Impressive Turnout at The ASI Show in Chicago

ASI Show Chicago 2009 Draws Record Crowds and Praise

The ASI Show Chicago, held at the McCormick Place Convention Center from July 21 to July 23, 2009, was a resounding success, attracting nearly 4,300 distributors and hundreds of leading suppliers.

The event, which featured 150 new suppliers and nearly all of the industry's Top 40, saw suppliers experiencing steady traffic and meeting thousands of distributors. Timothy M. Andrews, president and CEO of ASI, expressed satisfaction with the event, while distributors praised ASI for delivering the benefits they need most, especially at a time when every marketing dollar counts.

The winners of the 2009 Counselor Awards were announced at the show, with the Jeppesen Flight Training Products Team and Tom Poberezny taking home top honours. The sponsors of the awards included Anvil, Corvest, Crystal D, and Mars Direct.

In addition to the business opportunities, attendees also had the chance to network and unwind. A networking cocktail party and cruise around Lake Michigan were held on the Spirit of Chicago, sponsored by SnugZ USA, Corvest: Adva-Lite, Toppers, and It's All Greek To Me.

The event also featured more than 50 free education sessions, and the attendance for Education Day increased by 7% compared to the previous year, attracting nearly 900 distributors. Two well-attended keynotes were held during the show, but information on the 2009 Counselor Awards' Person of the Year and International Person of the Year could not be found in the provided search results.

Dave Regan, vice president of sales for The Vernon Company, found ASI Chicago to be great, as usual, while Rick Tomkovich, from Burlington Business Forms, described it as one of the most enjoyable shows and a source of new ideas for his distributorship. Carol Constantino, CEO and president of Noteworthy, described ASI Chicago as phenomenal and gangbusters. Jack Abbate, from Mars Direct, found the event to be a positive and phenomenal experience.

Overall, the ASI Show Chicago 2009 was a successful and well-received event, providing valuable opportunities for networking, education, and business growth for distributors and suppliers in the promotional products industry.