APR/MAY 19 Michigan Retailer

APR/MAY 2019 The official publication of the Michigan Retailers Association

www.retailers.com Brett Saha of Pinconning Cheese Co. and Fudge Shoppe manhandles a wheel of the good stuff in their aging cooler.

Pinconning Cheese Big wheels on Michigan’s culinary scene

WHEN DISASTER STRIKES • Do you have a plan?

• Tips in case of a tornado • An active shooter response Should you become a Certified B Corp.?

Volume 44 No. 2

Board of Directors BECKY BEAUCHINE KULKA

Chair Becky Beauchine Kulka Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, Okemos

JAMES P. HALLAN

Michigan Retailers Services, Inc. Board of Directors JAMES P. HALLAN

President and CEO

CHAD AYERS

President and CEO Michigan Retailers Association

Allendale True Value, Allendale

BO BRINES

Leppink’s Food Centers, Belding

Vice Chair Little Forks Outfitters, Midland

PETER R. SOBELTON

Treasurer Mondial Properties, Birmingham

WILLIAM J. HALLAN

Secretary Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Michigan Retailers Association

ORIN MAZZONI, JR.

Past Chair Orin Jewelers, Garden City

BILL GOLDEN

Golden Shoes, Traverse City

KEN HAYWARD

Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island

DAN MARSHALL

Marshall Music Company, Lansing

JOSEPH MCCURRY

Credit Card Group

BRYAN NEIMAN

Neiman’s Family Market, East China Township

BARB STEIN

JOHN LEPPINK

JAMES P. HALLAN

Publisher

MEEGAN HOLLAND

Editor

PATRICK KERWIN

Design Manager

Publication Office 603 South Washington Avenue Lansing, MI 48933 517.372.5656 or 800.366.3699 Fax: 517.372.1303

About Us Michigan Retailer (USPS 345-780, ISSN 0889-0439) is published in February, April, June, August, October and December by Michigan Retailers Association, 603 South Washington Ave., Lansing, MI 48933.

Periodical postage paid at Lansing, Michigan.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 603 South Washington Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. The Michigan Retailer may be recycled with other white office paper.

Great Northern Trading Co., Rockford

JOE SWANSON

Big Springs Enterprises, Naubinway

THOMAS UNGRODT

TDU Consulting, LLC, Ann Arbor

JAMES WALSH

Meijer, Inc., Grand Rapids

D. LARRY SHERMAN

Board Member Emeritus

MICHIGAN RETAILER APR / MAY 2019

Advertise

With every issue, we reach retail owners, managers and executives who make spending decisions for 15,000 stores and websites across the state.

To request a media kit, email Rachel Schrauben at rschrauben@retailers.com.

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18 ON THE COVER

Contents FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

3 2018 PAC DONORS We thank you!

2 FROM THE CEO

5 SMALL BUSINESS LOANS MRA partners with Lendio.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: PINCONNING CHEESE CO. AND FUDGE SHOPPE page 10

5 LABOR LAW POSTERS Why they’re delayed.

6 B CORPORATIONS Michigan companies look for social impact.

14 CENTENNIAL RETAILER The latest Centennial honoree.

17 TORNADO PREPAREDNESS Tips if a twister hits.

4 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Gov. Whitmer’s tax proposal.

5 FIVE TIPS Devising a plan for charitable giving.

9 IT’S THE LAW Make sure your promotions are legal.

13 RETAIL TECH The issues with digital dial tones.

16 RIC SAFETY TIP Is your disaster plan up to date?

21 NEW MEMBERS

18 ACTIVE SHOOTER Best safety strategies.

20 2018 FOUNDATION DONORS Students benefit from your generosity. .

Retailers.com RetailersInsurance.com BuyNearbyMI.com Visit us online to see what’s new in the industry and what services we provide members to strengthen your business.

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FROM THE CEO Spring Musings WEATHER Good news. Having just returned from a trip to the Florida Panhandle visiting friends,and our oldest daughter’s family in Gainesville, I can report that warmer weather is on the horizon. Down south the forsythia is flowering and trees are budding. While I like winter, the past few months have been especially harsh. I think back to my squirrel report where my trusted dog, Winston, and I predicted a harsh winter in the 2018 fall edition of the Retailer. I’ll certainly stipulate that winter was slow to come, but when it did arrive, it came with a vengeance. On balance, I can say that our early squirrel report of a harsh winter was correct. Squirrels and my dog are usually right. Unfortunately, retail activity also felt the impact of the harsh winter and reports across the state have indicated that sales have been sluggish. Let’s hope warmer weather encourages shoppers to emerge from hibernation and start shopping.

ROADS Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced her long awaited solution to fix the roads by proposing a 45-cent per gallon increase. She estimates that over $2 billion dollars is needed to right-size our crumbling road infrastructure. Already, sides are lining up in opposition and support. The Speaker of the House has said a 45-cent increase is a “nonstarter.” The debate will be intense and expect daily news coverage until the issue is resolved. Clearly our roads need to be repaired. It is finding the proper funding mechanism and appropriate balance that is tricky and will challenge the legislature. We would be happy to hear your thoughts, and will keep you advised as the debate matures and our position develops.

SOCC Two years ago, former Gov. Rick Snyder appointed me to a four-year term on the seven-member State Officers Compensation Commission. The Commission meets every other year. It’s an interesting assignment as the SOCC is charged with recommending salaries for members of the legislature, supreme court, gover2

MICHIGAN RETAILER APR / MAY 2019

nor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state. Prior to 2002, a SOCC recommendation was effective unless two-thirds of each house passed a concurrent resolution rejecting the recommendation. Now a SOCC recommendation requires a simple majority in both houses to be approved. In 2009, and due to Michigan’s falling economy, the legislative and executive salaries were cut by 10 percent. Except for the 2009 reduction, there has not been an adjustment since 2002. Developing a SOCC recommendation is based on a number of factors including comparisons with other states. As you would expect, for an elected official to vote on one’s salary is politically challenging. Unfortunately, the current system creates a stalemate.

