Letter from Executive Director, Marcel Avargues.

9th December, 2011

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Dear ERA Europe Members

After careful evaluation of our current dues model, the Financial and Executive Committees have presented to the Board an evolution of the model for the 2012 membership of ERA Europe. This new model was unanimously approved by the Board and will be presented for validation to the General Assembly of members, January 27, in Ljubljana.

The 2012 dues model has three global objectives:

1. Reflect the actual and current business models in our industry
2. Update smoothly the values of our dues schedules – which have remained unchanged for 7 years – and allowance in the future for optional annual small adjustments, based on a general European price index
3. To be fair to all categories and sizes of members, and consequently foster an honest application of the model by each and every member of ERA Europe.

The 6 key features of the 2012 model are:

1. Clarification of the nature of D2C channels included in the revenue base for retailers and product marketers
2. Inclusion of 50% of Retail revenues on D2C products, in the revenue base for retailers and product marketers
3. Adjustment of the dues level brackets for inflation (limits to reach the next level are 20% higher)
4. 3.3 % adjustment of dues amount at each level, for inflation
5. Creation of a ‘three dues levels’ model for associate members and sole proprietor categories
6. Adjustment of the additional dues model for ERA UK members – only top dues members pay €1000. There is now a decreasing sliding scale for lower dues levels.

ERA Europe members will receive before December 15:

1. The new dues schedule for their category and territory of membership (DUES SCHEDULES 2012 )
2. A proforma invoice reflecting their 2011 dues level
3. If you are a retailer or product marketer,  we have created a DUES DETERMINATION TEMPLATE 2012 which members are encouraged to use to determine their 2012 dues level and amount.  (This is a protected Excel spreadsheet. Entering the values of different sections of your company revenues will automatically display your appropriate dues level and dues amount. We don’t need to receive this template back! It is a tool to help you determine your 2012 dues level, on the basis of your expected 2011 revenues..

You will have to indicate to Marcel Avargues, director of ERA EUROPE, the appropriate dues level for your company. If it does not change in 2012, please simply use the proforma invoice you will have received to make your payment by bank transfer.

Online Payment

This year members can renew their membership and settle their dues payment online. Please connect to the Membership renewal pages, and follow the simple instructions. Members will have the opportunity to provide us with current contact information, pay by Credit Card or Bank Transfer, and have an invoice printed immediately.

Members can, at the same time, register for the 2012 Annual Members Meeting in Ljubljana – January 26-27, making a single transaction for both.

We hope you will find this useful and that it will facilitate and accelerate your membership dues payment and annual meeting registration. Your cooperation and diligent processing are key to streamlining our administrative tasks (I should say MY administrative tasks since I am personally taking care of this process….No unnecessary overheads at ERA EUROPE!). Please minimize in 2012 the number of kind reminders I have to send every year…

Don’ t hesitate to call me: + 33(0)6 70 57 44 10 for any comments or questions you may have.

Looking forward to receiving soon in December, the confirmation of you continuous support of ERA Europe.

Warm personal regards

Marcel Avargues

Executive Director, ERA Europe

tel: +33(0) 9 63 63 94 42  | fax: + 33 (0)1 34 89 22 48

CC: John Mills – Chairman of the Board; Matthias Epp – Treasurer; Julian Oberndoerfer – Chair elect.

We’re delighted to announce that, fresh from our December early bird discount, we have a new fantastic offer for those who missed out. Until midnight on January 31st we are offering a ‘Happy 2010′ Early Bird Discount of €100.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to the online registration form on the Electronic HomeShopping Conference website
2. Click the Registration 2010 link
3. Simply follow the instructions, and the €100 discount will be applied as you pay

Save €150 on your Electronic HomeShopping Conference 2010 registration NOW!

Valid only through the month of December – so make sure you don’t miss it – sign up now! Here’s how it works…

1. Go to the online registration form on the Electronic HomeShopping Conference website
2. Click the Registration 2010 link
3. Simply follow the instructions, and the €150 discount will be applied as you pay

“Your timing is perfect. You’ve come in the direct response business at the right moment in history.”

NOTE: You can also read a full transcript here

It’s a fantastic setting for business, we have a great spread of educational content with atremendous line-up of speakers, and we have some of the best networking events you could imagine.

So we’re really looking forward to seeing you there!

Oh, and make sure you don’t miss our keynote speaker Richard Rosen at the Leadership Luncheon on monday. He’s an awesome speaker, but not only that, his revolutionary ideas on marketing and advertising will be sure to fill your head with ideas. Expect him to draw heavily on his most recently published marketing book, Convergence Marketing. To get you in the mood, here’s a highly irreverent, recently published ad for it. Enjoy!