NARTS Partners provide products, services, and expertise that can be valuable to resale, consignment, and thrift store owners. This page explains what Partners receive through their membership, how they may participate in the NARTS community, and what NARTS expects from them.
 

The goal is simple. Partners should have meaningful ways to become known to members, while NARTS keeps its member spaces useful, educational, and focused on the needs of store owners.
 

Being a NARTS Partner does not mean the business is the only company NARTS works with in that category. It also does not mean NARTS certifies, endorses, or guarantees the Partner or its products, services, prices, claims, or results.
 

PARTNER ELIGIBILITY
 

NARTS Partner membership is available to businesses that provide products or services to resale, consignment, or thrift stores.
 

Partner applications are subject to approval. Partners must pay the dues and fees established by the NARTS Board of Directors and remain in good standing. 
 

Partners are expected to provide accurate information, conduct business professionally, follow the NARTS Bylaws and Code of Ethics, and comply with this policy.
 

NARTS may review a Partner’s eligibility when the business applies, renews, makes a significant change to its services or ownership, or becomes the subject of a concern that could affect NARTS members.
 

WHAT PARTNERS RECEIVE
 

Partner Profile and Directory Listing | Each Partner in good standing will receive a company profile or directory listing. This may include the company description, service categories, contact information, website, logo, and information about the primary representative.
 

The Partner is responsible for providing complete and accurate information and notifying NARTS when that information changes.
 

NARTS will determine where Partner profiles appear, how they are presented, and how long they remain in a particular location. Depending on the communication platform being used, Partner information may appear in a member directory, group file, pinned social media post, Partner resource page, or another location selected by NARTS.
 

Partner Introductory Video | Each Partner may provide one self-recorded introductory video of less than two minutes.

The video should explain what the Partner does, whom it serves, the problems it solves, and how its products or services support resale, consignment, or thrift businesses.
 

The video should be informative and conversational. It should not be built around a limited offer, discount, sales promotion, or pressure to purchase.
 

The Partner is responsible for submitting a complete video that meets the requirements provided by NARTS. NARTS must approve the video before it is shared through a NARTS channel.
 

NARTS will decide where and when the video is published. A Partner may be asked to submit an updated video when its services or primary representative changes.

Quarterly Partner Emails | Each Partner may submit one email per calendar quarter during its active membership term. This allows for a maximum of four Partner emails per year.
 

The Partner is responsible for submitting the complete email by the deadline provided by NARTS. This includes the final written copy, graphics, links, and any necessary permissions.
 

NARTS will provide the general submission schedule, but NARTS staff will not pursue Partners for missing emails, incomplete materials, corrections, or approvals.
 

Partner emails will be scheduled where they best fit the NARTS communication calendar. A Partner may request a preferred time, but it cannot require NARTS to distribute an email on a particular date.
 

If a Partner does not submit an email during the applicable quarter, that opportunity expires. It does not move into the next quarter.
 

Partner emails should teach members something useful, explain a business issue, prepare members to make a decision, or help store owners see a familiar problem differently.
 

Because these are approved Partner emails, they may include the company name, reasonable links, and an appropriate invitation to learn more.
 

NARTS has final approval over the subject line, content, length, graphics, links, format, and timing. NARTS may edit an email, request changes, decline it, or hold it for a more appropriate time.
 

Educational Articles and Blog Posts | Partners may submit finished educational articles or blog posts for NARTS to consider.
 

An article should solve a problem, explain an issue, improve a business decision, or give members a useful new perspective. Members should receive practical value from the article even if they never purchase anything from the Partner.
 

The article may include a short description of the Partner and an approved link. The body of the article should not read like an advertisement, sales letter, company brochure, or extended invitation to schedule a call.
 

Submitting an article does not guarantee publication. NARTS may edit an article for length, clarity, accuracy, tone, and relevance.
 

NARTS may decline an article that is too promotional, repeats information recently shared, does not provide enough useful information, or does not fit current member needs or the communication calendar.
 

Participating In Member Conversations | Partners are encouraged to answer questions and join NARTS discussions when they can provide useful information.
 

Partners may explain an issue in plain language, share practical suggestions, discuss common risks or options, and respectfully correct inaccurate information.

The useful answer should be provided within the conversation. Members should not have to click a link, register for something, download information, schedule a call, or contact the Partner to receive the answer.
 

When a Partner’s connection to the topic is relevant, the representative should clearly identify the company they represent.
 

Partners are also welcome to congratulate members, celebrate store accomplishments, and participate in general industry conversations. Being part of the NARTS community should involve more than appearing only when there is something to sell.
 

Partners must receive NARTS approval before posting a company link, product or service offer, event, class, webinar, registration, download, discount, consultation, invitation, or request to contact the Partner.
 

Partners may not repeatedly turn member conversations toward their company, website, programs, products, services, or sales process.
 

Partners may not provide part of an answer and then require the member to take another action to receive the remainder of the information.
 

When the answer is not obvious, the Partner should ask whether a reasonable member would see the content as useful participation or as advertising. If it feels like advertising, the Partner should ask NARTS before posting it.
 

