4 Ways to Boost Your Business With ARA
By Andrea Mowers
The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) supports ag retailers as they serve as trusted advisers who help farmer-customers maximize yields through effective problem-solving. ARA advocates on behalf of the industry to achieve a real dollars-and-cents impact on the ag retailer’s bottom line. However, the representation in Washington, D.C., is only part of the value captured by joining the ARA network.
Ag retailers turn to ARA for opportunities to save on credit card processing, foster their knowledge network in ag retail and improve employee retention by following a path of professional development programs and resources.
Here are four ways you can boost your business in the first half of the year as an ARA member.
1. Fly In to Meet with Your Lawmakers on Capitol Hill
One of the biggest grassroots advocacy opportunities of the year for ag retailers is the annual ARA Legislative Fly-In where ARA members from across the U.S. head to Washington, D.C., to meet elected officials in Congress.
What makes this event so impactful is the face-to-face meetings where lawmakers and staff hear directly from their ARA member-constituents about burdensome policies hindering agribusinesses as well as legislative solutions that will uplift ag retailers, their farmer-customers and the entire agricultural community.
Join the conversations by signing up as an ARA member to participate in this year’s upcoming Legislative Fly-In event held March 4-6 in conjunction with the ARA Winter Board Meeting.
2. Improve Your Customers’ Payment Experience
Consumer payment trends have transformed during the past three years, resulting in 82% of Americans using digital payment technology and new opportunities for ag retailers. Ag retailers can improve their customers’ payment experience while saving an average of 20% on credit card processing by leveraging the Merchant Services Program offered by ARA in partnership with KeyBank.
Set up your business for long-term success by using this member service to better understand your company’s daily financial operations, identify opportunities to streamline processes and ultimately grow your business.
3. Reveal Your Hidden Leadership Talent
Many ag retail companies are busy enough providing farmer-customers with agronomic advice, products and technology, and they find they have little time to develop a path for team development and engagement.
To help off-load the burden of attracting and retaining top talent in the workforce, ARA offers professional development programming at affordable rates that ARA member-companies can leverage to increase employee engagement, satisfaction and retention.
One resource available to all leadership levels is the ARA Navigator 360° online assessment, which is a diagnostic feedback tool that reveals hidden talents. Developed specifically for ag professionals, this assessment generates an interactive chart that uncovers areas for improvement, so an individual leader has information about how to better meet the unique needs demanded by a particular role within the company.
The first part of the year is a great time to put your plan in place for your team’s professional development journey, and ARA is eager to help!
4. Discover Your Adjuvant Advantage
The ag retailer’s quest to help growers maximize their crop protectant investment never ends. By participating in our new “Adjuvant Advantage for the Sales Agronomist” webinar series, ag retailers can discover innovative ways to use adjuvants to correct compatibility problems as well as learn how to use them with pre-emergent herbicides, drone and aerial application, tank cleanout and more.
Certified crop advisers are able to collect one program IPM continuing education unit per webinar after viewing the live webinars or the webinar recordings. Level-up your service offerings to protect your farmer-customers’ chemical investment with this webinar series hosted by ARA in partnership with the Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology.
Your Next Steps
As the only national trade association dedicated to ag retailers, ARA empowers its member-companies to optimize their business operations through its member services and programs. The ARA team monitors policy updates coming out of Washington, D.C., and takes action when necessary to protect the ag retailer’s freedom to operate.
So much in agriculture is changing—from regulations to developing technology to new crop input practices.
Join ARA to unlock the full potential of your business in 2024.
