BHF-BSSA Group Merger
Questions and Answers
What does the merger mean for members?
By joining forces, BHF Group and the British Shops and Stores Association (bssa) have created a single bigger and stronger body to better represent independent retailers, dealers, specialist traders and suppliers across the UK.
The merger brings together two successful organisations to benefit from greater economies of scale and the additional services each body brings compliment and enhance the package we are able to offer all members.
This move has secured the future of both associations, enabling us to pool resources and become more significant within Government. It’s an exciting development in our long history and one that means in the future we can offer members more than ever before.
What changes will I see?
In the longer term the merged group will continue to reduce costs and deliver new initiatives and improved services from the three office bases Birmingham, Banbury and Harefield. We will also be undertaking research into a new brand name for the merged group, whilst retaining all the strength, heritage and expertise of our sector-specific divisions.
In the short term, we have merged our clearing houses, which now operate as one from our Birmingham office; we are combining our training departments at the bssa’s Banbury office and we are in the process of merging our two membership departments into one strong team. This new membership team, headed by Bob Jarrett, will very soon be well equipped for the future with a new Customer Relationship Management system, which will enable us for the first time to focus our contact with you, rather than using a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
Will my membership of BHF Group be affected?
For 2010 membership will continue to operate as normal. If you are a member of both organisations, you will benefit from paying only one subscription fee, without losing any of the benefits of both organisations.
What will be the impact on the products and services that BHF Group and bssa currently provide?
The first immediate new benefit should be available for a November announcement and will be a new improved deal on terms for processing your credit and debit card payments. A secondary and brand new benefit to BHF Group members is the 18-month free banking offer with HSBC, which is followed by a special rate for life and which we will be bringing to you as soon as we have finalised the details.
Our existing services will benefit from a larger target audience, who we hope will see the advantages of using our bank, buying group, publishing services and clearing house, therefore add to the revenue stream for the group as a whole, helping us to keep your subscriptions as low as possible.
In very real terms, this merger will give you more benefits, more services and more savings, meaning even greater value membership.
How will we know when new developments or services are announced / available?
Over the next six months we will keep in regular contact with you by letter to ensure you hear the latest developments from BHF-BSSA Group first. We are very aware of how much you all value your individual organisations within the Group and, although it will be a very busy time for us all in the approach to Christmas, we will do our level best to ensure you are able to reach the right people whenever you need to.
We will also use both websites – www.bhfgroup.co.uk and www.bssa.co.uk to keep you as up to date as possible with the latest news and opportunities resulting from the merger. And of course, our trade magazines will carry all the latest news from your trade association and its associated partners, service providers and suppliers.
Trust is a scarce commodity, but it’s one we truly value.
BHF-BSSA Group
Even better together