ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute®) is the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a membership of 24,000 distributor firms (sellers) and 3,400 supplier firms (manufacturers) of advertising specialties. Supplier firms use ASI print and electronic resources to market products to more than 130,000 distributor salespeople. Distributor firms use ASI print and electronic resources, which contain more than 750,000 advertising specialties, to locate supplier firms and to market services to end-buyers (promotions and advertising buyers). It provides catalogs, information directories, newsletters, magazines, websites, trade shows, databases, and interactive e-commerce, marketing and selling tools.

In 2006, over $18.6 billion of ad specialties were sold.

PPAI—the promotional products industry's international not-for-profit trade association—supports the growth and professionalism of promotional consultants and suppliers, and strives to educate and reinforce to the following entities—the end buyer, the media, and prospective members to PPAI and the industry as a whole—the important role that promotional products play in today’s integrated marketing programs.

To that extent, PPAI continually performs research studies regarding the value and ROI of using promotional products. Research shows how promotional products can and do positively impact a company’s sales, how important it is for businesses to have promotional budgets written into their business plans and how to enhance and expand business growth. For example, PPAI’s 2004 study, Promotional Products: Impact, Exposure And Influence, A Survey Of Business Travelers At DFW Airport, gave insight and confirmation to the effectiveness of using promotional products to increase and improve business presence:

55% of people questioned said they keep their promotional products for more than 1 year.
76.1% of respondents could recall the advertiser’s name on the promotional product that they had received within the past 12 months.
75.4% of respondents said they kept their promotional products because they were useful.
When serving members, suppliers and promotional consultants of promotional products, PPAI offers an array of services, such as outstanding benefits and education events as well as presenting the latest, most up-to-date news regarding this rapidly growing industry.

Members serve end buyers by providing innovative ideas on the use of new products, giving them insight into upcoming trends and developing inventive strategies for continued growth and higher rates of success. PPAI also works closely with other regional associations, which stretch coast to coast across the U.S., and international associations around the globe, who are interested in achieving the same goals.

My Fulfillment Online, is housed in a warehouse-retail facility in McKinney Texas, in close proximity to the city of Dallas. We employ a professional staff to provide comprehensive services to our clients. We utilize the latest computer technology, including high speed Internet access, Web Hosting, E-commerce Solutions, Electronic Data Interchange, Email and FTP Services. Our in-house developed computer program uses state-of-the-art object oriented programming for Order and Credit Cards Processing, Fulfillment, Inventory Control, Returns Processing and Customer Service. Our modern Warehouse facility is designed for high volume distribution and fulfillment utilizing laser-printed invoices, bar coding and scanning. Our secure facility is monitored and secured with internal video cameras throughout with 24 hour video taping.
Our reporting functions are designed to give our clients accurate and timely reports on each step in the process of fulfillment. Reports can be Summary, Detail or Transaction based and all can be generated for specific date ranges. Typically reports are provided to our client on a dally, weekly and monthly basis. Reports are available via FAX, mail, email, FTP or Live on our secure web site.

McKinney Chamber of Commerce
Along with its business growth, McKinney is also experiencing unprecedented residential growth, testimony enough to its unique quality of life. In 1998 McKinney celebrated its 150th birthday, and its history and tradition give it much of its contemporary cultural identity. With a population of just under 70,000 residents, McKinney still has a small-town feel that is reminiscent of its agricultural beginnings. There are three historic districts and an historic downtown square that thrives with activity. Concurrently there are two master planned communities with all the amenities of contemporary living; golf courses, parks, hike & bike trails and lakes. World class education, state-of-the-art health care, responsive city government and an involved business community make McKinney the prototype "home town" for many.

McKinney LINKS is a weekly event for Chamber members who want to promote their business and inform fellow members of their service, product or organization.

All members are invited to share in this powerful networking event. People like to do business with people they know. The best way to be "known" is to build relationships through networking. you will learn a lot while having fun making business contacts.

For only $1, you can grab a quick cup of coffee and a donut or bagel, and head straight to networking. There will be door prizes given away every week. Sponsorships are available to provide donuts and bagels, and sponsors will receive a 3-minute exclusive commercial at the event.

Call Andy Hardin at 972-612-2425 or Pam Best at 972-562-5600 for more information or to reserve your date as a sponsor.

Allen Chamber of Commerce
Striving to be the indispensable resource for Allen and Collin County business.
The mission of the Allen Chamber of Commerce is to support our members through programs that promote business development and encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and legislative advocacy.

Located in the fastest-growing area of Dallas, the Allen Chamber of Commerce is recognized as one of the country`s most effective chambers. This is seen through our commitment to excellence.

Allen member businesses are among the most prolific in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and the Allen Chamber of Commerce is one reason for that success.