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Marketing groups have been an integral part of the industry since 1968 when SIED was formed. Today, over 1200 distributors belong to groups; their members represent over $20 billion of industry sales (to end-users); and over 100 manufacturer (and/or divisions) belong to one of the two groups (A-D and IMARK).

Given the nature of the industry, groups, manufacturer concerns, distributor profitability issues and more, this leads us to the question ... (and all answers are anonymous)

Question Title

* What is the value of a marketing group to a manufacturer that has been in the group more than 5 years? (Please check all that are applicable)

More efficient means to market

Networking benefits with distributors

Customer retention ... if we're not involved we're at a competitive disadvantage

Networking benefits with manufacturers

Industry networking

Enables us to reduce operational costs - negotiate and administer one rebate program

A way to extort money that should be funneled directly to distributors

To help manufacturers grow their business at a rate greater than non-group distributors

Provide tools to help a distributor grow their business

To provide distributors with additional profitability

There is no value anymore, we're captive

A profit generator / guarantor for distributors

Additional information communication vehicle for manufacturers

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* If you are a manufacturer, describe your growth through the groups (click all that apply)

Faster through the groups than my other distributors

At the same rate as my other business

Slower than most of my national chains (on average)

One group significant outperforms the other

Question Title

* What additional value do you think marketing groups should offer manufacturers? Distributors?

Question Title

* Are you a ...

Manufacturer

Distributor