Is GlobalShop 2006 Calling Your Name?

Plans continue to take shape for extending NARMS involvement at the GlobalShop 2006 show to be held March 26-28 at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL. In the second year of a three-year partnership commitment with VNU’s GlobalShop show, NARMS has engaged the Retail Marketing Services Town Center which will be an improved location for member company participation as compared to the 2005 show.

The GlobalShop 2006 event obviously lands on the calendar just a few days before the 11th annual NARMS Spring Conference to be held at Amelia Island Plantation near Jacksonville. The time/location proximity could lead to an extended Florida stay for NARMS members to give their companies additional exposure before getting together for our association’s annual meeting and networking extravaganza.
Read more

Looking Back…Looking Ahead

As you look through this issue of your NARMS newsletter, you will quickly see that there have been many things happening within the organization. Thanks to the efforts of so many involved, we have made exciting progress on many fronts within the organization. I trust this can only help your NARMS membership renewal become an easy affirmative decision!

Through the late summer and early fall, we have worked closely with our members in Australia to form our first international chapter, NARMS AUSTRALIA. The first order of business with our new chapter will be to set up the Job Bank and The Recruiter. In addition, we will be planning our first annual “Aussie” conference scheduled for next fall. The NARMS AUSTRALIA chapter is a great opportunity for NARMS to expand and brand its name internationally while driving membership and income for the organization.
Read more

It has been a great year

I can’t believe that it has been a year already since I said yes to the NARMS Board of Directors offer to be your new President. Though I have had extensive experience as an association manager with two other organizations, NARMS is a unique association and it has been quite exciting and at times invigorating learning about your very dynamic and vibrant organization. Much has happened in 2005 that we all should be proud of and you can expect even more for 2006!
Read more

With humble thanks

Fresh off a Thanksgiving feast and looking forward to a great Holiday Season with special get-togethers of family and friends, it only seems appropriate to reflect a bit as the year 2005 winds down. Certainly this time of the year gives me reason to be thankful for the many blessings in my life, including family and friends and working with and for good people. My family and I just enjoyed Thanksgiving “back home on the farm” which has been probably the most “constant” of anything that’s ever been a part of my life.
Read more

NARMS Announces Aussie Chapter

After months of development, NARMS is proud to announce the establishment of a new chapter of our organization “down under” in Australia. Several of our Australian members attended last year’s spring conference and have since proposed a plan to formalize a NARMS-Australia, giving current and potential NARMS member companies in that part of the world a gathering place to network and improve their retail support businesses and a shared voice on industry issues.
Read more

NARMS Background Screening Program

Now more than ever, it is essential to hire trusted employees/independent contractors to protect your company as well as the clients with whom you work. Protect and defend your business from theft, workplace violence and fraud by screening your applicants prior to hire.
Read more

NFRA Provides Networking Opportunity

Over 100 guests attended the NARMS-IFBA sponsored reception at the National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Convention (NFRA) in San Francisco in October. This event gave added exposure and networking opportunity to IFBA members attending on the eve of the NFRA show.
NARMS member companies that stepped up to become active sponsors of the reception event for NFRA attendees included Alliance Sales & Marketing; All Seasons Brokerage Company; Co-Sales Company; DeCredico & Associates; Douglas & Associates; Eastern Sales & Marketing (Great Lakes, Metro and New England Regions); Johnson O’Hare Company; KCBS-Cincinnati; SellEthics Marketing Group, Inc.; Star Brokerage; Team Northwest Sales & Marketing and The Performance Group.
Read more

Manufacturers Plan Ahead

The NARMS Manufacturers’ Advisory Board held its meeting on October 4 - 5 in Las Vegas with a primary focus to finalize our plans for the upcoming NARMS Spring Conference and Exhibition. Dan Borschke started the meeting off with an update on NARMS, the Spring Conference and variety of other topics. Bob Stoik provided the manufacturers with a NARMS Board of Director’s update which we found very informative.

After some great discussion, we accomplished our main objective in working out all the details and sessions for the Spring Conference. We have scheduled our Advisory Board Meeting for Saturday, April 1st from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. We are also having a Manufacturer Member Session open to all Manufacturers on Sunday, April 2nd from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. I am pleased to announce that we will again host Bryan Gildenberg from Management Ventures, Inc. as a presenter, taking what we heard last year to another level. Specifics on this presentation are being worked on.
Read more

PICS Are Looking Ahead to 2006

As we all start thinking about another year coming to a close, it’s also time for planning our New Year strategies.

Hopefully everyone has had a good prosperous year in 2005. Our retail business this time of year usually sees a slowdown as retailers are reluctant to have us in their stores during the busy holiday season. While it is a good time to take a deep breath, reflect but then figure out where we are going and how we are going to get there.
Read more

Is it too early to thing Spring?

Like me, you’re probably not really ready for the Holidays quite yet; much less thinking and planning for the NARMS Spring 2006 conference at beautiful Amelia Island Plantation in Florida. But plan we must and I believe if you’ve reviewed the materials about the conference that were recently circulated, you already know that another great program is in store and I sincerely hope you’ll take the time to submit your reservation to attend.
Read more