OTHER THOUGHTS As mentioned in my previous column, I will retire in August after 34 wonderful years at Michigan Retailers and I promised to share a few memories. There was the time when I was to testify on behalf of Michigan Retailers on an important labor-related issue. I put on my best blue suit in order to be properly attired for this important hearing.

The chair of the committee called my name and I approached the table to testify while glancing down at my freshly polished shoes. One was brown and the other one black.

Oh my. Thank goodness my good friends in the shoe business have been forgiving over the years.

JAMES P. HALLAN MRA President and Chief Executive Officer

Thank you to our 2018 PAC donors Contributors to MRA’s PAC in 2018 helped elect excellent advocates for retail causes and ease regulations for an industry that is rapidly transforming. Thank you!

You can donate by going to bit.ly/RetailPAC. Please note that state law prohibits the acceptance of corporate credit cards and that donations of $100 or above require you to list occupation and employer information. We’re a proven force in Lansing, with big legislative wins, including reforms to paid leave, minimum wage and Main Street Fairness.

BENEFACTOR ($1,000 +)

Bo Brines, Little Forks Outfitters, Midland James P. Hallan, MRA, East Lansing Orin Mazzoni, Orin Jewelers, Northville Larry Meyer, Retired - MRA, East Lansing Rod Phillips, Country Casuals, Boyne City Peter Sobelton, RIC Board Member, Birmingham Joe Swanson, Retired - Target, Naubinway

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE ($500-$999)

Kurt Dettmer, MRA, Macomb Amy Drumm, MRA, Lansing Bill Golden, Golden Shoes, Traverse City William J. Hallan, MRA, Okemos Dan Marshall, Marshall Music, Lansing Joe McCurry, Credit Card Group, Jefferson, GA Burke Sage, MRA, Rockford Jean Sarasin, Retired - MRA, Traverse City Barb Stein, Great Northern Trading Co., Rockford Tom Tuggle, MRA, Williamston Jim Walsh, Retired - Meijer, Ada Meegan Holland, MRA, East Lansing

PATRON ($250-$499)

John Leppink, Leppink’s Inc., Belding Ken Hayward, Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island Amy Jolley, MRA, Grand Ledge Patrick Kerwin, MRA, Mason Bryan Neiman, Neiman’s Family Markets, Clarkston Ally Nemetz, MRA, Perry

EXECUTIVE CLUB ($150-$249)

Becky Beauchine Kulka, Becky Beauchine Kulka Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, Okemos Andrew Gemmen, Gemmen’s Home & Hardware, Hudsonville Pat Harrington, MRA, Lansing Mary McCourt-Dufina, Loonfeather Gift Shop, Mackinac Island Benjamin Perrin, Mercury Head Gallery, Grand Rapids D. Larry Sherman, Ret. Sherman Shoes, Inc., Franklin Chris Smith, MRA, East Lansing William Spreder, Mack Alger Firestone, St. Clair Shores

CONTRIBUTOR ($1-$249)

Paul Altavena, ConnectPay, Macomb Don Baron, Baron’s Window Coverings, East Lansing Nick Beute, Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, Hudsonville Bruce Buntin, ConnectPay, Wolverine Lake Robert Cantelon, Arbor Farms Market, Ann Arbor Mark Castillo, Campbell Group, Portage Mike Covault, ConnectPay, Waterford Craig Diepenhorst, H. T. Hackney Company, Rockford Frank Foster, Public Affairs Associates, Okemos Steve Foust, IGT, South Lyon Patrick Hayes, Kroger Co. of Michigan, Northville Dan Johnson, H. T. Hackney Company, Ludington Brad Knab, Mehmert Store Services, Pewaukee, WI Nick Kronsbein, UBCR, Novi Cheryl Medler, MRA, Lansing Bob Mooney, Meijer, East Lansing Steffen Nizinski, SpartanNash, Grand Rapids Michael Rupp, Town & Country Supermarket, Marshall John Schroeder, Kroger Co. of Michigan, Flushing Bob Scott, Novolex, Williamston Mike Sobeleski, Schupan Recycling, Flushing Don Symonds, Lipari Foods, Grand Ledge Doug Watters, Lipari Foods, Lansing Garry Winters, Busch’s, Canton

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS NEWS

AMY DRUMM MRA Vice President, Government Affairs Contact Amy at adrumm@retailers.com

“That’s a lot of uncertainty for employers to handle on top of the increases in wage and benefits imposed by the state.”

Complicated tax proposal The Governor’s proposed budget layers on another tax structure for small business WHY RETAILERS SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE GOVERNOR’S 2019-20 BUDGET PROPOSAL In early March, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released her first state budget, a $60 billion plan that adds nearly $4 billion in new funding. The budget attempts to address some of her key campaign promises to fix the roads, increase education funding and focus on water quality issues. It also shifts funding sources in a way that the administration believes is more straightforward (e.g. education dollars going only to K-12 schools). To fund her priorities, there are two proposed tax increases that may impact retailers: a 45-cent gas tax increase and an increase in the income tax rate for businesses filing as S-corps and LLCs.

taxed through the income reported on an individual’s income tax at the 4.25 percent Michigan Income Tax. An increase to six percent would be a 41 percent increase in the tax rate on mostly the small businesses who utilize the S-corporation and LLC structures.

While it doesn’t sound like a huge increase, this would be the fourth tax structure for small businesses to comply with in the last 10 years (Michigan Business Tax/MBT, Single Business Tax/SBT, Corporate Income Tax/CIT). That’s a lot of uncertainty and change for employers to handle on top of the increases in wage and benefits imposed by the state and required to retain and attract talent.

45-CENT GAS TAX INCREASE First, the governor’s budget includes a substantially higher gas tax – an increase of 45 cents, phased in 15 cents at a time over a year and a half time span.

