The Advertising Specialty Institute® reported today its Dallas show attracted distributors from 1,383 firms, off just 3% from last year and up slightly from 2008.

Total distributor attendance was 3,300 for 2010, down only about 250 attendees from last year, excluding a one-time third party event hosted at the 2009 ASI Dallas.

There were about 500 suppliers at ASI Dallas, compared with 523 last year.

“We’re pleased with our attendance this year, and especially pleased with the steady stream of attendees who were conducting business throughout both show days,” said Timothy M. Andrews, president of The ASI Show and president and chief executive officer of ASI.  “The trends at ASI Dallas match those of other shows.  The number of firms attending is about the same as last year, but each firm is bringing slightly fewer people, reflecting downsizing from a soft economy.”

“The good news is that we’re focused on growing quality attendance in a productive show environment that helps distributors, suppliers and decorators seize momentum and forge ahead, making 2010 a turning point for the industry,” said Andrews.

In addition to education, networking and entertainment, attendees were energized in an interactive keynote presentation by ASI senior vice president, Dale Denham, who advised attendees on how to build their brand and their business with social networking.

The Dallas show, held Monday, February 1, through Wednesday, February 3, at the Dallas Convention Center, is the largest industry event in the Southwest.  ASI Dallas featured thousands of new products and services for the start of the year, more than 700 attendees at 55 education workshops (sponsored by Fields Mfg., asi/54100), and the ever-popular Ultimate Texas Bash at Eddie Deen’s Ranch.

Dallas is home to the second largest number of distributors.  Suppliers were pleased with the quality of attendees and with the traffic during the two exhibition days.

“ASI Dallas has been fantastic for us,” said Ralph Horack, of Gemini Industries (asi/56100). “There’s been a nice traffic flow, good people, lots of interest and not just the ‘stop and scan me.’  Distributors are coming by asking questions and wanting to learn about our products.”

“Dallas has probably been the best ASI Show I’ve done in the last three to four years,” said Jeff Jacobson of Impact Advertising (asi/62293).  “We’ve had amazing booth traffic and seen lots of interest.  We’ve written several orders right in the booth and could not be happier with the turnout.  The distributors who are stopping by are asking good questions and are interested in the products.”

“The ASI Dallas Show is perfect,” said Mark Gammon of The Vernon Company (asi/351700). “The show has been amazing with the products and the suppliers we want to see.  Our preferred and accommodated suppliers all attend and it’s a perfect time for us to catch up in one place.  You guys have done a fantastic job.”

“I feel really good about my distributors seeing the hottest products on the show floor, so they can bring fresh ideas back to their distributorships,” said Gary Tuchler of Brown & Bigelow, (asi/148500).  “It’s the nature of the business.  How can we help our customers if we don’t know what’s new?”

Register today for the all-new ASI Show in San Diego, from Wednesday, February 24, through Friday, February 26, at www.asishow.com.   

Advertising Specialty Institute is the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a membership of over 26,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers) of advertising specialties.  Supplier firms use ASI print and electronic resources to market products to over 22,000 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. 

Source: Company release, Trevose, PA, February 3, 2010