FAQs - Members
What is NARMS?
- NARMS is the acronym for the National Association for Retail Marketing Servicessm. The association was formed in 1996.
- NARMS is an international not-for-profit trade association. Our purpose is to advance professionalism and excellence internationally in the retail services industry.
- NARMS operates under the direction of 11 board members along with President/CEO Daniel Borschke, CAE.
How is NARMS involved with the retail industry?
- NARMS drives and promotes the retail services industry to all classes of retail trade
- NARMS provides the merchandising and marketing industry with quality research, strong educational programs and networking opportunities.
Does NARMS have a website?
-www.narms.com is the official website of NARMS. It is focused on the retail services industry and is designed for many types of visitors.
Who are NARMS members?
-Merchandising Service Organizations-provide assembly of merchandise and displays, data collection and reporting, inventory and ordering, sales presentations, planogram maintenance and merchandising, new item cut-ins and resets, and signage placement.
-Professional Installation Companies-specialize in installation of displays, showcases, graphics, signage, racking, fitting rooms, kiosks, millwork and other fixtures in retail and commercial environments.
-Event Marketing, Mystery Shopping and Demonstration Companies-provide demonstrations, samplings, couponing, field event marketing and promotions, surveys and audits, and mystery shopping
-Independent Food Brokers of America-are locally based and provide sales and marketing services to consumer packaged goods companies
-Consumer Good Manufacturers
-Retailers
-Associate Members-provide products and services that will enhance our members’ businesses. Products and services include outsourced human resources, software and hardware, business insurance, staffing, and e-based services.
What are NARMS dues?
Except for manufacturers, retailers, and associate members, dues are calculated on actual prior year total company revenue including all offices, divisions, and subsidiaries using the following ranges:
Under $1million - $595
$1-$5 million - $1,100
$5-$10 million - $1,650
$10-$20 million - $1,850
$20-$40 million - $4,000
$40-$60 million - $4,500
$60-$75 million - $5,000
Over $75 million - $6,000
Manufacturers - $1,500
Retailers - $1,500
Associate Membership - $1,500
Divisions/Subsidiaries/Offices of existing NARMS members - $250
Annual membership term is January 1st through December 31st.
How does my company join NARMS?
-Membership applications can be obtained from the Director of Membership by calling 888.526.2767 or emailing membership@narms.com
What are the benefits of NARMS membership?
-The most important benefit is the ability to network with peers to identify opportunities, and share problems and their solutions.
-NARMS conferences provide members the opportunity to meet face-to-face with their peers. The Spring Conference provides educational general sessions and division-specific workshops. The IFBA Division Top-to-Top Executive Conference gives food broker members access to manufacturers. NARMS is a sponsor of GlobalShop, the largest in-store marketing event.
-NARMS Member Directory is always current on www.narms.com under “Search The Member List.” Our website directory is also our member search engine.
-Each of NARMS Service Divisions is headed by a divisional committee which tracks key issues and challenges, and develops solutions, as well as planning the conference educational workshops for their respective divisions. Members are encouraged to serve on the committees.
-Members benefit from advertising campaigns on their behalf in international, national and regional trade publications.
-The JobBank on www.narms.com is a connection between companies with open field positions and people seeking work. It is focused on the retail services industry.
-The Career Connection is available to companies to post open professional positions within their firms.
-The InfoShare Library is a compliation of all NARMS research on behalf of the retail services industry. Members can request a pdf file of the studies from the international office. The library includes “Partners for Growth: The New Role of Merchandising Service Organizations,” Retail Industry - Emerging Trends 2005,” “Inside Sampling and Demonstrations,” “Survey of Merchandising and Marketing Service Practices,” “Event Marketing Operational Benchmark Survey,” and “Merchandising Service Organizations Operational Benchmark Survey.”
-NARMS Hotlines provide members with support in the areas of human resources, business insurance, marketing, and legal matters.
-NARMS sends industry information to our members through the NewsFeed, e-mail news three times a week, and through NARMS Today, our quarterly print magazine.
-Members can limit their risks associated with hiring personnel by using the USIS Background Screening Package and Drug Testing negotiated by NARMS.
-Members can receive discounted prices for services such as car rental, telephone conferencing, DHL Shipping, health insurance, data backup and employee substance abuse programs.
-Member rates are received when attending NARMS Spring Conference and when posting jobs in the JobBank and Career Connection
-Members can find links to allied trade associations and a calendar of their events on www.narms.com
-The greatest benefits are derived from participation in the association
NARMS Radio provides podcast interviews with industry leaders
Can I use narms.com to recruit personnel?
-Open professional positions can be listed in the Career Connection on www.narms.com. Members pay $100 and nonmembers $150 for a 30 day posting. Payment is by credit card.
-Open field positions are posted in the JobBank on www.narms.com. All postings are done online with the ability to cover multiple markets in one posting.
Charges for a 30 day posting are $75 for members and $125 for nonmembers. Payment is made by credit card.
-Members, who purchase the Expanded Listing are able to search The Recruiter, our international database of field personnel seeking employment. NARMS assigns a password to access our online database.
-NARMS provides online merchandisers’ and demonstrators’ training manuals. Proficiency tests are available to field personnel registered in The Recruiter.
What is an Expanded Listing?
-Regular members who purchase the Expanded Listing get access to The Recruiter and Associate members can place an ad in the Featured Resource on www.narms.com
-Members with the Expanded Listing are shown in blue on www.narms.com, “Search The Member List”. Selecting a company name moves the searcher to a bridge page that holds company information including a hotlink to the member’s website.
-The Expanded Listing requires an application separate from the membership application. Contact the Director of Membership by calling 888.526.2767.
-The fee for the Expanded Listing is $540 for the calendar year and is in addition to membership dues. Companies with annual revenues on $5M or over, retailers and manufacturers are $750. Division members are charged $270 if the parent company has an Expanded Listing.
How does NARMS communicate with members?
-NARMS communicates to our members through our spring conference, member surveys, broadcast emails, narms.com, NewsFeed, NARMS Today, and the InfoShare Library.
Who can I talk to at the International Office?
-Questions can be asked of the Director of Membership at the NARMS International Office by calling toll free 888.526.2767.
