Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM OCTOBER 2017 64 T he North American Retail Dealers Association (NARDA) has announced it as joined forces with the Professional Service Association (PSA) on September 1, 2017 in a combination that will better provide both retailers and servicer providers with information, education and benefits. NARDA is nearing its 75th anniversary; founded in 1943, the association of independent dealers of appliances, consumer electronics and home furnishings prospered after World War II under the name the National Association of Retail Dealers of America. NARDA members helped to introduce television and new appliances such as the microwave oven to consumers, and rode the wave of postwar prosperity until retailing began changing with the introduction of big-box retailers in the 1990s and Internet retailing in the 2000s. PSA is an independent trade association dedicated to the highest standards of quality service. The purpose of PSA is to be the voice of the independent service provider and to assess and identify industry-related problems and provide solutions. PSA is dedicated to providing educational training, certification, business management training, support, and fairness to the independent service industry. PSA encourages professionalism and honesty and publicly identifies those technicians who provide a level of service professionalism that meets the criteria established by the service industry, with industry approved certification credentials. One of the reasons that this collaboration is right for the industry is because the PSA mission is, for the most part, identical to the NARDA mission. As both organizations combine their assets, the results will produce extraordinary benefits to the members of both organizations and to the appliance and electronic industries as a whole. Below is a partial list of benefits that will be available to members of both organizations: PSA PROGRAMS PSA Industry Advocacy PSA Tech PSA Technical Training Programs PSA Vocational School Educators Net PSA News PSA NASC Convention PSA Service Library PSA Employee Manual PSA Technician Evaluation Program PSA Certification Offerings- MCAP, CAP, CSM, CCS PSA CODB PSA Merchant Services PSA Help Wanted NARDA PROGRAMS NARDA Industry Advocacy NARDA CFC Recovery Program NARDA E-Newsletter NARDA Website NARDA Merchant Services NARDA Mystery Shopper NARDA Retail and Service Job Descriptions NARDA Legal Assistance NARDA Business Chart of Accounts NARDA Industry Forms and promotional products Together, PSA/NARDA will continue to represent the industry with the combined power of the assets, membership and credibility that come with this collaboration. PSA is excited to have such an iconic brand like NARDA becoming a part of our PSA organization and we look forward to a remarkable future. PSA welcomes all NARDA members to the family. It will be our mission to continually work toward the betterment of the appliance and electronic retail and service industry. Over the next few months, transition activities will continue throughout the new organization, so keep a close eye on PSA News, the NARDA E-Newsletter, and The Retail Observer for additional information and updates. PSA/NARDA will be led by Randy Carney, executive director of PSA. Current memberships in both organizations will continue with the enhanced benefits from the combination. Randy can be reached at rcarney@psaworld. com or 888/777-8851. HISTORIC INDUSTRY NEWS: NARDA AND PSA JOIN FORCES S E R V I C E D E P A R T M E N T RO Ralph E. Wolff , PSA Service News features alternating writers discussing topics of the service industry.

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