ASI® Announces Counselor® and Supplier Global Resource™ Magazines are BPA Audited Audits Verify Circulation Promises to Advertisers

TREVOSE, PA – November 30, 2006 - Advertising Specialty Institute® (ASI), the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, announced today that Counselor and Supplier Global Resource magazines are BPA audited, verifying their circulation promises to advertisers.

BPA Worldwide independently verified ASI’s circulation data for Counselor and Supplier Global Resource magazines based on occupation, job title, and geographic location.

Important benefits for both ASI suppliers and distributors were confirmed by these audits.

Supplier members, who advertise in Counselor magazine, are reaching over 10,800 distributor firm decision-makers[1].  North American-based firms that advertise in Supplier Global Resource and offer products and services to suppliers, reach over 9,100 decision-makers and professionals at supplier companies in the industry[2].

Timothy M. Andrews, president of ASI, expressed that he is proud to have Counselor and Supplier Global Resource join the group of ASI publications that have been audited by BPA Worldwide, including Stitches and Wearables Business magazines.

“There are now a total of four ASI publications that are professionally audited,” said Andrews.  “Our team is committed to producing the highest-quality publications that will provide the most value to our readers and advertisers. Additionally, we have applied for BPA Worldwide membership for Advantages™ magazine.”

Rich Fairfield, publisher and senior vice president for ASI, and Debra Brill, circulation director for ASI, are excited about the results of the audits.

“Counselor’s circulation has increased since our last audit report in June of 2005[3],” said Fairfield.  “This indicates that our advertisers are gaining more exposure to the decision-makers they want to reach and are increasing the return on their marketing dollars.  We are also pleased that Counselor continues to be a growing and respected source of industry information for ASI distributor members.”

The BPA audit for Supplier Global Resource reflects the first three issues of the magazine,” added Brill.  “Since its launch in July of 2005, it has proven to be a valuable resource to suppliers, by providing industry news and strategies for improving operations.  We are pleased to see our readers enjoying this publication.”

Glenn Hansen, CEO for BPA Worldwide, observed that ASI has voluntarily taken steps to communicate its commitment to readers of its publications.

“We applaud the publisher and ASI for providing advertisers, prospective advertisers and readers with the solid assurance of an independent circulation audit, conducted according to our world-respected standards,” said Hansen.  “By passing a BPA audit, media buyers can be confident that circulation claims are accurate, and that they have the verified data that they need to assess a publication’s effectiveness in serving its market.”

For more information about Counselor and Supplier Global Resource, contact Rich Fairfield, publisher and senior vice president for ASI, at 800-546-1350, ext. 3627, or at rfairfield@asicentral.com.  To learn more about advertising opportunities, contact Ed Koehler, advertising director at ASI, at 800-546-1261, or at ekoehler@asicentral.com. 

About ASI 
Advertising Specialty Institute is the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a membership of 22,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers) of advertising specialties.  Supplier firms use ASI print and electronic resources to market products to more than 19,000 ASI distributor firms. Distributor firms use ASI print and electronic resources, which contain more than 750,000 ad specialties, to locate supplier firms and to market services to buyers. ASI provides catalogs, informational directories, newsletters, magazines, websites and databases, and offers interactive e-commerce, marketing and selling tools.  Visit www.asicentral.com.

About BPA Worldwide
A not-for-profit organization since 1931, BPA Worldwide is governed by a tripartite board comprising media owners, advertising agencies and advertisers.  Headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, BPA has the largest membership of any media-auditing organization in the world, spanning more than 25 countries.  BPA serves 2,500 media properties—including more than 2,000 business-to-business publications, more than 600 consumer magazines and newspapers, more than 100 Websites, plus events, email newsletters, databases, wireless and other advertiser-supported media—as well as more than 2,600 advertiser and agency members.  Visit www.bpaww.com for the latest audit reports, membership information and publishing advertising industry news. 

[1]. June 2006 BPA Circulation Report.
[2]. December 2005 BPA Audit Report.
[3]. June 2005 BPA Audit Report and June 2006 BPA Circulation Report.