Taking Advantage of your Association Memberships

Choosing the Contractor's Association that’s Right for You

There are dozens of associations out there for the construction and remodeling industry. You can segment by location -Western States Roofing Contractors Association, industry - Resilient Floor Covering Institute or even demographic - National Association of Women in Construction. But how do you know which association is going to bring the most benefit to your company.  Many small business owners join for the networking opportunities, some join for the prestige of affiliation and others still join because their ‘competitor is a member.’ 

It’s easy to forget the real reason that associations exist and the true benefit behind their membership.  Associations represent the voice of the construction industry.  They rally for you in Washington and they provide insider industry information that you can’t find anywhere else.  Additionally they can provide extensive networking opportunities.  The key is to use these to your advantage.  Say ‘yes’ to becoming a guest speaker or a ‘featured monthly member.’ With networking, measuring your return on investment in relation to brand recognition can be difficult, that’s where your discount benefits come into play.

One often underutilized feature of most associations is their discount program or preferred vendor list.  Associations utilize their collective bargaining power to provide you with deep discounts, from freight shipping to insurance and office supplies.  These discounts are usually listed under the benefits section in the membership area.  These programs allow your company to calculate your return with concrete numbers.

Let’s take FreightCenter’s discount program as an example.  Members of the Wall and Ceiling Alliance can save up to 70% off traditional carrier rates through their partnership program.  Let’s say you were shipping 3 pallets of tin siding from Tampa, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia. The average rate for a traditional carrier is around $156.79, while FreightCenter’s association discounted rate came out to $72.80.  If this was a continuous monthly shipment, you would save over $1,000 annually off this one benefit.

Many associations also provide discounts on National trade shows that you are already attending. Calculate the savings on rental space, sponsorships and booth shipping.  

Before joining an association, take a look at the free educational opportunities they provide.  This can be a perfect opportunity for you to help educate your employees on industry practices without having to come out of pocket.  Many organizations offer free seminars, webinars and discounts on certifications. 

Don’t forget – without members, associations don’t exist!  If you’ve already paid your annual dues and haven’t been reaping the benefits, you always have the power of suggestion.  Association staff and board members want to hear from you! Contact your organization and suggest they add a cost savings program to their membership benefits and start advantage of your memberships.