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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Daniel Hagan
Phone: 215-953-3773
Email: dhagan@sms-team.com
ASI Orlando Kicks Off New Sales Year with a Bang!
Industry’s first show of the year proves to be magical in Orlando
TREVOSE, PA — (February 4, 2008) — The eighth annual ASI Show Orlando, January 3-5, at the Orange County Convention Center, delivered an incredible business-building event with 5,418 distributors, representing 2,065 companies with combined sales of more than $4.5 billion, and over 850 suppliers — making it the industry’s largest event on the East Coast.
As the industry’s first show of the year, ASI Orlando signified the kick off to the 2008 sales year and did not disappoint the thousands of distributors from across the country who were excited and pleased with the variety of products and top suppliers found on the show floor. Cindy Isaac-Kirkland from Print Focus, asi/299489, shared, “I thought the exhibitor lineup was exceptional, as were all of the educational seminars and the Advantages New Product Showcase. Good job!” Ruth Ann Blakely from Rooster Productions, asi/311915, added, “My husband and I absolutely loved The ASI Show Orlando! It was fantastic! We were especially impressed with the quality exhibitors and the fact that there was not a lot of repetition. ASI Orlando was a great way for us to kick off the new sales year!” Karen Sexton from Coastal Imprinting, asi/163602, summed it up well with, “My business will really benefit by me attending ASI Orlando. The show was amazing!”
Suppliers in every aisle were also very pleased with this year’s ASI Show Orlando. Scott McMaster from K&R, asi/63770, had this to share about the industry’s first tradeshow of 2008, “The ASI Show Orlando has been fantastic for us. We’ve had well over 1,000 requests for catalogs and nearly 800 for our giveaway bags. We are definitely looking forward to seeing the results over the next few months.” Karlie Buchanan from Alumicolor, asi/34910, added, “We’ve been to every ASI Orlando, and this was our most successful one ever! We collected over 720 leads, which is fantastic! We thoroughly enjoyed being at the show, and spending one-on-one time with many quality attendees. This was a great way to start the new sales year.”
Matthew Cohn, Vice Chairman, shared his thoughts on The ASI Show Orlando. “Since returning from the show, I have received numerous emails from both suppliers and distributors expressing what a terrific business-building experience they had at ASI Orlando. Exhibitors were thrilled with both the quantity and quality of attendees while distributors left with many new, money-making products and services to take back to their clients.” Cohn added, “Additionally, those who attended Sara Blakely’s Keynote were thrilled to have had the opportunity to hear such an inspiring story. Sara’s humorous program was both motivating and uplifting as she told her story of turning a bright idea and $5,000 of personal savings into a $150+ million company.”
Over 1,800 Attend Education Conference
Packed classrooms were common at The ASI Show Business Development Forum (sponsored by Fields Manufacturing, asi/54100), as over 1,800 distributors and suppliers took advantage of more than 75 cutting-edge training seminars throughout the day on Thursday, January 3. Show-goers could also participate in focused, in-depth full- and half-day seminars, a sold-out Lunch and Learn program by Cliff Quicksell, Jr.,entitled 10 Proven Steps to Delivering What Your Clients REALLY Want (sponsored by SHEPENCO/Shelbyville Pencil, asi/86850), and a free Keynote presentation by ASI President and CEO, Timothy M. Andrews, entitled Lessons Learned from Leaders — Experiences from Interactions with CEOs, Top Leaders and Mentors.
Education opportunities continued on Friday and Saturday in the form of one-hour Power Sessions (sponsored by Fields Manufacturing, asi/54100). These hot-topic workshops, located just off the show floor, offered attendees a perfect break from walking the exhibit hall. Additionally, distributors enjoyed the always-popular Supplier Secrets Keynote: How Suppliers’ Newest Products and Selling Ideas can Help Make You More Money, on Friday, January 4, which featured fast-paced mini-presentations by 20 well-known suppliers who shared their best products and sales ideas for 2008. On Saturday, January 5, show attendees enjoyed a compelling Keynote presentation by Sara Blakely, founder and owner of the wildly successful company SPANX. Toni Kissel from Brown and Bigelow, asi/148500, shared her enthusiasm for the Sara Blakely Keynote, “Sara was great; a wonderful success story. She was very motivational and funny, and I really learned a lot from how she developed her business.”
Fun Networking in Orlando
Over 1,400 distributors and suppliers attended the Gala Celebration at Universal Studios New York Street Set (sponsored by SnugZ USA, asi/88060), which featured open bar and a great variety of food, popular attractions and rides, music, Universal Studios characters and much more! Party-goers enjoyed exclusive access to rides like Twister, Shrek 4-D and Revenge of the Mummy as well as four restaurants. Connie Church from Ad Resources, asi/105347, was like most attendees in sharing her excitement for The ASI Show Gala Celebration, “We are having a terrific time tonight. Beetlejuice™ was a lot of fun.” Georgette Haddad from Media Core Marketing, asi/266992, added, “I’m having a fabulous time at Universal Studios. I’m getting ready to go on Shrek with my husband and take pictures for my grandchildren!”
Networking events were held every day of the show, and included the Counselor Distributor Choice Awards, Celebrate Florida Reception and Closing Celebration.
Photos of The ASI Show Orlando may be viewed and downloaded by visiting http://www.asishow.com/ShowExperience/OR08/Index.html
Future 2008 Shows
The ASI Show Orlando was the first of five ASI Shows in 2008. The remaining ASI Shows are in Dallas, taking place February 6-8; Las Vegas, April 9-11; New York, May 6-8; and Chicago, July 22-24. Mary Upton, Vice President of Tradeshow Operations, noted, “We started 2008 with a fantastic show in Orlando. We expect the momentum to continue since we are 100% on target with attendee pre-registration and booth reservations for the remaining shows of 2008.”
The ASI Show will return next year to Orlando, January 3-5, 2009.
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. The Advantages Roadshow brings top industry suppliers together with quality distributors and salespeople who traditionally do not attend other larger industry shows.
For complete show details, visit www.asishow.com or call toll-free 877-ASI-SHOW
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