Pendleton Woolen Mills (asi/77058), founded in 1909, has in recent years kept one foot firmly planted in the promo industry. Even so, the Portland, OR-based supplier hadn’t attended an industry trade show in quite some time. But the company was glad it exhibited at ASI Show Fort Worth – its blankets, towels and other high-end goods, decorated in rich heritage patterns, were a hit.

“It was so nice to be welcomed to Fort Worth by folks who were familiar with and passionate about the Pendleton brand and our commitment to quality,” said Mark Polotrak, special markets/trade sales manager for the company. “Additionally, it was a pleasure to educate and tell our brand story to those attendees who were unfamiliar with Pendleton’s name and legacy.Even our booth neighbor raved about how much recognition we were getting. Overall, it was a 10-out-of-10 experience.”

Attendees too had a top-shelf experience. They loved the mix of trend-forward products, opportunities for productive conversations and actionable information to help them succeed.

“It’s a good show,” said Koell Collins, founder of STBL Strategies (asi/300412), a distributor based in Augusta, KS. “We use this show to talk to vendors about specific projects and dive a little bit deeper.”

In total, ASI Show Fort Worth – which set a post-pandemic attendance record – attracted companies from 47 states and five countries. That included 514 distributor and supplier companies from Texas alone, reflecting the state’s powerhouse role in the promo industry.

The show, which was held March 9-11, kicked off with a robust Education Day filled with sessions on topics such as AI, targeted marketing, print on demand and processes for generating sales.

The following day, before the Expo Hall opened, distributors and suppliers gathered for “Caffeinate & Collaborate: Fuel Your Morning With Fresh Ideas” – a marketing challenge that tasked attendees with creating a successful campaign for either a brand-new middle school or the opening of a local urgent care center. Teams were given a budget and encouraged to identify the promo products they would use, explain the rationale behind them and even choose a campaign name.

The winning team consisted of Danny Brown, Margaret Dykstra, Cody Dronkers, Logan DeWitt and Whitney Bell of SportingU (asi/332661), as well as Craig Watson of Impressions Advertising Specialties. Their idea for the school included a community event with food trucks and bounce houses, as well as T-shirt and socks giveaways to the first 1,000 people who arrived. “If you want to show that community spirit,” said Bell during his table’s presentation, “there’s nothing better than a kid wearing a T-shirt.”

Suppliers and distributors partied and networked at the ASI Gala at Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall, a western-style venue featuring live music, dancing and Tex-Mex cuisine. The following morning, they heard from Nick Friedman, the co-founder of College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving who started the company in college with a friend and has grown it to over 200 franchises, with 10 appearances on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 list.

He urged attendees to “figure out what you’re selling. In promo, you sell confidence, team identity, retention, culture, success and branding. Leverage that emotional connection with buyers.”

Counselor was there covering every facet of the show. Scroll below to see all our coverage. And don’t hesitate to register now for ASI Show Chicago, taking place from July 21 to 23.

Keynoter Nick Friedman on How Brands Can Thrive

The co-founder of College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving offered actionable takeaways on building trust with end-buyers and providing winning solutions.

The Biggest Hard Goods Trends, From America250 to Fidget Plushies

Sensory products, experiential goods and reimagined tech items also flourished on the show floor.

Top Apparel & Headwear Trends From the Show Floor

Innovative polos, reimagined workwear and smart updates to caps and women’s tops were just a few of the best highlights from the show.

Attendees Say Lower Tariffs Would Boost Sales

The finding highlighted the Education Day Wrap-Up: Tactics & Takeaways session that concluded the first day of the show. AI and automation were also a major theme.

Build Trust & Be Unforgettable in a Crowded Market

Shawna Suckow of The Buyer Insider discussed how leading with humanity can help businesses stand out.

How To Drive More Sales by Focusing on a Niche

Kevin Baumgart from Sales Ink explained how to get specific about finding and engaging potential clients.

Debunking the Biggest Print Myths

Denise Gustavson of PRINTING United Alliance gave distributors specific tips to start selling print with success.

Tap Into the Growing Uniform Market

At his Power Session, Caleb Churchill of Workwear Outfitters (asi/98258) revealed how selling uniforms can help unlock new revenue streams.