These new funds would generate $2.5 billion and be used to fund critical road and infrastructure repairs each year. It’s important to note that state taxes aren’t the only tax Michiganders pay at the pump. Michigan residents also pay an 18.4 cent per gallon federal tax as well as the state’s six percent sales tax. The sales tax is levied on top of the retail price of gas and the federal 18.4 cent per gallon tax but not on the state’s 26.3 cent per gallon gas tax (see examples of the price breakdown below). Also important is that the new funds would be subject to a different distribution formula, less regionally-focused and more prioritybased, than the current 26.3 cent per gallon Michigan fuel tax revenue.

On top of the frequent changes, this new tax proposal is complicated. While draft legislation to implement the changes hasn’t been released yet, early descriptions of the plan include a confusing federal deduction and state deduction mechanism on the income tax filing to adjust to the proper rate. It has a lot of people asking whether this is truly double taxation (6 percent CIT + 4.25 percent income tax - state taxes paid – first $50,000 in income) or just a straight-foward increase from 4.25 percent to 6 percent.

Gas at $4.00 a gallon

Gas at $3.50 a gallon

$2.870 $0.184 $3.054 $0.183 $3.237 $0.263 $3.500 + $0.45

$3.95

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Base retail price

Federal excise tax

Base for sales tax

Sales tax at 6%

Subtotal

State excise tax

Pump price Proposed state excise tax Pump price

$3.341 $0.184 $3.525 $0.212 $3.737 $0.263 $4.000 + $0.45 $4.45

Base retail price Federal excise tax Base for sales tax Sales tax at 6% Subtotal State excise tax Pump price Proposed state excise tax Pump price

HIGHER TAXES ON SMALL, PASS-THROUGH BUSINESSES Second, the budget attempts to tax all businesses, including pass through businesses like S-Corporations and LLCs, at six percent. This new revenue would be used to offset the removal of the “pension tax” on public pensions. S-corporations and LLCs are currently

MICHIGAN RETAILER APR / MAY 2019

THE LEGISLATIVE CRYSTAL BALL SAYS TRY AGAIN Both of these proposals and the entire budget (built largely on the infusion of new revenue) were met with skepticism from the legislature, which now will get to work preparing its own budget. Because of the later release of the executive budget than in the past few years (which is not unexpected due to the new administration), the budget process is about a month behind schedule. It likely won’t be wrapped up until early July – at the soonest. It could be a much longer process if the administration and legislature both dig in their heels. The budget doesn’t have to be approved until the end of September to meet the state’s Oct. 1 fiscal year start. The last administration made an effort to get the budget approved early each year to give schools more information while they prepare their budgets, which must start on July 1.

Ultimately, expect a lot of compromise in these budget areas on both sides and remember that the governor shared some alternatives for raising the $2.5 billion needed for roads that may be less attractive to businesses and residents. These alternatives include a 7.4 percent sales tax rate (an increase of 1.4 percentage points) or a 19 percent personal income tax rate.

Small business loans from Lendio MRA has partnered with Lendio to provide our merchant processing customers easy access to small business loans. Lendio is a free online service that matches business owners with their best loan options, using their network of 75+ lenders for short-term specialty financing or long-term, low-interest traditional loans.

You can apply online at lendio.com/mra, with no fees or obligation.

While there is no guarantee that an applicant will be approved for a loan, once approved, access to capital can be available in as little as 24 hours.

Giving back

Customers feel good about shopping at businesses that give back to their communities. Incorporating charity into your business’s culture also makes employees feel good about working there.

Choose a cause

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Each year, you may want to pick certain areas where you want to make a difference (the elderly and children, or community health for example). Then set a budget and don’t exceed it. You’ll find these tools helpful when you’re approached by charities who don’t fit your giving plan.

New labor law posters coming

With changes to Michigan’s minimum wage and paid leave benefits taking effect on March 29, employers must update their labor law posters for posting somewhere visible to all employees.

MRA members receive free labor law posters, and updated posters are in progress. As of this writing, we’re waiting to see if the courts will weigh in on the laws that may result in changes.

Meanwhile, MRA members can print off the PDF posters provided by the state to stay in compliance.

- Replace your minimum wage poster (3rd column, 2nd row) with this updated poster: http://bit.ly/2CsdRcq - Add the paid medical leave poster: http://bit.ly/2Cu65yO If there’s no action, employers should presume that the laws passed by the Legislature in December are constitutional and implement the changes.

Develop a method

Is it a percentage of sales for a specific time period? A check that you write to a charity?

An event sponsorship? Giving paid time off to employees to do volunteer work?

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Don’t be shy

In your elevator speech about your business, don’t forget to include that one of your goals is philanthropy.

Your promotional materials

Lay out your business’s goals in a brochure or on your business cards, and include “giving back to the community” as one of them.

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Post an infographic

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An infographic can lay out the dollars or in-kind merchandise you’ve donated to community causes – and the impact they’ve had. That helps boost the charity’s effectiveness as well.

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What’s

YOUR

social impact?

New MRA board chair talks about her retail evolution

Michigan companies turn to B Corp to stay accountable.

By SHANDRA MARTINEZ Two years ago, Swift Printing and Communications joined the growing ranks of B Corporations, a circle that includes such forward-thinking companies as Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s.

By making that move, Swift became one of only two commercial printers in the world certified as a B Corp. The status confirmed that the Grand Rapids business was carrying out a commitment to its employees, the community and the environment that began when Walt Gutowski Sr. opened the printing shop in 1950.

His granddaughter, Jessica Slaydon, 32, saw value in turning to a third party to assess how well the family business was 6

MICHIGAN RETAILER APR / MAY 2019

living up to its longstanding reputation as a good citizen.

“My generation is kind of skeptical. Everyone says they are green and they are doing the right things for employees, but where’s the proof?” Slaydon said.

B Corp, an international certification issued by the nonprofit B Lab, is similar to LEED for buildings and USDA Organic for food products. Essentially, the designation serves as a way to measure a company’s social impact.

