ERA MANAGEMENT & MARKETING CONFERENCE – ERA National Conferences are unique educational and networking events devoted to management and sales issues shared by reps, manufacturers and distributors. Attendees have given recent conference outstanding ROI ratings.

FREE BIMONTHLY TELEFORUMS and access to eight years worth of programs in the ERA Teleforum Library offer distributors insight to sessions focused on field-based activities between reps and distributors. The teleforums are conducted by ERA sales consultant and professional coach Nicki Weiss. One or more veteran reps, manufacturers or distributors also co-facilitates each session.

THE REPRESENTOR magazine is a quarterly periodical of 36-48 pages produced for reps, manufacturers and distributors. It is sent to all ERA members at no charge. The content covers: field sales processes; rep firm and sales management; marketing; rep-principal relationships; legal, tax, public relations, sales and technology advice columns; industry news; plus ERA chapter and marketing group news. ERA will be adding a Distribution Voice action to The Representor to allow distributors to express their opinions on topics key to the success of their companies and their channel partners.

QUICK CONNECTIONS newsletter is a monthly electronic newsletter sent to all ERA members. The newsletter content covers: current industry news; market reports; sales, marketing and management solutions; and ERA news.

ERA UNIVERSITY provides member firm personnel, family members and others with hundreds of online business and personal development courses offered for only $79 per course (for 12 lessons or 24 hours of instruction).

CERTIFIED SALES PROFESSIONAL (CSP) PROGRAM – Offered through MRERF, the multi-day Certified Sales Professional (CSP) program is offered throughout each year in various North American cities and is recommended for salespeople in both rep firms and distributor companies.

CHAPTER PROGRAMMING allows distributors to share DTAM information on a confidential basis to develop territory reports that assist reps, suppliers and distributors.

ERA WEBINAR LIBRARY is a series of programs featuring many speakers/presenters covering topics targeted to company owners/managers, all salespeople, manufacturers and/or distributors.

ERA MEMBER SURVEYS are conducted frequently to help members benchmark their company operations and compare best practices with peers. Results of the surveys are emailed and available online to all ERA members.

LOCAL EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS AND EVENTS at which distributors can gain a better understanding of what drives their industry partners (reps and vendors and in some cases customers). Members can learn what motivates their partners; learn best practices for field sales interaction, partnering and communications; and learn how to be more efficient.

SOCIAL MEDIA – ERA’s LinkedIn Group, Twitter and Facebook social media channels offer members the opportunity to strengthen connections with industry peers in an exclusive professional social media forum.

ERA MANAGEMENT & MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE offers distributors the ability to interact and learn with industry peers, manufacturers and reps.

CHAPTER PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS provide distributors with the opportunity to participate in social outings and networking breakfasts/luncheons hosted regularly by a number of ERA chapters.

LOCAL MEETINGS offer distributors the opportunity to meet face to face, make new industry acquaintances and expand their professional network.

INDUSTRY UPDATES provide opportunities to learn more about what is going on in the local marketplace and stay on top of industry happenings.

CONFIDENTIAL MATCHMAKING SERVICE allows members seeking new personnel, alliances and/or buy-sell-merge opportunities to advertise to fellow members via free targeted emails. For details, contact Stephanie Tierney at 815-931-9095 or stierney@era.org.

EXPERT ACCESS is a free service to members offering telephone consultations with ERA professional resources in these fields: Legal; Fiscal and Taxes; Insurance; Rep and Distributor Recruitment and Management; Starts-Ups; Strategic Planning; and Buy/Sell/Merge Opportunities.

MEMBER RATES offer a discount of 20 percent for classified advertising and a display ads package (four ads for the price of three when four consecutive insertions are ordered) in The Representor magazine. For details, contact Stephanie Tierney at 815-931-9095 or stierney@era.org.

Among the many intangible benefits of membership are ERA’s many outreach and collaborative efforts, including as:

A member of the Small Business Legislative Council;
A member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce;
A co-sponsor of the annual Electronics Distribution Show;
A working partner with ECIA, MANA, NEMRA and other rep associations in various industries; and
The founder and supporting member of the Manufacturers’ Representatives Educational Research Foundation (MRERF), sponsor of the Certified Sales Professional (CSP), Certified Professional Manufacturers’ Representative (CPMR) and Manufacturers Best Practice (MBP) programs.

Recognized Resource suppliers provide ERA members with services and discounts tailored to meet the needs of reps, manufacturers and distributors.

They include:

• UPS shipping services
• Office Depot and Pennywise Office Products
• Avis and Hertz Auto Rentals
• Empowering Systems, RPMS, Eyond MRS Software and Perfection Data
• Services to assist with rep and distributor recruitment, management and training, strategic planning, employee or prospective employee testing and evaluation, POS and other customized reporting, executive searches and recruitment, start-ups and more.