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The Association of Collecting Clubs (ACC) and National Association of
Collectors (NAC) consider antique and collectibles malls and markets a very
special partnership group.
The primary purpose of this program is to strengthen the relationship
between major malls or markets and the collecting clubs and serious
collectors who comprise the memberships of ACC and NAC. We consider this
special partnership program to be equally significant to all parties
involved: 1) collecting clubs and their memberships, 2) individual NAC
collectors and investors, 3) antique malls and markets, and their dealers
and customers, and 4) both the ACC and NAC associations.
Perhaps no two of these partnerships will be exactly the same. ACC/NAC
takes the word "partnership" seriously - an "active partnership" on both
sides; not simply a partnership on paper.
About ACC and NAC
The Association of Collecting Clubs works with the leadership of over
5,000 collecting groups with a combined membership of over 10 million
collectors on six continents. ACC assists and supports collecting clubs -
their leadership and memberships - through a variety of programs and
services. Further, the ACC assists collectors wishing to establish new
clubs in areas where none now exist, and helps all clubs desiring to
network for mutual goals and objectives.
The National Association of Collectors, established in 1995, is for
individual collectors. NAC identifies and addresses those needs and
concerns common to all collectors. Some of these areas include: appraisals,
security, insurance, conservation and restoration, displaying techniques,
collection management, dispersal and estate planning, and educational
opportunities for collectors.
Both associations use the http:Collectors.Org website as their
official home on the Internet. More information about both associations can
be found online.
Why a Partnership?
Obviously, serious collectors make up a key target audience for
antique malls and markets. As a mall or market manager, you want ACC/NAC
collectors to know of your existence, to visit your mall or market on a
regular basis.
One of the key objectives of malls beyond recruiting dealers,
recruiting potential customers, and having high sales should be that of
education... educating your mall visitors; educating your dealers. You can
receive help in doing this from both the individual collecting clubs as
well as directly from ACC/NAC.
Regarding the individual collectors who are members of NAC, antique
and collectibles malls and markets are (or should be) a regular resource
for making additions to their collections, at least for many collecting
areas. For clubs, malls can be a resource for promoting their clubs & the
collecting area their club serves... and for recruiting new members into
their club.
Ways ACC/NAC can help Malls & Markets
- By being a continuing resource. The leadership of the 5000 collecting
clubs with which ACC works is just a contact away. The ACC Collecting Clubs
Directory provides a data bank of information on practically every
collecting area. http://collectingclubs.com
- In addition to the Club Directory, Collectors.Org is a tremendous free
information website for other kinds of directories and schedules,
information on restoring, flea markets, collector glossaries, appraisals,
reproductions and thefts, Collectors Trade Show and much more.
- Partnering malls & markets will be given a booth in the Malls or Flea
Markets Aisles of the virtual Collectors Trade Show at half price, plus the
booth will be developed at no cost, based on your mall website. The
$100/year booth space will cost malls and markets participating in the Mall
Program only $50. for the first year.
- The Collectors Trade Show is a growing source of information on
supplies & services for ACC & NAC members, plus all other guest visitors to
the Collectors.Org website. Many collecting clubs are placing direct links
to the Trade Show on their own websites.
- In addition to the Collectors Trade Show, NAC & ACC will provide
continuing visibility to our mall program partners. You will be listed in
the Partners Section on the Collectors.Org website. You will also receive
the ACC/NAC Update electronic newsletter twice monthly, as well as the
Partners newsletter.
- A number of ACC-member collecting clubs may have an interest in
working directly with our partnering malls supporting special features or
events that the mall has planned. They can possibly provide speakers,
appraisers, demonstrations and displays for a special day event - a great
addition to any local media publicity. By using the Club Directory, you can
find the contact persons for most of the collecting groups.
- Showing that you as a mall or market are ACC & NAC partners conveys a
strong positive message to your customers and visitors and to your
dealers... as well as to the memberships of both ACC and NAC.
Ways Malls & Markets can help ACC/NAC
- Actively promote collecting clubs by providing a visible area
w/appropriate pockets for holding club rack cards or brochures and rack
cards from ACC/NAC.
- Consider dedicating a locked, lit six foot floor display case to
featuring a "collecting area of the month" sponsored by collecting clubs.
This is an exceptional way to make good will with individual collecting
clubs, plus becoming a featured "come on" for bringing in mall visitors
(potential buyers). Over 75 percent of the ACC clubs are local clubs, some
probably in your area.
- You may want to invite your mall dealers to participate in the display
by providing items, or simply have it be a club-provided display.
Undoubtedly, many of your dealers may be members of an ACC member club that
could be considered.
- Promote collecting club membership by participating in the ACC Join A
Club program - a membership recruitment program for collecting clubs.
Complete kits of Join A Club materials including posters and rack cards are
available to antique malls and markets by contacting ACC.
- Promote the Collectors Trade Show - a major feature of NAC on the
Collectors.Org website. Providing hundreds of booths in aisles representing
vendors offering everything from collector supplies to collector computer
software, from replacement services to training course, and security
systems to antiquing tours. The Collectors Trade Show is a tremendous
resource for both your customers and your dealers. Access directly to the
Trade Show is: http://tradeshow.collectors.org
- Promote membership in the National Association of Collectors to your
mall visitors. Serious collectors need to be educated collectors.
Membership in NAC can help any collector. NAC is the association for all
collectors... if you collect, you need NAC. Individual membership in NAC
only costs $5/year! An NAC logo window display will be provided for your
mall door.
- Quantities of the NAC collector insurance brochures can be provided for
countertop display, with a holder. An excellent resource for helping your
mall customers who currently need, but do not have insurance on their
collections.
- Show your partnership with NAC and ACC by providing direct links and/or
banners on your mall or market's website as an NAC Partner and ACC Partner.
Direct links are also available for the Collectors Trade Show, Join A Club,
ACC News Service, and Collectors.Org Go to: http://collectors.org/Media for
the links.
Again, it is emphasized that the Antiques & Collectibles Malls and
Markets Program is considered a hands-on continuing partnership between the
participating malls & markets and ACC/NAC. We consider you an important
resource for ACC & NAC and our members, and feel likewise that we can be an
important resource for you.
There is no cost for joining the ACC/NAC Antique Mall Program, but
naturally we welcome malls and marketing becoming an ACC/NAC affiliate
which costs $25.00 per year. Visit
http://Collectors.Org/AP/ACC_Affiliates.asp
We look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you
may have about ACC/NAC or the mall program.
Larry Krug & Rick Moses
Association of Collecting Clubs
National Association of Collectors
18222 Flower Hill Way #299
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
301.926.8663
info@collectors.org
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