--- title: "Subscription Models: Turn That Model Upside-Down" id: "14279" type: "post" slug: "subscription-models-turn-that-model-upside-down" published_at: "2012-11-05T22:55:01+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T19:06:42+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/05/subscription-models-turn-that-model-upside-down/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/05/subscription-models-turn-that-model-upside-down.md" excerpt: "Subscription services are quickly becoming popular — but does that mean your association should consider a monthly model? Also: A contrarian view on tradeshows." taxonomy_category: - "Organizational Strategy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Business Models" - "economy" - "reinvention" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Subscription Models: Turn That Model Upside-Down Sometimes you just want to rip stuff up and start over. It happens. We get bored or unsure of why we’re doing what we’re doing. Something we thought was working isn’t so much. But is that sort of reinvention worthwhile? Some interesting takes below: ### Go Subscription > The subscription economy (by [@TienTzuo (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/tientzuo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [@KernelMag (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/KernelMag?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > ) [http://t.co/cXMMjYOj (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/cXMMjYOj) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Deirdre Reid, CAE (@DeirdreReid) [November 5, 2012 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/DeirdreReid/status/265504779353088001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **The rise of the subscription economy:** Writing for*The Kernel*, Zuora CEO Tien Tzuo [describes why we’re quickly moving to a subscription model (opens in a new tab)](http://www.kernelmag.com/comment/opinion/3514/the-subscription-economy/) for just about everything — something that allows for a high degree of flexibility. “Businesses can scale and grow in the subscription economy like never before,” he explains. “And a great number of companies are relying on third-party subscription partners to handle some of their workload.” Considering that associations often rely on a yearly subscription model, what does this mean for you? Is monthly the way to go? *(ht*[@deirdrereid (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/deirdrereid/status/265504779353088001) *)* ### The Contrarian View > Am I way off base or spot on? – Are [#Tradeshows (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tradeshows?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Still Relevant? [http://t.co/T256Y2ig (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/T256Y2ig) > [#expochat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/expochat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — traci browne (@tracibrowne) [November 5, 2012 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/tracibrowne/status/265482105738366977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Writing for Trade Show Institute,** consultant Traci Browne argues that — despite the site’s name — [tradeshows might be facing a relevancy problem (opens in a new tab)](http://tradeshowinstitute.com/musings/are-trade-shows-still-relevant/) . “In the case of many shows I’ve been to this past year, everything taking place on the show floor can, for the most part, be found online,” she writes. “If I need to invest in a new piece of equipment I can search for vendors online, compare what they have to offer, and reach out to my community for advice. What I do not need to do is spend thousands of dollars to travel across the country for three days to get the same information.” But at the end, Browne twists this a little, saying that if traditional methods aren’t working, “you need to reinvent your show floor.” Are tradeshows in need of reinvention? See anything cool online today? Let us know in the comments. [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Business Models](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business-models/) [#economy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/economy/) [#reinvention](https://associationsnow.com/tag/reinvention/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoChallenge Legacy Mindsets at MMC+TechApril 17, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/04/17/challenge-legacy-mindsets-at-mmctech/) - [TemplateMembers onlyMember Onboarding ToolkitNovember 5, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/05/member-onboarding-toolkit/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2012%2F11%2F05%2Fsubscription-models-turn-that-model-upside-down%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !