Membership Matters

By Robin Greenspan and Katie White

Chances are, you have previously joined--or presently maintain--a membership with a group of like-minded individuals. Perhaps you were either a Cub Scout or Brownie when you were a child? Maybe you belong to the PTA? Or you might be a card-carrying AAA or AARP member? The benefits of membership are advantageous to both our personal lives and careers.

Membership matters. It allows individuals and companies to further advance careers and business practices through industry education and research, shared knowledge and best practices and networking with colleagues. We are pleased to share three upcoming events/member benefits and extremely proud to showcase the companies that have recently joined the ERA community this past membership year.

ERA WEBINAR
"The New Multi-Channel Imperative: How to Reduce Channel Conflict, Drive Sales and Capture Web-Empowered Shoppers," presented by Jeff Molander, CEO, Molander & Associates, Inc. (September 18, 2:30  3:30 pm EST and Free for ERA Members and Retailers; $99 for Nonmember Suppliers. Sponsored by the West Corporation.)

From sellers of knock-off products to comparison shopping search engines, there are plenty of ways for consumers to get lost on the way to your checkout page. This informative webinar examines how DRTV marketers must gain better control of their brands and customer relationships. Participants will learn how to gain control over web-empowered consumers who are continually interrupted while on the way to make purchases.

NEW MEMBER RECEPTION
September 22, 5:00  6:00 pm, Loire Room Paris Hotel in Las Vegas during the ERA Annual Convention. New members are invited to participate in an exclusive reception, joined by ERA mentors, the ERA Board, Platinum Members, the Membership Committee and ERA staff for an excellent networking experience.

OCTOBER MEMBER NETWORKING RECEPTION
October 13, 6:00  7:30 pm, Shadow Bar, Caesars Palace Las Vegas
When it comes to one of the best membership values, its all about the connections (and the cocktails dont hurt, either). The popular ERA networking receptions are the bestvenues for meeting new friends, catching up with old ones and sharing successes and challenges with other professionals in the industry.

WELCOME NEW ERA MEMBERS!
The New ERA Membership Year Kicked Off July 1, and we are Pleased to Recognize Those Companies That Joined us in 2007-2008.
Baker & Hostetler, LLP Screen Actors Guild Dave Petitto Direct Colleen Szot Wonderful Writer, Inc. UQS Global Ltd. Assurz Direct Response Media, Inc. Golden Media Jordan Direct, LLC Latino Media Services Response ADvantage Affiliate Crew BuySAFE, Inc. Dynamic Response Group, Inc. Integrated Marketing, LLC CRT Custom Products, Inc. Schulberg MediaWorks Stage 3 Productions TNS Media Intelligence DirectAvenue, Inc. Ingenio Inc. Beanstalk Media KPI Direct Enventys DIRECT M2G Media, Inc. Victor Results Advertising, Inc. Airtime Media Solutex, Inc. TARGUS Information Corp. Verifi, Inc. Argo Marketing Group, Inc. The Connection	ABC Commercial Services Visible World AtLast Fulfillment Relevant Insights, LLC Digital Commerce Agency, LLC -d Comm Cine Magnetics Digital & Video Laboratories Digital Target Marketing CenterPointTeleservices, LLC Zoom Direct Merchant e-Solutions Infomercial.com, LLC PacNet Services, Ltd. SMP Direct Response Future Thunder Listen Up First Data CCT Marketing Euro-Pro Corporation XM Works, Inc. Dynamic TV Marketing, Inc. For Life Products, Inc. International Commerce Agency, LLC - IComm The Logical Step, LLC InterActiveCorp Boardroom Inc. Wei East AeroGrow International, Inc. Daves International Imports, Inc. Home Shopping Latino Veterans Advantage Inc NexStep, LLC Shadow Boxer International Vision TV Inc X-Brands K. K. Product Trend / Hampton Direct Publications International Advertising Concepts / PMC Trading Bare Escentuals, Inc. Brazilian Basics Greenhouse International, LLC	Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics MindGang US Jesco Intl Ltd., Inc. Hot Spots TV Production Meyvita Corporation mShopper Sandstrom On Tv Valcent Products, Inc. Nexxo Financial Corporation Ronco Acquisition Corporation Santica USA Research Labs, LLC Smart Market Communications TBS Industries, LLC Viatek Home Shopping Network, Inc. (Philippines) Tronix Country, LLC TV Shopping Laboratory Vive Bien Columbia EU Elite Media Group Contour Technology Nautilus, Inc. Asian Sky Shop Ltd., India International Commercial Television Ideavillage International Life Lock, Inc. Whitney Education Group Advanced Products USA, LLC Amazon.com Lipenwald, Inc. Developsmart Ltd. TVAchats inc Helen of Troy LP Lenfest Media Group TuTv Pacific Media Direct LatinamericanEthnic TV

Robin Greenspan is ERAs vice president of membership. She can be reached at (703) 908-1026, or via e-mail at rgreenspan@retailing.org. Katie White is ERAs retailer relations manager. She can be reached at (703) 841-8284, or via e-mail at kwhite@retailing.org.