I've been blessed over the last 31 years to attend multiple retail and hospitality trade association events. Here are some tips on what makes for a great retail or hospitality trade association:
- Active in politics to drive government change in favor of its members
- Regular communication to its members
- At least one annual event like a conference and trade show
- Dedicated leadership
- Focuses on one key niche (eg: garden centers, liquor stores, hotels, quick serve, etc)
- Annual dues are scaled according to business size
- Offers associate membersips so vendors and suppliers can offer discounts to association members
- Vendor and supplier agnostic
- Active social media presence and social media groups
- Listens to their membership on "hot topics" and takes action
If you are not part of an association, then you are likely missing out - I've had some retailers complain about negative legislative changes. These same retailers refuse to be part of associations that could have prevented these legislative changes.
Don't complain if you are not part of the solution!
I am working on a ranking of the associations that I am very familiar with - this will take a lot of time to compile all the data.
Hopefully the list above will at least give you a starting point.
Tops and suggestions for blog post and videos can be emailed to me at kevinantosh@gmail.com
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