WHAT CONSUMERS WANT It’s a way for businesses to hold themselves accountable for their

Left, Walt Gutowski Jr. and daughter, Jessica Slaydon, took their longtime famly business, Swift Printing and Communications, and joined the B Corporations movement.

Right, founder Walt Gutowski Sr. at work in the Grand Rapidsbased business, which started in 1950. Below, The Swift team.

Photos: STEVE JESSMORE

triple bottom line — social, environmental and financial — and for consumers to know that they’re being held accountable, according to Alice Jasper, sustainable business manager for Local First.

“It plays into the shift in consumer trends. We’re seeing consumers want to vote with their dollars and be intentional about what they buy,” Jasper said.

Local First, through its Good for Michigan program, is a B Local organization, the only one in Michigan working with B Lab to certify companies as B Corp, and then to provide support to members.

The certification is important to mission-driven businesses like Higher Grounds Trading Company, which joined the B Corp ranks in 2016.

While the process of becoming B Corp can seem daunting because it requires reviewing nearly every aspect of a business, the effort delivers a return on the investment, says Higher Grounds General Manager Josh Brandt. He credits B Corp for inspiring positive changes at the Traverse City coffee house and wholesaler.

“They asked a lot of questions. That got us thinking about areas where we could be doing things differently. They measure businesses on many different aspects of how they interact with the community, how they sourced the ingredients in whatever they’re making, how they treat their employees and the benefits that they offer and their commitments to environmental sustainability,” Brandt said.

INSPIRING CHANGE Out of that experience, the company added paid volunteer time for full-time employees. The perk fit with the company’s mission to confront inequality and cultivate human potential.

“We are trying to do that very specifically within the coffee supply chain. We have made investments in projects in communities where we source our coffee that don’t have anything to do with growing coffee, but deal with improving the lives of the folks that we’re partnering with,” Brandt said.

One way B Corp keeps businesses accountable is with nucontinued on page 8

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Social Impact

There’s a lot of folks who live in Traverse City who think we just have the best coffee, but they also know we are doing more, and it plays a role in their decision to purchase.”

meric scores. The goal is to keep improving that score overall and in different categories. Reaching for this higher standard can be inspiring for employees, as well, by making them aware of how they individually can impact a score.

As part of the B Corp assessment process, companies have to document how they are good stewards. Swift Printing, for example, showed transparency in responding to customer concerns by opening an account on Yelp because complaints there couldn’t be deleted. The business also rewrote its mission statement and reworked the employee handbook to emphasize its values.

continued from page 7

Customers want more than a transactional experience. They want to make a difference, Brandt says.

“I think the vast majority of our customers recognize our value set as being one of their reasons for purchasing our coffee.

FORMALIZING VALUES One of the benefits of the B Corp assessment for Slaydon is that it pushed her to have some important conversations with her dad

Swift Printing employee Ben Kazminski checks a proof for quality.

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5 things to know about becoming a B Corp.

1. The initial online assessment is free.

2. Businesses that tally a minimum score of 80 points will be invited to move onto the audit process.

3. Certification costs are based on sliding-scale fees tied to annual revenue.

4. To qualify for B Corp status, a business has to be at least 3 years old.

5. Businesses must re-certify every 3 years.

about the business that had been put off in the daily rush to deal with immediate demands.

“This really helped me get facts from my dad’s head into an actual strategic plan so we could talk about those questions that I kind of knew, but we just hadn’t talked about. It was really helpful being the next generation taking over because it made us actually sit down and answer these questions,” Slaydon said.

Her dad and company owner, Walt Gutowski Jr., has played an integral role in turning around the Grand Rapids West Side neighborhood. For decades, he has been buying up properties to make it easier for developers to take on bigger projects in the neighborhood, including a five-story building across the street that now houses restaurants and apartments.

While he characterizes most of his real estate transactions as break-even deals, they have pulled in millions of dollars of investment for the neighborhood and lifted property values.

“For us, this community is really a big deal,” said Gutowski, who continued on page 20

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MICHIGAN RETAILER APR / MAY 2019

IT’S THE LAW

Contest, lottery or sweepstake

Which of these makes the best customer promotion?

Retailers are a creative bunch and they’re constantly devising new ways to get customers in the doors.

WILLIAM J. HALLAN MRA Executive Vice President, COO and General Counsel Contact William at whallan@retailers.com

“Retailers

must be careful when rolling out promotions, because pitfalls await.”

Fortunately, social media has made advertising easier for retailers. Instead of expensive radio, TV, or print ads, retailers can communicate directly to their customers through a simple post or photo. A new line of shoes in stock?

Instagram picture. Having a holiday sale? Facebook post. Your downtown is holding an event? Tweet the details.

Retailers also know that it often takes more than a simple post to motivate customers. Thus, retailers will often entice their customers with contests or promotions. But while social media has made advertising as simple as the click of a button, retailers must be careful when rolling out promotions, because pitfalls await. There are important legal distinctions between sweepstakes, lotteries and contests, and retailers must ensure that their promotion doesn’t violate state law.

First, a quick rundown on three different types of promotions: 1. Sweepstakes – Sweepstakes are games of chance in which a contestant can win a prize (think Publishers Clearing House). Sweepstakes must be completely devoid of consideration.

Consideration is understood to be something of value (usually money) exchanged between two parties. That is why sweepstakes will always include the standard phrase “No Purchase Necessary” to ensure that there is no exchange of anything of value.

2. Lottery – Lotteries are also games of chance, but lotteries involve consideration. That’s why a contestant purchases a lottery ticket for a chance to win a prize. Michigan law allows for a state lottery, but private lotteries are illegal.

3. Contests – Contests involve elements of skill in which a contestant can win a prize. A good example is a photo contest where contestants submit photos and the best photo is chosen to win a prize.

