ITODA - Independent Turf & Ornamental Distributors Association

What is ITODA?

The Independent Turf and Ornamental Distributors Association (ITODA) was formed in 1990 to foster the trade, commerce, and interests of independently-owned businesses that serve and market products to the turf and ornamental landscaping industries. In achieving our goals, ITODA presents a united front to manufacturers, customers, and other independents, along with a strong sense of environmental responsibility. Our hope is to bring together distributors and manufacturers in a true business partnership, recognizing all philosophies of manufacturers and suppliers to find the common ground that enhances our mutual prosperity.

Membership Benefits

the opportunity to network with other "independents" who understand the challenges of today's business climate;
association bulletins, which offer our members the latest news, trends, and information about events and activities that impact our industry;
access to high-quality continuing education programs designed to improve our overall professionalism and practices;
participation by owners and senior management in the Fall Annual Meeting (October) and the Distributors Management Forum (June), which continue to promote and strengthen the position of our independent businesses;
encouragement to participate on active committees to insure the success of our businesses;
access to The ITODA Training Institute designed to enhance the skills and performance of sales and operational personal

Membership Requirements

The Board of Directors reviews all membership applications for approval. All those chosen for membership acceptance must attend at least one ITODA meeting annually. Failure to do so may result in revocation of membership.

Active members are those businesses engaged in the business of servicing and selling turf products. To qualify for Active Membership, a Distributor must:

have been in the trade for three years, or in business one year;
have at least two (2) full-time employees;
have the majority of sales and services performed for outside accounts, rather than in-house sales;
have a minimum annual sales volume of $300,000
maintain a direct distributor relationship with at least three (3) major manufacturers (a manufacturer is defined for these purposes as a company holding proprietary rights to a given product(s) and who is committed to the sales and distribution of that (those) product(s) on a national basis);
agree to be bound by, and comply with, provisions of the Association's Code of Business Practice, and the bylaws and governing policies of the Association; and
agree to attend at least one Association meeting annually.

Associate members are those businesses regularly engaged in the manufacturer or production of fertilizers, chemicals, seeds, equipment, accessories, and/or related supplies and services for the professional turf and/or ornamental horticulture market. To qualify for Associate Membership , a company must meet the following criteria:

Are currently selling their product through the Association's members or through distributors who would meet the Association's requirements for membership;
Have been in business at least three years; and
Agree to be bound by, and comply with, provisions of the Association's Code of Business Practice, and the bylaws and governing policies of the Association.

Membership Dues

Membership is available for Independent Distributors at two levels:

Premiere Membership at $850 entitles the company to participate in all ITODA leadership training developed for owners and senior management, as well as access to ITODA Training Institute programs for any employee, and all other ITODA member benefits.

Training Membership at $250 entitles the company to involve any employee of that company in only those training seminars and similar programs offered through the ITODA Training Institute and aimed at sales and operational personnel.

Dues are $850 for Associate Members, companies that supply products and/or services to independent distributors.

The membership year begins January 1.

Code of Ethics

Membership in ITODA represents an obligation to the Turf Industry and to the public to maintain the highest level of business integrity, industry knowledge, and service. Members should, therefore, strictly conform to the following requirements:

A member will be financially responsible.
A member will adhere to any standards or conditions, which may be adopted by ITODA
A member will honor any warranties made to a customer.
A member will not assume responsibilities that he cannot realistically fulfill with respect to sales of materials furnished or services rendered.
A member will not sell products under a manufacturer's contract to other resellers outside the member's normal area of operation, as defined and limited by the approved ITODA membership application. ITODA members may sell to other ITODA members.
A member will not sell products as defined above to end users outside the member's normal area of operation, as defined and limited by the approved ITODA membership application, without prior notification of intent to do so to the ITODA membership committee and request approval to amend the "normal area of operation."
A member will not misrepresent his business, his products, or his services.
A member will show due consideration for other members and for their ability. He will not attempt to harm another's business through misrepresentation or any other means, which would cause loss of goodwill or reputation.
A member, his employees, or employment agency will not initiate direct contact with employees of another ITODA member with the objective of enticing them to terminate their present employment. A member may advertise in magazines or newspapers, and if an employee of another member's firm answers that ad by personal appearance at the member's place of business, this would be permissible. If a member is found guilty of violating this code of business practice, the membership in ITODA can be terminated by the Board of Directors of ITODA
A member will cooperate with fellow members to the best of his ability in sound and lawful projects or programs intended to improve the quality of the industry's service in the public interest.
A member will adhere to lawful business practices.

Membership Application

To apply for membership, complete the membership application form ( Distributor Membership application | Associate Membership application ) and mail it with your check to the address above OR fax it with your credit card payment to the fax number listed. This document can be filled in online, printed and faxed or mailed. You will be notified when membership approval is granted, a process that takes approximately two weeks.