My Biggest Takeaway from ASI Orlando

ASI Orlando gave me something far more valuable than product updates or industry chatter. Being surrounded by promo distributors reminded me of this: 

Everyone’s Selling the Same Stuff. 

If you walked ASI Orlando, you saw it: Same suppliers. Same products. Same catalogs. Your competitors can get almost everything you can. So your product isn’t your edge.

Your edge is how easy, fast, and reliable you are to work with. Here’s how to make that real, not just a slogan:

1. Speed: Same-Day or You’re Late

Rule for your shop:

• Every new inquiry gets a response the same business day (push to get back to them within an hour)

Even if you don’t have all the answers yet, reply with:

• “Got it.”

• What you’re doing.

• When they’ll hear from you next.

Template you can steal:

“Got this, thanks for sending. I’ll pull 2–3 options that fit your budget and timeline and get them to you by [time]. If anything changes on your end, just hit reply.”

That alone will put you ahead of most shops.

2. Expectations: Be Boringly Clear

Before you take an order, send a one-paragraph recap that covers:

• In-hands date

• Proof deadline

• Quantities, price, and what’s included

• Shipping method

Quick template:

“Recap: 250 tumblers, $X all-in, standard imprint. Proof by [date], approval needed by [date] to hit [event date]. Ships via [method] to [location].”

Clients remember the shops that don’t surprise them (in a bad way.)

3. Support: Be the “Easy Button”

Pick 1–2 things this week that make you easier to work with:

Options:

• Create a “rush-ready” list of items you can quote fast and trust on timelines.

• Add 3 automatic update points to every order:

  1. Order submitted

  2. In production

  3. Shipped (with tracking link)

Send those updates before they ask. That’s what support feels like.

Your 5-Minute Homework

Right now, choose one:

1. Adopt a same-day response rule

2. Start sending a simple recap on every order

3. Add 3 standard update emails to your process

The products are the same. The experience is the difference.