Ad Specialties - Engraving Etc. Forum

<body> <h1>Full Version: <a href="https://www.engravingetc.org:443/archive/index.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.68">Ad Specialties</a></h1><a name="a828_68"></a><p><b>From: Pete (AWARDMASTERS)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.68">#68</a>]<br /> 1 Mar 2005<br /><b>To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.67">#67</a>] 1 Mar 2005</p> <p>David,</p> <p>Sage On-Line is the distributor app and it is windows only.</p> <p>However, WebExpress is their webbased database store and it is cross platform. Anyone with an internet connection can access it.</p> <p>Take a look at our WebExpress and you can get an idea of what it makes available. I should clarify - actually, WebExpress is only a simple page. You have to add the Webstore function for the database access. I believe Webstore was $395 per year. WebExpress is free, but really does not do anything for you.</p> <p><a href="http://www.awardmasters.com/promo/promo.html">http://www.awardmasters.com/promo/promo.html</a></p> <p>This will bring you in on the Product Search page, not the homepage. Feel free to run searches and see what is available, you can't break anything (I hope).</p><p class="edit_text">EDITED: 1 Mar 2005 by AWARDMASTERS</p> <hr /><a name="a828_69"></a><p><b>From: Stunt Engraver (DGL)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.69">#69</a>]<br /> 1 Mar 2005<br /><b>To: Pete (AWARDMASTERS)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.64">#64</a>] 1 Mar 2005</p> <p>Pete,</p> <p>Thank you for the info. As I say, I'm just an ad spec dabbler.</p> <p>I know of a company, that makes emblematic jewelry, which ASI "called" on working both sides of the street.</p> <p>The solution? Start another company which sells retail.</p> <p>Same company, same peolple, same product. Different name.</p> <p>I guess ASI was satisfied to see an "appearance" of separation of wholesale and retail.</p> <p>I'll have to add that one, to the increasing list of things I don't get :-)</p> <p>David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri<br /> DGL Engraving<br /> Port Hueneme, CA</p><hr /><a name="a828_70"></a><p><b>From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.70">#70</a>]<br /> 4 Mar 2005<br /><b>To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.67">#67</a>] 4 Mar 2005</p> <p>David,<br /> I"m just getting back onto this thread in what little "down" time I have in Vegas.... How much of your gross income do your attribute to ad specialties?</p> <p>Chuck<br /> American Pacific Awards.</p><hr /><a name="a828_71"></a><p><b>From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.71">#71</a>]<br /> 4 Mar 2005<br /><b>To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.70">#70</a>] 4 Mar 2005</p> <p>Chuck,</p> <p>I operate my ad specialties as a different business from my engraving business. It is a whole separate corporation, with a few sales reps in different parts of the country. It is still a developing business in my eyes, although it is one that is developing nicely.</p> <p>I don't see how anyone's numbers will relate to another's. You will only be as successful as the amount of time, effort and creativity you put into it. I would say that 70% of my gross sales are created by my sales reps. That is because they get out and beat the pavement. I'm locked into my little world here at the engraving shop and take the ad specialties business that comes my way through other means of marketing.</p> <p>Bottom line, it is worth the effort and very low-risk.</p> <hr /><a name="a828_72"></a><p><b>From: LaZerDude (CHUCK_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.72">#72</a>]<br /> 2 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.6">#6</a>] 2 Apr 2005</p> <p>David,<br /> It has been awhile since I visited the idea of ad specialties, BUT in the April edition of A&E magazine, a "flyer" was included about SAGE. I checked out their website and it rekindled the idea.<br /> In a previous post you had said......</p> <p>....."If you want to get a feel for the industry you can sign your company up for a free UPIC number at <a href="http://www.the-upic.com">www.the-upic.com</a>. More and more ad specialty suppliers are accepting this number as confirmation that you are a legitimate reseller in the industry.</p> <p>After you get your UPIC number, I would recommend that you contact <a href="http://www.distributorcentral.com">www.distributorcentral.com</a> to get signed up for their free services. Distributor Central is a product database that puts the responsibility of price and data maintenance on the supplier, where with ASI, the product information was entered by in-house staff. With the hundreds of thousands of products on the market there is no way that ASI can keep information current."</p> <p> I have done the UPIC part. When I get the number approved, I'll go to the other website.</p> <p> I'm becoming encouraged. Thanks for your help and support.</p> <hr /><a name="a828_73"></a><p><b>From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.73">#73</a>]<br /> 2 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: LaZerDude (CHUCK_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.72">#72</a>] Unread</p> <p>Chuck,</p> <p>You are well on your way. The UPIC is always the first stumbling block. The door will be wide open.</p> <hr /><a name="a828_74"></a><p><b>From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.74">#74</a>]<br /> 3 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: Pete (AWARDMASTERS)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.68">#68</a>] 3 Apr 2005</p> <p>Pete,<br /> I have just gotten back into considering ad specialties as a diversification of American Pacific Awards.<br /> On re-reading this thread, I found your post to Davd Takes with the link to your site. <br /> I've done a couple of basic searches and am amazed at how low the prices are. Are you selling wholesale? Or are these prices your marked up prices? I'm just curious because they seem so low, and I would like to get a handle on whether I want to expand this way or not. Or am I just simply not in tune? ( Quite likely that is it. [insert laugh here])</p> <p> Thanks Pete for all your helps and support.</p> <p> </p> <hr /><a name="a828_75"></a><p><b>From: Pete (AWARDMASTERS)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.75">#75</a>]<br /> 3 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.74">#74</a>] 3 Apr 2005</p> <p>We normally sell retail at the standard markups by the manufacturer. Some would refer to these as the ASI coded prices. Those are the prices listed on our Promotional Products website. Keep in mind that the base prices listed are usually for just a one color imprint in one location. There are most often additional charges for things such as screen charges, art charges, additional color runs, etc..</p> <p>Our portion of the manufacturers retail list price is usually in the 40% to 50% range. We usually get around 20% of addtional charges like screen charges, art, or running charges. This amount is normally reasonable since in most cases we are only doing a layout, color separations, etc for our part.</p> <p>We use the SAGE database for our products and the admin panel does provide you the ability to set the pricing in a number of different ways to suit your personal needs. </p> <p>I highly recommend SAGE to anyone getting into promotional products. They have a very large product database and can even host your website for you if you wish. It is not a free service, but it works and in my opinion it is much more complete than any of the free services. In addtion, they are helpful and professional. They also have an excellent credit card merchant program.</p> <p> </p><p class="edit_text">EDITED: 3 Apr 2005 by AWARDMASTERS</p> <hr /><a name="a828_76"></a><p><b>From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.76">#76</a>]<br /> 3 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: Pete (AWARDMASTERS)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.75">#75</a>] 3 Apr 2005</p> <p>Pete,<br /> Thank you for your response. I appreciate it. <br /> Have you tried <a href="http://www.distributorcentral.com">www.distributorcentral.com</a>? I have been looking there a bit today.<br /> With SAGE, it is about $500.00 per year, ( seems reasonable to me ). Do you get enough with that amount to run and grow a business? Or do you need to pay more once you are a member?</p> <p>Thanks</p> <hr /><a name="a828_77"></a><p><b>From: Pete (AWARDMASTERS)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.77">#77</a>]<br /> 3 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.76">#76</a>] 3 Apr 2005</p> <p>Chuck, <br /> I have looked at the distributorcentral website. It appears that they have a very small product database at this time. The SAGE database is very complete.</p> <p>SAGE offers a number of different programs. Without going back and looking it up (I may be wrong), the base membership is still $495 per year (I think it is only $395 if you use the CD version instead of the online version). This gives you online access to their database with detailed product and supplier information and complete search capability. It does not give your customer access - you would not want it to as it provides cost and profit information.</p> <p>They offer what they call a "Webstore" which can be incorporated into your existing website or you can access it thru a URL to their server. This function is $395 per year, it is an option. This is the promotional product site you see if you go to our site at:</p> <p><a href="http://www.awardmasters.com/promo/promo.html">http://www.awardmasters.com/promo/promo.html</a></p> <p>This site is designed for our customers use. They can place orders or request quotes there.</p> <p>They offer several other functions, the only one of which we use is the credit card merchant program.</p> <p>You can visit the SAGE website at <a href="http://www.sageworld.com">www.sageworld.com</a> for more details.</p> <hr /><a name="a828_78"></a><p><b>From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.78">#78</a>]<br /> 3 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: Pete (AWARDMASTERS)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.77">#77</a>] 3 Apr 2005</p> <p>Pete,</p> <p> If I am understanding you correctly, through SAGE, I could get their webstore, which is an ecommerce site, and take orders through MY website?<br /> How much business do you get this way? Do the suppliers drop ship? Or do the supplies send the product to you and you deliver?<br /> Enquiring minds want to know.<br /> Could I call you sometime and talk about this more in depth? If I may, when would be the best time, so as to not be an inconvenience?</p> <p>Thank you again for your help and support.