- This topic has 35 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated 18 years, 6 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Following the last UKW meeting in Sibson it was agreed and ratified by all present that we should proceed with the formation and launch of the “Whitegoods Trade association “
This has now been done and has gone “live” this evening. Our purpose will be to:” Support the Independent Service Industry” in whatever way we can.
Just as a taster I can tell you some of the issues to be addressed:
- · Lack of Technical information
· Spares pricing
· Training issues (Including CORGI)
· The development of an accountable identity card scheme for WTA members.
· These are to name just a fewThis will be a stand alone organisation alongside UK Whitegoods and will use some of the UKW resources that are placed at its disposal. And will be operated by its members for the mutual benefit of its members.
So what does this mean in real terms? Well if you are already a subscriber you will automatically become a member of the WTA.
What was the Subscribers Forum will become the WTA forum and all members will have access.
If you are not currently a subscriber and wish to be a member of the WTA then please follow THIS LINK which will put you in touch with the team and THIS LINK to find out more about what the association is about.
Regards
Lawrence.Re: Whitegoods Trade Association
Below are the minutes of the first WTA meeting:
________________________________________________________
Minutes of WTA Meeting 28.9.7.
Further to the foundation of the “Whitegoods Trade Association” (“WTA”) at the UKWhitegoods meeting held at the Millers Hotel, Sibson on 28.9.7., the association met formally for the first time on the evening of the same date.
Lawrence chair for the meeting, Chris secretary for the meeting.
Mission Statement.
“Support the Independent Service Industry”
Committee,
Accepted by Members present:
Adrian (Washdoctor).
Brian (R600A)
Chris (Penguin45)
Jim (Iadom)
Lawrence (Lawrence)
Sean (Del)
Steve (Aqualectric)Ken (kwatt) also co-opted by the Committee due to not being eligible for election.
Elected committee members to serve 2 years and then be subject to re-election.
A forum for the use of the WTA Committee is to be set up on UKWhitegoods website.
The current Subscribers forum is to become the WTA Members forum.
Immediate Objectives.
Establish clarity and transparency in all WTA activities.
To further investigate issues arising from:
1) Availability and quality of technical information.
2) Spares pricing.
3) Specific CORGI issues pertaining to the whitegoods industry.Long-term Objectives.
1) Share and develop work opportunities with each other.
2) Develop an accountable identity card scheme for WTA members.
3) Investigate corporate purchasing power.
4) Pursue more favourable rates for repairs.Chris Chantrell,
Secretary for the Meeting.Hi Clive,
It is. 😉
It will likely get revised to make sure the info is up to date and fresh anyway.
K.
Re: Whitegoods Trade Association
I would like to thank all concernered with organising the get together, and would urge all members to get behind WTA
I myself found the day most informative 🙂Re: Whitegoods Trade Association
Thanks Barney, we do try to entertain. 😉
I hope to have some more information up over the next few days for everyone but I’ve spent most of this week so far just trying to catch up on the last two.
K.
Re: Whitegoods Trade Association
Would it be possible to post the minutes on the WTA site? Anyone visiting that site would be a little confused reading this : –
WTA website wrote:The minutes of the first official meeting of the new association are available freely in the General Trade Forum as well as the TA Forum.
😉
Re: Whitegoods Trade Association
Agreed..
I went wappy at DASA regards their poor commmunication, and I have to say I haven’t seen a lot regards the inaugral meeting, and I’m a member of the TA.
I gather DASA sent a representative who addressed the meeting, and I can find no record of that either.
Alex
Re: Whitegoods Trade Association
Neil addressed the UKW meeting and left before the evening meeting of the WTA.
Chris.
Re: Whitegoods Trade Association
Alex wrote:I gather DASA sent a representative who addressed the meeting, and I can find no record of that either.
Not in any official capacity that I am aware of, there was some discussion regarding DASA but that was all it was, a discussion between the people there. It was not an official representation so far as I am concerned and DASA didn’t “send” anyone, there just happened to be DASA members there.
You also have to remember that this was a discussion “in the round” as it were, not an officious meeting, more an open discussion.
K.
Re: Whitegoods Trade Association
Neil & Dave were there but not in an official capacity to my knowledge ,
the concept of the WTA was discussed and the principle was agreed .
