Email news for the shoe traveler community
April 26, 2007
Welcome to "WSTA Online," the electronic newsletter designed to keep you up to date on news, WSTA activities, career opportunities and more.
WSTA member Bruce Chayet recently sent WSTA an email in which he stated, “In one, word they are fantastic. They saved me over $2,000 in health insurance cost and I was able to get even better coverage [than I had].” Bruce was commenting regarding his work with AHP. AHP is WSTA’s partner in providing our members with a full array of insurance programs including health insurance programs.
He ended his email with, “I hope more members contact them - they were professional in every sense of the word.”
Have you contacted AHP to see what they can do for you? Call 888-450-3040 or email your request here.
The future of WSTA is in your hands. Because the Board of Directors determines the future of WSTA, and you determine who should be on the board - the success of WSTA is in your hands.
It’s that time of year, when members are selected by the Nominations Committee to run for the Board. It’s time for you to step forward and volunteer yourself or suggest to the Nominations Committee the traveler you know who would make a great Board member.
Just email the chairman of the Nominations Committee at jnewman@irtc.net your name or the name of someone who should be considered. The Nominations Committee will interview the person and review with him or her the responsibilities of a Board member.
For additional information just click here.
Be a part of our association. As any Board Member will tell you, while there is no compensation you get much more out of this service than the time you invest.
Deadline for names to be submitted to Nomination Committee is April 30, 2007.
Membership Survey...What You Told Us About You!
A portion of our recent member poll asked you to identify certain characteristics about yourself. By sharing these characteristics, members help us to shape the features and benefits that WSTA should provide, along with the best ways to provide them to you.
- The WSTA website is no strange website to the traveler – more than 80% of WSTA members have visited our site.
- Members visit the website for a variety of reasons. Many visit to renew their membership (15%) or update their member information (18%). The vast majority of visitors are looking for industry information (11%), to access career information (9%) or to learn about the organization (20%). This information has already helped us with some planned changes to the site.
- WSTA members are seasoned professionals. Almost 70% of WSTA members have been travelers for more than 15 years!
- WSTA members are predominately of the Baby Boom generation. Dedication to career, having a team focus, and wanting to make a difference are characteristics of this large population group. 62% of our members are 51-65. Only 7% of members are under age 40.
- Travelers are good friends of the hotel industry (no surprise). 15% of members said that they spend more than 100 room nights traveling each year.
- Travelers spend their time either selling or providing customer service. 26% of members say that they sell between 60-75%, while another 26% indicate that they sell between 40-55% of the time. Administrative duties consist of less than 30% for most members.
You’ll get tax saving tips that are directly related to shoe travelers, that will save you time and money on your taxes. WSTA will present this one-hour seminar twice on July 29th at the LVCC. To fit your schedule you can choose either 10:30 am or 3:00 pm.
The seminar is presented by Aaron Bloom, CPA/tax specialist. Aaron has reviewed the areas where you as a shoe traveler can save on your taxes and simplify your record keeping. In addition he has prepared a take-home hand-out that has checklists and additional tips for you.
As an added benefit, if you send us specific questions you have, Aaron will address those items in his presentation or will meet with you after the presentation to answer questions. Send these items to joel@shoetravelers.org attn Tax Seminar.
The cost of the seminar and handout is only $20 for WSTA members. Click here for more information and registration.
This is the first in series of seminars and other educational material provided to you by your WSTA.
Foot Locker Makes Unsolicited Bid for Genesco
Foot Locker has made a $1.2 billion bid for Genesco, owner of the Journeys and Johnston & Murphy chains, in a move that would decrease Foot Locker's dependence on Nike for merchandise. Genesco, whose shares jumped to a record high, is studying the offer. (NRF Smartbrief 4/23/2007)
Your Current Board of Directors
WSTA Online will feature one current Board member in each issue. Feel free to contact them with your ideas. Board contact information can be found here.
| Term Expires: | October 2007 |
| Committee: | Executive Committe and Membership/Benefits & Services Chairman |
| Lines: | Munro American |
| Territory: | CA |
I took a slightly different path to the shoe industry, it was called a recession and the only good job to be found for a 25-year-old high school educated, ex-drug store manager was selling shoes at 10% commission. Well, like a duck to water, I found it both easy and fun. Being in charge of your own income based on effort was a very good thing, plus I found it very rewarding in finding that perfect pair of shoes for a customer. It is now 23 years later and I still find it fun and exciting finding that perfect pair for both the retailer and the customer. In that time I have grown to love and appreciate both the wholesale and retail side of the footwear industry and have tried to give back to it what it has given to me and my family. I was on the WSA board for 4 years before joining WSTA and have found it very exciting and rewarding to be able to find ways to improve the shoe industry for both the shoe traveler and the retailer. At WSTA we now have the means to bring together all shoe travelers, retailers and manufacturers as one and to continue to strengthen the footwear industry that has given all of us so much.
