The Electronic Retailing Association just announced that it is shutting its doors effective June 1, 2018. The organization, which was originally called the National Infomercial Marketing Association, was founded in 1990.
According to a statement from the ERA, its Board of Directors unanimously voted to terminate operations. The ERA said that it "cannot continue operating in the face of declining dues receipts, fewer sponsorships and an overall shortage of revenue coupled with burdensome expenses."
The ERA, as the only non-profit association in the direct response space, advocated for self-regulation and best practices and helped take the industry from nascency to maturity.