ASI Announces New Product-Safety Affiliate

Intertek to offer 20% off safety and compliance services to ASI members

TREVOSE, PA – February 9, 2011 – The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) today announced a new partnership with Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions, to help members minimize risk and better navigate complex requirements around product compliance.

In conjunction with the ASI Safety and Legislative Advisory Board, ASI selected Intertek as its preferred partner to provide ASI members with testing, inspection, auditing and certification services across all product lines. With over 100 years of experience and 26,000 employees in 1,000 locations in over 110 countries, Intertek has earned a reputation for helping companies increase product value, gain competitive advantage and develop trusted brands.

In addition, ASI negotiated a preferential rate with Intertek that provides its members a 20% savings on all Intertek services related to safety testing and compliance.

Product safety testing will help members:

• Safeguard their brand reputation and products.
• Assess and alleviate potential risks in the early phases of product design and development.
• Reduce risk and internal costs.
• Improve overall manufacturing processes and efficiencies.

Intertek can also help members keep current with the latest national and international product standards and requirements that affect the premiums and promotional products industry.

The ASI Safety and Legislative Advisory Board recommended Intertek based in part on its ability to help members improve costs and get products to market faster.

“Intertek is a world-class product safety and testing company,” said Chuck Machion, chairman of the Safety and Legislative Advisory Board. “Intertek will help members navigate the numerous laws and regulations governing the advertising specialty industry. Utilizing its product testing laboratories around the globe, Intertek offers companies peace of mind while allowing them to focus their energies on their core business.”

“Intertek is excited to partner with ASI as the exclusive provider of quality and safety assurance services to its supplier and distributor members,” said Gene Rider, president of Intertek Consumer Goods North America. “This unique partnership provides a tremendous opportunity to examine both the compliance challenges affecting the advertising specialty industry as well as the solutions Intertek can provide.”