Inaugural ASI Show Long Beach Delivers West Coast "Wow"

TREVOSE, PA – March 25, 2013 – The Advertising Specialty Institute^® (ASI) kicked off its inaugural Long Beach, CA show in true Hollywood fashion, delivering three action-packed days, 61 education sessions, over 300 top-flight suppliers, 11 team-building distributor sales meetings and sharp-witted advice from a best-selling movie star economist.

The ASI Show™ took place Friday, March 22, through Sunday, March 24, at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. ASI moved its West Coast show from San Diego to offer thousands of greater LA distributors a more affordable, accessible alternative. Distributors and suppliers alike said they loved the spectacular waterfront location and easy access to major highways, three airports and first-class accommodations.

“ASI Long Beach has been awesome,” said Stacy Horton, of Dard Products (asi/48500). “We have been slammed. I had to call in people to help me in the booth. ASI did a great job of getting the right distributors here. I honestly think next year many more suppliers will attend and take larger booth spaces. I have so many requests to follow up on.”

Over two exhibit days, more than 2,000 distributors roamed a packed show floor and saw displays of the latest, greatest promotional products of 2013.

“We have a strong team of 15 here at ASI Long Beach,” said Peter Zeiger, of Geiger (asi/202900). “We really enjoy the ASI Shows. They are more of an event – not just a show – from the education and the Gala Celebration to the big-named keynotes like Ben Stein and all the suppliers on the show floor. Attending an ASI Show allows you to take your game to the next level.”

A group of suppliers and distributors kicked off the show early by participating in the Long Beach Golf Invitational on Thursday, March 21, at the award-winning Trump National Golf Course. Friday’s 61-session Education Day attracted 400 distributors, who learned everything from how to make a million dollars their first year to the savviest ways to tap the increasing power of social media.

Saturday night, the nonstop networking continued at an ASI Gala Celebration at hot spot Gladstone’s, a Southern California restaurant landmark, with incredible views of Queen Mary and a live band.

Sunday, acerbic economic commentator and “Ferris Bueller” star Ben Stein offered convention-goers his unique take on economics, politics and today’s business climate. The best-selling author, actor and economist advised a packed house on “How to Ruin Your Life – and How to Make it Great.” Click here for an ASI TV interview with Stein, taped after his keynote, and click here for a previously recorded ASI Radio interview.

Frank Strauss, of The Innovative Line (asi/62677), said, “I really enjoyed Ben Stein’s keynote. I love his take on life.” Laura Hook, of EmbroidMe of Cypress (asi/384575), added, “Ben Stein was great. He made me laugh. He made me cry. What more could you ask for? His point on not taking things for granted was a good one and an impactful one. We cannot sit around and whine about what’s not happening because we are the ones who need to get up and make things happen.”

Timothy M. Andrews, president of The ASI Show and president and chief executive officer of ASI, said the show’s new location energized West Coast members eager for an affordable event in a state hard-hit by the recession. “As California climbs out of a stubborn economic rut, it’s clear that the low-cost, high-return message the promotional products industry is so good at delivering can provide companies throughout the West with just the spark they need to jump-start their business,” he said.

More upcoming 2013 ASI Shows are New York (May 8-9) and Chicago (July 16-18). To learn more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities for 2013, contact Karen DiTomasso, vice president of sales, at kditomasso@asicentral.com.

About The ASI Show
The ASI Show was created for active ASI member distributors and suppliers, and attracts more distributors than any other industry show – with 20,000 attendees. Offering a full education conference, networking opportunities and a manageable one-floor/one-hall layout, The ASI Show provides a complete trade show experience. In five host cities per year (Orlando, Dallas, Long Beach, New York and Chicago), The ASI Show is ideal for advertising specialty businesses searching for new ideas and new business. Additionally, The ASI Show runs the Advantages Roadshow, the ad specialty industry’s most popular traveling show, the ASI Virtual Trade Show  and fASIlitate™, ASI’s hosted buyer event.

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