Retailers are most likely to be tripped up by having a promotion turn into an illegal private lottery. To avoid that from happening, retailers should create promotions that don’t contain consideration. An example of an improper promotion might be a retailer rolling out an offer whereby the first 50 customers that make a $20 purchase are entered to win a $1,000 shopping spree. Rather, a retailer might offer the shopping spree to the customer who submits the best photo wearing one of the retailer’s items.

Michigan law does contain a very limited exception to the lottery rule.

MCL 750.372(2) permits a person to conduct a lottery or gift enterprise “as a promotional activity that is clearly occasional and ancillary to the primary business of that person.” This limitation requires the activity to be calculated to promote the business, it must not involve the payment of money solely for the chance to win the prize, and it must not involve the purchase of a product or service for substantially more than fair market value. Thus, the example of the improper promotion described above might fit this exception if the retailer can show that the promotion is occurring on an occasional basis and is not the primary purpose of the business.

PRO TIPS • Develop rules for your promotion and make them available upon request.

• Avoid promotions that involve consideration.

Ensure that your rules state “no purchase necessary” and provide an alternative way for customers to participate in the promotion.

• Avoid issues with minors; craft promotions stating participants must be 18 years or older to win.

• Note that in Michigan, a promotion that requires a customer to visit the store or be present in the store to win constitutes consideration.

• Develop promotions at the beginning of the year and run them by your lawyer to ensure they comply with Michigan law.

• Be cautious when developing promotions under the private lottery exception. A person violating the section is guilty of a misdemeanor and may have to pay a fine up to $1,000.

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In his own words

Pinconning Cheese Co. and Fudge Shoppe

Opened: 1948 Address: 221 N. Mable Street, M-13, Pinconning Specialties: Pinconning Cheese, cheese spreads, Pizzaloaf, sandwiches MRA member since: 1994 Services: Group insurance, shipping, workers’ compensation Owners: Brian and Debby Saha

By RACHEL SCHRAUBEN

Does your business have a unique story?

Contact rschrauben@retailers.com.

Stationed in “The Cheese Capital of Michigan,” Pinconning Cheese Co. and Fudge Shoppe continues the tradition of making old-fashioned, Pinconning Cheese using the same formula Dan Horn created in 1915.

Dan’s daughter, Marie Bennett, along with her husband, Harry, took her father’s recipe and opened Pinconning Cheese Company in 1948. In 1953, Alex McCourt Jr. and his wife Evelyn purchased the store and renamed it The Pinconning Cheese Store. After their retirement in 1971, the Mastroianni family, led by Richard and Rose, bought the store, added a deli and started selling their famous Pinconning Pizzaloaf.

Current owners Brian and Debby Saha, born and raised in Pinconning, bought the store in 1987 and the Pinconning Cheese Co. and Fudge Shoppe was afoot. Even after all the name and ownership changes, one thing always stayed the same: original, homemade Pinconning Cheese. says Brian, who shares his thoughts here:

(l-r) Son Brett Saha, Debby Saha and Brian Saha.

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MICHIGAN RETAILER APR / MAY 2019

Our original Pinconning Cheese, in old-fashioned wheel form, is what people come in for. We can make it squeaky-fresh, which is one-day old cheese to about a week old and then we age them all the way up to 15 years old. The sharper it is, the more after-taste.

Typically, as people get older they like the sharper cheese and the

“We always try to expand our horizons to make it a little bit more interesting to stop.”

Brian Saha Owner

Far left, employee Dana Banning places blocks of cheese at the counter.

Near left, Brian Saha shows the store’s famous Pizzaloaf.

Photos: STEVE JESSMORE younger folk like the mild, squeaky stuff – the cheese that squeaks in your teeth after each bite.

We do all of the aging here. As cheese ages, the water content evaporates. The more water content, the squeakier the cheese. We also do simple processing - meaning we mix spreads and cut and wrap items on the wholesale level. We contract our formulas with two other production facilities offsite to make the original style

Pinconning Cheese for us.

When aging cheese, we always have to use our best guess to know how much product we will go through on an annual basis. Some of our cheese is aged up to 120 months and if we get a busier than normal season, we have to rely on the cheese we made years ago. We go by history and continually continued on page 12

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In his own words continued from page 11

keep making and aging. We have a smaller cooler and then a larger aging cooler here for that purpose.

In early summer, when people start to travel north to open up their cottages and visit their properties, it became a tradition to pick up some Pinconning Cheese as they are passing through. Pinconning is an easy track for those heading north from the metro-Detroit area. It was always perceived as the catalyst for the growth of our cheese. Hunting season and the fall color touring season also get people to start traveling.

We like to have a lot of products that you can’t find anywhere else. The Mastroiannis, the prior owners, added a deli and we carried on that tradition, along with the famous Pinconning Pizzaloaf. It’s a stuffed, sealed and baked medium pizza, like a pocket pizza.

They started that in 1972 and it’s a key product that people come into our store and buy still today.

We started making fudge in-house in 1989. We always try to expand our horizons to make it a little bit more interesting to stop. We try to complement the cheese with all the other temptations in the store.

December is actually our busiest month. We do a lot of gift packages and we send our cheese and other Michigan-made products through gift boxes and individual packages all across the country.

We chose to use MRA’s shipping program because our products are perishable so we need to make sure we use a service that is timely. MRA’s program meets those standards. It was kind of a no-brainer.

In 2018, the Pinconning Cheese Co. and Fudge Shoppe saved $632.79 using MRA’s shipping program. Last year, MRA members saved a total of $126,770.76. For more information or to enroll, visit partnership. com/41mra.

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MICHIGAN RETAILER APR / MAY 2019

Right: Pinconning Cheese Co. and Fudge Shoppe carries a variety of spices, jellies and hot sauces.

Below: Employee Keturah Davidson slices and packages 16-year old sharp Pinconning cheese.

RETAIL TECH

Dial tone, what’s that?

The phrase “dial tone” is probably going to be one of those things that kids today only ever hear talked about by us old timers - much like VHS, Betamax and any of those other technologies that end up in the dustbin of history.

