Winter 2014            
Free ALA Webinars 
Exclusively for Reps 

Click here to access the following titles:

-Getting Paid for Your Success as a Manufacturers Rep

-How to Increase Line Profitability 

-Sales Tools That Win

Log-in information:
Username: freemembervideos
Password: 2015training
 
Free Educational Resources for Reps

Your membership with ALA gives you access to these resources designed for reps*:

-A great tool to use for your year-end meetings to reinforce the value of a rep.

-A list of questions to ask a manufacturer that will help you build a mutually beneficial relationship. 

-A guide for making your manufacturer visits to the territory successful and profitable. Includes territory call checklist.

-Additional resources are available for a fee, including contract guidelines and templates, educational opportunities and more!

*Resources are provided 
of which ALA is a member.
 
Need assistance to 
attend ALA's Annual Conference?

ALA has recently contacted all member manufacturers to request they consider offering free or discounted conference registrations to their reps as sales incentives. 

Keep an eye out for ALA Conference registration incentives your manufacturers may be offering this year! 
Improve Yourself and Your Business in 2015

With a new year right around the corner, the topic of new beginnings is on everyone's minds. Whether you're planning to revamp your sales tactics, grow your business, or improve your industry relationships, there are a variety of educational and networking resources available to assist manufacturers representatives in reaching their goals. 
Manufacturers Representatives Educational Research Foundation

If you have been waiting to enroll
in the Certified Professional Manufacturers Representative course for January 2015, now is the time, as there are an extremely limited number of seats available. ALA members receive a $300 discount on CPMR, which helps representatives run a more effective firm. 

Brody Foy, ALA member and sales representative for Western Lighting, has found the CPMR program to be extremely beneficial to his business. If you have questions or comments regarding this program, you may contact Brody at [email protected]. 

Additionally, you may want to alert your manufacturers that there is a Manufacturers' Best Practices seminar Jan. 6-7, 2015. This will be two days filled with good information about strengthening their rep network.

Certified Lighting Manufacturers
Representative

The American Lighting Association offers the Certified Lighting Manufacturers Representative (CLMR) program as a means to recognize the important role manufacturers representatives play in the lighting industry, as well as to assist in training those new to the business. 

To earn ALA's CLMR designation, manufacturers representatives must satisfy ALA's membership and industry experience requirements, complete the required number of training courses, and return the CLMR application, along with three letters of recommendation. Additionally, CLMRs must re-certify every two years by earning 2 CLC or sales/management credit hours through ALA-approved training. 

For more information on becoming a CLMR, please visit ALA's website. 
2015 ALA Annual Conference

ALA's annual conference is truly where the industry players meet. As a manufacturers representative, it is particularly important to grow a network within your industry. This year, ALA's Conference Committee has plenty in store to benefit its members. The association is reviewing plans to re-vamp and improve the manufacturers' booth exhibits during the event, looking for new seminar topics and speakers, and thinking of innovative ways to connect members.

If you have not registered for the 2015 ALA Annual Conference in Huntington Beach, Calif., there is no better time than now. Visit www.alaconference.com to download a registration form. 

We look forward to seeing you there!