VCMDWA reduces entry barrier to get more members

MUMBAI

SEPTEMBER 13, 2006

Vidarbha Computer & Media Dealer's Welfare Association (VCMDWA),
Nagpur's premier IT Association, in an attempt to increase its member base
came up with an offer of reduced entry fee for a limited period. The association
reduced the fee from Rs 15,000 to Rs 5,000 for the entire month of August 2006.

"We decided to concentrate on increasing our membership base and
organized a membership drive in the month of August. As a part of that
initiative we offered a huge discount of Rs 10,000 on entry fee. The response
was amazing," Vinod Verma, President, VCMDWA.

The results of the limited period offer was that VCMDWA managed to add 50
percent more members in just a short span of thirty days. About 34 new members
joined the association during this period. "The total number of members
have now increased from 60 to 94," informed Verma.

However, all the members, including the new ones, will have no concession on
the payment of annual fee, which is Rs 1,000 per annum.

After experiencing such phenomenal response to its membership drive, the
association is now planning make this a regular feature. "We are planning
to conduct such membership drive twice annually," said Verma.

The idea of offering discounts on its membership fee was induced by the
discount it used to offer members during exhibitions.

"Instead of offering discount during exhibition we have decided to give
discount on the membership fee positively twice a year. This will also help us
to filter fly-by-night members and have consistent and quality members in the
association," explained Verma.

Another ambitious effort put in by the association was to get corporate
discounts offered by car companies like TATA and Hyundai to its members. Car
manufacturers have been making such provision only to corporate as of now.

"The member dealer and their employees can avail of discounts up to Rs
20,000 on these cars. Companies do offer discounts and we dealers would not
otherwise qualify for the same so we projected our association as a corporate
entity and after seeing the list of the members registered they were
convinced," Informed Verma.

A circular announcing the same is already being circulated in the
association.