If you stop and think about it, with today’s cell phone technology, you never have to pick up the phone and listen for a dial tone before dialing the number.

JOHN MAYLEBEN ETA CPP and MRA Consultant Contact John at jmayleben@retailers.com

Digital dial tones have complicated the credit card terminal landscape.

All of us grew up with the original dial tone, what is called “twisted pair” wire from Ma Bell and its subsidiaries. All of the original credit card terminals were built to run on this technology, using the phone jack (referred to as an RJ-11 jack) and did so with a nearly bullet-proof consistency.

Today, if you need dial tone, regardless of whether you buy it from Ma Bell or someone other than the Bell subsidiaries, you are probably getting it via a digital connection and not the original twisted pair copper wires. While this has allowed us all to benefit from competition and the associated lower costs, it has complicated the credit card terminal landscape.

There are two significant issues when a retailer moves from the traditional RJ-11 wiring to a digital phone system.

The first is the simple act of getting a transaction approved and then closing your batch at the end of the day. While the audio representation of the dial tone sounds the same, the way that the tone is generated is dramatically different with a digital phone system.

This becomes apparent when the credit card terminal, which worked fine yesterday, stops functioning and can’t make a consistent connection to the processor.

upgrade in connectivity…

All of the data security rules (PCI) were written assuming the base technology was twisted pair, RJ-11.

They consider a traditional phone connection to be a “private” connection and therefore subject to a much simpler (and easy) PCI protection, and the documentation of your practices, standard.

If you move to a dial tone that is generated across the “internet,” then you have opened your phone connection to a method that is no longer considered a private network and you have to apply a much different, and more complex/costly, data protection solution/documentation.

This is because the data from that credit card transaction, if it goes through the new digital phone line, is transmitted unencrypted. When you are surfing the web and you need to put in a password, you always check to make sure the “padlock” is green and therefore the data is encrypted. The credit card terminal, in dial-up mode, doesn’t know how to do this and the connection isn’t secure.

The fix to this? When you change to a digital phone line solution, utilize the RJ-45 connection and call us to move your terminal from dial-up to IP. The current generation of credit card terminals only connect via IP with an encrypted connection.

One of the side benefits of moving to these newer ways of generating dial tone is that you, in almost all cases, have to bring high speed internet into your building.

That means that you can use the newer terminals to connect that way, instead of dial-up. If you have a terminal that can accommodate a chip card, it has both connection capabilities, RJ-11 and RJ-45 (ethernet).

Unfortunately, sometimes the ethernet jack is not in the same location as the old-style phone jack, so some merchants want to continue to use the older RJ-11 connection. This leads to the second complication that comes from the WWW.RETAILERS.COM APR / MAY 2019

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Ed Rehmann & Sons named Centennial Retailer

Chesaning’s landmark business one of Carhartt’s oldest accounts

By RACHEL SCHRAUBEN

The proginal storefront of Ed Rehmann & Sons. Photo taken in the 1940s.

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MICHIGAN RETAILER APR / MAY 2019

One hundred years ago

,

Ed Rehmann and wife, Eva, began a clothing business in downtown Chesaning, a small, rural town located southwest of Saginaw. For three generations, the business has operated in the same spot and under the same name, Ed Rehmann and Sons.

Appreciative of Rehmann’s language skills, the store owner asked him what else he could do. Ed answered that he was also a tailor. They went upstairs and Ed sewed him a suit. The store owner hired him on the spot.

In a bucolic town, with a cold winter climate, many customers gear up with Ed Rehmann and Sons’ Carhartt merchandise.

Carhartt brand materials have been sold at the store since the beginning, making Ed Rehmann and Sons one of the Dearbornbased company’s oldest accounts. Many customers even travel across the state to stock up.

When the original owner of the store decided to retire, Ed and Eva decided to buy the store and thus, Ed Rehmann and Sons was born.

When the Great Depression hit, Ed and Eva had to figure out different ways to get their customers what they needed. They sometimes traded Carhartt for corn or other vegetables. They worked with what the customers had and in some unique cases, wouldn’t even charge.

Not only are they one of the oldest Carhartt brand accounts, they’re one of the largest small retailer sellers in the nation. Ed Rehmann and Sons received the Hamilton Carhartt Award in 2000. The award is given out by Carhartt in honor of their founder, Hamilton Carhartt. Like a ‘Retailer of Excellence Award,’ only three of Carhartt’s thousands of retailers carrying the clothing have received the award.

“They have over 6,000 accounts and it meant a lot to us to win. Knowing that we get up in the morning to take care of our business and to take care of the customer, it meant that they recognized us as being a special account. We were very humbled,” said Ric Rehmann, Ed’s grandson and current partial owner.

Carhartt will be doing a renovation in a portion of Ed Rehmann and Sons this spring. With new wall displays and an updated feel, the new facelift is all courtesy of Carhartt as a thank-you to one of their special accounts.

Ed Rehmann and Sons has sold Minnesota-based Red Wing Shoes since 1920, making them one of the oldest accounts on record. On tops of these two popular brands, they also sell Stormy Kromer and are also one of the largest sellers in the state.

“The last seven years have been some of our best years ever,” Ric said. “We carry merchandise that not many department stores do.

People like that personal service.”

Founder Ed Rehmann immigrated to Michigan from Austria at 17 years old. He spoke five languages and found work on a farm. He came into a store in downtown Chesaning and was able to communicate to customers who spoke Slavic, the nearby coalmining Italians and neighboring Polish-speaking customers.

Left: Albert, Donald, Richard are second generation owners.

Above: A scene inside Ed Rehmann & Sons in the 1940s. Ed and Eva can be found in the back right side of the store.

“My grandfather had three words that he knew his success was going to be dependent on. The first was quality. You can sell junk to a customer once, but you won’t twice; they won’t come back a second time.

