CLIENT: Large Agricultural Manufacturer

MARKET: Agriculture

SITUATION: Our customer had 12 locations and needed a way to control inventory and costs for print, ad specialties and uniforms. They also wanted to give the manager the ability to approve or edit purchase requests.

SOLUTION: American created an eCommerce site that allowed the manager to easily approve all purchases, while simplifying the order process for all their locations. Each store was set up with a unique username and password to access the eCommerce site and place orders, which were automatically routed to management for approval. Not only was the customer able to save time, but they also saved money by buying in bulk as the site allowed items to be disbursed to the stores as needed.

SUCCESS: “Harvesting the benefits of eCommerce!” We were able to create an eCommerce solution that continues to simplify their daily operations. The site offers a variety of ordering options – uniforms, personalized jackets, customized supplies, stationery and office supplies. With the vast possibilities that their eStores provide, the customer is sure to experience continued savings and solutions.

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Promotional Products, Print & Document Solutions, Office Supplies and eCommerce Solutions

CLIENT: Roofing Company

MARKET: Construction

SITUATION: Our customer was looking for a way to promote their roofing product, while creating brand awareness and recognition. With those goals in mind, we were able to create a concept for their roofing product with the word “gorilla” in its name.

SOLUTION: American helped the customer come up with a fun promotional stuffed gorilla that played off the roofing product’s name. Sporting an imprinted t-shirt, these 20-inch stuffed gorillas were a hit with customers and employees. “Roofus” not only made people smile, but created additional brand exposure for the company and its product.

SUCCESS: “Gorilla” marketing at its best! This success proves that a creative idea can go a long way toward developing a strong brand identity. With the excitement surrounding this giveaway, these gorillas will continue to make their way into the hands and hearts of potential customers for years to come.

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Promotional Products

CLIENT: City Safety Program Committee

MARKET: Education

SITUATION: With the unfortunate loss of three young pedestrians in a short amount of time, this California city wanted to make some improvements to their current education program. They needed a way to reach thousands of kids, while promoting safety and helping protect them.

SOLUTION: American helped develop a more robust “Street Smarts” program that included reflective wristbands, reflective wrist wallets, pencil pouches with an imprinted safety message and a flashing bicycle safety light. Not only were we able to help the customer find products that perfectly promoted their program, but were able to help them distribute them within a week’s time.

SUCCESS: Smart products, safe streets! We helped create an effective safety education program that keeps children of their community safer. With the positive buzz surrounding these products, the city’s enhanced safety program is sure to increase awareness.

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Promotional Products

CLIENT: Large Bank & Trust

MARKET: Financial

SITUATION: Our customer was struggling to manage their company catalog and 200+ items of customer-owned inventory. With over 20 branches and even more cost centers, their current inventory management was wasting time and was difficult to manage. They needed to simplify their ordering process, inventory reports and billing.

SOLUTION: American created an eStore solution that would help manage their inventory and eliminate multiple invoices by utilizing monthly summary billing. Our customer’s accounting department was able to access and sort reports by cost center and product type, which helped increase efficiency. We were also able to expand their offerings beyond customer-owned inventory to include JIT wearables and promotional items.

SUCCESS: From insane inventory to eStore ease! Not only were we able to simplify their inventory and billing, but we were able to help create a one-stop solution whose offerings continue to expand. What started out as a 200+ item catalog has now become an all-encompassing eStore with time-saving solutions and over 1,000 items. The branches are now able to access inventory, JIT wearables, promotional items and commercial printing solutions from one convenient location...their computer.

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Promotional Products, Print & Document Solutions and eCommerce Solutions

CLIENT: Multi-location Hospital

MARKET: Healthcare

SITUATION: Our customer wanted a way to increase the overall patient experience at their hospital locations. Because of the new “pay for performance” reimbursement model, their economic well-being is directly connected to their patients’ overall experience.

