Global ad specialty distributor Asian Sourcing Link (ASL) announced this week that it is launching a new division in the United States and Canada. The company operates as a distributor firm with 15 offices around the world, and it will have the same client-focused business model in the United States.

“As one of the fastest-growing promotional product distributors in our industry, with 15 offices around the world and serving significant global clients in over 150 countries, establishing a strong presence in the Americas is an important strategic step for ASL,” said Alec Pettigrew, managing director of ASL, which has about $64 million in annual global revenue.

With headquarters in Hong Kong, ASL currently also operates in China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Australia, Turkey, Russia, United Kingdom, Benelux, Germany, Spain, Dubai, and South Africa. Now, it is setting its sights on expanding its business by opening an office in America. “This exciting move will extend our tried and tested ability to support our current clients’ promotional programs in the USA and Canada,” said John Pollock, ASL’s global sales director. “Our goal over the next two years is to use our new North American presence to act as a springboard to developing our growing list of opportunities in Central and South America.”

Alan Patrick, who has worked on both the distributor and supplier sides of the ad specialty business, has been hired by ASL as regional sales director – Americas and will head up the company’s U.S.-based operation. “Our focus and expertise has been doing promotional programs for big brands, and we’re looking forward to continuing that in the U.S.,” Patrick told Counselor this morning. “We’re expecting significant volume here in the U.S., and we anticipate having strong relationships with major suppliers in the domestic market here. Plus, we’ll be ramping up our hiring of sales and support staff probably at the beginning of next year.”

ASL, which was founded in 2006, has more than 150 employees worldwide.