Garage Door Trade Associations give your garage door company the opportunity to learn about new products, technologies, and practices so that you and your team can stay on the cutting edge of your industry. A trade association may also have conferences that give you the opportunity to network and learn from other garage door repair companies as well as garage door dealers and manufacturers.
Whether you specialize in commercial doors or garage door repair for homeowners, there is an association for you. In this post, we cover some of the national and regional garage door associations that you may wish to consider joining to improve your business.
Regions:
(USA, Canada, Worldwide)
Overview:
The Door and Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA) is a standards development organization for the garage door industry that is accredited by ANSI. It currently has 105 members. Membership is largely comprised of corporations that manufacture garage doors and access systems - not a fit if you're a garage door repair company.
Conferences / Events:
DASMA has multiple events each year including an Annual meeting, midyear meeting, and fall forum. See our garage door industry events calendar for dates and times of these events.
Membership Details:
There are three types of memberships:
Active - these members are actively involved in the manufacturing of garage doors or related components
Associates - these members are responsible for the manufacture or supplying of raw materials used in the manufacturing of garage doors or related components
Professional - For testing laboratories or other professionals
Regions:
(USA, Canada, Worldwide)
Overview:
The International Door Association (IDA) is divided into 12 separate regions, 9 of which are in the United States. Canada and Mexico also comprise their own regions, and the rest of the world is considered another separate region.
The IDA features both an Executive dealer council and a Supplier council to discuss and implement industry initiatives.
Conferences / Events:
The IDA has an annual conference - the IDA Expo. This year the conference is being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from April 5 - 8 2022. You can find details for the IDA and all other garage door trade conferences here.
Annual Dues:
There are many different categories of memberships available with differing dues for each. Below are the membership categories and pricing as of January 2022:
Honorary Member (Free)
Corresponding Membership ($115/yr)
Supplier Membership ($660/yr)
Technician Membership ($99/yr)
Dealer Branch Membership ($175/yr)
Dealer Membership ($145/yr)
For the details of qualifications for each membership type, please see the member programs page over at the IDA's official website.
Membership Details:
Membership is at an organizational level and is performed by the company administrator. By joining, garage door companies get access to education and training. They also will receive discounts on both the annual conference (IDAExpo) and advertising in the International Door & Operator Industry Magazine.
Scholarships:
The IDA has an annual scholarship program that awards scholarships up to $2,000 for IDA members and/or their families. In 2021, 32 scholarships were awarded.
Other:
Young Professionals Network - Crafted for members under age 40 (without a hard age limit), this network is available for the younger members of the garage door industry. Members get access to networking and tools to advance their careers (or garage door businesses)
IDEA ACCREDITATION - The Institute of Door Dealer Education and Accreditation (IDEA) offers education and training so that members can stay current with garage door industry best practices. There are both Dealer AIDEA ACCREDITATION - The Institute of Door Dealer Education and Accreditation (IDEA) offers education and training so that members can stay current with garage door industry best practices. There are both Dealer Accreditation and Technician Certification available through the IDEA.
The residential installer certification for technicians is a self-study course for garage door professionals that covers:
This is just a small sample of the course areas that enable technicians to provide excellent garage door service.
Regions:
(AZ, CA, NV, UT)
Overview:
The Western Access Systems Association (WASA) encompasses the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. Members of the association include both associate members and dealer members. Associate members include both manufacturers and providers of garage door services while dealer members include both garage door dealers and installers.
Conferences / Events:
WASA has an annual conference for its members. In 2021, the conference was held at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas. Click here for conference updates for WASA and all other trade associations.
Annual dues:
$99/year for Dealers/Installers
$350/year for Associates
Membership Details:
Membership gets you a listing (and a link to your website) in the WASA listings for your category (either dealer or associate).
Scholarship:
WASA also has a scholarship program where in the past they have awarded $1,000 scholarship for WASA members and their families.
Affiliation:
WASA is an affiliate of the International Door Association.
Regions:
(MI)
Overview:
The Michigan Door and Operators Dealers Association (MIDODA) is comprised of 14 members in the Michigan area. Their website hasn't been updated in over three years, so information about membership, benefits, and dues isn't readily available.
Affiliation:
MIDODA is an affiliate of the International Door Association.
Regions:
(AZ, CA, NV, UT)
Overview:
The Professional Door Association of New England (PDANE) has 150 members - most of whom call New England home.
Conferences / Events:
PDANE holds a conference for its members every other year, with the last conference scheduled for September 2021 at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. For information about future PDANE and all upcoming garage door industry conferences, check out our conferences page.
Annual dues:
$150/year for Dealers
$225/year for Vendors
Membership Details:
Members are entitled to manufacturer coupons which should more than cover the cost of their membership. Members also receive access to the PDA Logo and promotional material. Note that industry-related logos can be a symbol of trust for prospects and be an extremely effective garage door marketing tactic.
With a membership, you also get a link in the PDANE directory. Links from relevant directories can help your garage door SEO efforts.
Members also get access to trade show discounts, networking, and invitations to other seminars (among other perks).
Affiliation:
PDANE is an affiliate of the International Door Association.
Regions:
(WI, Ill, St. Louis Area)
Overview:
The Central States Door Dealers Association has over 50 members from southeastern Wisconsin, the area around St. Louis, along with north and central Illinois.
Members of the association include both the garage door industry and supporting industries. It isn't limited to dealers and technicians but includes insurance agents, financial managers, and accountants.
Conferences / Events:
Each of the four chapters of the Central States Door Dealers Association (St. Louis, Southeastern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Central Illinois) have their own distinct meeting places and times.
Annual Dues for Memberships:
There are two available membership types - both of which offer a discount for renewal. The Dealer membership is $150/yr. The Industry Membership is for door manufacturing companies and is $175/yr.
Affiliation:
The CSDDA is an affiliate of the International Door Association.
It is a good idea to explore the different trade association options and see which ones may be a good fit for your overhead door business. The networking and training can be extremely valuable for your garage door company.