SOLUTION: American supplied them with over 300 magnetic, dry erase Careboards™. They were made with custom finished frames to match the current decor along with custom graphics for pediatrics, rehabilitation and med-surg rooms. We also catered to the unique language needs of their patients by including Portuguese, Spanish and Italian translations for increased communication and accurate feedback.

SUCCESS: Experience the difference! The importance of patient centered care, HCAHPS scores, Core Measures and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement rates elevated this project from a purchasing choice based on price to a key driver of profits for the hospital and better care for their patients. A nurse from the hospital was just one of the many people who realized the potential of the Careboards™ saying, “I think this is truly groundbreaking for us.”

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Promotional Products, Print & Document Solutions and Marketing Solutions

CLIENT: Family Owned Inn

MARKET: Hospitality

SITUATION: Our customer wanted to find a unique way to keep in touch with their guests. Their desire was to become more than just another hotel option, they wanted to be memorable and retain customers.

SOLUTION: American came up with a unique promotional campaign that helped the hotel interact with their guests in a creative way. At the edge of every bathtub, overnight guests were greeted by a small, branded rubber duck. Guests were encouraged to tuck these ducks into suitcases, backpacks, diaper bags and purses to start the migration to places near and far. Postcards were placed next to the ducks educating their guests on the “adoption” process. The inn encouraged people to email stories and pictures of their duck’s adventures after leaving the inn.

SUCCESS: Small customer, big splash! Not only was the hotel able to keep in touch with their guests after their stay via email, but they were able to create brand advocates that were sure to return. Past and potential guests enjoy viewing the duck migration on the hotel’s website. The campaign has been a huge success, from continued communication with past guests to creating the awareness needed to interest future guests. More than 50,000 ducks are currently in "migration."

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Promotional Products, Print & Document Solutions and Marketing Solutions

CLIENT: Large National Health Insurance Company

MARKET: Insurance

SITUATION: Our customer was using a manual process to release documents for each insurance agency within their region. The current process was not efficient and did not allow adequate manager approval or release of products. Tasked with providing documents to regional agencies, they needed a way to streamline the process.

SOLUTION: American created an online eCommerce document catalog to automate releases for each agency. By doing this, we were able to help eliminate their current manual procedure and allow each agency to release product as needed. It also permitted the regional manager to approve releases prior to fulfillment.

SUCCESS: From disorganized to “documents-on-demand!” Not only were we able to provide local representation and support, but we were able to eliminate the inefficient method of releasing documents manually. The solution has both immediate and future benefits – from the efficient release of documents to the future functionality of adding a promotional products catalog for agents.

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Promotional Products, Print & Document Solutions and eCommerce Solutions

CLIENT: North America’s Largest Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturer

MARKET: Manufacturing

SITUATION: Our customer needed a way to streamline the ordering, printing, distribution and billing of their national calendar program. Armed with a budget of $350,000 – they needed thousands of calendars sent to 475 different dealer locations with 310 custom imprints. They were looking to transform a manual process into an automated option that could handle credit card transactions. In addition, they had experienced quality control issues in the past that had reduced their dealer participation rates by 32%. They needed a solution that would re-energize their dealers to participate in this marketing effort.

SOLUTION: American built an online ordering, printing, distribution and billing program powered by our proprietary ACES eCommerce technology. This eStore provided enterprise-wide print, fulfillment and credit card billing opportunities. It also opened the door to cost savings, online proof approval, increased control, accurate reporting and brand continuity among individual dealers. Our user-friendly interface made ordering and customization a breeze and allowed the time burden to be lifted from their corporate staff.

SUCCESS: Pedals to the metal! With an online program in place, this automated program has saved our customer over $50,000 in administrative and contract costs. It has also increased dealer participation rates by almost 50%. From zero dealer complaints to on-time delivery and cost savings, American helped this program go from crazy to cruise control.

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Print & Document Solutions, eCommerce Solutions and Marketing Solutions

CLIENT: National Publishing Corporation

MARKET: Mass Media

SITUATION: Our customer was struggling with the amount of time it took to order their office and print materials and wanted to streamline the process. Each location was purchasing from multiple vendors and they needed to consolidate their purchasing. Being in a business with constant deadlines, they wanted to focus on researching and reporting rather than compiling orders.

