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The American Rental Association Guides the Equipment Rental Industry

The American Rental Association (ARA), based in Moline, Ill., is a trade association of more than 7,200 rental business owners and the manufacturers and suppliers of rental equipment. We have members throughout the United States, in Canada and in more than a dozen overseas countries.

The American Rental Association is the structure for independent rental dealers to accomplish goals they couldn't achieve individually. And it's the network for manufacturers to market their products.

Rental dealers and, when appropriate, equipment manufacturers, guide the ARA staff in developing business services and products in four key areas: education and training; advertising and marketing; business development; and government representation.

Education and training

ARA offers ongoing education for business owners, their managers and employees. Members keep up with industry trends through interactive video-based training programs, seminars and workshops and other resources. These resources, and the Rental Equipment Industry Foundation Video Lending Library, allow members to develop custom employee and management training programs, and to improve customer service and safety programs.

Each year the Rental Equipment Industry Foundation offers 10 $1,000 scholarships - one in each of ARA's 10 geographic regions - to qualified individuals who are pursuing studies that apply to the rental industry.

Advertising and marketing

ARA's National Advertising Programs target the diverse groups of customers who rent equipment, including industrial clients, contractors, homeowners, do-it-yourselfers, brides and special-event planners.

These programs integrate the slogan, Renting, The Smart Way To Get Things Done, in local and national advertising campaigns throughout the United States and Canada. They build awareness for the advantages of renting and enhance the reputation of the American Rental Association and its member businesses.

Often, members sponsor The Weather Channel news on their local cable television stations, while ARA boosts their advertising with campaigns on five national cable television networks.

Many ARA members use coordinating advertising aids such as store signs, customer newsletters, direct mail, vehicle decals and billboards that reinforce the idea that renting is The Smart Way To Get Things Done.

Business development

ARA monitors industry trends with surveys and studies such as the Cost of Doing Business Report and Wage and Benefit Report. In addition, it provides business development resources, including a network of 700 ARA members willing to share their expertise about more than 50 industry topics in the Management Network Directory.

Legislative representation

ARA tracks pending legislation that affects rental business owners in Congress and state by state, alerting members of opportunities to influence favorable legislation on both levels by contacting their lawmakers. ARA interprets new laws and regulations for members on its Web site and in Washington News, a free quarterly newsletter. The association is the primary resource for policy makers and media who seek industry information.

ARA's State Association Program, introduced in 1997, empowers state association leaders to effectively deal with legislative issues in their states. Each year, state association leaders receive training to plan their states' legislative agendas and present these agendas to their respective state representatives. ARA rebates a portion of membership dues to state associations, supporting legislative initiatives and state/local meeting programs.

ARA's Political Action Committee supports pro-business candidates in national elections, and its National Legislative Caucus of politically active ARA members visit their representatives and senators in Congress each year to discuss issues.

The Benefits of Belonging

Other benefits of ARA membership include eligibility to purchase insurance through the ARA Insurance Services, a member-owned insurance company; state and national rental association affiliation; a directory of members worldwide; a buying guide of supplier marketing information; free subscriptions to association publications; a cost-saving credit card program and reduced prices on all ARA products and services.

ARA publishes RENTAL MANAGEMENT, the monthly magazine of rental business management, industry news, technology, national and regional trends, and news of products and services. The magazine circulates to more than 16,000 rental business owners and managers, manufacturers and suppliers of rental equipment.

Members visit our Web site for information about products, services, convention and conference news, solutions to management problems, education and training resources, industry and association news and much more.

Consumers visit our Web site to locate ARA-member businesses in their areas that rent specific equipment and to find information about completing projects with rented equipment.

ARA's Annual Convention and Rental Trade Show is among the top 100 trade shows in the United States and is the largest rental trade show in the world. It brings together thousands of rental dealers looking for new equipment. And it showcases more than 700 equipment manufacturers and their products. The show has inspired hundreds of ideas for new rental equipment.

A Member-Driven Association

ARA members who have proven track records in rental business management make up the committees and the board of directors of the association. These members make all decisions and set priorities for new projects. And they guide ARA's staff in developing these new projects. Manufacturers' representatives serve on exhibitor advisory committees to evaluate and improve ARA conventions and conferences where they market their products, and on other committees that affect associate members.

The American Rental Association is committed to leading this growing industry's expansion with products and services for members, marketing tools for suppliers and money-saving information for consumers.

Call on the American Rental Association when you have questions about renting equipment