ASI Chicago: Gateway to the Midwest’s Premier Promo Products Showcase

TREVOSE, PA – June 19, 2024

The ASI Show today released final details for ASI Chicago, the Midwest’s leading promotional products trade show, taking place in five weeks, Tues., July 23 through Thurs., July 25, with 75% of the supplier Top 40 already on deck and nearly 20% of exhibitors new to Chicago. Expect three days packed with thousands of products, networking and expert strategies to help distributors sharpen selling skills.

The industry’s last big trade show of the year features an even bigger show floor with more booths and Top 40 suppliers like alphabroder (asi/34063), Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125), HPG (asi/61966), Koozie Group (asi/40480), PCNA (asi/66887) and SanMar (asi/84863). At the show, distributors can collaborate with their supplier partners to brainstorm new campaigns for the Q3 and Q4 holiday sales season.

Of 466 supplier exhibitors, 42 will showcase their products in the Tues., July 23, New Product Preview Reception – the highest number of supplier presenters ever.

Plus, ASI will debut “Printing Industry 101: All About Print Products & Your Sales Opportunities,” education designed to enable distributors to tap into the $100 billion print market, a category already embraced by many promo clients. The class will cover key players, profit avenues, demand trends, production methods and strategies for integrating print into a promo business. Offering print classes at each of its three large trade shows is part of ASI’s new partnership with PRINTING United Alliance, the largest nonprofit association in the print and graphic arts world, aimed at driving growth for ASI distributors, suppliers and decorators.

Education Day at ASI Chicago also gives print sellers looking to add promo sales to their services two ways to learn: The Promo 101 class and a guided tour of Soardist USA’s new domestic production facility in Chicago, highlighting cutting-edge sublimation technology.

“Our surveys show 98% of distributors consider live events critical to product sourcing and at ASI Chicago, we’re creating a community where industry professionals can come together to forge connections and explore the latest product trends shaping our industry,” said Timothy M. Andrews, president and chief executive officer of ASI, the largest technology, marketing and information provider in the $26.1 billion promotional products industry.

Held at the lakefront McCormick Place, North America’s largest convention center, ASI Chicago is easily accessible to Midwest attendees. ASI distributor members can register for free today to take advantage of everything ASI Chicago has to offer, including sales, marketing and social media classes. Non-members can join in for a small fee, ensuring everyone can benefit, at asishow.com.

Check out all the action at ASI Chicago, held this year in a new location in the West Building-Hall F2:

KEYNOTES

• Sales luminary Carolyn Strauss keynote, Wed., July 24, 8:30-9:45 a.m, unveiling five strategies she employed to drive over $160 million in sales on the Home Shopping Network, captivating audiences and fostering enduring loyalty. Learn how to get clients and prospects saying, “I want THAT!” Watch video.
• High-energy keynote by entrepreneur and best-selling author Ramon Ray, “Connect with Your Clients: Staying Human in Today’s Digital World,” Thurs., July 25, 8:30-9:45 a.m., guiding distributors on expertly reaching and interacting with prospects and clients using LinkedIn, smartphones and DMs while maintaining authenticity and empathy. Watch video.

EDUCATION DAY

• Total of 26 classes in sales, marketing, decoration, social media and more, for newcomers and promo pros alike, on Education Day and during exhibit day Power Sessions on the show floor.
• Lunch & Learn, Tues., July 23, 12-1:20 p.m. Only 200 free tickets available to preview suppliers’ latest product trends over lunch. Pick up required ticket at Education Booth.
• Join Soardist’s 5-star team for an exclusive factory tour, Tues., July 23, 10 a.m.-1:20 p.m. to follow a full production lifecycle from artwork to final product and receive a curated bag of Soardist material. Free transportation and lunch. Watch video.

NETWORKING

• New Product Preview Reception, Tuesday, July 23, 5-6 p.m. The night before the show floor opens, enjoy light snacks, beer and wine during an exclusive preview of new products exhibited during both Exhibit Days.
• ASI Gala at House of Blues Chicago Music Hall, Wed., July 24, 7-10 p.m., featuring live music, karaoke, Southern soul food, immersive Southern Vernacular Art and the ASI Photo Booth. Get tickets for $50 until June 30.
• Counselor Awards, Wed., July 24, 5:15-7:45 p.m. An invitation-only event to honor the Top 40 suppliers and distributors as well as the Person of the Year, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Distributor and Supplier Entrepreneurs of the Year, and many more.

FLOOR FUN

• Exhibit days activities and freebies include tastings of world-famous Garrett Popcorn, a celebration of Counselor’s 70th anniversary with cake and photos, free massages, 360-degree photos, Spin to Win business-building prizes with product demos and the ASI Happy Hour with wine, beer or soft drinks.

The Midwest’s No. 1 city is an ideal meeting destination, offering plenty to see and do. McCormick Place is minutes from downtown Chicago, an art, outdoor and foodie paradise voted “Best Big City in the U.S.” seven years in a row.

For information on ASI Show, please contact Andy Cohen, senior vice president of media, events and marketing services, at [email protected]. For info on exhibiting at ASI Shows, contact Meghan DeFrancesco at [email protected]. Check asishow.com for the latest updates and schedules on all ASI shows and events.

About ASI Show
The ASI Show Family of Events features ASI Show, fASIlitate and ConneX, which foster business-building relationships among ASI distributor and supplier members. ASI Shows, the flagship series, are large-scale, in-person convention center trade shows held in Orlando, Fort Worth and Chicago. fASIlitate is a hosted-buyer event that brings together the industry’s elite – top suppliers and million-dollar distributors – for three days of scheduled one-on-one meetings in select hotels across the country. ConneX is the largest hosted-buyer event in the promotional products industry. Visit asishow.com for more information on the full event portfolio.