Collecting Supplies by the case

From: Association of Collecting Clubs
18222 Flower Hill Way #299
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
301.926.8663
Info@Collectors.Org

To: Digital Reprieve, Inc.
From: Association of Collecting Clubs
Subject: ACC Update, Vol 3, No 6, June 21, 2005

Reminder - Join A Club
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On June 16th you should have received an ACC Update featuring the announcement of our new JOIN A CLUB program. We are excited about this new thrust to provide to many new audiences the opportunity for requesting membership information from collecting clubs. This program is on the fast track and if your club contact has not yet responded, we urge you to write info@collectors.org today. We need to know who your contact will be for this program and their e-mail address.

If you are a partner receiving this ACC Update, we welcome you considering getting involved in this program, as well. This means antique mall managers, show managers, collector publications, auctioneers...

Reminder - Global Marketing & Management Program for Clubs
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ACC is busy with Phase I of our Club Global Marketing & Management program, documenting information from clubs with an interest in reaching more international members, and clubs from all countries who may wish to become more "global" in their outreach. All clubs should have received a very short survey on Global Marketing & Management for Collecting Clubs. If you have not yet responded to this survey, we urge you to please do so. go to: http://surveys.collectors.org/globalmarketing/

Thanks.

Club Directory - Time for Update?
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Being in the midst of the "convention season" for many collecting clubs - which often means changes in officers and in contact information - its probably time to take a look at your information on the Club Directory. You can go directly to http://collectors.org/CD/Club_Index.asp to check it out.

You can sort clubs by club name alphabetically, or by type of club. This groups clubs by collecting areas. By "clicking" on any club, you can scroll down and find the form for submitting new or updated information. Or, you can also go directly to this form at: http://collectors.org/CD/Update_Club.asp

The Club Directory on the ACC website is the most up-to-date directory on the Internet. This popular directory is produced by the Association of Collecting Clubs in partnership with CollectingChannel.com and Maloney's Antiques & Collectibles Resource Guide. All entries appear in both the ACC Club Directory and in the Maloney's Antiques & Collectibles Resource Guide.

With over 2,000 clubs currently listed, the directory provides such information as the club name and address, the name of your publication, a description of the club and your website address. In addition, the directory allows visitors to search the clubs by club type, club name, club description or name of club publication. No other directory provides all of this high visibility information on your club...and at no cost to you.

Make sure your club is listed. And, make sure your information is current.

How Would You Like Thousands of Collectors at Your Next Show?
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Your club can conduct a show, receiving great show promotion...and reach thousands of show visitors - and it will be easy!

Another reminder. Several months ago we announced ACC's partnership with dmg world media, whereby collecting clubs can now set up as a "satellite" show (sort of a show within a show) at either the biggest monthly antiques & collectibles show in the Carolinas, or Florida's biggest monthly antique & collectible show! We are passing this information along again because it is an opportunity clubs should strongly consider.

Lydia Sullivan, show manager of the Charlotte Antique & Collectibles Show at Metrolina Expo, and Bethany Coleman, show manager of the West Palm Beach Antique & Collectibles Show, are inviting ACC collecting clubs to consider setting up at one of their monthly shows. The shows are held 12 times a year at both locations.

What are the advantages?

1 - Clubs can sponsor a satellite show within an existing major show with minimal management effort. Producing a show, contracting for facilities, show layout, developing promotion, handling the audience, security, liability and all of the rest of the factors involved means a lot of work, particularly when most clubs have to rely upon volunteers.

2 - The show management will promote the show to far more expanded audiences...on the show's public relations and promotion budget.

3 - Clubs can offer their club members who set-up in the satellite show as dealers far greater show traffic than they can provide at a show run by themselves...including crowds of new potential customers that probably would never get to one of your shows otherwise.

4 - A club operating as a smaller show within a larger show affords an excellent opportunity to provide greater club visibility and membership recruitment potential.

5 - A partnering show with a larger event gives your collecting club additional prestige.

There probably are even more advantages, but we feel the ones listed above build a pretty impressive case for clubs to think about such a venture.

Why would dmg world media offer clubs this opportunity at their Charlotte and West Palm Beach shows, you may be asking? Well, its only fair to list a few advantages it would be for them, as well:

1 - Participating clubs would bring in a new group of dealers with "new" merchandise. (Some of these dealers may become candidates to set-up at other shows sponsored by the show management on a regular basis, thus it potentially becomes a dealer recruitment tool.)

2 - In addition to those setting up in the club section, it is anticipated the club would bring in potential buyers, directly from their membership and beyond, some which may be new to this show.

3 - The club section offers a major, additional "theme" for show promotion and advertising for that particular event.

4 - Show management may wish to consider utilizing the expertise of the club membership in offering an appraisal component in the specific subject area(s) of the participating club, or as a knowledge resource in other ways.

5 - Partnering with collecting clubs is good public relations not only for the show in which the club is participating, but for continual involvement in the future.

ACC feels this is a great win-win opportunity both for the clubs and the shows...and, for that matter the show attendees. If you have questions, please let us know at info@collectors.org. You may also feel free to contact either Lydia or Bethany directly. Their respective e-mail addresses are: lydiasullivan@us.dmgworldmedia.com and bethanycoleman@us.dmgworldmedia.com When contacting Lydia or Bethany we would appreciate being copied on the e-mail at info@collectors.org. Thanks. More information on both shows is available at the website: http://www.dmgantiqueshows.com

Please remember that the scheduling for these shows is done months in advance. You will need to plan ahead and have some possible optional dates if the show managers cannot accommodate you with your first preference. This is new territory for all of us, but a great opportunity.

That's all for now. Let us know any time that we can be of assistance.

Larry Krug & Rick Moses
Association of Collecting Clubs
18222 Flower Hill Way #299
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
301.926.8663
info@collectors.org
http://collectors.org

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