Asa Products Corporate Blog

Asa in the highest ranks of Amazon 2009 Holiday sales

Asa has been at the forefront of e-commerce sales for many years. Recognizing that online sales would be a way to make products readily and easily available for customers worldwide and that e-commerce would be an important sales channel of the future, Asa has been involved with e-commerce sales since the mid 90's.

Asa's recent sales performance accolades from Amazon.com is the latest in a long line of successful online sales channels. Amazon announced that throughout the 2009 Holiday shopping season, Asa ranked within the highest sales performers on the online retail giant's website.

In addition to outstanding sales performance, Asa also received the ranking of A+ in customer satisfaction from Amazon.

Savvy shoppers head to the malls

Many online reports have noted that shoppers are stepping up to the plate with Holiday spending as the final days of Holiday shopping approach.

Although consumer spending has ticked up from last year this time, shoppers have learned a great deal about frugality in the past few years. Price comparison tools are being used and shoppers are rewarding retailers with aggressive price slashing strategies.

The price comparison tools being used most often by consumers are online, available through mobile devices and include Google Shopping and a slough of iPhone and iTouch applications.

Bike Station to Be Unveiled in Covina California

What keeps a lot of people from commuting by bicycle? Bicycle theft. How do you get more people to ride bicycles to mass transit hubs like train stations? Bicycle stations.

The very first of its kind, a bicycle station will be installed at the Covina Metrolink station in Covina, California. With the new bicycle station, up to 80 users will be able to securely store their bicycles at the Covina station.

Covina Mayor Walter Allen will unveil new bike station on October 27, 2009. Mayor Allen explained that the new bike station is an effort to create sustainable and environmentally friendly benefits to the citizens of Covina and that he is proud that Covina is taking the role of a leader in alternative transportation.

The average weekday at the Covina stations sees 204,000 commuters from 15 different cities.

More details at Reuters.

Asa Products Supports "Special Needs" Fundraiser

Asa Products, Inc. participated in a fundraiser to benefit challenged martial artists given by Possibilities Unlimited International (PUI) at their 6th Annual Tea and Luncheon on Saturday, October 17, 2009 in Glendora, California.

Established in 2003, Possibilities Unlimited International is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its members raise money and accept donations on behalf of "special needs" martial arts students.

PUI serves to educate the public on developmentally, including orthopedic challenged, athletes with the emphasis on their "abilities" rather than their constraints of blindness, deafness, developmental challenges, post-polio, strokes and/or amputations.

Asa Products CEO, Melody Hsieh, donated one of her company’s Tri-Ton/Mobo three-wheeled bikes, which was raffled as the Grand Prized at the PUI fundraiser. Hsieh was pleased to help make the event a huge success. Tri-Ton/Mobo bikes are a remarkable, innovative three-wheeled recumbent bicycle that fit ages 5 & up; and adjusts without tools to fit those who are 3’6” to 5’8” and up to 225 pounds.

Google Launches Trike Program

To support its popular Street View feature, Google, the search engine giant, has ventured beyond the roadway and now photographically documents areas that may not be accessible to motor vehicles, such as theme parks, beach areas and universities.

How does Google take Street View photos without a motor vehicle? That's right! They use a tricycle.

Using a tricycle to take Street View photos makes perfect sense, given that tricycles are much more stable and provide more of an even and smooth ride, yet they'll get around just as conveniently as a who wheeled bike. Here, Google mounts a number of cameras onto a heightened post at the rear of the tricycle, so it's perfect for taking photos.

Presently, you can send the Google trike on an assignment by suggesting unique areas that Street View should should document, areas that are not accessible to motor vehicles.

Dick's Sporting Goods Won't Stock Michael Vick Jerseys

With so much controversy surrounding professional NFL player Michael Vick, Dick's sporting goods has decided not to stock Michael Vick jerseys. But wait, it's not because of the controversy surrounding the notorious and talented professional athlete, it's because Eagles fans just aren't buying.

In a recent Los Angeles Times article, the company's CMO, Jeff Hennion, cites the a very practical lack of demand for Eagles jerseys. Hennion explains that if the demand for Eagles licensed jerseys goes up, Dick's Sporting Goods will begin stocking Michael Vick jerseys.

Target Launches All-New "Up & Up" House Brand

Target recently announced the all-new Up & Up house brand. A type of re-launch of the Target house brand, the Up & Up branding effort puts a new face on commodity type items that Target retails. Since March, the company has been phasing in this new brand and expect to hit a quantity of 800 everyday and essential products using the brand. These new Up & Up branded products will cover over 40 product categories. The newly branded products will be characterized as a low-cost alternative to some higher priced brand name products. Up & Up products are available at Target retail stores nationwide and some select Up & Up products are available at Target.com.

Grand Theft Bicycle: Lance Armstrong's $10k Bike Stolen

Very bad news for bike thieves this week. A man arrested for the theft of a bicycle, valued at $10,000 and owned by famed American cyclist Lance Armstrong will be spending some serious time in a California state prison. Pleading no contest to charges of second-degree burglary and grand theft, the five fingering thief will spend three years in prison, according to a report on the case.