ASI® Launches Fall Holiday Expo in Las Vegas

New 2009 Event Limited to Highest Rated Suppliers

TREVOSE, PA – April 10, 2008 – Advertising Specialty Institute®, the largest media and marketing organization in the promotional products industry, announced the fall 2009 launch of the ASI Holiday Expo, the industry’s first and only national show focused on products for the important fall and holiday selling seasons.

The ASI Holiday Expo will be limited to no more than 400 booths, and suppliers invited to exhibit will be required to have four or more stars in the ASI Supplier Rating System or be nominated by distributors. 

This is the first time in the history of the industry that a national show’s exhibitor list has been limited based on ratings by distributors.

“As we celebrate the 10th year of the ASI Show in Las Vegas, we decided it was time to reflect on ways we could continue to provide an event that maximizes the return on investment suppliers and distributors expect,” said Timothy M. Andrews, president and chief executive of ASI and president of ASI Show.  “We’ve been conducting research for nearly two years, and two things stand out:  Suppliers now launch products year-round, not just once a year, and, second, distributors welcome the idea of an event that allows them to load up on fresh ideas and new products as they enter the vital fourth quarter – the largest quarter of the year in sales.”

Exhibits, education and hotel rooms for the Holiday Expo will be in a single facility, fostering a sense of community, networking, learning and selling.

In addition to the exhibits, the ASI Holiday Expo will feature dozens of educational courses around three themes:

Wearables University will explain decorating methods, new trends in clothing styles and colors for the fall and spring seasons, and introduce new selling strategies for every type of wearables product.

Stitches University attendees will learn the latest trends and techniques in embroidery, with business management courses for new and prospective embroidery professionals.

ASI Executive Gift Conference will focus on creating and executing corporate gift programs, evaluating fulfillment opportunities and will introduce holiday selling strategies.

“For the ASI Holiday Expo, which will replace the former ASI Show in Las Vegas, we’re also discussing a number of shows and seminars that might co-locate with us in Las Vegas,” Andrews said.  “We’re evaluating those now and expect to make final decisions shortly.”

Dates at two venues are currently being negotiated and final dates for the Holiday Expo will be announced in the next several weeks. To receive the dates as soon as they are announced, send an email today to [email protected].

About ASI
Advertising Specialty Institute is the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a membership of over 25,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers) of advertising specialties.  Supplier firms use ASI print and electronic resources to market products to over 21,000 ASI distributor firms.  Distributor firms use ASI print and electronic resources, which contain nearly every product in the industry from more than 3,500 reputable suppliers, to locate supplier firms and to market services to buyers.  ASI provides catalogs, information directories, newsletters, magazines, websites and databases, and offers e-commerce, marketing and selling tools.  Visit Visit www.uat-asicentral.com.

About The ASI Show and Advantages Roadshow
The ASI Show was created for active ASI member distributors and suppliers and attracts more distributors than any other industry shows – with 30,000 attendees.  Offering a full education conference, networking opportunities and a manageable one floor/one hall layout, The ASI Show provides a complete tradeshow experience.  In five host cities per year (Orlando, Dallas, Las Vegas, New York and Chicago), The ASI Show has experienced steadily growing attendance since its inception in 1998, and is ideal for promotional product businesses searching for new ideas, new business relationships and more.  In January 2006, The ASI Show launched the Advantages Roadshow, ASI’s only official traveling show, visiting over 70 top cities throughout the country.  In addition, the Stitches Roadshow brings embroidery professionals together with suppliers and is being conducted in three cities this year.  For complete show details, visit www.asishow.com.