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Thursday
May 6, 2010 ASI Show New York: A World of WonderfulFiled under: ASI Shows, News About ASI I’m pleased to share the news that our New York show – which just closed – posted a strong attendance of 2,500 distributors from 1,177 firms. All told, distributors were drawn to ASI New York from 38 states and 13 countries, including 49 from Canada, six from Trinidad and Tobago, five from Russia, as well as others from Columbia, Honduras, the Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom. With thousands of new products and services for the start of the second half of the year, along with three days of free, industry-specific education, ASI New York delivered 344 suppliers, including 112 exhibitors who weren’t at ASI New York last year and 178 not exhibiting at Promotions East. You know you’ve put on a good show when participants like Michelle Mickelson, of Dard (asi/48500) uses words like “terrific” to describe the show floor action. Jason Emery, of Logomark (asi/67866), told us, “This show has been fantastic. There aren’t many shows out there where we can write orders right on the show floor.” And Harry Rosenberg, of Ariel (asi/36730), who was honored at the Counselor awards with the Marvin Spike Lifetime Achievement Award, said they were so busy he had three people working the booth. Distributors like Ross Silverstein, of iPROMOTEu (asi/232119), loves coming to the city because there’s so much to do and said he left the show pumped up for the summer sales season. To read the press release with all the results, please click here. And don’t forget – it’s never too early to register for our next show in Chicago July 13-15. I’d love to know your favorite part of ASI Show New York, so please post a comment or email me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
May 6, 2010 Hot Products: A Real Treat from New YorkFiled under: ASI Shows, Media Coverage, News About ASI, Using Ad Specialties ASI TV shot a lot of video at our New York show this week and I’d like to share some highlights from my “Tim’s Takes,” direct from the Counselor awards and a bustling show floor at the Javits Center. If you click here, you’ll see me in my tux just before our glamorous event at the Plaza, where we joined 350 dignitaries to honor the Top 40 suppliers and distributors; the International Person of the Year, Nicolas Paillot, CEO of BIC Advertising & Promotional Products; and our 2010 Person of the Year, Proforma’s Greg and Vera Muzzillo. Click here for my report from the show floor, which includes breaking news from Counselor magazine that distributor first-quarter sales are up by 11.1% over 2009. Now that’s news we can all celebrate – and take right to the bank. Finally, click here to check out two very cool products, which we featured Wednesday morning at a press breakfast that attracted reporters from the likes of SmartMoney, CNNMoney.com, Fox and ABC News. ASI’s Dave Vagnoni (pictured) did a great job demonstrating to reporters the innovative products businesses are using in 2010 to promote their companies and events – including a riding electric beer cooler that goes 10 mph. We actually rode it in Times Square and boy, did people go crazy for that cooler, which companies like Miller, Snap-on tools and Coors are using to draw attention to their products. At right, Melinda Ligos demonstrates. Sarah Caplan, a 27-year-old entrepreneur who started Footzyrolls (asi/54915) with her sister, joined us to talk about her fantastic new roll-up shoes, which actually fit in a clutch and are perfect for high-heeled women who need a break. Footzyrolls are even being included in gift bags for the upcoming Sex and the City 2 movie. The video also shows off Celebarktion Gourmet Pet Treats. We brought a chocolate lab to our press event and she just loved these dog treats, which are very large, pretty tasty (Dave took a bite) and actually imprintable. As we told the press, promotional products provide the best ROI for your dollar. No wonder they’re being used to promote everything from American Idol to the Oscars. They really work! Tell me your favorite products from the New York show by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
May 6, 2010 ASI Honors Best and BrightestFiled under: ASI Shows, News About ASI I can’t imagine a more glamorous setting than the Plaza in New York City. Last night, the historic landmark provided the perfect backdrop for our annual Counselor Awards, which honor the brightest stars in the industry. To see hot-off-the-press photos of the black-tie event, click here. To learn more about each of the winners – including the Counselor Person of the Year, dynamic duo Greg and Vera Muzzillo of Proforma – click here. And to view the complete list of Top 40 Distributors and Top 40 Suppliers, click here. I love it when The ASI Show is held in New York, which I consider the greatest city in the world. Here, it’s all about style and innovation and speed – the very hallmarks of our industry. The epitome of such creativity can be found in the items Counselor just honored with Product Design Awards, also announced during the The ASI Show New York. Winners of all awards also appear in the May issue of Counselor magazine, which features the Muzzillos on its cover. I’d love to know what you think of the show, so please post a comment or email me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. |
