TREVOSE, PA – January 23, 2009 - The Advantages Roadshow, managed by The ASI Show, announced today that preliminary numbers show 834 distributors and 50 supplier companies participated in the Northeast this week, part of the 18-week 2009 tour.

The largest and best-attended traveling show in the advertising specialty industry consistently delivers more attendees in a single day than other traveling shows attract in an entire week. Over 11,000 distributors, suppliers and decorators attended the ASI Advantages Roadshows in 2008.

Distributors in Boston, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Baltimore spent time with leading suppliers introducing new advertising specialties for the start of the year. The impressive exhibitor list included:                                     

• Bodek & Rhodes, asi/40788
• Dard Products, asi/48500
• Marathon Mfg./Prestige Lines, asi/68707
• SanMar, asi/84863
• Stouse, asi/89910
• Whispering Pines Sportswear, asi/97027

A total of 157 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, that 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 link here 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 now moves on to visit North Detroit, South Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati from January 26-30 (Midwest I series). Click here to register and to see the entire exhibitor list, which includes these respected industry suppliers: 

• AZX Sport, asi/30250
• Augusta Sportswear, asi/37461
• Bodek & Rhodes asi/40788
• Custom HBC Corp., asi/47934
• Fields Manufacturing Inc., asi/54100
• Gemline, asi/56070
• Marathon Mfg./Prestige Lines, asi/68707
• SanMar, asi/84863
• Stouse Inc., asi/89910
• Whispering Pines Sportswear, asi/97027
• World Wide Lines Inc., asi/98290  

“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 time we spent with the suppliers was very beneficial and we left with fresh, innovative ideas for growing our business,” said distributor Debbie Randall, of ABC Specialtees.  “Having this type of show right in our own backyard is wonderful.”

“What a great start to the new year,” said supplier Lisa Langley of Tranter Graphics.   “We were able to spend one-on-one time with quality distributors – and a lot of them – this week.  We are looking forward to doing additional Roadshows this year.”

In addition, the Advantages Roadshow is co-locating with the Stitches Roadshows in six locations, giving attendees and exhibitors two shows in one, and giving decorators the opportunity to meet equipment, software, supply and service providers face-to-face, see new wearables vendors, enjoy valuable education and network with other decorators.

For more information about the Advantages Roadshow and for the full 2009 schedule across 70 cities, click here.

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 www.advantagesroadshow.com.