-Jim Potter
Correction from Last Issue of WSTA Online
Tom Armbruster represents Red Wing Shoe Company. We apologize for our error in the previous issue, listing him with the incorrect company.
In the last 30 days, more than 600 people opened the employment search page of WSTA’s website. If you are searching for a position or want to add a line, place your listing. It’s easy and quick, and it is FREE. Also check out the listings that the vendors have placed on the site for employees or reps to carry their lines. In the next 30 days WSTA will be sending letters to over 800 vendors, encouraging them to make use of this service which is also FREE to them. If you know a vendor who is looking for an employee or a side-line rep, tell them about the FREE service that WSTA offers to the industry.
WSTA will be offering a new service beginning this summer at WSA: an interview room that you or a vendor can reserve so you can meet in a private and quiet place and hold a productive interview. This room, S228, is located in the South Hall of the LVCC. It will be by reservation only, but walk-up reservations will be accepted by stopping at the WSTA kiosk in the hallway outside of South Hall.
One of WSTA’s newest members, Pamela Irving, and her company Cape Clog recently formed a partnership with The National Breast Cancer Foundation. She not only has developed a clog with the universally recognized pink ribbon on it to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer, but also has put together programs for her retailers to use the clog in fund-raising efforts for The National Breast Cancer Foundation. We salute Pamela for this effort and all other WSTA members and the vendors for the work they do for many worthwhile causes.
The Supreme Court recently heard a case regarding the legality of requirements that retailers stick to minimum pricing agreements. Such agreements have long been assumed to be illegal under an antitrust ruling from 1911. The high court in recent years altered several antitrust laws in a way that eases business activity. A practical outcome of a change in the law would mean that courts wouldn’t automatically assume a minimum pricing agreement violates the law. Instead, courts would have to analyze on a case-by-case basis whether an agreement was anticompetitive. All vendors, including footwear vendors, will be watching for the ruling on this case. (NRF Smartbrief March 26, 2007)
WSA Update
For all the latest from WSA, including information on registration for the next show (July 30 through August 1, 2007), visit www.wsashow.com. Read all the latest news at www.WSAToday.com. Check out the travel desk for hotel rates for the next show.
WSTA Member Registration for WSA Now Open
WSA has now opened the registration for WSTA members. To pre-register for the upcoming WSA Show online as a WSTA member, please click here. Registration can also be done via fax or regular mail. See details at www.wsashow.com.
Please Update Your Record!
If you have changed your email address or cell phone number, or have changed or added lines, please update your WSTA record. Just go to www.shoetravelers.org and click Update Your Records under the Membership menu. It takes only minutes and helps us stay in touch with you. Thank you!
WSTA Mission Statement
The World Shoe Travelers Association (WSTA) is a membership organization whose goals are to represent, and to significantly improve the abilities and well-being of, traveling sales representatives who work within the footwear and related goods industry. WSTA's primary activities include providing its members with information, education, benefits and services, and networking opportunities with fellow members, vendors and other key players in the footwear industry.
Send Us Your News!
Do you have news to share with colleagues about yourself, your business or your employees? The WSTA network loves to be in the know. Please send us your news!
Send announcements to WSTA Online at info@shoetravelers.org, and we’ll let the network know.
This email newsletter is provided as a service to members of the World Shoe Travelers Association. Content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of WSTA, its members, its Board of Directors or its staff. Any use of trademarked names is in an editorial fashion intended to benefit the trademark owner, with no intention of trademark interference. For a WSTA membership application, or to check out the benefits of membership, please email us at info@shoetravelers.org
Mailing Address: WSTA, 7150 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite G, Columbia, MD 21046-1151, Fax 410-381-1167.
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