What: To support SIGMA member efforts to enhance marketing programs and manage operational costs, SIGMA will align itself with companies that have demonstrated capabilities to provide such services and will provide those services to SIGMA members at a "best industry" rate. The choice of who SIGMA aligns with is member driven. Members who have suggestions should forward them to SIGMA for consideration and completing a due diligence process.
Alliance Member Company Criteria and Contributions:
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Demonstrated programs and capabilities that will benefit SIGMA members and have been used by SIGMA members
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SIGMA fee structure for products or services that are best in industry and an association exclusive
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Attend SIGMA meetings on a regular basis
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Participate on applicable committees
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Promote membership in SIGMA
SIGMA Contribution:
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Provide opportunities and support to market the products and services to SIGMA members via:
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Website links
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One time, short presentation at a general session
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Venue for positioning of marketing materials at SIGMA meetings
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Designation as a Strategic Business Alliance Partner
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Exclusive agreement between SIGMA and SBAP to not engage another company as an SBAP in the same product and service offering.
Who is a Strategic Business Alliance Partner Candidate? Companies that offer products or services with these key ingredients:
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It must offer a potential for significant revenue enhancement or cost savings to our marketer members, and,
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It must be offered at a price to SIGMA members that beats the price they could receive from your company through any other arrangement.
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If it also offers a revenue potential to SIGMA directly, that will be considered a "plus".
How long with the process of approval take? It can take several months, up to a year or more, to come to final decisions on a new alliance. To get started through this arduous process of decision-making by our members, we ask interested vendors to send, in confidence, a 1-page "concept" letter with the following information:
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What is or are the product(s) or service(s) you would offer to SIGMA marketer members through such an alliance?
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If this is a cost item, how much do marketers currently pay for this or similar programs? If a revenue item, what do marketers currently make from this or similar programs? If you can quantify this on a per-store basis, or otherwise show ranges for small to large companies, it would be helpful.
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What would be the scale of potential savings (or increased revenue) you might be prepared to offer SIGMA members, assuming a program could be developed to our mutual satisfaction? Again, quantifying by size of company or number of stores or a percentage would be helpful.
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A commitment that you are interested in entering into an exclusive arrangement with SIGMA that would offer our members superior pricing compared to what they could get on their own or through any other association-sponsored program.
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SIGMA STRATEGIC ALLIANCE PARTNERS:
Best Practices Share Groups Facilitated by Caliber Consulting
CALIBER1MT@aol.com (800) 811-4866
Ken Gunn, President
“SIGMA Best Practices Share Groups” include a series of peer group education programs coordinated and facilitated by Ken Gunn. Enabling marketers’ staff specialists to network with their peers, share lessons learned, and learn from speakers about new operational processes and tools to assist their companies. They provide SIGMA members a cost effective way to benefit from SIGMA education and networking.
PetroStrategies by Caliber Consulting
PetroStrategies helps a company assess and optimize the use of people, processes and technology to achieve their business objectives. It’s the equivalent of a comprehensive physical for the company.
Federated Mutual Insurance Company
www.federatedinsurance.com (800) 533- 0472
Nate Oland, National Account Executive - nsoland@fedins.com
Federated Insurance specializes in business insurance for the petroleum marketing industry. By evaluating losses and creating customized risk management programs for your specific exposures, Federated will help you develop a comprehensive three-year action plan to manage your risks one step at a time. SIGMA members can take advantage of our Designated Risk Manager Training Seminars to help control your insurance costs.
Meridian Associates, Inc.
www.askmeridian.com (800) 728-9005
Betsi Bixby, President
Meridian Associates, Inc. has a long history of working with petroleum CEOs and CFOs to produce rapid increases in cash and profits. Expanding that education, The SIGMA/Meridian “Dollars and Sense” Webinar series is designed for mid-level staff within a company to gain petro finance basics and use that new knowledge to increase their company's cash and profit. Meridian stands ready as a mentor, coach and consultant for petro businesses that are seeking aggressive growth or looking to solve their cashflow challenges.
NPN Magazine
www.npnweb.com (847) 720-5615
SIGMA, the premier marketer association, has entered into a broad partnership with NPN Magazine, to jointly produce the annual Executive Leadership Conference and numerous educational programs.
National Biodiesel Board
info@biodiesel.org (800) 841-5849 * advancedfuel@comcast.net (978) 664-5923
Paul J. Nazzaro, Director, Petroleum Affairs
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is the national trade association representing the biodiesel industry as the coordinating body for research and development in the United States. Through this alliance with SIGMA, NBB provides insight and guidance to ensure SIGMA members are informed on all aspects of biodiesel and its integration within the national supply chain.
Oil Price Information Services (OPIS)
www.opisnet.com (877) 210-4287
Brian Crotty, President
Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) is the most widely accepted fuel price benchmark for supply contracts and competitive positioning. It’s used as the benchmark price to buy and sell U.S. gasoline, diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, LP-gas, jet fuel, crude, propane, feedstock’s, resid, kerosene, and MTBE. Through its subsidiary, Axxis Software, it also provides leading-edge software solutions for petroleum marketers looking to automate price collection, data storage and repricing of dealer and commercial accounts.
CALL SIGMA AT 703-709-7000 IF THERE IS ANOTHER “STRATEGIC PARTNER” YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST!
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