Annual Meeting, Milan 2010
April 8-9, 2010, the annual General Assembly of the members and leaders of ERA Europe.
Before evening cocktails, Executive Director Marcel Avargues presented the November 2009 Research commissioned by ERA EUROPE. This research and report covered the 2010-12 Perspectives of Distant Selling in the UK and Europe – including a perspective on the growing role of TV Shopping and E-Retailing in European Multichannel Business models. The research was conducted and produced by VERDICT in the UK. (If you’re interested in purchasing a copy of the report Marcel presented please email Marcel)
There then followed a delightful networking dinner at the historic Savini Restaurant, kindly sponsored by MediaShopping. The Friday saw the real business of the General Assembly with addresses by the ERA Leadership, with updates from the Chairs of each of the ERA Europe Committees: Self-Regulation, Government Affairs, Financial, and ERA UK.
Executive Director of ERA Europe, Marcel Avargues opened the meeting with a summary of the past year’s activities and key events, detailing the membership, and looking ahead to the exciting list of speakers already lined up for June’s Electronic HomeShopping Conference in Monte Carlo.
ERA Europe has lost 8 members in the past year but gained 7, and a new member recruitment process is currently underway, seeking to address suppliers to the industry. A separate category of member has also been initiated to encourage smaller operators and start-ups to become part of the association. (video not available)
Address by Chairman, Alexander Chacon. Reflecting on the 7th year of Annual Meetings, bidding farewell to and speaking affectionately of his experiences during to his tenure as Chairman. Alexander welcomed John Mills as his successor in June, and issued a call for members to stand for accession to the Board of Directors of ERA Europe.
Committee reports
John Bramm, Self Regulation Committee. Explaining the importance of the role that Self Regulation plays for our industry, explaining recent initiatives under the programme, and looking forward to the next steps; while also welcoming Studio Moderna’s Eivind Schackt as his successor as committee Chair. Next steps featured forming a new committee; and a call for action to join the committee.
Julien Obendoerfer, ERA Europe Government Affairs. Discussing our very successful lobbying of the European Parliament. In Part 1, Marcel Avargues discusses the quiet past year in Brussels. Part 2: How ERA has become a regular ‘go-to’ point for Brussels; and the next steps for the programme, including the consumer protection in Brussels, and looming issues such as legislation of Video-on-Demand services. ERA will seek to perform a market scan to ascertain the overall position in Europe.
Mike Wells on ERA UK. A summary of the teleshopping industry in the UK reveals generally positive trends, including new products, new players, plenty of airtime available. New advertising codes to be implemented this year, with possible positive being ‘expert testimonials’ (eg men in white coats) becoming more favourable. Fewer interventions from the regulator in the past year, thanks to Self-Reg, and perhaps a change in the regulators attitudes to teleshopping. AVMS being implemented right now.
PLEASE NOTE: ERA conferences and meetings are only accessible to members in good standing. If you have any questions, please contact ERA Europe Executive Director Marcel Avargues
This event was kindly sponsored by 