Partner Proposed Educational Webinars | Partners may submit proposals for educational webinars designed to provide training, practical guidance, and useful information for NARTS members.

A webinar must be built around a meaningful business topic, question, challenge, or opportunity and may not be presented as a sales pitch for the Partner’s company, products, or services.
 

The Partner must submit a proposed title, brief overview, learning objectives, presentation outline, intended audience, estimated length, proposed presenter information, and a description of any materials, demonstrations, links, or follow up resources that would be included. NARTS may request additional information or revisions before deciding whether the webinar is appropriate for the membership.
 

The useful educational content must stand on its own. The Partner may identify the company and explain its relevant experience, but the webinar may not be structured around product demonstrations, company features, sales offers, consultations, lead collection, or repeated invitations to contact or purchase from the Partner.
 

Submission does not guarantee approval or scheduling. NARTS retains final approval over the topic, presenter, title, description, content, format, length, timing, promotion, recording, and distribution.
 

NARTS may limit the number of Partner webinars offered based on the scope of the program, the communication and event calendar, current member needs, topic repetition, and available resources. NARTS will also consider the overall balance of Partner participation so that educational opportunities do not become concentrated among one or two Partners.
 

MEMBER INFORMATION AND PRIVATE SOLICITATION
 

Partners may not privately contact members to solicit business simply because they gained access to those members through NARTS.
 

Partners may not copy, export, share, sell, or add NARTS member information to a mailing list, marketing database, or customer system without the member’s clear and independent permission.
 

A member choosing to contact a Partner or independently requesting information is different from a Partner using NARTS access to build a private sales or marketing list.
 

EVENT SPONSORSHIP AND ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
 

Partner membership does not automatically include event speaking roles, conference participation, sponsorship placement, exhibits, roundtables, panels, or additional advertising.
 

NARTS may invite Partners to participate in additional opportunities when their expertise matches a member need and the opportunity fits the event or communication schedule.
 

Paid advertising, sponsorships, exhibits, and event opportunities are separate from Partner membership and may require an additional agreement and fee.
 

Partner membership does not guarantee leads, sales, member engagement, or a particular amount of exposure.

PARTNER REVIEW AND RENEWAL

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NARTS may review a Partner’s eligibility and participation when the membership is renewed or when a significant concern arises.
 

NARTS may ask what products or services the Partner currently provides to resale businesses and whether there have been changes in ownership, leadership, contacts, services, website, or business practices.
 

NARTS may ask how the Partner has contributed to the NARTS community, whether it has fulfilled commitments made to members, and whether it has responded professionally to questions or concerns.
 

Partners may be asked to disclose unresolved member complaints, significant disputes, legal matters, or regulatory concerns that could affect NARTS members or the Partner program.
 

NARTS may confirm that all Partner information is current and that everyone representing the company understands the requirements concerning promotion, member information, private solicitation, and use of the NARTS name.
 

NARTS may also ask what educational topics the Partner is qualified to address during the next membership term.

PROFESSIONAL RESPECT AND COMPLAINTS
 

Partners and their representatives must communicate professionally and respectfully when discussing other NARTS Partners, members, businesses, products, services, and industry professionals.
 

Partners may offer factual comparisons, explain differences, and answer questions about their own products or services when relevant. They may not criticize, ridicule, disparage, attack, or make unsupported negative statements about another Partner, member, competitor, company, product, service, or representative.
 

Concerns about another Partner or business should be brought directly to NARTS for appropriate review rather than raised in NARTS member spaces,presentations, articles, webinars, events, or other Partner communications.
 

When a concern arises regarding a Partner’s conduct, content, business practices, or compliance with this policy, NARTS will review the circumstances and communicate directly with the Partner.
 

When appropriate, the Partner will be informed of the concern and given an opportunity to provide additional information, correct the issue, or take other reasonable action requested by NARTS.
 

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern, NARTS may edit or remove content, request a correction, limit participation, suspend certain Partner benefits, or refer the matter to the Board of Directors for review.
 

In determining the appropriate response, NARTS may consider the seriousness of the concern, whether similar concerns have occurred previously, the effect on NARTS members or the Association, and the Partner’s response after being notified.
 

Serious or repeated violations may result in probation, suspension, nonrenewal, or removal from Partner membership.
 

Any disciplinary action or removal requiring Board approval will follow the process established in the NARTS Bylaws.

NO EXCLUSIVITY, ENDORSEMENT, OR GUARANTEE

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Partner membership means that the business met the Partner membership requirements when it was reviewed and approved.
 

It does not mean the Partner is the only business in its category that NARTS may work with or accept as a Partner.
 

It does not mean NARTS certifies, endorses, recommends, or guarantees the Partner or its products, services, prices, claims, legal compliance, or results.
 

NARTS members remain responsible for researching Partners, reviewing agreements, asking questions, and making their own purchasing and business decisions.

POLICY REVIEW
 

The NARTS Board of Directors may update this policy when needed.
 

The Executive Director may establish submission forms, schedules, content requirements, and other administrative instructions needed to carry out the policy.
 

This policy should be reviewed whenever the NARTS Bylaws, Partner program, membership structure, or communication platforms materially change.

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