The Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA) has partnered with the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) to offer distributor members the opportunity to help encourage their contractor customers to become members of NTCA. In doing so, CTDA will help increase professionalism of the industry and, of course, participation in industry events such as Total Solutions Plus (TSP).
Participating CTDA members will be asked to allow their order/sales desk and sales personnel to sign up contractors for the NTCA. Your employees will process the application, collect the investment fee with check or credit card, explain the benefits of membership, and send the application to the NTCA for processing.
This program will help overcome some of the common objections contractors have when asked to join NTCA. For example:
- “I don’t have the time to fill out the application.” The order desk representative can complete the application for your top 20 contractor customers. The contractor would only have to sign the application and provide payment.
- “I do not have the money.” NTCA has teamed up with the leading manufacturers of tile, tools and setting materials and created “Partnering for Success.” This is a rewards program for all new and renewing NTCA members in which you pay $600 and receive $1,800 in product vouchers of your choice. The manufacturers giving these free products believe the NTCA is a vehicle to educate contractors on correct systems and installation practices.
- “I don’t have time for the test/certification.” NTCA does not ask its members to take a test or to certify. Certification is offered through the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF).
This membership drive began April 15 and ends September 30, 2013. NTCA is offering incentives to each CTDA distributor member company and their order/sales desk personnel. NTCA will give an Apple iPad to the individual who enrolls the most NTCA members during this period. Additionally, NTCA will have a drawing to provide gifts to three more individuals who enroll at least one new NTCA member. Finally, a (yet to be decided) gift will be given to the CTDA distributor member company whose employees enroll the most new NTCA members. All winners will be announced at Total Solutions Plus in October 2013.
If needed, you can obtain a list of current NTCA contractor members by emailing Jim Olson, assistant executive director of NTCA.
A webinar recording with Olson, describing the recruitment program and answering various questions, is available on the Member’s Only section of the CTDA website.