Are you a member of NAMTA, our one and only International Art Materials Trade Association? If so there are some big things brewing that you’ll be hearing about over the next few months. If you aren’t a member, perhaps it’s time to take another look because NAMTA is a lot more that just an annual convention. In these times it can provide you the retailer with the tools and connections to not only survive, but to thrive.
You’ll recall that, for the first time in several years, NAMTA conducted a major membership satisfaction survey in March and shared the results in April at the Phoenix Trade Show and Conference. In response the Board and staff have been working hard to update and/or re-invent many pieces of the association’s operation.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s been happening and what’s on the horizon.
• In September you’re going to start receiving NAMTA’s new e-Newsletter. It will be sent to you 26x annually and replaces the printed News & Views/NAMTA Notes. Over the past couple of months a lot of time and energy has gone into a new design and content development.
• NAMTA’s website is undergoing a complete redesign and will be launched soon. It’ll be more organized and user-friendly.
• Information you can use. Both the e-Newsletter and website are going to feature unique information focused on the art materials business. Sales ideas, training, timely national and international info collected from a variety of sources, commentary from art materials experts and so much more.
• Products and services. An array of training programs, tips and ideas are being produced. Successful sales and marketing programs are being compiled for you. NAMTA is developing new relationships with leading retail groups. The list goes on.
• Updating the 2009 Artists & Art Materials Survey. The plan is to conduct this survey late this year and to announce the results at the 2012 Orlando Trade Show and Conference.
Additionally, the Board has developed and finalized a strategic plan for the association and all of the above activities fit within the parameters of this plan and are in response to your membership survey feedback.
All of this – and more – has been evolving over the past 120 days. A lot of people have been “paddling hard” and you’re going to start seeing the results start to unfold in September and beyond.