The ASI^® number has been the gold standard for both distributors and suppliers in the advertising specialty industry for over 50 years. It remains the only true, consistent industry identifier, recognized by all distributors and suppliers. The ASI number brings to the table exclusive benefits that other industry organizations do not provide. Supplier numbers include five digits, displayed as (asi/12345), and distributor numbers include six digits, displayed as (asi/123456).

Members should display their official ASI listing number on all communications, literature, advertising material and business forms used within the specialty advertising/promotional products industry. It's always good practice to type it next to or just under the signature or contact on any order documents, inquiries, memos or letters.

Your ASI number identifies you as an ASI-listed specialty advertising professional and indicates you have met the necessary criteria for an ASI network listing. In addition, your ASI number helps identify your company and differentiates you from other companies that have similar names.

An advertising specialty, also known as a promotional product, is any item imprinted with a logo or slogan and given out to promote a company, organization, product, service, special achievement or event. ASI members benefit from the most comprehensive promo products industry analysis, research, education, and certification available through ASI University.

ASI provides several options for membership and resources for networking, education, and business growth through the following membership types:

• Distributors - For companys which sell promotional products and/or imprinted incentives to customers
• Suppliers - For companies which manufacture or import promotional products
• Decorators - For companies which imprint on supplied products
• Canadian - For companies which are physically located in Canada
• Equipment - For companies which provide machines and components related to imprinting
• International - For companies which are physically located outside of the United States and/or Canada

In general, there are many industry suppliers who sell through a variety of channels: distributors, retail stores, incentives houses and on the internet. Questions and concerns sometimes arise if and when a supplier sells through different channels, especially at different prices. Legally, ASI cannot have any rules or guidelines directing what channel or channels a supplier might decide to use to sell its product – or what a distributor can or cannot do. Our position is consistent with legal requirements under anti-trust laws, including that we cannot tell anyone what price they can sell their products for or who they can sell to.

Based on discussions with other organizations in the industry, all of us operate with same understanding of what we can or cannot do. We don’t exclude a supplier from membership simply because they sell through another channel, including directly through the web, because that exclusion would not be legal.

However, in ESP and on our website, www.asicentral.com, ASI provides “marketing policy” information in the supplier information area so a distributor can learn whether a specific supplier sells only through industry distributors, or also uses other channels like incentive reps, or even if a supplier sells directly through email marketing campaigns or a website(s). Although this is partly self-reported by suppliers, when ASI sees evidence or hears about examples showing the supplier sells through other channels, we do our best to check it out and make any annotations required to ensure that our marketing policy information is accurate.

The ASI Privacy and Security Policies are also available on ASI Central.

ASI provides you with the tools to build a successful business in the promotional products industry. Through products and services, including self-service options and education, ASI is dedicated to helping all members succeed. Members are also entitled to use their ASI membership to receive discounts on business services from our affiliates, including shipping, credit card processing and more!