TREVOSE, PA – September 11, 2009 - The Advantages Roadshow, managed by The ASI Show, announced today that preliminary numbers show 394 distributors participated in the tour’s Great Lakes four-day week, part of the 18-week 2009 schedule.

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, 9,615 distributors have attended the first 15 weeks of Advantages Roadshows. 

Distributors in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Chicago spent time with leading suppliers introducing the latest advertising specialties.

The impressive exhibitor list included:

• AZX Sport, asi/30250 
• All-In-One, asi/34256 
• CFS Promotions For Now!, asi/42989 
• Custom HBC Corp., asi/47934 
• Debco, asi/48885 
• Heritage Sportswear, asi/60582 
• Marathon Mfg/Prestige Lines, asi/68707 
• Prime Resources, asi/79530 
• SanMar, asi/84863 
• Stouse Inc., asi/89910 
• Target Industries, asi/90640 

A total of 82 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 Phoenix, San Diego, Newport Beach, Ontario and Van Nuys September 21-25 (California II). The Advantages Roadshow co-locates 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: 

• All-In-One, asi/34256 
• Ash City, asi/37127 
• Aunt Beth’s Cookie Keepers, asi/37465 
• Bodek & Rhodes, asi/40788 
• Hit Promotional Products, asi/61125 
• Lanco Corp., asi/66224 
• Leashables By Oralabs, asi/66715 
• Molenaar LLC, asi/71980 
• SanMar, asi/84863 
• Staton Corp. and Casual., asi/89380 
• 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 James Dunn, manager for Headwear USA (asi/60282).   “These days, you need to take advantage of every opportunity, so this is a huge plus for our business.”

“Meeting with so many great, leading suppliers really paid off,” said distributors Jim and Tara Mowery, from The Logan Company.  “The Roadshows provide a great way to do business efficiently, without having to travel too far or spend too much.”

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 ASI online at advantagesroadshow.com and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and the CEO’s blog.