A New Trade Association Launches

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Attention all beauty store professionals: There’s a new, national, nonprofit organization that you should be aware of: the National Association of Retail Buyers.

NARB’s goal is to unite buyers from different retail backgrounds to share ideas, as well as career and professional-development strategies. It plans to offer an organized resource for retail professionals who are seeking to advance their skills in retail buying, selling, planning or product development via formal and informal educational programs, roundtable discussions and networking events throughout the year at business-to-business shows and via Web-based courses.

“In today’s challenging economic climate, it’s more important than ever for retailers to hone their skills to stay competitive,” explains NARB co-founder Andrew BeauChamp. “Informal groups of retailers have been gathering online and at various industry events over the past year, and wonderful ideas have come out of these meetings. Through NARB we’re hoping to fill a void in the marketplace with a formal organization that brings retailers together across many different job responsibilities and industries to offer a well-defined picture of today’s retail landscape and new ideas that can help all of us succeed.”

NARB co-founder Angela Dalby adds, “The specialized needs, career and professional growth of the individual retailer are at the heart of NARB’s mission statement. Where other association memberships are arranged through companies and organizations, NARB membership belongs to and follows the individual. Because we’re not limited to one type of retail or industry, a member becomes part of a fairly extensive community of retailers within their own category, as well as countless other retail backdrops, that promises to generate exciting, new business-growth strategies.”

NARB is open to all professionals in retail, including buyers, wholesalers, retailers, sales representatives, planners and salespeople. While open to all industries, the initial NARB membership-drive effort is targeting the souvenir/resort, giftware, spa/personal care, jewelry and fashion-accessories categories. Annual membership for individuals is $60. Corporate sponsorship is available to individuals and organizations working with retailers—including manufacturers, trade show-management companies and other service providers. Additionally, an industry partner membership level is available.

NARB will have its first membership meeting on Sept. 23 during the Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It’s a complimentary breakfast scheduled for 8:30 a.m.

To learn more about NARB before then, email narbuyers@hotmail.com or write to NARB, c/o Greeley Square Station, P.O. Box 20290, New York, NY 10001.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 at 11:35 am and is filed under Marc's Wednesday Update .