How old is COMPASS? Please elaborate the election system and what is the current number of your members?

COMPASS was founded in 1993. The Governing Body comprises of six members, namely, President, Vice-President, Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer and immediate Past President. The President and 15 Committee Members are elected by the members of COMPASS and 3 members are co-opted by the elected members. Vice-President, Secretary, Joint Secretary and Treasurer are elected by the Executive Committee members

How do you address the channel-vendor issues? Please share some details, if possible?

COMPASS is a trade body and always believes in friendly relationship. To address the issues, we always discuss the matter at length with our channel members as well as with the vendors and make sure it gets resolved in an amicable and friendly manner so that no one is left dissatisfied.

Are fraudulent and "fly by night" kind of activities prevalent in the metros more? What measures do you adopt to minimize them? Do you think the situation is better in the metros or in smaller towns?

Although such issues are rare in our area, in case of any fraudulent activities we discuss the matter thoroughly and try to find out the reasons. Also, we try to reslove the matter to the satisfaction of all by arriving at an agreeable settlement. If we come to know about such shady activities, we alert the traders well in advance.

Do you come across more of vendor-channel issues or channel-channel issues?

As stated above, we are a trade friendly association. So, we always try to handle and manage all the issues of channel members very amicably. 

Since all vendors have started focussing on smaller towns or non-metros, it means that there are few opportunities in the metros?

No, I don't agree. As a matter of fact, smaller towns or non-metros are progressing because of metros or big cities. Since there is a saturation period, the growth in smaller towns and non-metros is larger. Hence, this gives metros an opportunity to grow further.

What kind of support do you have from IT vendors?

Since the Association always works in the interest and growth of traders, support from all the vendors has always been tremendous.

How do you take the voice of the channel to the principals? 

We always try to work closely with all the principals by conducting various kinds of meetings with their representatives and our members. Also, we consider their views and suggestions on any policy decision related to trade interest and growth and make sure decisions are in the interest of trade and channel members. 

What is your target for 2010?

The Association tries very hard to make trade in East India more progressive by bringing all the trade bodies on a common platform and makes sure that the whole of East India works for the development and betterment of trade and channel. We are trying to build a healthy and competitive environment in East India for both channels and vendors.

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"COMPASS members try to build a healthy and prosperous society. COMPASS has committed itself to stand by the needy ones. Keeping the role of youth in the nation’s future in mind, computer training centres sponsored by COMPASS are being run to help the unemployed youth who are below the poverty line. In 2004, COMPASS supported "Heart to Heart", a reputed NGO in Kolkata, to impart education and vocational training to the deaf and dumb. Computers were given to the organization and a full-fledged computer centre was set up entirely at the initiative of COMPASS. Not only this, Ankur Computer Training Centre located at Jadavpur is the first one sponsored by COMPASS. In 2000, COMPASS assisted Ankur by sponsoring computers, peripherals and technology for imparting training to the underprivileged."

For more contact :
beenish@varindia.com