We then agreed to have a meeting throughout the evening with regard to where we go and how we get there ,this is what the minutes relate to .
Any questions with regard to the meeting just ask .
LawrenceRe: Whitegoods Trade Association
I went because I wanted to go and because I have not been for a long time 😳 . Now I can relax and uncross my legs 😳 8) .
Dave
Re: Whitegoods Trade Association
The next UKW meeting takes place shortly and I thought that now perhaps might just be an appropriate moment for me to convey my thoughts over the founding of the Whitegoods Trade Association. Born ‘off the back’ if you like, of the seemingly indifferent attitude that DASA has portrayed itself toward the trade in recent years. Created to some extent, it would appear, by some former DASA members anxious to fill the apparent void?
‘Off the back’ maybe, in as much as the concept was originally formed by a small nucleus of UKW members that already subscribed to UKW through the appropriately entitled ‘Subscribers Forum’. Whilst the forum was intended to be the basics of a dedicated group of tradesmen anxious to show their allegiance to the trade in general in whatever way they could. Collectively attempting to create a better, more vibrant, united group within the trade and by putting a small sum of money into a ‘kitty’ each year. That money to be used providing facilities toward whatever was deemed necessary.
The most forthright example of those subscriptions was by funding a better and more efficient Internet server that, since its commissioning, has provided everyone logging on to UKW a faster connection with no lock-ups or errors, for the most part at least. That is just one example of what the founder members, myself included, have provided. UKW has benefited greatly as a result and we are quite chuffed knowing that a small handful of trade members have done their bit for all to enjoy. A collective result that’s for sure!
It’s been quite a while now since that came about and though the subs fund continued, fewer creative ideas were forthcoming as to what else our money could fund? I hasten to add that the money’s involved were very small indeed and what ideas we could come up with would be modest in the extreme due to the small group of subscribers and very little capital injection overall.
In June 2007 a fellow subscriber asked the members of the Subs forum, if they would consider the idea of forming a trade association? I, for my sins, argued against such a preposterous idea. Citing the recent progressive demise of DASA and all that has been voiced by many here within the UKW forums against its significance and potential influence in today’s declining trade environment. From my viewpoint at least the words ‘toothless dog’ sprang to mind?
Notwithstanding a ‘vote’ was taken and 84{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of the members responded and voted yes to the idea, (27 out of the 35 members in fact – a convincing margin) Therein the wheels were set in motion and by and by at the next available UKW meeting, at Sibson in September 2007, a ‘Steering Committee’ was elected and the die was cast. A dedicated website was up and running in no time at all and the ‘Members Charter’ was adopted using the already established principals of those wishing to freely subscribe to the ‘repairs@ scheme’. Within 3 months of the idea being muted, the WTA was created and at that point the Subs Forum was no more!
The Steering Committee since that time have busied themselves with representations to the likes of the Department of Trade and the Office of Fair Trading to name but two channels to my certain knowledge. So it would appear that from the inside at least, something has been done to get the WTA off the ground. And from the outsider public viewpoint the publicity machine has been busy promoting the UKW
Website and its ‘build them better to last longer, less waste and buy an ISE machine’, prevails as the paramount business theme.The Whitegoods Trade Association is clearly a great additional asset for UKW Ltd and it’s direct link to it so very obvious to even the most casual observer. To many though its affiliation will be of great concern regarding the overall concept of any trade association being seen as showing impartiality as the prerequisite. Any TA has to be seen to be totally neutral and an effective arbiter between the general public and it’s membership. It would be hard to imagine that the WTA could mediate between an aggrieved customer and its member in dispute over a faulty ISE machine, when the WTA and UKW are so conspicuously bonded together?
To put those incontrovertible facts aside for a moment, let’s try to look at what possible benefit the public could gain from such an association? Their perception of trade associations in general is apathetic in the extreme. And it appears even government sponsored ‘Trustmark’ schemes are failing to provide the public awareness and support in the way as was originally conceived. The public at large simply aren’t interested. The sight of a trade association logo on someone’s advertisement means nothing to them. Yet many trades pay extortionate fees in qualifying to bear these ‘badges of honour’ in the fervent hope of attracting more business? Many are meaningless and totally ineffectual as a general rule these days anyway, leading to the overall decline in associations and their membership levels. From our own trade we can see that DASA membership has declined dramatically in recent years. It’s effectiveness and meaning lost in the general decline of the trade being quite apparent.
