FASTSIGNS International, Inc. Signs Exclusive Relationship with ASI

September 15, 2004, Trevose, PA — The Advertising Specialty Institute, the largest member organization in the promotional products industry, recently announced a relationship with FASTSIGNS International, Inc. to provide research tools for FASTSIGNS sign and graphic centers as they enter the promotional products industry.

The FASTSIGNS executive team began to formulate a plan to branch out into the ad specialties industry earlier this year, following successful tests at some locations. After months of research, they made the decision to select ASI as their exclusive provider of technology and information.

ASI’s reputation and proven experience, along with best-in-class resources like ESP Online, LogoMall, ASI Show!, and educational offerings convinced FASTSIGNS that a strategic partnership with ASI would be a cornerstone in their plan to succeed in the promotional products industry.

“The mission of the 450 FASTSIGNS centers worldwide is to make sign and graphic solutions simple for customers everywhere. Promotional items are an extension of our product line,” says Gary Salomon, FASTSIGNS’ chief executive officer. “With the ASI relationship, centers opting to participate in this program will now have access to more than 650,000 additional products to help meet their customers’ needs.”

“Our owners already enjoy the highest average sales in the sign and graphics industry. We look forward to a long, mutually rewarding relationship with ASI,” says Salomon, who co-founded the franchised company in 1985.

ASI's president, Timothy M. Andrews, said he believes the relationship with FASTSIGNS is an important way to help grow the revenue of ASI member suppliers. "I consider this relationship another way for ASI to help ensure that FASTSIGNS' purchases are made from our member suppliers, since franchisees will be using our products and services to make buying decisions. For FASTSIGNS, it makes it easier to find quality products at competitive prices, from experienced suppliers in the promotional products industry."

Andrews said ASI is particularly pleased that FASTSIGNS franchisees who participate in the program will be able to attend educational programs at the four ASI Shows!, growing their knowledge of the industry and their level of professional understanding.

FASTSIGNS sign and graphics centers offer a full range of custom sign and graphic products, including banners, window-vehicle-floor graphics, safety and identification signage, trade show displays and exterior signage. The 450 FASTSIGNS centers worldwide focus on serving the needs of the business community. For more information, visit www.fastsigns.com, or call 800-FASTSIGNS. FASTSIGNS – Sign & Graphic Solutions Made Simple.

Advertising Specialty Institute ( www.asicentral.com) is the largest media organization serving the promotional products industry, with a membership of 20,000 distributors (sellers) and suppliers (manufacturers) of promotional products. Suppliers use ASI print and electronic resources to promote their products to more than 17,000 ASI distributors. Distributors use ASI print and electronic resources, which contain more than 650,000 promotional products, to locate supplier products and to promote their services to buyers of promotional products. ASI was founded in 1950 and employs a staff of 400. The company offers catalogs, informational directories, newsletters, magazines, websites and databases, and provides a variety of interactive business, marketing and selling tools.