TREVOSE, PA – February 20, 2009 - The Advantages Roadshow, managed by The ASI Show, announced today that preliminary numbers show 761 distributors and 70 supplier companies participated in California and Arizona, part of the 18-week 2009 tour.
 
The largest and best-attended traveling show in the advertising specialty industry consistently delivers more attendees than other traveling shows.  Over 11,000 distributors, suppliers and decorators attended the ASI Advantages Roadshows in 2008. To date, 2,944 distributors have attended the first four weeks of Advantages Roadshows. 

Distributors in Van Nuys, Long Beach, Newport Beach, San Diego and Phoenix spent time with leading suppliers introducing new advertising specialties for the start of the year.  The Advantages Roadshow was co-located with the Stitches Roadshow in Phoenix.  Attendees and exhibitors experienced two shows in one, providing decorators with opportunities to meet equipment, software, supply and service providers face-to-face, see new wearables vendors, enjoy valuable education and network with other decorators.

The impressive exhibitor list included: 

• American Greenwood Inc., asi/35500     
• Aunt Beth’s Cookie Keepers, asi/37465 
• Debco, asi/48885 
• Enduraline, asi/52480
• Lanco Corp., asi/66224 
• Molenaar LLC, asi/71980  
• Numo, asi/74710    
• SanMar, asi/84863
• Stouse Inc., asi/89910 

A total of 163 attendees also enjoyed free education designed to help them sell in any economic environment.  Sessions included “Getting Started in the Advertising Specialty Industry,” for new distributors who want to sell promotional products; the “Exhibitor Presents” session, featuring hot products; and the “Build Your Distributorship through Better Marketing” session, which provides expert marketing tips.   

All distributors are invited to attend the Advantages Roadshow for free, and can either register on-site with a business card or can pre-register on each city’s link here to receive exclusive exhibitor specials and show updates in advance.  Suppliers interested in exhibiting may contact Nick DiNicola, at ndinicola@asicentral.com, or their ASI Show rep, at 1-877-ASI-SHOW.

The Advantages Roadshow now moves on to visit Louisville, Indianapolis, Chicago and Milwaukee from March 2-6 (Midwest II series).  Click here to register and to see the entire exhibitor list, which includes these respected industry suppliers: 

• Augusta Sportswear, asi/ 37461 
• Aunt Beth’s Cookie Keepers, asi/37461  
• Avaline, asi/37590 
• Custom HBC Corp., asi/47934    
• Debco, asi/48885  
• Fields Manufacturing Inc., asi/54100
• Lanco Corp., asi/66224
• Marathon Mfg/Prestige Lines, asi/68707  
• SnugZ USA, asi/88060   
• Stouse, asi/89910    
• Virginia T’s Inc., asi/93917 
• Whispering Pines Sportswear, asi/97027 

“The Advantages Roadshow targets 130,000 industry distributor salespeople from more than 22,000 ASI distributor companies,” said Timothy M. Andrews, president of The ASI Show.  “Suppliers can easily meet hundreds of distributors each week and that’s more than they could meet through personal phone calls in the same amount of time.”  

Reactions from attendees have been positive.

“The Advantages Roadshow really allows us to spend one-on-one time with a large number clients and prospects – many more than we could see making traditional sales calls,” said supplier Tristan Anderson of USA Bags Inc., Logan, Utah.  “In these challenging times, this is a true advantage to our business.”

“These days, it’s all about making connections – and learning innovative new ways of doing business,” said distributor Sue Chapman of Chapman Enterprises, Santa Ana, California.  “The Advantages Roadshow delivered a productive environment to spend quality time with leading suppliers and take advantage of hot-topic education that I can apply to my business.”

For more information about the Advantages Roadshow and for the full 2009 schedule across 70 cities, click here.

About the ASI Advantages Roadshow
The ASI Advantages Roadshow is the official traveling tradeshow of ASI, visiting over 70 top cities throughout North America every year.  The ASI Advantages Roadshow is the largest and best-attended traveling show in the advertising specialty industry, connecting more top industry suppliers with more quality distributors and salespeople than any other traveling show.  In 2009, the Advantages Roadshow is also co-locating with the Stitches Roadshow in six locations.  Visit www.advantagesroadshow.com.

Contact

Dawn Marie,
Executive director of corporate communications

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