Membership Development Committee

Mission: To strengthen WMMA® membership participation, retention and recruitment by developing, implementing and supporting new and existing membership benefits. The Committee makes suggestions, observations, and recommendations about membership benefits and activities to the Board of Directors. It promotes existing membership benefits directly to the membership, and promotes our members products to the woodworking marketplace through advertising. To provide identified management tools and information to member companies, which allow them to better develop their businesses. The Committee looks at the profit and cost sides of business; provides guidance to members in finding new sources of revenue; and supplies members with programs enabling increased efficiency and profitability.

An Overview of Programs and Services

Product Guide

The Product Guide located on the WMMA Website is an excellent free benefit to members for sales exposure. WMMA advertising drives buyers to the Product Guide, which receives 5,000 to 10,000 hits per month. Members load their company and contact information, logos and product photos. The Guide features a searchable database to make it easy for buyers to locate exactly what they need.

IWF Show Promotion

The Committee provides members with the opportunity to showcase and demonstrate machinery, cutting tools, supplies and systems during the premier woodworking trade show. Members also receive a 20 percent discount on booth space. For many exhibitors, this savings equals the cost of membership!

In 2008, the Committee promoted the U.S. Technology & Innovation Center — A WMMA Community Project. The objectives of this project were to maintain the economic competitiveness of the American wood industry through a demonstration of new manufacturing methods that improve profitability. Woodworking machinery, cutting tool, and supply manufacturers were all represented in this project. The total solution approach used in the demonstration is a key factor to maintain U.S. wood machinery manufacturing industry competitiveness. Completed kitchen cabinets were donated to Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. Innovative disposal solutions made it a "green" project.

IWF 2008 also featured a WMMA member special event to showcase technologically advanced products at a trade press breakfast.

Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC) Incentive Program

WMMA offers new members a complimentary registration to attend the industry’s leading annual conference.

WIC Mentor Program

First-time attendees are warmly welcomed to ensure that their valuable time is devoted to receiving the maximum benefits of this premier knowledge and networking event.

Baldwin Award

WMMA honors outstanding leaders with the prestigious WMMA Baldwin Award, named for Ralph B. Baldwin, a long-time member and Past President of the WMMA. The award seeks to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the industry, regardless of their affiliation with WMMA. Some activities that warrant consideration are:

• Leadership in WMMA or the IWF Board of Directors
• Active committee involvement
• Innovations introduced to the industry
• Participation in programs that benefit the industry

Meaningful Market and Sales Trends and Economic Forecasting (ITR)

WMMA members are better able to make the right decisions at the right time — helping to increase company profitability — by incorporating accurate economic forecasting data and industry information into the business planning process. The WMMA, through its Business Development Committee, provides a series of programs where members can access the most timely economic forecasting data and wood processing industry information.

The Institute for Trend Research (ITR), a professional research firm that accurately analyzes market/economic trends, provides business planning tools that help enable better forecast sales trends for one to five years. ITR has a long history of accurately projecting when trends will change and their reliable forecasting provides you with the information you need to grow and maximize your capital resources. These resources are provided a membership benefit, most at no cost to members:

• Quarterly Economic Forecasting Reports
• Customized Reports
• ITR Representation at the annual Woodworking Industry Conference.

Industry Information Strategic Initiative

WMMA is a leader in providing meaningful woodworking industry information and data to members to help them make decisions for their business. These include:

• Direct Access to Sales Forecasting Tools
• Links to Valuable Statistical Industry and U.S. Government Data
• Other links to useful information for the CEO and the CFO

Strategic Consultation for Website Development (SVM E-Business Solutions)

In order to assist members with a variety of programs and tools to improve their e-business strategies, including online presence, customer service, lead generation, search engine optimization, among others, the committee has established SVM E-Business Solutions as a recommended WMMA service provider of strategic consultation for website development. SVM provides WMMA members with many free, valuable tools:

• A free E-Business Trend Report through WMMA website — Manufacturers Trend Report
• Free Website Analysis — how to improve members website
• Free website planning guide — questions to ask as members build or update website.
• Subsidized or group discounts for SVM consulting and technical support
• Articles on how to increase the number of leads generated by a website.
• Tested SVM services
• Developed online portal of e-business educational materials — articles, webinars, support materials.

Market Research (Quail Run Business Solutions)

The Committee works to provide meaningful qualitative and quantitative market research information to the members on wood processing market segments, non-wood segments and distribution. Some of these market research studies include:

• Cabinet Manufacturers Report
• Wood Component & Millwork Industry Report,
• The IWF 2008 Buyers' Survey — Planned Attendance, Preferences and Overall Purchasing Intentions

R&D Tax Credit Assistance Program (Black Line Group)

WMMA provides members with R&D Tax Credit information, tools and service which allows them to pursue tax credits if significant and worth time and effort. The Committee has selected Black Line Group, a firm that focuses solely on helping companies take advantage of the R&D Tax Credit. It provides a comprehensive program to the membership. The program offers a discount to members, education and information, through articles and webinars.

Business Planning — Developing a Business Plan

The Committee is dedicated to educating members on the various formal business planning processes and prepare them for strategic planning. Committee-recommended resources help members identify the competitive business models that will work best for their company. The objectives are to identify:

• Usable software to help member companies get started in the planning process and
• Industry consultants to help member companies