Coming of Age

The end of a calendar or fiscal year always brings retrospection and 2007 is certainly no different. Though it seems just like yesterday, it has now been three years since Gary Ebben stepped aside and I journeyed north to fill the void. Much has taken place at NARMS in the interim including what many would say is an organization that has come of age. Many of us have read novels or watched films that describe themselves as “coming of age” media; you know the type of story where the protagonist is initiated into adulthood through knowledge, experience, or both, often by a process of disillusionment. A virtual epiphany comes after the dropping of preconceptions, a destruction of a false sense of security, or in some way the loss of innocence.

The changes at NARMS may not be as melodramatic as such a novel or film and many may call it more evolutionary than dynamic, but long-time members have articulated that “it sure isn’t what it used to be” and for a vast majority of the membership that is a positive comment. The life-cycle of an association is not unlike the life-cycle of a product or service; we are all amazed that we didn’t come up with that idea first is followed by finding a true market or niche and is ultimately followed by “we need to change with the times or close down the shop.” What has been so exciting, on a daily-basis at NARMS, is that your leadership and staff have been able to bring to play the knowledge we have taken from prior lives and enjoy creating and molding a new vehicle and strategy for an exciting and burgeoning industry.

In what seems to be a very short period of time we have become a 562 corporate member international organization with NARMS trademarked globally. The association has more than 50 corporate members who either reside or provide services outside the US. NARMS has viable Divisions representing MSO’s, PIC’s, Event Marketers, and IFBA. Matter of fact, we now have segregated web pages for each of those four areas of interests so that members and clients can see the exciting trends within each division. Probably the most invigorating change at NARMS is that we have finally completed the industry circle. We now have 43 Manufacturer members and a growing list of four Retailer members. Associate membership now totals 45 with a greater and wider variety of products and services specifically positioned for our industry. What we have been saying for years is finally coming to pass; NARMS is the only forum where all elements of the retail service community can come together and discuss mutual concerns and issues.

None of this spectacular change could have taken place without the global influence of www.narms.com. More than 2.3 million page views per month, more than 200,000 job profiles, close to 400 job listings per month and a JobBank Showcase that has 27 buttons for corporate members to more easily attract competent employment seekers, a library of nearly 100 podcasts and a video of our Annual Business Meeting now highlight our association website that is truly the envy of the association world.

Most marketing experts will tell you that “branding” your product or entity is more than just a logo or a look; it is an attitude. We have achieved just that with our new graphics and varied vehicles we have initiated in the last year. Hopefully all of you agree with us that our new NARMS Today magazine is bold, informative and all-inclusive. In just the first year of production the quarterly continues to evolve, and it is our goal to make this a periodical that people will not just want to read but need to read and with the assistance of our advertisers we are coming close to making it a financially viable means in getting the NARMS message to not just the membership but to the entire industry.

If there is a pinnacle in NARMS’ coming of age it has to be our Spring Conference. It really has become a one-stop shopping venue for education, networking and trade. The Spring Conference is now the must-attend annual meeting and convention for the industry and with the spectacular support of the membership as registrants and financial sponsors we can now provide audio and video directly from the conference so that the activities can provide substance and value year-round rather than just for four days in April each year. Add the NARMS sponsorship of GlobalShop and the business to business IFBA Top to Top Executive Conference and you can see that there are plenty of options to make the right connection as a member of NARMS.

As parents, the ultimate goal is to see our children grow-up and mature and become an important element of the community, however many of us with kids now out on their own like to remind those parents with younger children that they need to enjoy every minute of the process because it passes by much too quickly. Enjoy every tree in that forest even though at times those little saplings can drive you crazy! As NARMS comes of age, we definitely want to enjoy the process and experience the not-always pleasant growing pains, but with the leadership and cooperation of our varied membership, NARMS International will become an important element of the community and do its industry proud.