history in print and transition to promo.

Randy Carr, CEO of World Emblem, talks about how fear built his family business and his bold plan to future-proof the company.

ASI's Brendan Menapace and Emily Wilson share how print and promotional products have become key players at the global sporting event.

Rick Roth of Mirror Image and The Ink Kitchen reflects on his long career in the screen-printing industry and explains why, for him, business and activism go hand in hand.

The CEO and founder of Evo3 Marketing discusses brand engagement through activations and events.

ASI's Michele Bell and Nate Kucsma join this week's episode of Promo Insiders to share key takeaways on trends and key findings from ASI Research's fourth annual study of the European promo market.

Shawna Suckow, who will be speaking at ASI Chicago this July, shares tips for adding a human touch to marketing messages.

In Counselor's inaugural episode of the Promo Insiders Deep Dive podcast, Digital News Editor Tara Lerman sits down with three experts to find out how promo companies can claim their tariff refunds.

The president of Sales Ink talks about guiding print and promo distributors to reach new heights

Stephanie Preston of PCNA (asi/66887) discusses the Counselor Top 40 supplier's current trend forecast and what it means for the promo industry in the months ahead.

Damola Adamolekun, who will be the keynote speaker at ASI Chicago in July, talks about the power of “red carpet hospitality,” building company culture and maintaining consistent messaging across channels.

Aly Banholzer and Marshall Atkinson of ShirtLab talk about why artificial intelligence is a competitive advantage for the decorated apparel and branded merch industries.

Alissa Succi of Counselor Top 40 supplier Koozie Group (asi/40480) shares valuable insights gleaned over nearly 30 years in the promo industry.

The client experience executive for Score Promotions (asi/321353) shares how he went from a teenage warehouse worker for a distributor to a trusted partner for Fortune 500 companies.

ASI's Michele Bell and Nate Kucsma take a deep dive into key insights on the international market from the 2026 Ad Impressions Study.

Today's end-buyers are looking for more than just logos on a product: they're looking for a full branding service that fits into their overall marketing strategy. On today's podcast, Lizz Riedy, content marketing specialist at STAHLS' (asi/88984) explains how to speak to that need and how to adopt the “merchandiser mindset” needed to secure orders. Spoiler alert: It's a lot easier than you think.

Proforma CEO Vera Muzzillo and Chief Strategy Officer Michael Roney discuss how one of the biggest distributor deals in promotional products history came together and why Safeguard was such a strong fit for the Counselor Top 40 distributor.

Lisa Hu, the founder of Lux & Nyx (asi/88973), shares her journey from a career in corporate finance to the CEO of her own brand, with product in both promo and high-end department stores – plus, what it means to her to sell work bags designed by women, for women.

Mark Pomerantz of SalesWisdom shares his tips on how to build a better sales program.

The CEO of PromoDirect discusses the company's growth from print catalogs to a full-service distributor for the digital age

Counselor's Sara Lavenduski and Hannah Rosenberger discuss three important takeaways from the new data and what it means for promo companies doing business in Canada.

Walter Miska, new brand president of Counselor Top 40 distributor Fully Promoted (asi/384000) and Andrew Titus, president of United Franchise Group (UFG), discuss their vision for the franchise following some key leadership shakeups.

Dilip Bhavnani, chief operating officer at Counselor Top 40 supplier Sunscope, discusses the War in Iran and its impact on promo.

Counselor editors chat with leaders at three of the companies on the 2026 list to determine what makes them such great places to work.

The CEO of Red Swag made what could've been a dull job something memorable using print and promo.

Michelle Chen of Fossa Apparel (asi/55141) discusses macro forces affecting sourcing and the supply chain, and how she and her team stay in step with consumer and retail trends.

Julie Schneiderman of EcoStiks talks about sustainable merch, a new spin on brand activations, the “Skip the Lid, Savor the Moment” movement and more.

The VP of Swag at Radar Promotions discusses how she and her team can offer (almost) anything a campaign might require.

As he embarks on his new role, Mittal shares why ASI's culture stands out, where he sees opportunity in a complex supply chain and how technology – especially AI – can help unify the promo ecosystem.

ASI's Nate Kucsma and Hannah Rosenberger dive into the key findings from the just-released 2026 Ad Impressions Study, which highlights the continued effectiveness and impact of promotional products.

Andrew Kelly of Overture Promotions and Laura Smith of Storm Creek share their reactions to the study that measures promo's carbon impact against other advertising mediums and discuss what the industry must do to keep the positive momentum going.

Lutz discusses how he found his place in print and promo and grew his brand's niche.

The Counselor editors recap all the highlights from ASI's signature southwest trade show.

Ashley Roberts, content director of Printing Impressions, talks about some of the biggest trends in commercial printing right now and how promo distributors can leverage opportunities in the space.

Jimmy Bryant talks about how he launched his nature-inspired apparel and accessories brand that's sold in every REI store across the country.

Counselor editors taste-test fun snacks and discuss sales ideas for spring and summer campaigns.

Compass Industries President Mike Levy joins Promo Insiders to discuss how the third-generation family business built its product niche and how it tackles industry relationship-building today, both with retail manufacturers and promo distributors.