BDA NAMED NUMBER ONE DISTRIBUTOR BY ASI AND PROMO MARKETING MAGAZINE

Pioneering Brand Merchandise Agency Climbs Into Top Position of Distributor Rankings Following Record Breaking 2007

Woodinville, Wash., – May 12, 2008 – Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, Inc. (BDA), the nation’s premier Merchandise AgencySM today announced that it has been recognized as the number one distributor by both the Advertising Specialty Institute’s (ASI) annual Top 40 rankings and Promo Marketing Magazine, one of the industry’s leading trade publications. Annual revenues for BDA grew to $256 million in 2007, compared to 2006 revenues of $198 million, representing a nearly 30 percent growth in top-line revenues.  In addition to this honor, BDA has also been recognized by its own employees as one of the “Best Companies to Work For” by Washington CEO magazine for the fifth time.

“Congratulations to BDA and its associates on this achievement,” said Timothy M. Andrews, President and Chief Executive Officer of ASI.  “Each year ASI announces the Top 40 Distributors rankings at the Counselor Awards and this year BDA topped the chart."

Fueling BDA’s rapid growth over the past three years is a new paradigm in branding. BDA’s unique business model and expertise in bringing brands to life provides its Fortune 500 clients with the industry’s only true end-to-end merchandise approach that serves to create genuine brand experiences via merchandise. These integrated campaigns represent the future of brand marketing as companies look to solidify lasting relationships with consumers in a way that no other marketing vehicle can.

“It’s little surprise that BDA has been recognized as the industry’s number one distributor and we congratulate their entire team of Associates on this honor,” said David Luner, Senior Vice President Interactive and Consumer Products, North America for FremantleMedia.  "BDA has served as a valued partner to FremantleMedia for many years now, and has played an important role in working with our sponsors to successfully maximize their off-air partnership rights.”

Beyond breaking the quarter billion dollar threshold for the first time, 2007 was a groundbreaking year for the 24-year old merchandise agency. Among other highlights, BDA attained designation as the Preferred Premium Agency for Major League Baseball to provide all out-of-stadium merchandise premiums and promotions to official MLB sponsors on a local, regional and national level, as well as signed a long-term relationship extension with FremantleMedia as the exclusive promotional merchandise agency for the AMERICAN IDOL brand through 2010.

“Huge thanks to our clients and to our employees. This is truly a milestone for BDA and simply would not have been possible without the dedication and talent of both.  As for BDA associates, they work magic every day to help our Fortune 500 clients bring their brands to life in ways that forge bonds with their customers,” said Jay Deutsch, Chief Executive Officer for BDA. “While it is a great honor to be named the number one company in a 19 billion dollar industry, the greater honor is helping our clients succeed.”

ABOUT BDA
Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, Inc. (BDA), the nation's first and only Merchandise AgencySM, provides marketing services and customized branded merchandise to Fortune 500 enterprises, major sports leagues and global entertainment holding companies. Clients come to BDA to extend their reach through custom branded-merchandise campaigns, integrated e-commerce marketing, and sports and entertainment sponsorship activation. Global brands such as Bank of America, Dell, GlaxoSmithKline, ExxonMobil, FedEx and Major League Baseball are but a few of the household names that rely on BDA to bring their marketing campaigns to life through merchandise. BDA attained the coveted Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certification in 2008 highlighting the company’s advanced quality assurance practices for importing products from overseas. For more information on the power of merchandise, visit www.bdainc.com.

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BDA Media Contact: 
Kelly Mickelson
Barokas PR for BDA
206.264.8220
bda@barokas.com