Helping independent
retailers improve
business practices and results
The Association’s
direction, benefits and activities are set by members’ needs and
interests. Formal activities and benefits include:
- Xtra Club Card
Program. This loyalty (frequent shopper) program was designed by
members to increase sales by identifying “Diamond Shoppers”
and offering incentives that keep their patronage. Administrative costs
of the program are kept low because overhead costs are shared by many
participating merchants.
- Medical Insurance.
Members and their employees may join one of the largest nationwide plans.
Benefits and costs are competitive with large group plans for 5,000
or more participants.
- Group Purchasing.
XMA does more than negotiate discounts. It researches vendors, products,
and services. Members satisfaction is tracked and shared. The Association
intercedes on behalf of members to resolve problems and bring about
improvements. Financial services, point-of-sale systems, refrigeration
and air conditioning repair, speciality products, accounting services,
medical coverage, and security are examples of current endeavors.
- e-Commerce.
Access to traffic and margin building electronic
products that members can ring-up at checkout are being extended
to include: bill paying, money transfers, check
cashing, investment clubs, emergency advances, and philanthropic programs.
Internet listings and messaging service are maintained for members.
Web sites, fax broadcasting, and other services are also available.
- User Groups.
User groups the Association has helped organize include: MXDL Millennium
for users of DataLiquor systems; CRISP ‘n Lean for users of CRISP
store management systems; and, CHEX for users of Vx Check
Management Systems.
- Community Service.
XMA sponsors the National Philanthropic Association’s Give To Get
program, the Small Business Investment Club of America, and other community
building activities.
- Best Practice Development. Most merchants have difficulty finding time to keep-up with trends and think about their businesses. XMA helps members share the load. Recent projects include: Check Management; Realtime Inventory Control; Automatic Replenishment; Realtime Reporting & Control; Product Category Diagnostics; and, Customer Relationship Management.
Many members find the opportunity for business networking and other informal activities with like-minded entrepreneurs —talking over potential solutions for a personnel problem, for example — to be as valuable as the Association’s formal programs.
Membership is open to all independent retailers. Special interest groups have been organized by members to address issues of particular importance to specific types of retailers. The supermarket, independent grocer, and alcohol beverage store interest groups are especially active.
