Full Version: How's PMDM work?
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#10]
12 Nov 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#8] 12 Nov 2006
Becky,
I would recommend telling them you are in the awards and engraving business and are adding ad specialties to your business.
I have heard of a few people who have had difficulties establishing a number. There are some stipulations. Below is some information fro the UPIC website.
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How can I qualify for a UPIC?
You can automatically qualify (upon verification) for a UPIC if you are a PPAI member, Regional Association member, Adventures in Advertising Franchisee, Proforma Franchisee, Press-A-Print Operator, Distributor member of DistributorCentral, or a SAGE subscriber. You may also qualify if you are an ASI subscriber, but you must provide documentation.
If you do not meet any of the above qualifying criteria, depending on your company category, you can qualify by providing the following:
Distributors:
Either provide three invoices from three different promotional product suppliers for at least $100 each (not for samples) dated within the last six months, or be sponsored by at least five members of PPAI. sponsorships must be in writing.
Be in the promotional products industry for at least three months.
Have a promotional products annual sales volume of at least $15,000.
Suppliers:
Either provide six purchase orders from at least four different promotional product distributors, or, be sponsored by at least five members of PPAI. Sponsorships must be in writing.
Be in the promotional products industry for at least six months.
Have a promotional products annual sales volume of at least $50,000.
Supplier Reps/Multiline Reps:
Must represent at least one supplier who has a UPIC.
Provide a letter of recommendation from the supplier on the supplier's letterhead.
Business Services:
Six purchase orders from at least four different promotional product distributors or suppliers, or be sponsored by at least five members of PPAI. Sponsorships must be in writing.
Be in the promotional products industry for at least six months.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#11]
12 Nov 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#10] 12 Nov 2006
If you need to provide invoices to qualify for a UPIC number, there are many of our regular suppliers who are ASI listed suppliers. Those who are ASI listed suppliers will display their number on their catalog. Below are just a few of many.
Creative Gifts International
Acrylic Idea Factory
Visions Awards
Awardcraft
Certificate Source
Simba Cal
American Whistle Corp.
Beyberk
Faro USA
Medalcraft Mint
Paragon Pins
Tower Ribbon
Gemini, Inc.
Hub Pen
Imark
Matthews Bronze
Pacesetter Awards
RS Owens
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#12]
12 Nov 2006
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#11] 12 Nov 2006
Dave-
Ok forgive me for being a total DA but what do I do with that list? Contact them and ask for an invoice? Or an ASI number?
B
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#13]
12 Nov 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#12] 13 Nov 2006
Becky,
If you read my last post you will see what the stipulations are for acquiring a UPIC number. It is likely that you will have to produce some invoices from ASI listed companies to become eligible for one. I was just providing you a list of a few ASI companies you may have done business with in the past.
It is possible that you won't be able to qualify at this time. I'm not sure what the scope of you past business has been.
EDITED: 12 Nov 2006 by DATAKES
From: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#14]
13 Nov 2006
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#13] 13 Nov 2006
It can be a "chicken or the egg issue sometimes".
"How can I get experience if no one hires me, due to lack of experience".
:)
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#15]
13 Nov 2006
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#13] 13 Nov 2006
I'm sorry Dave..I did read your last post. That was my fault for poor communication. I have never placed a promotional products order ever..with anyone. All of our promotional products have been produced in house. I used to have a partner who had an ASI membership. But we split with him and he took ASI with him (and all of the invoices) So I am essentially starting at square one. I never had any involvement with that to begin with so I have no idea who he used etc.
I'm really not trying to be difficult with this and so appreciate all of your time and help. Thank you for helping me understand this process a little better
Becky
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#16]
13 Nov 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#15] 13 Nov 2006
Becky,
What David is saying; you may have dealt with (and have invoices from) an ASI company and not realized it.
The companies on the list he posted are some that people in the awards and engraving industry commonly use.
EDITED: 13 Nov 2006 by DGL
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#17]
13 Nov 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#16] 13 Nov 2006
Ok, I gotcha now. Boy, did you ever have one of those DUH days?!?! LOL. I am just having such a mental block on this whole thing. I never wanted to get into it (and still don't but at least see the need for it) LOL
Ok, I'm with it now...Thank you Dave for catching me up to speed.
From: UncleSteve [#18]
13 Nov 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#15] 13 Nov 2006
When you say your ex-partner "took the ASI with him", have you changed the company name or are you still using the same name?
If the same name, you should be able to contact the ASI companies for confimation that YOU (your company) was an ASI member and, in theory, you still may be but an expired membership.
If so, ASI may be able to help you.
If you can, find out which companies your "ex" bought from and/or which of your customers you sold the merchandise to.
What you need is the ASI number you had.
