SPRINGFIELD, Va. -- The National Association of Shell Marketers (NASM) and Royal Buying Group Inc. (RBG) have entered into an exclusive partnership to offer savings, discounts and consistent convenience store promotional programs to institutional and private Shell marketer stores located in the United States.
This alliance between NASM and RBG will create a strong marketing force within the channel, RBG said, helping NASM members gain a competitive edge in their industry and helping RBG vendor preferred partners introduce new products and programs to [image-nocss] consumers.
As an added incentive for all NASM supplier associate members to integrate with RBG programs, NASM supplier associates will be given credit for any dues paid to NASM on their annual vendor fee with RBG. The vendor fee provides a proprietary web page alliance link and a complete listing in the RBG marketing manual. Each retail location member receives a hard copy of the annual programs that are available.
All RBG preferred vendors also receive one listing in its electronic weekly retailer newsletter. One click brings c-store retailers and suppliers an interactive look at new products, services and programs, categorized and tabbed for easy access and fast information. Each vendor will be able to provide a press release or description of products or services they provide to the industry, a color picture which will be posted on websites and other electronic media and contact information for their company.
NASM vendors will also be able to benefit from The Competitive Edge multi-discount pricing on advertising options. RBG communicates to its members each month through this monthly publication, which keeps members informed of new programs, promotional specials and opportunities. RBG's account representatives call each of its members monthly, reviewing the content of The Competitive Edge to ensure that the member is informed of all promotions and to take orders for any prebook specials currently being promoted.
NASM provides a forum for members to network with their fellow Shell marketers and discuss Shell-specific issues and topics pertaining to the petroleum industry as a whole. Continuing professional assistance and business education is provided for members in the form of a monthly newsletter, legislative and regulatory alerts, meetings, seminars, conventions and daily telephone contact.
RBG, Hinsdale, Ill., is a merchandising and marketing association that negotiates pricing and promotions for convenience retailing locations, as well as providing merchandising support and services to more than 1,300 owner/operators representing more than 5,500 retail locations. RBG said that it benefits its members by selecting, negotiating, implementing and tracking the best possible vendor programs on their behalf.
Springfield, Va.-based NASM was founded in 1974 by Texaco petroleum marketers as a nonprofit organization, and was expanded to include marketers of Shell petroleum products in 1999. As the conversion from Texaco to Shell retail outlets progressed, the association evolved into an exclusively Shell marketer organization. Over the years, NASM has represented the best interests of its members by communicating to government agencies and legislators its position on numerous topics such as mergers, HAZMAT registration fees, OSHA guidelines, national air quality standards, underground and aboveground storage tanks, low sulfur fuel regulations and more.
It has worked closely with the staffs of its members' suppliers, coordinating brand-specific issues concerning marketing and environmental contractual requirements such as brand image, low-sulfur fuel, Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP)/Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) requirements, UST requirements and Shell marketer agreements, thus facilitating marketer compliance.
NASM staff and officials also support the regulatory and legislative agenda of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA) by participating PMAA's annual Washington Conference & Day on the Hill.
And it has coordinated and supported legislative and regulatory issues of interest to petroleum marketers with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (COC) and has taken part in various Washington, D.C., small-business coalitions on issues such as tax reform, ergonomics rules, HAZMAT fees and credit card fees.
NASM also provides support to Shell marketers in helping them to grow the Shell brand.
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