A trade association , also known as an industry trade group , business association , sector association or industry body , is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry . Through collaboration between companies within a sector , a trade association participates in public relations activities such as advertising , education, publishing and, especially, lobbying and political action . Associations may offer other services, such as producing conferences, setting industry standards, holding networking or charitable events, or offering classes or educational materials. Many associations are non-profit organizations governed by bylaws and directed by officers who are also members. (FEC: Solicitable Class of Trade Association). Many associations are non-profit organizations governed by bylaws and directed by officers who are also members. ( Library of Congress ).
15-593: The UK Cinema Association ( UKCA ), formerly known as the Cinema Exhibitors Association , is the national trade association for cinema operators in the United Kingdom . The UKCA represents the interests of well over 90 per cent of UK cinema operators by number and market share. The UKCA advocates on behalf of the UK cinema sector at international, national, and regional level. It lobbies
30-531: A comprehensive range of media include European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Industry trade groups sometimes produce advertisements, just as normal corporations do. However, whereas typical advertisements are for a specific corporate product, such as a specific brand of cheese or toilet paper, industry trade groups advertisements generally are targeted to promote
45-417: A direction favorable to the group's members. It can take the form of contributions to the campaigns of political candidates and parties through political action committees (PACs); contributions to "issue" campaigns not tied to a candidate or party; and lobbying legislators to support or oppose particular legislation. In addition, trade groups attempt to influence the activities of regulatory bodies . In
60-904: A market. In September 2007, the German trade association for Fachverband Verbindungs- und Befestigungstechnik (VBT) and five fastener companies were fined 303 million euros by the European Commission for operating cartels in the markets for fasteners and attaching machines in Europe and worldwide. In one of the cartels, the YKK Group , Coats plc , the Prym group, the Scovill group, A. Raymond, and Berning & Söhne "agreed [...] on coordinated price increases in annual 'price rounds' with respect to 'other fasteners' and their attaching machines, in
75-442: The European Commission as a good practice example. Almost all trade associations are heavily involved in publishing activities in print and online. The main media published by trade associations are as follows: The opportunity to be promoted in such media (whether by editorial or advertising) is often an important reason why companies join a trade association in the first place. Examples of larger trade associations that publish
90-822: The "CEA Card" for those disabled people who need the services of a carer if they want to visit the cinema. It is situated in Soho Square on floor four of the BBFC building. It has five regional branches. The UKCA became a limited company on 3 June 2004. The Association's membership covers single screen/owner managed sites, small independent circuits and the largest circuit and multiplex operators including Odeon Cinemas , Cineworld , Vue Cinemas , Showcase Cinemas and Empire Cinemas . Members are able to benefit from discounts with key collecting societies such as Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) and Video Performance Limited (VPL), and participate in marketing initiatives such as
105-498: The Government along with other sectors of the U.K. film industry, particularly distribution, also working with others within the industry to promote the value of cinema to the public. In addition it provides advice and support to individual members on interpreting and adhering to legislation and regulation, and in dealing with day-to-day operational issues when appropriate. Like many trade associations , it gathers economic data on
120-642: The US in the early 2000s the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) began running advertisements before films that advocate against movie piracy over the Internet. Trade associations have faced frequent criticism due to allegations that they operate not as profit-making organizations, but rather as fronts for cartels involved in anti-competitive practices . Critics contend that these associations engage in activities such as price-fixing ,
135-609: The United States, direct contributions by PACs to candidates are required to be disclosed to the Federal Election Commission or state and local election overseers; are considered public information; and have registration requirements for lobbyists (FEC: Lobbyist). Even so, it can sometimes be difficult to trace the funding for issue and non-electoral campaigns. In Slovenia , the government 's approach to consulting business associations has been noted by
150-770: The United States, outlined the potentially anti-competitive nature of some trade association activity in a speech to the American Bar Association in Washington, DC , in March 2005 called "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Trade Associations and Antitrust ". For instance, he said that under the guise of "standard setting", trade associations representing the established players in an industry can set rules that make it harder for new companies to enter
165-477: The creation and maintenance of barriers to entry in the industry, and other subtle self-serving actions that are detrimental to the public interest. These criticisms raise concerns about the true nature and intentions of trade associations, questioning their commitment to fair competition and the welfare of the broader economy. Jon Leibowitz , a commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission in
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#1732802419697180-657: The framework of work circles organised by VBT". European Wind Energy Association WindEurope is an association promoting the use of wind power in Europe . Based in Brussels it has over 500 members, which are active in over 50 countries, including manufacturers with a leading share of the world wind power market, component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewables associations, developers, contractors, electricity providers, finance companies, insurance companies, and consultants. Before 2016 WindEurope
195-625: The industry it represents. The top three films ever in the UK are, in order, Avatar , Toy Story 3 , and Mamma Mia! . In 2009, UK cinema turnover was around £1.2billion from around 900,000 cinema seats, at around 3,700 cinema screens at around 770 cinema sites. Total attendances are around 170 million. The top three chains have 62% of the number of screens. British cinemas have led the world in providing facilities and services for disabled people, both by making their buildings physically accessible and by installing equipment that enables audio described and sub-titled performances. The UKCA also created
210-463: The recently secured Meerkat Movies promotion in partnership with Compare the Market. Trade association In countries with a social market economy , the role of trade associations is often taken by employers' organizations , which also take a role in social dialogue . One of the primary purposes of trade groups, particularly in the United States, is to attempt to influence public policy in
225-552: The views of an entire industry. These ads mention only the industry's products as a whole, painting them in a positive light in order to have the public form positive associations with that industry and its products. For example, in the US the advertising campaign "Beef. It's what's for dinner" is used by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to promote a positive image of beef in the public consciousness. These are adverts targeted at specific issues. For example, in
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