TREVOSE, PA – October 16, 2009 - The Advantages Roadshow, managed by The ASI Show, announced today that preliminary numbers show 581 distributors participated in the Midwest this week, part of the 2009 schedule.

The largest and best-attended traveling show in the advertising specialty industry consistently delivers more attendees than other traveling shows.  To date, 10,741 distributors have attended this year’s Advantages Roadshows. 

Distributors in Minneapolis, Des Moines, Omaha, Overland Park and St. Louis spent time with leading suppliers introducing the latest advertising specialties.

The impressive exhibitor list included:

• AZX Sport, asi/30250 
• Augusta Sportswear, asi/37461 
• Custom HBC Corp., asi/47934 
• Leashables By Oralabs, asi/66715 
• Logo Mats Inc., asi/67849 
• Marathon Mfg./Prestige, asi/68707 
• Redline, asi/81133 
• SanMar, asi/84863 
• Stouse Inc., asi/89910 
• Whispering Pines Sportswear., asi/97027 

A total of 101 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 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 moves on to visit Montreal, Ottawa, Ajax, Mississauga and Burlington Oct. 19-23 (Canada East II).  The Advantages Roadshow co-located with the Stitches Roadshow in select cities, allowing attendees and exhibitors to experience 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 entire exhibitor list, which includes these respected industry suppliers: 

• Ash City, asi/37127 
• Aunt Beth’s Cookie Keepers, asi/37465 
• Bag Makers, asi/37940 
• CFS Promotions For Now!, asi/42989 
• Canada Sportswear Corp., asi/43682 
• Debco, asi/48885 
• Headwear Canada, asi/60281 
• Hit Promotional Products, asi/61125 
• The Magnet Group, asi/68507 
• Pioneer Balloon Canada, asi/78168 

“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.

“What I like best about Advantages Roadshows is the way we can connect one-on-one with so many attendees, all in one easy location,” said Ken Wallace, sales representative of supplier Action Illustrated (asi/12310).  “I know we’ll see orders as a result and we really look forward to future Roadshows.”

“In a few short hours, I discovered hundreds of hot items and gathered numerous money-making ideas,” said distributor Michelle Kolbeck, owner of Think Ink Iowa.  “The Advantages Roadshow couldn’t be easier to attend, or more productive.”

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 Roadshowin six locations.  Visit ASI online at advantagesroadshow.com and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, the CEO’s blog and the ASI Social Network.