Mature industries have trade associations and responsible companies in those industries join their trade associations as a matter of course. 

The PC Association is a true trade association. Its objective is to do things that will benefit its membership. Thus, whilst it does that and provides those things listed below, it is also at the command of its members – it is the tool and servant of its members whilst simultaneously being an authority for them. So, perhaps we should be asking the question, as a member … what would you like us to do for you?

The main activities and benefits listed below are largely self-explanatory, but we provide some detail and illustration. The benefits are both tangible and intangible and vary depending upon the area of business in which the member is operating. Most of the benefits are applicable in particular to our reatil section , those who sell products to the final user, but new tangible benefits are being added all the time with the latest one for Full Members. They can now exhibit at no cost at the PCA conferences held twice a year a saving of up to £1000!

A picture (of a logo) is worth a thousand words …
Customers like to have third-party endorsements of their buying decisions, they like the feeling of security that comes with buying from a Member of a trade association. Very often they have no idea whether there is any real benefit to be gained from doing so, but in the art of 'crude marketing' that isn’t important.

However, for 'retailers' there is real, tangible benefit to your customers. The proposition goes something like this. 'We are members of our industry association, that means that we must conform to an industry-agreed Code of Practice in our dealings with you, Mr Customer. So you have the extra assurance if anything does go wrong and in the unlikely event of you being unhappy with the solution, you can go to the PC Association and they’ll help to sort things out. And if they find that we’ve flouted the Code of Practice they can publicly sack us.' A pretty powerful marketing tool !

But customer-facing benefit isn’t just limited to consumers. More and more business and government buyers want to buy from members of trade associations. The current BECTA contract requires tenderers to state what industry associations they belong to.

How many customer decisions does the logo have to influence in order for it to pay for your membership? It costs you no extra to make use of it in every means of promotion at your disposal. And remember, it’s not just about you using the logo, its about your competitors using it.

                                                  Company Insurance
                                                  Indemnity Insurance
                                                  Health Insurance Package
                                                  Discount Purchase Offers

The PCA first brought information about CE Marking to the industry, as well as effective guidance notes that have saved members a great deal of money. We were a consultee to the DTI, the UK Government and to the EU regarding the Consumer Guarantee Directive – without us this particular directive would be even more punitive that it is. And in doing this we have kept our members well briefed on they best ways of handling the issues that will arise.

The  'WEEE' directive -Waste Electrical and Electronics Recycling - we were involved in representation to the government in respect of this requirement and been able to advise on this to the members. We have provided guidance notes and some practical solutions to the issues. We have recommended providers of the WEEE solution with preferential rates.

If you aren’t a retailer you’ll still get some of the benefits as detailed, however most distributors and vendors who join us do so because of the benefit of being identified with – and networking with - some of the most respected and successful retailers in the industry.

Companies or individuals who don’t easily see the rightness of joining a trade association aren’t really ready to join one. But if you are one who does see why it makes good sense – we look forward to welcoming you to the Professional Computing Association