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How We Do BusinessOETC functions as a technology fulfillment agent to its member organizations and we also provide professional development for teachers and lower-cost IT staff training by certified Microsoft trainers. On behalf of the member organizations, OETC works with vendors directly to provide the best possible price to its member organizations. These prices are only available to our member organizations through OETC and not directly with a vendor. We act as the order fulfillment agent between the supplier and the institution. Our operating budget is provided by a small administrative handling percentage on all products. Even after this service fee, our member organizations are assured the best possible price.New Vendors OETC evaluates adding vendors to the price list based on a system of priority determined by product quality, consortium demand, and classroom application. In the meantime, review our website to learn more about our organization. Adding your product The first step to adding your product to the OETC price database is to contact the Executive Director of OETC and send a review copy of your product to our office for evaluation. OETC evaluates adding vendors to the price list based on a system of priority determined by product quality, demand, and classroom application. Once it is determined that a product is desired on the price list, then the process of establishing a fulfillment contract begins starting with the negotiation of price to our member organizations. Once a final agreement is reached the product is listed on the OETC web site and member organizations may buy at that price. Orders are taken by OETC and the product is either shipped by the vendor directly to the member organization purchasing the product from OETC or to OETC for re-shipment. *OETC does not stock product, nor purchase in bulk from vendors, since we are not a reseller. Our role is to provide direct product fulfillment to our vendors and member organizations. What we distribute As a fullfillment agent for vendors we distribute hardware and manuals, or, media, licenses, and manuals to our member organizations depending on the type of vendor. We do not provide technical or sales support to our member organizations on behalf of our vendors. OETC Policy Statement Only the finest quality technology products are available through the OETC price database. OETC acknowledges that other products may perform as well or better than those listed in our price database, and hence we are constantly seeking new quality products. In order to be in our price database, the product must meet the following criteria:
Marketing OpportunitiesDemographicsOETC membership consists of more than 860 educational institutions, school districts, and other educational organizations. More than 80 percent have computers in the classroom, and most of those have access to the Internet. Advertising and Marketing Opportunities We produce and distribute two full-color quarterly newsletters to all of our members. These newsletters offer full, half and quarter page advertising opportunities. Advertising in the newsletter is independent from listing products in our price database. The newsletters are distributed to all members, our subscription base, and handed out at conferences. Please visit the advertising page to learn more about advertising in our teacher newsletter and/or our IT newsletter. You may also download the Advertising Packet PDF below: Advertising Packet Marketing Possibilities OETC frequently works with vendors - especially new vendors or vendors promoting new products - to develop a marketing strategy to reach as many members as possible. One popular method is for vendors to submit a product flyer in a pdf format for posting on our home page. A main criteria for these product flyers or postcards is that the purchasing information must be through OETC. So for example, it can have at the bottom of the flyer this sentence: "To purchase, go to www.oetc.org." We also would like to have a name or at least a phone number from the vendor on the flyer in case members have technical questions about the product or services. We are open to a variety of joint marketing possibilities to help vendors promote their products through OETC. Please contact Julie Chappelle at julie@oetc.org for more information about marketing. Vendor Postcards Vendors seeking increased visibility for either a hardware or software product should contact Julie Chappelle about this marketing option. The cards are mailed out to OETC members using the most current OETC mailing list. Julie Chappelle can print a pre-designed postcard or help create a new card for any vendor wanting to increase their visibility or promote a limited-time offer to members. The vendor would be invoiced after the mailing is complete for the cost of the printing. Please email Julie Chappelle at julie@oetc.org for more information about these specialized postcards. Web Site From the OETC web site, our member organizations can look up product information, vendor and price information, see software reviews, read through previous issues of the newsletter, use our instructional programs, and contact staff and members of the board. "What's New" on Our Web Site OETC assists vendors in getting the word out about new product information, seminars and training sessions by providing information about these events in our "What's New" section of our home page at www.oetc.org. In addition to posting events and product info on our web site we also email out the latest "What's New" information to all of our members and other vendors. OETC Brochure OETC attends several dozen educational and trade show conferences every year, in addition to holding our own Instructional Technology Strategies Conference (ITSC) every February, and we hand out a special full-color educational brochure about who we are and what we do. We also list a number of our vendor partners in the brochure. For more information about getting your company's logo in the next revision, please contact Julie Chappelle at julie@oetc.org. Webinars and Seminars Vendors working with OETC are encouraged to leverage OETC's resources in setting up local and regional seminars to demonstrate new product versions or train OETC members (at no cost to the member). We also encourage vendors to set up and communicate through OETC about webinars that will help boost members' understanding and knowledge of products and services. If you are planning a seminar or webinar about products or services offered to members through OETC in the near future, it would be a good idea to contact Julie Chappelle at julie@oetc.org to help communicate the event to OETC members. Instructional Technology Strategies Conference (ITSC) The OETC Instructional Technology Strategies Conference is held every February and has four different types of events: Keynote Sessions, 3 Hour Workshops, 1 Hour Sessions and Pre-Conference. For more information about booths at this conference or sponsoring ITSC, please contact Jennifer Arns at jena@oetc.org, or go to the ITSC web site: itsc.oetc.org. |