ASI’s Stitches Magazine Wins Prestigious National Neal Award

Honored with Pulitzer Prize of the business press for “State of the Industry” issue;
Wearables magazine a Neal finalist for cover story on a life-saving T-shirt

TREVOSE, PA – March 19, 2014 – The Advertising Specialty Institute^® (ASI) today announced Stitches^® magazine was honored with a national Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for its 2013 “State of the Industry” issue.

In addition, ASI’s Wearables® magazine, the promotional products industry’s number-one source for commercial apparel business owners and screen printers, was recognized as a finalist for “Best Subject-Related Package” for the cover story in the October 2013 issue, “Haley Bellows has cancer. A T-Shirt May Save Her Life.” C.J. Mittica is editor of Wearables. Considered “the Pulitzer Prize of business media,” the Neal Awards recognize the best in business-to-business editorial achievement and are B-to-B’s most prestigious and sought-after editorial honors. ABM, the association of business information and media companies, honored Stitches, Wearables and other winning magazines during its 60th Annual Neal Awards ceremony in New York City.

Winning entries were selected for exhibiting journalistic enterprise, service to the field and editorial craftsmanship. One judge described Stitches as “A refreshingly well-rounded trade magazine that serves its audience with an interesting and relevant mix of upfront news and, in this issue’s feature, a smart and sensibly packaged ‘State of the Industry.’” ASI’s Stitches magazine is the go-to resource for the embroidery and decorating marketplace. The magazine is edited by Nicole Rollender.

Stitches was saluted by a distinguished board of judges in the “Best Single Issue” category. The judging panel, chaired by Trevor Butterworth of Stats.org, selected 44 Neal Award winners out of 173 finalists from an original 612 entries.

Paying tribute to the Neal Award winners, ABM Managing Director Mike Marchesano said, “Judging this year’s Neal Awards was no easy task due to the impressive caliber of top-notch B2B brands that have gone above and beyond the works of their peers. We at ABM are proud to celebrate these outstanding journalists and editors today, especially as we mark the 60th anniversary of the Neal Awards.”

ASI magazines were recognized among several top publications, including Crain’s New York, Architectural Record and The American Lawyer.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our winning editorial team and of Stitches and Wearables magazines for once again proving their value to the promotional products industry by producing outstanding work that excites, educates and enlivens readers,” said Timothy M. Andrews, president and chief executive officer of ASI. “It’s fitting that the exhaustive research and reporting that is the hallmark of every ‘State of the Industry’ issue has resulted in another prestigious national award since it takes an exceptional team of writers, designers, photographers and researchers to produce. Excellence always shows.”

In less than 10 years, ASI magazines have been honored with over 100 journalism awards and remain the only industry publications to ever win a Neal Award. According to ASI research, 90% of readers polled cite Wearables as their best source for apparel information and 84% describe Stitches as “most useful to their work.”

Stitches May 2013 “State of the Industry” issue is the result of an annual survey of decorator readers on their businesses and the decorated-apparel industry in 2012. After analyzing the data, it’s presented in an information-packed how-to section that gives readers a step-by-step guide to business growth, with such topics as customer-base builders and high-tech strategies, along with regional business information.

Stitches’ winning team includes: Melinda Ligos, editor in chief of ASI publications; Nicole Rollender, editor; Joe Haley, managing editor; Christopher Ruvo, senior staff writer and issue co-editor; Hillary Glen, creative director; Glen Karpowich, senior editorial designer; Mark Pricskett, editorial photographer; and Sara Lavenduski, editorial intern.

Wearables’ cover story “Haley Bellows has cancer. A T-Shirt May Save Her Life” details the way a T-shirt sales campaign raised money to help a young woman pay for cancer-fighting treatment. The package also examines how T-shirts have become a lucrative component in charitable fundraising and offers strategies to target the growing nonprofit sector. The winning team includes: Writers Christopher Ruvo, Samantha Phillips and Grace Bennett, Joe Haley, Glen Karpowich, Hillary Glen, Melinda Ligos and C.J. Mittica.

ASI publishes seven catalogs, five magazines and seven newsletters. ASI’s magazine circulation is audited and growing, and Counselor’s collection of top lists are now the industry standard.