“The second was service, meaning providing good service to the customer. The third was dependability. We know that with a customer, you can have everything that they want but without that quality and service, they aren’t coming back,” said Ric. In 1958, the second generation of owners, Donald, Richard and Albert, took over. The current, third generation of owners took over in 1986. Ric and Rob Rehmann, sons of Richard Rehmann, along with Rob’s wife, Nancy, now operate the store and continue to stay true to the store’s roots.

“I think what makes this milestone so special is fulfilling my grandfather’s and grandmother’s dream,” Ric added.

A party is planned for June 15, complete with a hog roast. But for now, the store has one hundred years down, with a plan to keep going. As the Rehmann’s say, the business celebrates #100yearsandcounting.

The Michigan Retailers Association awards businesses that reach the milestone year. If you know of a business over 100 years old, contact MRA’s Rachel Schrauben at rschrauben@ retailers.com.

WWW.RETAILERS.COM APR / MAY 2019

15

when

disasters

!

E K I STR Here are strategies to protect your employees, yourself and your business.

Planning for a

disaster:

News From

A crucial exercise Have you reviewed your business disaster plan lately?

If not, it’s a good exercise to go through with your designated disaster response team, and even consider drills with your employees.

OSHA requires nearly all employers with at least 11 employees to have a written, comprehensive emergency action plan. Employers with 10 or fewer employees are permitted to communicate their plans orally, the agency states.

MRA recently walked through some disaster scenarios – including the destruction of our building – in order to refine our master disaster plan. It’s an annual ritual.

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more quickly. We added their contact information to our plan.

In the case of a destroyed building, our goal is to be up and running within two days, or less, depending on the severity of the incident. Our email and phone systems would be down – so how do we make sure we have redundancy to keep our services up and running?

You’ll be happy to know we have a backup plan for customer service for our merchant processing clients who need assistance.

Agents selling Retailers Insurance Co.’s workers comp. insurance would still be able to write policies because that system is off-site.

We have a designated disaster team, and floor captains to help everyone get to a safe place, whether it’s to the ground floor in the case of a tornado, or our designated parking lot across the street in the case of a fire.

We also have a seamless process for retrieving information stored on our computer system, which includes moving hard drives to a secure place offsite on a weekly basis. And we have multiple ways to reach employees, in-house and remotely, in the case of tragedy.

Our friends at Michigan Automobile Dealers Association have agreed to be our temporary off-site headquarters in case our building is destroyed by fire, tornado or other disaster.

We’re also working on security measures in the event of an active shooter – while acknowledging that this is the toughest scenario of all.

This year, we’ve done a more detailed review. As we thought through some scenarios, we realized some key names and numbers were missing. For example, if our building was partially damaged, we’d need to call our plumbers, electricians and other vendors familiar with our setup to get us back on our feet

We feel like we’re fairly well prepared. But we hope we never have to put our disaster plan to the test.

MICHIGAN RETAILER APR / MAY 2019

You can find OSHA’s eTool on emergency action plans here: http://bit.ly/2ULUIJS

A

tornado is near your business

what to do?

By RETAILERS INSURANCE COMPANY

We’re heading into tornado season, which means employees need to be prepared on the protocols in case one hits near your business.

Already, a serious tornado damaged 70 buildings in March in the Vernon area, in mid-Michigan. So it’s not too early to start emergency preparedness in the event one hits near you.

SEEKING SHELTER When a tornado warning is issued, do your employees know where to go?

In general, experts advise that employees take the stairs to the lowest floor possible, and once there, find an enclosed, windowless area – usually in the center of the facility. Often these are restrooms or closets.

Tell employees to crouch down, look at the floor and cover their heads. In other words, create as many barriers between themselves and flying or falling debris.

Publicize those areas in advance, and also tell employees how you plan to communicate with them.

If workers are outdoors or traveling, they should always monitor the weather and look for shelter options in case a storm quickly appears. If possible, postpone travel that might include severe weather along the route, he added.

SIGNS TO LOOK FOR Signs to look for that could protend a tornado: • Dark and often greenish clouds or sky • Appearance of wall clouds (also known as pedestal clouds) • Persistent and strong rotation in the cloud base • Hail and/or heavy rain, followed by a fast and intense wind shift or “dead calm” • A roaring sound that doesn’t fade after a few seconds • Whirling dust and debris near the ground and under the clouds

If a tornado is nearby, quickly move to a sturdy building if one is available. If that’s not an option, lie down in an area lower than the elevation of the road and cover your head with your hands.

Here’s what NOT to do: • Don’t seek shelter in your car or truck during a tornado, or try to outrun it. Experts caution that tornadoes often move in unpredictable paths.

• Don’t drive or take cover under a bridge or an overpass, which can become wind tunnels for debris.

AFTER THE STORM Once the tornado passes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises the following: • Check workers for injuries. Don’t move anyone who is seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Instead, seek medical assistance right away. Begin CPR (if trained) on anyone who has stopped breathing.

• Check apps and other sources for additional emergency weather information.

• Proceed with caution through damaged areas, and watch out for hazards. Wear proper personal protective equipment when handling debris.

• Cooperate with emergency personnel.

WWW.RETAILERS.COM APR / MAY 2019

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Retailers are often targets in active shooter tragedies MIOSHA funds free sessions for training employees to respond in violent situations Story by SHANDRA MARTINEZ Would you be surprised to know retail venues are the second most likely scene of an active shooter tragedy after a school campus?

There were 34 of these deadly events, between 2000-2016, according to statistics gathered by the FBI and Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT).

An active shooter is defined by the Department of Homeland Security, as “an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.”

The competitive grants are provided to nonprofit organizations so they can provide training and education in emerging safety and health issues and to extend MIOSHA’s impact,” Pickelman said.

In most cases, there isn’t a pattern or method to the selection of victims. As a result, these situations are “unpredictable and evolve quickly,” according to DHS.

Michigan State University, which tracks workplace violence, reported that 22 people died in workplace violence, accounting for 13 percent of the 162 workers killed on the job in 2016, according to the most recent data available.

