NEWS STORIES Galaxy Balloons Acquires AGA Assets Survey: Small Businesses Oppose Obama Finance Plan Podcast: Overcoming Cold-Calling Fears  Counselor Unveils 2009 Power 50 List Podcast: Counselor's Industry News Vote Now! Counselor Distributor Choice Awards Ballot Now Open NEW Course Available on ASI Education's Online Learning Center  In The News THE ASI SHOW! HELP WANTED SHARE PROMOGRAM LinkedIn Facebook Twitter

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Galaxy Balloons Acquires AGA Assets
Completing its fourth acquisition in 10 years, supplier Galaxy Balloons Inc. (asi/55675) has purchased the related assets of Ohio-based AGA Balloons (asi/30119). Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Announced this week, the deal was first discussed this past summer. "This is a move that made sense and we think it will be an easy transition," said Terry Brizz, president of Galaxy Balloons. "We had an opportunity to increase market share and we can now offer some products we didn't have before."   

As part of the deal, Galaxy purchased AGA's related equipment, inventory, customer list and Web site. AGA's production and printing equipment will be relocated from its headquarters in Ashland, OH, to Galaxy Balloons' 100,000 square foot facility in Cleveland. While AGA now plans to focus on its core business of balloon printing equipment, the company will remain in the ad specialty industry, producing memo pads, mugs, computer accessories and similar products. "Galaxy Balloons is an excellent company," said Steve Gardner, president of AGA. "We feel confident that they will continue to offer the same high quality products and service that we have strived to maintain throughout the years."

According to Brizz, Galaxy's sales have slipped 10% in 2009. Still, Brizz is "cautiously optimistic" that the industry will see an overall uptick soon. "I believe ad specialties are very viable and effective," Brizz says. "I think the next six weeks will be an indicator of what's to come."

Employing 100 workers, Galaxy produces balloons, beach balls, sports balls and equipment, as well as holiday ornaments.

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The sentiment of survey takers was that the government's plan to dole out cash would take too long to reach small businesses and be effective. Indeed, six in 10 believed it would take at least eight months before the president's plan would have any effect. Obama's plan, among other actions, includes allowing community banks with under $1 billion in assets to receive capital from the government with an eye on jump-starting small business loans.

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Podcast: Overcoming Cold-Calling Fears
On Tuesday's ASI Internet Radio Show, the hosts took questions from callers looking for advice on how to improve their cold-calling and prospecting strategies. From how to get past gatekeepers to unique ways to get prospects' attention, the hosts were ready to dole out their best advice. Check out this podcast to hear their ideas.

Click here to listen to the prospecting strategies call-in segment from Tuesday's show.

If you'd like to check out a recording of the whole online radio show, go to www.asicentral.com/radio. And, don't forget to join us next Tuesday, November 10, for our next broadcast. Log on to www.asicentral.com/radio at 10:30 am eastern time and give us a call at 215-953-4979 or e-mail us at radio@asicentral.com to participate on the show. We want to hear from you.

Counselor Unveils 2009 Power 50 List
At a ceremony earlier this week during the ASI Power Summit, Counselor released its annual Power 50 ranking. Along with 14 newcomers to the list this year, the number-one spot is represented by the biggest news story of the year: BIC's acquisition of Norwood Promotional Products. Sharing the top spot on the 2009 Power 50 are Nicolas Paillot, the CEO of BIC APP (the newly formed BIC division that consists of BIC Graphic USA (asi/40480) and Norwood Promotional Products) and Paul Lage, president of Norwood. Combined, the organization will now represent the largest supplier firm in the ad specialty market.

The remainder of the top five on this year's Power 50 consists of: SanMar's (asi/84863) Marty Lott, Greg Muzzillo and Vera Muzzillo of Proforma (asi/300094), Marc Simon of Halo/Lee Wayne (asi/356000), and Gene Geiger and Jo-an Lantz of Geiger (asi/202900).

To check out the whole 2009 Power 50 list, go to www.asicentral.com/Power50.

Podcast: Counselor's Industry News
Every week, the ASI Internet Radio Tuesday Morning Show delivers an audio version of the industry's top news. Click here to listen to the segment from this week's show. The topics: Counselor reveals the 2009 Power 50, a new president for Senator USA, and the results of an end-user survey. Click here to listen.

Vote Now! Counselor Distributor Choice Awards Ballot Now Open
Every year Counselor magazine honors the best industry suppliers with our Distributor Choice Awards. Of course, we can't name the winners without you, because these awards are chosen solely by industry distributors. As a valued ASI distributor we want your opinion about who the best suppliers are to work with in the industry. Please click here to vote in the Counselor Distributor Choice Awards.

These respected awards will be given out to winning suppliers at the ASI Show in Orlando on January 3, 2010. The winning suppliers will also be profiled in the February issue of Counselor.

Please click here now to vote. Voting is open through Friday, November 13.

NEW Course Available on ASI Education's OnlineLearning Center 
Be sure to register at http://www.asicentral.com/asionlinelearning for some exciting new courses available exclusively to ASI members. Brought to you by ASI Education, Online Learning is the newest and most convenient way for distributors to get educated. Here are some of the courses from our New Distributor Success Track available now:

NEW
Wearables Crash Course. In this course, you'll learn about the top five best-selling wearable categories, along with decorating and selling tips. Then, we'll give you an overview of the most popular decorating options. Plus, you'll learn about some of the hot new buzzwords in wearables, such as performance fabrics and eco-friendly fabrics. And, we'll advise you on how to find the right decorator and digitizer. Finally, suppliers are eager to help you show your clients how their logo will look on apparel, so that's where samples can be key to getting that sale. By the end of this course, you'll be on your way to selling even more wearables, which make up 30% of the $20 billion in annual ad specialty sales.

Course Track: New Distributor Success
* Nailing Down the Basics
* Marketing Your New Business
* Steps to Selling Success
* Creative Case Studies
* Avoid These First-Year Pitfalls
* Managing Your Business
Coming Soon: 
* Building Profitable Client Relationships

In The News 
Drummond Printing (asi/50873) has launched a new line of wall calendars and planners, available in multiple styles and colors. For more information, go to: www.drum-line.com.

Heritage Sportswear Inc. (asi/60582) has added Champion, KC Caps, Kariban, Liberty Bags and Timberland to its brand offerings.

The Allen Company (asi/34330) has announced that Allen Dohan, president, has been named the Blanchester Area (OH) Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year.