On September 26, 2013, ASI? commissioned an exclusive survey to estimate industry sales for the third quarter of 2013 as well as the outlook for all of 2013. Invitations went to ASI supplier members who were the primary contact with their firms, and had been in business at least one year. The results of this survey will be published in Counselor PromoGram? and ASI press releases. The 4Q 2013 Sales Study Report will be published in January 2014. Methodology: A total of 193 supplier firms responded to the survey request out of 2,339 firms invited, resulting in an 8.3% response rate. An incentive of an annual drawing for $500 was offered. Conclusions: During the third quarter, there was a year-over-year increase in sales among ASI supplier members of 7.0%. This is the 15th consecutive increase in sales vs. the corresponding quarter of the previous year and up slightly from the increase in the first quarter, which was 4.8%. The percentage increase in sales for the second quarter of 2013 (7.0%) was considerably higher than the percentage increase in sales for each quarter since 3Q 2011. Total supplier sales for the third quarter were approximately $3.6 billion. The net increase over Q3 2012 was $234 million. Sales for all of 2013 are expected to be higher than 2012 by 61.2% of suppliers, the highest percentage of the year. During the second quarter, 54.3% of suppliers expected sales for the year to be up while 57.0% expected them to be up in the first quarter. Large suppliers are nearly as optimistic now about sales for 2013 as they were in January, when 78.6% felt sales for 2013 would exceed sales in 2012. However, smaller suppliers are much less optimistic, as 73.2% felt sales would be higher for 2013 in January compared to 57.8% at the end of the third quarter. Over two-thirds (68.6%) of suppliers plan to expand their product lines in 2014, consistent with findings from 2012. Total marketing spend is expected to increase by 47.9% of suppliers in 2013, while 45.2% of suppliers plan to increase electronic advertising spending. Distributors were also fairly optimistic about sales for 2013. Over one-half (55.2%) of all distributors feel sales for 2013 will be higher than sales in 2012. Distributor’s revenues for the third quarter of 2013 increased by 4.6%. Detailed Findings: Supplier vs. Distributor Sales Supplier sales for the third quarter of 2013 increased by 7.0%, the 15th consecutive increas