CHICAGO, July 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- "Shark Tank" co-host and tech millionaire Robert Herjavec delivered a warm and funny motivational keynote on Thursday at a trade show hosted by the Advertising Specialty Institute®, advising the packed house of entrepreneurs that the key to success is to make an emotional connection with customers.
During a riveting, hour-long talk and Q&A with ASI CEO Timothy M. Andrews during ASI Show® Chicago, Herjavec told suppliers and distributors in the $23.6 billion promotional products industry that "people never remember what you say – they remember how you made them feel … Unseen, untold, unsold – if you can't tell the world about yourself, you won't succeed."
Andrews said Herjavec's keynote was a terrific reminder that, in business, we need to put people first. "The personal touch and human interaction that can only happen in person at trade shows is really what it's all about," Andrews said.
Branding, Herjavec told the audience, is extremely important. "One thing I've found is great companies believe in their brand, and marketing isn't a dirty word," Herjavec said.
ASI Chicago at McCormick Place convention center was attended by 563 exhibitors and 4,213 distributors – up from 2017. According to ASI's Advantages magazine, promo companies in the Midwest sold a total of $4.8 billion worth of promotional products in 2017, 2.4% more over 2016. Illinois leads the region with $807 million in annual promo sales.
After bounding onstage, an energetic Herjavec complimented ASI Show's trademark red hats and said, "What's amazing about your industry is that you give people the ability to make an emotional connection… You guys are in a fun industry!"
Rita Ugianskis, senior VP and GM of ASI Show, said she was thrilled with the response to ASI's last large trade show of the season. "The reason we're celebrating 20 successful years in the trade show business is because we deliver what our customers want and need: busy show floors, plenty of networking opportunities, stellar education and top-notch facilities," said Ugianskis. "We plan to keep bringing people together for product sourcing and relationship building for at least the next 20 years."
Go to www.asicentral.com and www.asishow.com for complete coverage of the show.
About ASI
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI®) serves a network of 23,500 suppliers, distributors and decorators in the $23.6 billion promotional products industry.
SOURCE Advertising Specialty Institute