Members of PROMOTA, the trade association for manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of promotional merchandise, have rebuffed a merger approach from the British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA).

A referendum was held among PROMOTA’s members on a proposed amalgamation but “the vast majority” called on the organisation to remain independent.

It pledged that it would instead continue with its objectives, such as increasing its portfolio of member benefits and growing by investing all profits into the association to help its members.

The BPMA has been lobbying for a merger for two years, driven by the BPMA’s drive to increase its membership from 700. In contrast to PROMOTA, most of its members target their products at end users rather than just distributors.

BPMA chairman David Lebond has previously said that the BPMA was determined to gain more members among manufacturers, distributors and suppliers, who are also being targeted by membership organisation Trade Only.