You could always contact your "ex" and just ask for the information under threat of..... never mind! (devil)
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#19]
13 Nov 2006
To: UncleSteve [#18] 13 Nov 2006
Steve-
My "ex" took the company name as well so I am starting over brand new. He actually invoiced all of his ASI purchases under his own ASI company name until we made him put everything through our company after which somehow he "mysteriously" stopped selling ASI.
One of many reasons he is an "ex"....
From: UncleSteve [#20]
13 Nov 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#19] 13 Nov 2006
Call the supplier you want to use and tell them you "used to be under the name XXXXXXX and your new company name is YYYYYY" and see what they say.
They really do want your business, but most try to protect the distributors from everyone with a computer jumping in to buy at the insider pricing.
The old name should still be in the ASI registry and partnerships breaking up and going separate ways is nothing new to them.....
Just have to build the credibility that you were in the business previously.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#21]
13 Nov 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#19] 13 Nov 2006
Becky,
I think Steve's giving some good advice.
You "had" a business (partnership) and have previously bought from ASI suppliers.
That may be enough.
Although I've never been an ASI member, I have bought from ASI companies, and when asked if I have an ASI number, (and answer "no") it's never been a problem.
Basically, my ASI number, is the numbers at the top-right-hand-corner of my checks. :-)
EDITED: 13 Nov 2006 by DGL
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#22]
13 Nov 2006
To: ALL
Ok guys, I see what your saying..
Have you read any of my posts in this thread?? LOL Clearly I am on a MASSIVE learning curve for this. I consider myself a bright person but I am having trouble wrapping my mind around this.
Here is where I am stumbling (and this is my fault for not explaining this better)
When we formed our partnership, he already had the ASI membership. It was a separate business under a separate name. As a partner in our business, he sold our products as well as his own ad-specialty products under that separate name. We decided it was in everyone's best interest to incorporate (probably not the right word) his ad-specialty company with our awards/engraving company. It was after that happened that his ad-specialty sales mysteriously dried up. I am convinced he was still selling ASI, but not invoicing it through the "our" company. When we split, all of the company files and paperwork went to him. He basically "got" the company. Therefore, I don't know any of the customers names, what they ordered, vendors he ordered from etc. I don't even know what our ASI number was. That was all him
I will try to dig around and see if I can find anything. Maybe I am making this harder than it needs to be.
Thank you all so much for your patience with this DA and walking me through this process. I REALLY appreciate it.
Maybe I will send you all some nice screen printed water bottles....if I can figure out how to order them...LOL
Becky
EDITED: 13 Nov 2006 by KIAIJANE
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#23]
13 Nov 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#22] 13 Nov 2006
I'm not in the promotional items business, but have been following this discussion. One thought I have, if you can't find a way into the free system right away is that maybe a one year Sage membership would get you kickstarted into that business.
From the sound of it, for the $400 you get access to their system for a year, plus it automatically gets you into the free system. If after the year you don't feel Sage is worth it, you are already in the free system by that point.
I don't know your customer base, but if you have potential customers that might buy promotional items by the thousands, I would guess that Sage could pay for itself pretty fast, and could also get you up to speed fairly fast in that business, making it easier to go it alone after that first year. On the other hand, it sounds like for some people it's well worth staying in their program past that first year.
Your mileage may vary. (so to speak)
From: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#24]
13 Nov 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#22] 13 Nov 2006
If you call me I will be happy to walk you through a sage order setup or two. You get 30 days free with them...and you could see how easily it is to manage.
If I stink at showing you how...they are more than happy to give you free training on the software. I pretty much figured it out on my own...
It seems overwhelming at first....but it's really not that bad once you are familiar with it.
1-800-236-2036 x112
We are on central time........
Getting signed up won't be that difficult if you are actually re-selling...That's all they are concerned with......I highly doubt they will check in too deeply.....their goal is to keep the end users out of the system.......
If I am not answering my phone, dial 0 and have me paged....I am typicaly around the shop but not always in my office......
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#25]
13 Nov 2006
To: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#24] 14 Nov 2006
Brian-
Thanks for the offer to help walk me through SAGE. I have actually managed to hook up with one supplier. I realize I probably need to work with more than one. But for now, this will do. I think maybe what I will do is now that I have purchasing capabilities from this supplier, I will try to promote the promotional products a lot more...see what kind of interest I generate. They seem to have a wide variety of products. If I find that this is insufficient or I would benefit from a "membership" I will definitely look into SAGE.
I would tend to agree with you and Dave that SAGE seems to be the best way to go.
Thanks again for the offer of your time. I know our time is the most valuable resource we have and I greatly appreciate it.
Thanks to everyone who helped me with this thread. Your time, knowledge and opinion as always, were greatly appreciated.
Becky
From: Carl (CSEWELL) [#26]
21 Feb 2007
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#25] 21 Feb 2007
Any updates on your venture into the promotional business?
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