</p> <hr /><a name="a828_79"></a><p><b>From: Pete (AWARDMASTERS)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.79">#79</a>]<br /> 3 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.78">#78</a>] 3 Apr 2005</p> <p>You can incorporate the Webstore into your site or run it on theirs. Orders and quotes are stored on their server and you receive and email notification to go out and pick up the info.</p> <p>Most of our orders are thru the website. Most vendors will drop ship. There is some risk of vendors stealing your customers, but we have not had a real problem with that.</p> <p>I forgot: Feel free to call me. There is never a time when I know I will not be busy, but if I can't talk I will just let you know.</p><p class="edit_text">EDITED: 3 Apr 2005 by AWARDMASTERS</p> <hr /><a name="a828_80"></a><p><b>From: roller coach (COACH)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.80">#80</a>]<br /> 4 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.1">#1</a>] 5 Apr 2005</p> <p>We use Ad specialty items as part of our mix and are extremely pleased</p> <p>We also offer ( since we're home based ) services to the trade outside our geography which is our #1 income producer... and as a result of this relationship were talked into offering ad specialties here on the treasure coast of Florida.</p> <p>Remember there are asi people out there ordering awards and competing with the engravers market daily.. In fact oftentimes the most prestigious ( highest dollar ) awards are sold by ad specialty reps not necessarily by the engraving shops.. </p> <p>So to compete with your local asi reps may be a great thing.. </p> <p>I recommend all shop owners get out and visit their marketplace in person and see the need ... ( make a bungling presentation ) and then decide what works for them.. </p> <p>Sage ( <a href="http://www.qti.com">www.qti.com</a> ) has been our tool for 10+ years.. Requires no asi membership and all companies have accepted our credentials to purchase regardless of asi membership</p> <p>Good Luck All..</p> <p>Mike<br /> ( Cutting Edge ) <a href="http://www.gocutedge.com">www.gocutedge.com</a></p><hr /><a name="a828_81"></a><p><b>From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.81">#81</a>]<br /> 5 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: roller coach (COACH)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.80">#80</a>] 5 Apr 2005</p> <p>Mike<br /> Thank you for your reply. I have applied for a UPIC #. Do I need to wait to get that before I can join sage? </p> <p>Thanks</p> <hr /><a name="a828_82"></a><p><b>From: Pete (AWARDMASTERS)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.82">#82</a>]<br /> 5 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.81">#81</a>] 5 Apr 2005</p> Chuck,<br /> No, SAGE is independent of UPIC. They will issue you one of their member numbers when you join. They do not care if you have a UPIC number or not. <hr /><a name="a828_83"></a><p><b>From: roller coach (COACH)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.83">#83</a>]<br /> 5 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.81">#81</a>] 5 Apr 2005</p> <p>no, no upic is required... </p> <p>Sage is only a service you buy.. They have awesome websites to go along with their ad specialty search tools as well...</p> <p>You spend nothing to join.. You're not a member , but an independent business person... </p> <p>Please use my name... they have been very kind to me.. </p> <p>fyi,<br /> Mike </p> <p>if you need to contact me direct : <a href="mailto:info@gocutedge.com">info@gocutedge.com</a>...</p> <p>Good Luck ! </p><hr /><a name="a828_84"></a><p><b>From: UCONN Dave &amp; Lynn too (DANDL48)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.84">#84</a>]<br /> 5 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: roller coach (COACH)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.83">#83</a>] 5 Apr 2005</p> <p>Coach,</p> <p>What do you mean by, "You spend nothing to join"? I thought every user has to ante up?</p> <p>Dave</p> <hr /><a name="a828_85"></a><p><b>From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.85">#85</a>]<br /> 5 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: roller coach (COACH)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.83">#83</a>] 5 Apr 2005</p> <p>Mike,<br /> Will the vendors that they represent sell to someone without a UPIC?</p> <p>Thanks</p> <hr /><a name="a828_86"></a><p><b>From: Pete (AWARDMASTERS)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.86">#86</a>]<br /> 5 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.85">#85</a>] 5 Apr 2005</p> <p>Chuck,<br /> Yes, they will. The UPIC is nothing really necessary to have. It is helpful because many vendors recognize it.</p> <p>Actually, almost all of the vendors recognize all of the US Treasury code numbers also - like $1, $5, $10, $20, and $100. Very few of them will turn those down :)</p> <p>Seriously, you do not have to worry much about the vendors doing business with you. Most have an open policy. There are a very few who operate on a closed policy anymore.</p> <hr /><a name="a828_87"></a><p><b>From: Pete (AWARDMASTERS)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.87">#87</a>]<br /> 5 Apr 2005<br /><b>To: UCONN Dave &amp; Lynn too (DANDL48)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=828.84">#84</a>] 5 Apr 2005</p> <p>Dave,<br /> You do have to pay for their basic service, $495 or $395 depending on whether you use online or cd. 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