Awhile back I asked around the A.R.A. office to see what staffers thought were the most important reasons to belong to the American Rental Association. Here's what they said:

"One-stop shopping for information, answers or guidance to manage your store for better profits."
"Information for better decisions."
"Rental Management magazine - so you know what's really happening in the industry."
"This is your best opportunity available to keep up to date on trends and information for inventory procurement."
"A quality team. Each member is like a molecule - alone, not very effective. But put all the
molecules together to form a whole entity and you become strong, versatile and profitable."
"The ability to network with other rental stores and the volume of information available to members. These two factors will continue to build and strengthen the rental industry and give members an advantage in competing with non-member rental stores."
Rental peers are the helm of our association. Education is both formal and informal. Informal is member-directed - sharing from peers at meetings, conferences and conventions. Formal is provided by the structure of the association: members share information and experience to produce our products, determine the programs, projects and services we produce annually, and determine our educational seminars. Ours is a strongly member-driven association."
"Referrals: the means for members to locate other members in their area for help or discussion, a chance to talk about things."
"Everything! You get the whole enchilada. Membership taps you into a network of 6,000 rental industry professionals with access to a range of vital industry services including education, business development, marketing and governmental representation."
"The product showcase at the annual convention and the Eastern and Western Fall Conferences."
"The resource book for locating equipment."
"The convention."
"The credit card program."
"The R.E.I.F. Lending Library."
"All the materials A.R.A. members get tie them to something bigger than themselves - A.R.A. That can enhance their stature in the marketplace."
"It looks good to have the A.R.A. sign in your store window."
"The advantage you gain by having at your fingertips the sum total of all our services."
"The magazine is a great reason to belong. There is so much information in Rental Management."
"Being part of a larger group, especially when you're working toward the same goal - building a successful rental business and a successful industry."
"Networking with experienced, successful rental people. A rental person doesn't have to be a member to network, but members tell me that they are more likely to share information and business tips with store owners who are members of A.R.A."
"The opportunity to network."
"Education and marketing information."
"Membership gives store owners and their employees access to a wide array of resources. A.R.A. strives to keep members informed via our Web site and Bulletin Board Service, using the latest technology. Members have unlimited access to information as it becomes available. In today's marketplace, rental people need access to an ever-changing landscape of information in order to remain competitive. These systems encourage peer networking, which includes exchanging ideas, perspectives and advice on everything from marketing to human resources."
"The advertising and marketing program, at this moment - especially for an independent rental business. Right now, given the competitive forces arrayed against rental businesses, anything that enhances their competitiveness should be embraced. The advertising and marketing program does just that: it gives them a growing menu of high-quality vehicles that they can use to deliver their messages - at far lower prices than they could buy on their own, for anything comparable."
"Discounts from associate members."
"Members have told me things like this: 'It's a feeling that if we're not members, we're not part of an exciting, energetic group that is focused on my success. But as a member of A.R.A., I am in it together with thousands of others. I have a great support group to share my problems and successes with. Being an entrepreneur can be very lonely, but with A.R.A. you're never alone.'"
So the A.R.A. staff made light work for me this month: the editorial pretty much wrote itself.

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