In addition to Distribution Channels, the American Wholesale Marketers Association offers its members other publications to keep them informed about the association and events affecting the convenience wholesale industry:
E-mail Newsletters Covering Tobacco, Legislation and Association News In partnership with the Tobacco Merchants Association, AWMA delivers to its distributor members by e-mail two weekly reports--AWMA Tobacco Executive Summary and AWMA Tobacco Legislative News. These newsletters cover the entire tobacco industry, including tax increases, lawsuits, legislation, regulations, new products and much more, from both a national and state level. If this information was purchased directly from TMA, for most distributors, it would exceed the cost of AWMA membership.
In addition, AWMA members can register for a user name and password with TMA, so they can access, at no charge, longer versions of the stories in the Executive Summary and the full text version of TMA’s U.S. Tobacco Weekly. Two people from each member company are allowed to sign up for the e-mails. If your company is a member and you’d like to sign up, please contact AWMA’s Jennifer Moulton to get a form to fill out—you can reach her at jenniferm@awmanet.org or at 800-482-2962, ext. 640.
AWMA also offers the weekly e-mail newsletter AWMA Executive Update, which contains information on the association's benefits, programs and events, as well as legislation that may affect members. Contact Jennifer Moulton at jenniferm@awmanet.org to start receiving the Update.
The HIPA Report Sponsored by The Hershey Company, the Hershey Industry Performance Analysis (HIPA) Report measures several key benchmarks among convenience wholesalers, including sales per employee, gross margin, return on investment, inventory turnover, salaries, and much more. Every spring, the HIPA survey is mailed to AWMA distributors–only those that complete the survey get a final copy of the report.
Internet Cigarette Sales — An AWMA Research Study AWMA recently conducted an in-depth study of the growing problem of illegal Internet sales of cigarettes. AWMA undertook this study to bring more attention to this important issue and to promote our efforts to enact federal legislation aimed at effectively addressing the problem of Internet sales of cigarettes. The AWMA study was sent to every Member of Congress and to every State Attorney’s General’s to encourage their action on this issue and to ensure a more comprehensive solution to this nationwide problem. AWMA remains committed to enacted federal legislation aimed at effectively addressing the problem of illegal Internet sales of cigarettes.
Research Reports AWMA, through its Distributors Education Foundation, is undertaking research reports on various topics. The following is a listing of AWMA’s available reports, including pricing:
2006 Distributor Employee Compensation Report": Extremely detailed information about salaries of various positions in distribution firms. Vol. 1 looks at the convenience distribution industry (AWMA members), while Vol. 2 looks at salary data from 32 different distribution industries, broken down by company sales volume and geographic region. Released summer 2006. Free for AWMA members (1 per company). The report is not available to non-members.
"Opportunities With Dollar Store Merchandise": Looks at convenience distributors’ involvement with $1 items and the growing number of "dollar sections" in convenience stores. Released winter 2004. Free for AWMA members; $150 for non-members.
“The Distributor Value Equation”: Distributors provide valuable and sophisticated support services upon which both suppliers and retailers have come to rely. This study quantifies that value and offers recommendations for improving this business environment. Released Fall 2006. Free for AWMA members; not available to non-members.
“Food Industry Review: Comprehensive Review and Outlook”: This report provides a quarterly review of the status, outlook trends and key players in the foodservice industry, with specific focus on limited service and convenience store foodservice. The first quarter report was published in Fall 2006 with additional reports in winter/spring 2007. Free for AWMA members; not available to non-members.
In addition to these reports, AWMA often conducts surveys of its membership with its Zoomerang Internet tool. These quick surveys are often summarized in e-mails sent to the AWMA membership.
To receive more information about AWMA’s reports, call Kathy Trost at 703-208-3358.
