NMBS launches affiliate membership “to strengthen the independent merchants sector”

NMBS has launched a new “affiliate membership” category to support businesses that don’t currently meet its membership criteria but could grow do so over the next three years.

By allowing start-ups and smaller merchant businesses to become members, the organisation “hopes to encourage merchant and supplier relationships to develop earlier in the merchant’s business journey.”

NMBS will provide affiliate members with access to more than 400 suppliers and support them as they learn more about new product types, innovations and trends. The affiliate membership is also intended to help smaller independent businesses “improve their digital efficiency and financial performance and ability to compete with larger merchants.”

Dean Hayward, Head of Sales & Marketing of NMBS, says: “As we see consolidation in the market, we believe start-ups and entrepreneurial new entrants must be helped to grow and prosper to fill their places.

Affiliate members will have many of the same financial rebate benefits as full members. NMBS members earned an average of 3.84% on turnover transacted via NMBS in 2023, so this could have a significant impact for smaller businesses going forward.

The affiliate scheme is aimed at the following merchants:

Start-up businesses

Not yet meet the £750,000 minimum company turnover criteria for a full membership

Businesses can be an affiliate member for a maximum of three years. This period should provide merchants with the opportunity to grow their business, so they can meet the criteria for the full NMBS membership package and become a share-holding member of NMBS.

Learn more about the affiliate membership opportunity by getting in touch with Dean Hayward at dean.hayward@nmbs.co.uk