Seeing as the other thread has been vaped where this was mentioned :razz:

Guys I spent the night on the web and had a long chat with a solicitor friend of mine

If your genuinly interested in progressing this a little further then put your name down or email me phil@sidc.co.uk

Key Characteristics of a Trade Association

These could take some work but it COULD be achievable

Is Effective


Is properly resourced. Successful both in generating income from members' subscriptions and from sales of services to members, and to others

Is professional and ethical in its approach. Attracts and retains high calibre staff. Pulls in services of high level people from member companies for representation and policy development purposes when necessary

Has a business plan which sets out its mission, a clear strategy and priority areas. Developed in consultation with members. Monitors progress against it

Makes best use of appropriate information technology to minimise costs and improve quality of its services to members

Is legitimate

Represents a discrete commercial or industrial sector and seeks to cover all products, services and processes

Members represent substantial proportion of sector (in terms of output or numbers of companies)

Governing Council includes representatives from the largest companies in the sector and a good cross-section of other members. Meets sufficiently regularly to direct action/strategy
Broadly-based membership with both large and small businesses and the key players

Enjoys active participation of a representative cross-section of its members. Is responsive to their views

Is Progressive

Promotes co-operation within the sector, and between the sector, its customers and suppliers, to enhance international competitiveness

Forms appropriate links with other representative bodies, to ensure that services are supplied to its members with the minimum of duplication, and in the most effective manner.

Adopts best practices in quality assurance, financial management and control, and training and development of staff

Prepared to work with non-members where appropriate and co-operates with other associations in allied sectors on matters of joint concern

Services

Works proactively to improve the members'/sector's profitability and competitiveness

Works effectively to represent the members'/sector's interests at all levels of the legislative and regulatory process

Supplies information and advice to members

Promotes good public relations and communications

Promotes market opportunities

Promotes training and education

Promotes standards and product/service quality

Promotes innovation and technology transfer

Offers commercial benefits

Phil,

I think the general idea is very good, but do you think there are enough specialist Subaru companies to make this work ?

How many do you think would be needed ?


Mark.

Hence the question "Who is interested" Mark

I would guess you would need at least 20 members to start with

If you trawl some of the smaller regional forums there are many companies out there that are unable to afford or want to advertise here indeed many companies steer away from forums altogether for a variety of reasons.

Of course there is also 100 Subaru Main dealers which are independant garages anyway

Phil,


Ok, thanks. I have no experience of these things, and just want to get a better idea.


Mark.

Is new to me mate just spent all evening reading up on things as I think its a good idea IF everybody is up for it

Welcome to trust a trader.com - The UK's premier trades services directory (http://www.trustatrader.com) offers a feedback service for traders

Although its expensive and you need to be a member of a trade association

I think it is generally a good idea.

But as you stated above, there are many many smaller specialists who either cannot afford to advertise on here, or choose to avoid forums.

It would therefore take someone to locate/contact all these companies initially in order to generate enough interest.

Problem is, who is willing to spend their own, probably un-paid and un-appreciated, time doing such a thing..?

There also needs to be some independence from the traders, so there is no question of bias.

That said, is it as easy to delete a "Trade Association", as it is to delete a thread ? :rolleyes:


Mark.

I am sure you could have some independant respected people much like the mods on here

Of course it would have to be accepted by the majority for it to work

As it was my idea, I s'pose I better be the first to sign up. If it costs per year for membership, then it costs that is part of business life.

I'm in.

David APi

:thumb:

Funny enough David I have just emailed you

Subject to confirmation of the details, I would be in too.


Mark.

There also needs to be some independence from the traders, so there is no question of bias.

That said, is it as easy to delete a "Trade Association", as it is to delete a thread ? :rolleyes:


Mark.

"It's my ball and if you want to play, it's by my rules!" :hjtwofing

how would it be funded and would size of business/turn-over change that cost??
what "teeth" would it have in the event of a problem

alyn

hi Alyn

I would imagine there would need to be several tiers

there would also need to be some split between just suppliers and Garages

We need a potential members conference to thrash out objectives etc. I nominate Maui it has excellent resources for such an important occasion.

Not cheap sure, but think of the admiration we will get from the public for having to endure a 20 hour flight and all the attendant jet lag - just to make the world a better place for the Subaru community.

Sacrifices we have to make sometimes.....................

Sort of like the G8, but without the BULLSH*T

:lol1:

David

We need a potential members conference to thrash out objectives etc. I nominate Maui it has excellent resources for such an important occasion.

David

Sorry David, Maui just doesn't fit the Subaru image!

Found you somewhere else more appropriate that also has a beach and excellent amenities!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Bognor_Regis_nameboard.jpg/800px-Bognor_Regis_nameboard.jpg

;) :D

Sorry David, Maui just doesn't fit the Subaru image!

Found you somewhere else more appropriate that also has a beach and excellent amenities!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Bognor_Regis_nameboard.jpg/800px-Bognor_Regis_nameboard.jpg

;) :D


Look at the colour of that Sky !! Plonker! :D