Policy Statement

The Australian Sewing Guild (The Guild) aims to maintain strong, mutually beneficial relationships with Industry Partners.

Objective 

The Industry Partners program aims to benefit both our individual members and our industry partner members, to contribute to a healthy sewing ecosystem of suppliers, sewers and knowledge. The program is intended to help members know where to find supportive sewing-related businesses, and in return to help those businesses build profile amongst the sewing community.

Definitions

Industry Partners are a distinct category of Guild membership. Industry Partners are defined in two categories:

1. Retail partners: businesses that sell or distribute fabric, patterns, haberdashery and notions to other retailers or the general public.
2. Education partners: businesses that primarily offer education services to Guild members such as sewing classes, fit clinics, learn-to-sew lessons, sewing equipment tutorials, etc.

Rules and Guidelines

Benefits to members

Industry Partners are expected to provide a benefit to Guild members in return for the promotional opportunities provided through The Guild. Benefits to members may include, but are not limited to:

• discounts on good or services,
• loyalty rewards,
• special pricing,
• presentations at Guild events, etc.

Retail Partners promotional opportunities

The Guild will offer the following options for promotional opportunities to Retail Industry Partners. Other options may be mutually agreed.

• promotion on The Guild’s social media channels (content provided by Industry Partner)
• the opportunity to publish relevant articles in The Guild’s Newsletter
• the opportunity to present or sell at Guild events, eg Industry Days and Sewing Retreats
• preferred supplier for events, classes

Education Partners promotional opportunities

The Guild will offer the following options for promotional opportunities to Education Industry Partners. Other options may be mutually agreed.

• ability to offer online classes
• promotion on The Guild’s social media channels (content provided by Industry Partner)
• the opportunity to publish relevant articles in The Guild’s Newsletter
• the opportunity to present at Guild events, eg Industry Days, Sewing Retreats, neighbourhood meetings

Commercial arrangements

• Industry Partners pay membership fees to become and remain partners of The Guild. Membership Fees for Industry Partners are set by the Guild Board of Directors and are standard for each category of Industry Partner.
• Industry Partners may receive payment for services or products provided to The Guild (for example, providing workshops, classes etc). These are to be negotiated on a case by case basis. It is expected that these arrangements will be negotiated in good faith reflecting the spirit of partnership between the Industry Partner and the Guild, for the benefit of Guild members and the advancement of the art of sewing.
• Ownership of Intellectual Property is to be negotiated in accordance with The Guild's Intellectual Property Policy.
• Industry Partners may promote their partnership with The Guild. They must adhere to The Guild's brand guidelines. The Guild will adhere to any Industry Partner brand guidelines provided by Industry Partners.

Identification and disclosure of conflicts of interest