By: Chris Arnold, RSPA Marketing Manager

RSPA vendor members weren’t the only organizations making big announcements this year on the RetailNOW show floor. The RSPA presented new benefit programs that will enable RSPA members of all sizes to have buying power previously limited to larger organizations. These additions continue to increase the ROI of an RSPA membership for its VAR, ISV, and vendor members.

RSPA Members Receive Preferred Rates on Health Insurance, Other HR Services
Through an initiative with national provider Group Management Services (GMS), RSPA members will receive preferred rates on a variety of HR services including access to employee benefits, most notably healthcare insurance. GMS has established policies with some of the largest health insurance providers in the United States to provide best-in-class benefits solutions to SMB organizations at an affordable rate. GMS has worked with carriers in all 50 states including major healthcare providers Cigna, United Healthcare, BlueCross BlueShield, and Aetna.

Additionally, RSPA members will receive preferred rates on an administrative fee that includes several additional human resources services such as:

• Employer Risk Management: Workers’ compensation assistance including policy administration and claims reporting; unemployment assistance protection and unemployment claim assistance
• Human Resources: Federal, state, and local HR law compliance assistance; employee compliance training; employee handbook creation assistance; job descriptions; electronic onboarding; manager training; employee performance management; human resource audits
• Payroll: Payroll tax management, online payroll services, payroll calendars, employee self-service
• Employee Benefits Administration: Group health coverage, 401(k) plans, profit-sharing, supplemental insurance plans, workplace wellness programs
• Recruiting: GMS recruiters establish job targets, source candidates, conduct phone screens, and schedule interviews on the client’s behalf.

The RSPA is an active GMS customer, utilizing payroll processing and a full suite of HR services. GMS is also the RSPA’s insurance broker for healthcare, dental, and vision. To discuss the GMS services available to you and your team, contact Alexa Krost of Group Management Services at 704-900-1007 or akrost@groupmgmt.com.

New Benefit Provides Discounted Promotional Items, Office Supplies
RSPA has partnered with office productivity solutions provider Innovative Office Solutions to make available to members a variety of products at significant savings. Through this initiative, RSPA members will save on many products including:

• Thousands of promotional items, customized with your logo to promote your brand, including printed materials, apparel, pens, cups, umbrellas, and much more.
• Office supplies (300+ items highly discounted)including printer/copier paper, toner, pens, cleaning supplies, breakroom supplies, and much more; over 14,000 stocked office supply items.
• Office furnitureincluding desks, tables, chairs, and more. Innovative recently provided over 35,000 pieces of furniture for the new Minnesota Vikings Stadium.
• OSHA-compliant safety products and systemsfor your business and for your merchant customers including bloodborne spill kits, CPR kits, defibrillators, sharps containers, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, disinfectants, and safety signage.

Many of the products available to RSPA members include free delivery in the United States, no order minimums, and easy online ordering. Additionally, this benefit also enables members to improve their supply management systems through Innovative’s reports and reordering software.

To get started or learn more about this new benefit, reach out to your RSPA Member Services Manager (Ashley Naggy, ANaggy@GoRSPA.org or Michael Millard, MMillard@GoRSPA.org) who will help you sign up through the RSPA website.

Retail Experience Center
The RSPA has collaborated with vendor member Intel to create a Retail Experience Center in our Charlotte headquarters to showcase innovative technologies in the retail IT industry. This gives RSPA members the opportunity to experience next-generation products in a hands-on environment. To schedule a visit to the RSPA headquarters or to suggest a product to be added to the Retail Experience Center, contact your Member Services Manager.

Market Data Analysis
The RSPA has invested in one of the world’s largest commercial business databases and has an experienced professional on staff who can deliver market analytics for your business. Utilizing this service can help you increase market penetration, expand your portfolio, and strengthen your recurring revenue foundation. To get started or for more information, please contact RSPA Vice President of Analytics and Administration Marie Perry at MPerry@GoRSPA.org.

Customer Health Checkup Merchant Survey
The Customer Health Checkup is an easy-to-implement merchant survey that enables VARs and ISVs to uncover their business blind spots by collecting feedback from customers. We create the survey and email messages for you and then compile your survey data and review it with you. Additionally, we enable you to compare your results with other POS solution providers who have distributed this survey to their merchant customers. For more information, contact RSPA Vice President of Marketing Jim Roddy at JRoddy@GoRSPA.org.

Sales Coaching
The RSPA team has industry experienced sales professionals on staff who can tailor education and best practices to help you grow your sales. Our team can provide relevant content and guidance in sales including market sizing/market potential indexing, sales process methodology, sales management coaching, sales compensation, sales KPIs/metrics, and more. For more information or to start improving your sales organization, contact RSPA Vice President of Sales and Member Strength Coach Dave Menton at DMenton@GoRSPA.org or call the RSPA Sales Hotline at 704-940-4271.

VAR/ISV Business Advisory Services
The RSPA has a team of channel professionals who work with high-initiative, growth-oriented VARs, ISVs, and MSPs to improve their organization through Strategy Sessions with your leadership team and professional development workshops with your staff. Popular Strategy Session topics include the recurring revenue business model, recruiting, hiring, employee management, marketing, and succession planning. Popular workshop topics are Customer Service, Accountability, and Communication. To discuss the services available, contact Jim Roddy at JRoddy@GoRSPA.org or call the RSPA VAR/ISV Business Advisor Hotline at 704-940-4272.

Legal Advisor and Legal Assistance
RSPA Members have unlimited phone consultations with RSPA General Counsel Bob Goldberg as well as supplier contract reviews and access to legal templates. There is no limit on the value of this benefit. The only restriction is failure to take advantage. RSPA provides up-to-date legal guidance from an individual that knows the industry and the issues. For more information, contact Bob at Bob.Goldberg@SFNR.com or call the RSPA Legal Advisor hotline at 312-648-2300.

Network and Data Security Advisor
With experience managing compliance regulations in the POS environment, RSPA Security Advisor Nathan Sweaney provides practical and operationally feasible approaches for members to mitigate threats and minimize compliance obligations. For more information, contact Nathan at SecurityAdvisor@GoRSPA.org or call the RSPA Security Advisor hotline at 704-940-4273.

RSPA Blog
Published by the RSPA staff and backed by their 80+ years of channel experience, the RSPA Blog includes industry analysis and practical advice for high-initiative VARs, ISVs, MSPs, and vendors in the retail, hospitality, and grocery channel. You can find the blog by visiting www.GoRSPA.org and clicking on “RSPA Blog.”

RSPA Community IQ
Written by retail IT industry professionals for retail IT industry professionals, the Community IQ online library features best practices, channel insights, and perspectives on industry trends from RSPA members. Through Community IQ, you will learn from the front lines of our channel. You can find Community IQ content under the “Resources” tab on www.GoRSPA.org. If you are interested in contributing, contact RSPA Marketing Manager Chris Arnold at CArnold@GoRSPA.org.

On-Demand RSPA Academy Content
Couldn’t make it to every education session at RetailNOW? Not to worry. The audio and slide decks for every presentation is available on-demand to RSPA members. There’s more great content beyond RetailNOW as well on the RSPA website. For details, contact RSPA VP of Education Service Kathy Meader at KMeader@GoRSPA.org.

About RetailNOW
RetailNOW 2019 was held July 28-31 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX. Known as “Where the Industry Meets,” RetailNOW annually brings together retail IT professionals, channel leaders, and innovators from around the globe. RetailNOW 2020 will be held at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas August 2-5. For more information, contact Events@GoRSPA.org.