Joiners Pack
Membership Benefits - and how to access them
- The Trade Source Book - your guide to specialist suppliers and how to use them
- Showtime Worldwide - trade show listings for the greeting card and giftware industries in the UK and overseas
- GCA membership sign and labels for use at exhibitions
- Notes for Principals on the EU Directive 1994 (Agents)
To access the following benefits you will need to quote your GCA membership number.
Trade Fairs
- 10% Discount on stand space at Progressive Greetings Live at the Business Design Centre in May
- The opportunity to take part in the GCA's exhibitor feature displays at major trade fairs such as PG Live, Spring Fair, Top Drawer and Harrogate Home and Gift
Internet Benefits
Access the GCA website members area which provides the following:
- Update contact details online at any time
- Your own page within the GCA members directory; contact details, link to your website and email address, your company logo, product image, company description and product categories
- Advertise free in relevant areas of the site to attract freelance artists, writers
Visitors to the site can use the GCA members directory to search for companies according to specific criteria, such as geographical location, product category or keyword.
Members' Resource Downloads- GCA PiP Logos
- The Trade Source Book - all the best suppliers to the industry
- Notes on Agents law - an indispensable guide to the important parts of the EU Regulations
- Charity Licensing Agreement
- Double Alpha Codes 2010
- GCA Short Worldwide Post Guide - with details of envelope size restrictions in 14 countries
- Briffa Copyright Information Leaflets
- The GCA Greeting Card Market Report 2009
- GCA AGM Reports
- World Alliance Reports, with mini market reports from 14 countries, including the USA, Canada and Russia.
- GCA Model Environmental Policy
- An Insiders Guide - Jeremy Corner of Blue Eyed Sun on what it takes for a small business be a success in greeting card publishing
Legal Benefits
Legal Help Line with Steeles - Members are entitled to 20 minutes free legal advice on separate matters. A confirmatory letter is also included. If each matter needs more attention, members will be charged a reduced rate of £95 per hour for up to three hours work and thereafter at the full price.
www.steele.co.uk
Agents contracts
'Notes on the EU Agents Directive' prepared by Richard Bailey of Steeles, is available by email from the GCA office. At the end of these notes are a set of questions which, when answered, will form the basis of an agent's contract. This will normally be charged at £175+VAT, although if any negotiations or special requirements are involved this may be increased at the £95 per hour rate for up to three hours.
Briffa - Copyright and Brand Protection
Briffa is a modern legal practice specialising in intellectual property (IP): the protection of copyright, designs, patents, trademarks, trade secrets and information technology. Briffa's lawyers all have excellent legal backgrounds and are experts in this field.
Services to GCA members
- Free information pack - available for download in the GCA Members download resources area
- Legal Hotline on all IP matters
- Regular bulletin on relevant issues
Copyright Insurance
GCA members are also entitled to discounts on two special initiatives Briffa has developed to help businesses protect their designs and brands, DesignProtect and BrandProtect.
DesignProtect insurance covers the legal costs of bringing an action in the UK against anyone who has illegally infringed any registered trade mark that you have insured with Briffa; and defending an action in the UK brought by anyone who wrongly claims that your trade mark infringes their trade mark rights.
Due to popular demand, Briffa has reinstated an electronic version of the DesignProtect log which is free of charge and available in conjunction with DesignProtect membership. In the event that someone does begin to copy your design or brand, having evidence to hand and being insured helps get you the results that you need at a price that you can afford.
Web Design, Ecommerce and Web Hosting
GCA members receive up to 10% discount on web design and website hosting services from Pepper Digital (developers of the GCA website).
They provide a range of services to help businesses exploit the potential of the Internet including ecommerce, accessibility compliant content managed websites, search engine optimisation, pay-per-click and email marketing. For more information, visit www.pepperdigital.com, or contact Olly Roberts for a free consultation on: 0845 372 0070 or email olly@pepperstudios.co.uk.
Credit Checks
Discounts of up to 65% on instant Internet credit checks on companies in the UK and Overseas with Experian. The system is fast and easy to use. Experian has the most advanced and comprehensive business database in the UK. Sample reports are available on the website.
For further details on please contact Brad Moore, Business Development Manager, on: 0115 9016284 or email brad.moore@uk.experian.com For more information, visit: www.uk.experian.com/bi/
Copyright Protection
10% discount on membership of ACID, the anti-copying watchdog ACID
www.acid.uk.com
150 Aldersgate Street
London EC1A 4EG
01531 650 476
Credit Control
Preferential rates for GCA members for debt collection with Brookes Bates Partnership. Commission is charged on a no success, no fee basis with a minimum charge of £50 on recovered funds.
| Standard rate | GCA rate | |
|
UK debts
|
10% | 6% |
|
Western Europe & Scandinavia
|
15% | 10% |
|
North America, Australia & New Zealand
|
20% | 15% |
|
Rest of the World
|
25% | 20% |
Please contact Michael Bates: 0118 984 5885. Brookes Bates partnership is a member of the Credit Services Association and abides by its Code of Conduct. www.brookesbates.com
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