SOLUTION: American created an eStore that allowed each location to order their business cards, letterhead, forms, envelopes and labels in just a few clicks. We were able to integrate and personalize this online ordering solution to meet each location’s unique needs, which provided an efficient and convenient outlet for ordering their office products and other print materials.

SUCCESS: Fewer headaches and more headlines! We were able to help simplify their daily operations by consolidating all their needs into one easy, convenient eCommerce solution. With less time spent on ordering materials, they were able to use their time more efficiently and effectively.

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Print & Document Solutions, Office Supplies and eCommerce Solutions

CLIENT: Large National Real Estate Company

MARKET: Real Estate

SITUATION: Our customer had just undergone a series of mergers and needed to find a way to bring the companies together. Each company had multiple locations, a unique product line, different units of measure, diverse buying habits, different accounting processes and no online company stores.

SOLUTION: American created an online eStore for the newly formed company to serve all of their unique needs. We then divided the eStore into three different catalogs, each catalog representing one of the three original companies and their unique product line.

By creating this collective solution, we were able to help them evolve beyond their differences. As an added bonus, we were able to help them simplify their accounting processes by offering electronic monthly billing and reports.

SUCCESS: Smooth transitions! Not only were we able to help smooth their transition, but we were able to offer a solution that solved their current problem and offered the future functionality of adding a promotional products catalog for their field agents. This gave them the tools to stay a step ahead of their competition and made it easier for employees and agents to conduct business.

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Promotional Products, Print & Document Solutions and eCommerce Solutions

CLIENT: Online Meat Market

MARKET: Retail

SITUATION: Our customer was planning numerous events to help launch their new business. They needed creative product ideas to help promote and distribute their quality meats to potential clients at these "Meat-Ups."

The products would need to help increase online order shipments and would be given as incentives at these events. They also wanted them to be earth-friendly, reusable and fun!

SOLUTION: American showed them samples of insulated cooler bags that had many great features – size choices, durability and quality. Before recommending the bags, we tested them to confirm that they would maintain the temperature needed to keep the meats frozen all day. The customer chose two imprinted bags – one for each of their featured meat sample packs. For their incentive product, they decided on a high quality red apron that we imprinted with their logo and a unique slogan. At the events, they were worn by the company owners and staff. Attendees were also given a chance to spin a game wheel for the chance to win!

SUCCESS: Staying cool while standing out! The insulated cooler bags were the perfect fit to transport and deliver the meat products to new clients. In addition, they continue to help promote the business when recipients reuse them on picnics, as lunch totes and at the beach! The aprons were a HUGE hit online and at the “Meat-Ups.” In fact, they’ve gone viral! Their customers have continued the fun by posting pictures on social media sites, showing themselves wearing their aprons and enjoying their cooler bags.

By enhancing their top-notch products with out-of-the-box promotional ideas and products, this new start-up is continuing to successfully expand their client base. They’ve grown from zero to more than 1,500 customers in less than nine months!

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Promotional Products and Marketing Solutions

CLIENT: Trucking Company

MARKET: Transportation

SITUATION: Our customer was looking for a low cost gift that could be handed out to end users at a business-to-business tradeshow. They wanted a product that would help them promote their “connection” theme. The goal was to increase appointments and generate interest in their new services.

SOLUTION: American presented a variety of creative solutions that embraced their “connection” slogan. They decided on a stapleless stapler that binds papers together with a unique indentation rather than metal staples. It not only captured their theme, but added a green benefit. With no staples to remove, the gift made paper recycling easier for any recipient.

SUCCESS: Making creative connections! This fun stapler was not only a perfect tie-in for their “connection” campaign, but it provided the return on investment they needed. The customer was able to book over 150 appointments, generating new leads and new customers.

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS: Promotional Products and Marketing Solutions