Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), Chicago, has expanded its Advocacy Council with the addition of Memphis, Tennessee-based Signet Inc.
The Advocacy Council (previously known as the Distributor Advocacy Council) is comprised of industry advocates who are leading the way for brand safety through the responsible sourcing of promotional products. ADvocates recognize QCA as the standard by which industry firms consistently deliver socially compliant, safe, high-quality and environmentally conscientious merchandise. Together, the Advocacy Council, QCA-accredited suppliers and end-buyers of promotional products are forming new levels of collaboration to effectively ensure supply chain transparency and control that protects brand reputations.
“While suppliers have much accountability when it comes to product safety and social responsibility, distributors also pay an integral role by connecting end-buyers with products that not only support their brand but also protect it,” said Tim Brown, MAS, QCA’s executive director of operations. “One past criticism was that distributors didn’t have an opportunity to meaningfully contribute within the QCA structure. As a part of the new participation model that debuted in January, we redesigned the Advocacy Council to give distributors the ability to participate in the ways they had been requesting.”
These changes prompted Signet, which was one of the companies that formed the initial DAC, to become a part of the new and improved Advocacy Council.
“Previously, there was little opportunity for participation at the level we were seeking, despite good intentions,” said Elizabeth Tate, CEO of Signet. “We are glad to see this change. The new participation model gives us the ability to have greater input, be heard and to have more significant influence.”
“Distributors have an important role to offer since we are the ones closest to end-buyers,” added David Tate, Signet’s chief operating officer. “Without us, much valuable input can be missed. If we help, inform and encourage suppliers and their processes, it helps improve our individual companies and, without question, this improvement also pushes out to the industry as a whole.”
This is the second addition to the Advocacy Council in the last six weeks. Ethical Swag began participating in March.
For more information on QCA, visit www.qcalliance.org.