ASI Show® Fort Worth – the biggest promo show in the Southwest – electrified attendees with an unforgettable blend of energy, education, entertainment and opportunity across three whirlwind days.
The 2024 show grew the number of distributors and exhibitors over 2023. Held at the Fort Worth Convention Center in the heart of a thriving downtown, the show attracted promo products professionals from 44 states and eight countries, showcasing the global reach and influence of the $26.1 billion industry. Attendance included 281 women-owned and 112 minority-owned companies.
“ASI Fort Worth was a Texas-sized celebration of the promo industry’s vitality and growth,” said Timothy M. Andrews, president and chief executive officer of ASI, the industry’s leading technology, marketing and information provider. “From the deals and discussions happening across the show floor to the non-stop entertainment at the ASI Gala at River Ranch Stockyards, our event provided ample networking and valuable insights, further solidifying Fort Worth’s position as a must-attend event for the industry.”
ASI Fort Worth (#ASIFortWorth) was ASI’s second major show of 2024, held later this year in the fastest growing big city in the country to better prepare distributors to jump into the second quarter and second half of the selling year.
Angela Benn of Safeguard (asi/316203) raved about her first ASI Show. “I absolutely love this show! The number of vendors allows for longer conversations, the event schedule is fantastic and I just loved the keynote speaker. I’m excited to learn more about the Orlando and Chicago shows.”
Texas, one of the leading states in the nation for promo, grew annual sales by 23%, for a total of $3.8 billion, according to ASI’s annual State and Regional Sales Report. With annual sales of $9.9 billion, the South remains the dominant seat of promo commerce after another year of aggressive growth, accounting for over 41% of all promo sales in the U.S.
The show featured numerous Top 40 suppliers like SanMar (asi/84863), the biggest supplier in the industry, Koozie Group (asi/40480), PCNA (asi/66887), HPG (asi/61966) and SnugZ (asi/88060). Five distributor groups held their sales meetings in Fort Worth, including AIM/ACS (asi/522700), Proforma (asi/300094), iPROMOTEu (asi/232119), HALO (asi/356000) and AIA (asi/109480).
“Our experience here at Fort Worth has been outstanding,” said Laura Greenwell of SE-KURE Domes and Mirrors (asi/86219), one of 70 exhibitors new to Fort Worth. “The show brought us quite a few quality leads and each person we met was very clear about their customer’s needs and their goals for their business, so we know exactly how we can help them. These in-depth discussions make for a more productive working relationship going forward.”
In addition to a full day of education, attendees had the chance over two exhibit days to snap photos with 2,000-pound Texas longhorns, have fun with giant foam cowboy hats and try their luck at spin-to-win wheels in the ASI Booth, where sales experts offered demos of ASI’s latest innovation, ESP+ Websites, a game-changing e-commerce solution designed to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction.
The show floor was prime real estate for meeting exhibitors eager to discuss campaign strategies with their distributor partners through meaningful conversations. Exhibitors went all out, jazzing up their booths with sophisticated backdrops showcasing the latest printing technologies and bold, interactive exhibits featuring TV screens and videos. Suppliers touted the show’s value and productivity, while a steady stream of distributors hit the show floor in search of the industry’s latest products, trends and innovations.
Ellie Spier of Next Level Apparel (asi/73867) said, “This show really stood out to me just in the quality of distributors. The huge turnout was fabulous and the steady flow really allowed us to take time talking with each distributor, something that I don’t get to do at other shows. It’s been an exceptional show!”
Distributors agreed ASI Fort Worth was a wise choice for their business.
“I’ve been in the industry for 40 years and this is my first time at Fort Worth, although I’ve been an ASI member since the start,” said Beth Brackett of Imagewear of Wayzata (asi/490061). “ASI has been a great partner over the years, and helpful as they host our website. We’ve met a lot of new suppliers and fellow distributors and are going home with a lot of new ideas.”
At the ASI Gala, attendees dressed in Western gear and enjoyed ax throwing, bull riding, boot-kicking dancing and plenty of BBQ, along with an on-site exhibitor, Outdoor Cap (asi/75420), imprinting giveaway baseball hats. The gala provided a platform for industry leaders to connect after hours and celebrate in true Texas style.
Two keynote speakers delivered invaluable sales and marketing advice, with Bruce Himelstein, former chief sales and marketing officer for The Ritz-Carlton, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making and prioritizing exceptional customer service.
“Data is your best salesperson. Lead with data,” Himelstein advised.
In addition to the business side, ASI also celebrated the 70th anniversary of Counselor magazine, the voice of the promo industry, providing breaking news, research, sales analysis and the latest advances for seven decades.
In a first for Fort Worth, ASI gave show-goers the chance to join forces for charitable causes. Distributors could choose from Feeding America, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund or the American Red Cross and ASI made a donation on their behalf, a collaborative effort providing a meaningful impact on society.
Up next from ASI: ASI Chicago, Tuesday, July 23, through Thursday, July 25, at McCormick Place Convention Center.
For more info on ASI Show, contact Andy Cohen, senior vice president of events, media and marketing services, at [email protected]. For info on exhibiting at ASI Shows, contact Meghan DeFrancesco, ASI’s vice president of supplier sales, at [email protected]. Check the ASI Show website (asishow.com) for the latest updates and schedules for all ASI shows and events.