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ANNUAL VENDOR PARTNER (AVP) PROGRAM

Our promise is to offer programs that maximize sell-through and profitability for both our Vendor Partners and Member stores.

ICBA Member Stores represent $1.4 billion in combined buying power, creating significant leverage to negotiate preferred vendor pricing. Because ICBA Members are committed to the partnerships with ICBA endorsed vendors, we make it our objective to provide Members with maximum benefits for their commitment.

ICBA develops relationships and negotiates agreements with manufacturers, distributors, publishers, and service providers that deliver products and services at prices and terms that would not otherwise be available to Member Stores.

If you feel your company can meet our standards for quality, performance, price, and terms concessions, we invite you to explore our Annual Vendor Partner (AVP) Program.

YOUR BENEFITS AS AN ICBA ANNUAL VENDOR PARTNER

  • Your company is listed as an ICBA Annual Vendor Partner on our website.

  • Key elements of your program and product offerings are posted on our website.

  • Member Stores can find your buying program details, company profile, contact information, website link and other important information online via secure login access.

  • For your convenience, store and buyer contact information is readily available when you log in to the ICBA website.

  • Buyers meet with, order, take delivery, pay, and work directly with you. ICBA does not act as a sales agent or a distributor—each vendor develops a direct relationship with each ICBA Member Store.

ICBA offers different levels of partnership based on your goals in support of ICBA Members. The following chart outlines benefits for participating companies based on levels of engagement and support. 

GETTING STARTED: THE ICBA ANNUAL VENDOR PARTNER PROGRAM

It starts with an exploratory conversation with ICBA and we welcome all inquiries! Contact vendor@ICBAinc.com to schedule a call to discuss your plans and strategies for the collegiate retail market. We will share our advice and guidance on how best to proceed and how the ICBA AVP program may support our mutual goals.

Before submitting an AVP proposal, we encourage vendors new to the college market or new to ICBA to contact us for a review of your goals in the channel.

VIEW THE ICBA ANNUAL VENDOR PROGRAM PROPOSALS

The formal AVP program year is February-January, however, ICBA onboards new qualified AVPs throughout the year. For costs and benefits, download the following documents:

ICBA AVP INTRO

DOWNLOAD

ICBA AVP FEE AGREEMENT

DOWNLOAD

ICBA TERMS & CONDITIONS PROFILE

DOWNLOAD

ICBA AVP CODE OF CONDUCT

DOWNLOAD

CATEGORIES

ICBA accepts AVP proposals for several essential college store categories and their many subcategories, including but not limited to:

Apparel, Gifts, Souvenirs, Backpacks

School, Art, & Office Supplies

Campus Living & Dorm-Related Products

Computers, Technology, & Consumer Electronics

General & Trade Books

Textbooks & Academic Materials

Food, Beverage, & Convenience

Health & Beauty Products

Management Resources

Retail Services

YOUR COMMITMENT TO ICBA MEMBERS

Our most successful programs offer preferred pricing and terms to ICBA Member stores consistent with the aggregated buying power of the Membership. The ICBA team evaluates proposals on a variety of factors, including:

  • Price Value

  • Product quality

  • Appropriateness for the college store market

  • Brand recognition

  • Depth of offered assortment

  • Custom decorating options (where applicable)

  • Collegiate licenses held (where applicable)

  • Payment & freight terms

  • Minimum order quantities

  • Fill rates

  • Marketing assistance, point-of-purchase displays, in-store signage

  • Country of Origin

  • Code of Conduct / Factory Disclosure

  • Local sales representation

  • Availability of the program to Canadian stores

Annual Vendor Partner programs are re-evaluated each year to gauge the success of the program. As an essential element of the annual review, AVPs must provide a report of total dollar sales to each ICBA Member for the prior year.

ADDITIONAL VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES

In addition to the ICBA AVP program and the ICBA Conference & PRIMEtime event, ICBA offers two additional opportunities to reach our dedicated ICBA Members.

ADDITIONAL VENDOR OPPORTUNTIES