It is impossible to imagine that a new trade association could be born from the ashes and debris of it’s neighbouring brotherhood’s example? That a ‘new approach’ or ‘different directive’ could be instigated and put into place when there is little apparent need? For anyone to expect the buying public to suddenly revolt against the cheap yet effective products in today’s marketplace and demand better built and more expensive alternatives needs psychopathic help. To imagine a world where quality is in demand no matter at what cost? Then you must be travelling in a parallel universe or on some kind of hallucinatory medication? It will never come to pass my friend.
The thought of a collective group of association members waving their banner whilst banging on the manufacturers, wholesalers or work providers desks asking for more? Then they, without doubt, are stuck firmly in a Dickensian time warp and no mistake. ‘We want cheaper spares pricing!’……….’We demand more money for fixing your machines!’…….’Give us more technical support!’ they cry…..yeah right!!!
27 or so men, all good and strong no doubt. Full of pure thoughts, high morals and well meaning. Against a trade that has transformed a product of complex engineering into a short-term cheap disposable ‘made in the former eastern block or Asia’ type of rubbish. And henceforth directed toward a public indifferent to any alternative. They demand cheap and get cheap albeit that even the ‘sheds’ are finding the climate hard in the financially bereft marketplace we bear witness to today. The balance is one-sided in the extreme. King Canute would be proud of you though…oh yes….you all clearly share his optimism that’s for sure!
So I for one am convinced if there could possibly be a purpose in anyone joining the WTA is if they conform to all that UK Whitegoods Ltd actively promote. Selling and servicing ISE Ltd products and sharing the spoils of that well established strategy. I suspect that in the fullness of time WTA members may also be able to get additional discounts on selling ISE branded goods and services perhaps? Beyond that and for anyone unable to sell and service an ISE machine there really is little incentive in joining.It goes without saying that as with most TA’s the “what benefit is there for me in signing up?” has to be addressed and the WTA is no exception. First and foremost you have the inalienable right to publish the WTA logo, your repairs@ listing shows you as an official WTA member and you can impress your customers with an official WTA personal ID Card if you wish. I suspect they may also offer special member discounts on certain trade purchases and requisites in line with the sort of benefits DASA use themselves as a kind of influential ‘carrot dangling exercise’.
Since UK Whitegood’s inception back in June 2003 it has attracted a great deal of interest from the trade and many individuals and companies have joined up to the repairs@ scheme. And have willingly signed up to the obligatory code of practice that scheme has instigated. A freely given and freely taken facility many have enjoyed and benefited from over the years. Likewise the invaluable help and advice given so unreservedly by hundreds over the years, has enhanced the trade without question or doubt.It is also a well-versed fact that in all that time those that have participated and commented about DASA have been less than kind about it, myself included. The overwhelming conclusion any right minded person would take from all that is that TA’s have long since had their day. During my time as a moderator on UKW it was generally agreed and accepted that UKW would NOT take that route. That collectively its trade membership would exceed that of any TA. Its free voice heard throughout the trade and lines drawn for the future as a result. It is incomprehensible to me that it was felt necessary to start a new TA based on those historical facts. Nevertheless the WTA is born, and I sincerely wish all its members the very best of British. I regret that I don’t believe in any such amorphous nonsense succeeding. Neither, and more pertinently, can I accept it being so blatantly linked directly to UK Whitegoods – sorry but that’s not right guys!
I must stress that this is my own personal viewpoint and felt compelled to share it with you through the medium of the free and uncensored expression we all enjoy here on the UK Whitegood’s web site. Please feel free to agree or disagree with my views and conclusions. I look forward to the prospect of the subject generating further debate if only as a directive for the WTA committee to build on. And in the fervent hope something positive transpires from all this?
Over to you and thank you very much for reading this uncharacteristically long correspondence from me!:oops:
My best regards as always…………….
MartinRe: Whitegoods Trade Association
Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy eat your heart out.
Without disecting all of the above, can I assume Martin you would have preferred to stay as a UKW subscriber, but not a member of the Trade association?
Is there room or scope to maintain a subscriber section, but divorced from the WTA?
Alex
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.