OBLIGED TO ENSURE SAFETY Retailers, who may feel like victims in these situations, can be held liable for these tragic situations under state and federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) laws.

The retail industry has the highest percentage of work-related homicides in the state, said Michigan State University professor Kenneth D. Rosenman, chief of MSU’s Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

“As employers, they are required to maintain a safe working environment for employees,” said Dr. Kenneth Wolf, an expert in workplace violence prevention. “There is also an expectation of safety customers are going to have if they come into a mall or a store.”

Wolf is the president of Incident Management Team and the director of The Center for Workplace Violence Prevention. The West Bloomfield organization received a grant from Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) to do free active shooter survival training programs across the state through the end of 2019.

Although MIOSHA doesn’t investigate the deaths of employees killed in workplace violence or include them in its annual fatality report, the state agency is concerned about the issue, MIOSHA Director Barton Pickelman told the Retailer in an email.

“Consultation Education and Training (CET) grants help to supplement MIOSHA staff activities, especially where MIOSHA may not have jurisdiction or clear authority.

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MICHIGAN RETAILER APR / MAY 2019

During his three-hour training sessions, Wolf recommends employers review their emergency alert systems to: • Coordinate an emergency response plan with local law enforcement, emergency management or a landlord that includes an emergency evacuation procedure.

• Train staff to identify pre-attack behaviors from potential perpetrators, such as disgruntled customers, opportunistic criminals or a person with mental illness and violent tendency.

• Train staff and hold drills to rehearse what to do in an active shooter attack: escape, barricade in a safe place or attack when the opportunity presents itself.

• Have an emergency notification system — like a panic button — to alert security and/or law enforcement.

Active shooter events in the U.S., by related industry setting or location, 2000-2016

“The right question to ask if there’s an incident and you get sued is can you prove you did everything in terms of best practices to protect your employees and your customers,” Wolf said.

He says more could be done to protect workers such as not letting them work alone, increased lighting, security cameras and better training about how to respond when threatened with a weapon.

If employees are going to turn the tables and attack the shooter, the best time is when he is reloading, points weapon down, turns his back or there is a weapon jam. Experts refer to active shooters as men because, in most cases, they are.

Active shooter events are chaotic and occur very quickly. Most last between 10 and 15 minutes, according to DHS. “Employees need to understand that they are the first responders and police are secondary responders. They have to think of how to survive during this time gap of police response on site and until the gunman is neutralized or taken down so he or she doesn’t pose a threat. So that’s what the training is all about,” Wolf said.

The goal of the training is both skills acquisition and giving employees the confidence to make the best decision if something happens.

VIDEO OFFERS AFFORDABLE TRAINING High employee turnover does not relieve management of the legal responsibility of adequately training and supervising employees, because the customer doesn’t know who is a longtime employee and who is a temp, according to Wolf.

There’s significant litigation surrounding any kind of active shooter situation, or other workplace violence, for that matter, according to Norman Hawkins, a labor and employment attorney in Grand Rapids.

He says an employer’s negligence, such as lax security procedures or failure to respond to threat warnings before an incident, could be grounds for a lawsuit.

“Anytime you have a sudden traumatic incident like that, you are going to have family members, looking for resolution and answers and closure and financial compensation. Even if there’s no death, the people who are seriously maimed are going to almost be compelled to file some kind of litigation to pay for medical bills and other costs,” Hawkins said.

LIABILITY AND INSURANCE The costs associated with these unpredictable tragedies is the reason insurance companies have begun offering workplace violence policies in recent years.

Employees injured in the workplace usually are covered by workers’ compensation even if the employer is deemed negligent.

One affordable way to do in-house training is with a video as part of the orientation process.

Companies should look at whether their current general policy provides sufficient coverage against third-party lawsuits following active shooter incidents on their properties, insurance brokerage firm Marsh advises in a 2017 white paper, “Protecting People and Operations from Active Shooter Threats.”

“The beauty of a video is you control the content, so if you have one employee or you have 3,000 in one state or 48 states, everyone gets the same message,” Wolf said.

“It is important for organizations to understand terms, conditions, and coverage issues that may determine how a CGL (commercial general liability) policy responds,” the paper recommended.

The video — or evidence of training — is likely going to be crucial if your business is sued by someone injured or by the family of someone killed.

For information about MIOSHA’s Active Shooter Survival Training programs, contact Dr. Wolf at kwolfphd@theimt.org.

WWW.RETAILERS.COM APR / MAY 2019

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Social Impact continued from page 8

remembers when his parents wouldn’t let him ride his bike to the print shop because the neighborhood was too rough. “It wasn’t the place to be.”

Sustainability is also a hallmark of the business, especially for Slaydon, who credits attending Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Zoo School for making her a passionate environmentalist.

A commitment to the environment is why the family decided to invest $2 million in a state-of-the-art Heidelberg printing press.

This German-made Anicolor offset printing press dramatically reduces paper waste. It’s also more efficient, finishing jobs in half the time.

Slaydon credits the B Corp process for helping formalize the company’s social mission and values.

“B Corp has done the research,” she said. “It’s not just about the environment, but social justice and inclusion challenges.

They’ve done everything to help you do it the right way, and they’ll hold your hand through it.”

The goal of B Corp is to raise awareness about what the certification means and why it is important. That’s why Local First, which first focused on the Grand Rapids market, is planning to take its message about what being a B Corp

Swift Printing and Communications is located in Grand Rapids’ burgeoning West Side.

means to a wider audience in the coming months.

“We are expanding this year beyond West Michigan to the east side of the state and further north, really trying to pull the full community together,” Local First’s Jasper said.

51 years of Foundation donors Students awarded an MRA scholarship will be contacted this May. The scholarships are funded by Michigan Retailers Foundation’s $1.6 million in assets. MRA members can establish a living legacy through contributions to the program.

Albert Ellenberger Lumber Co. Anthony G. Michael Arbor Farms Market Chad Ayers Baron’s Becky Thatcher Designs Ben Franklin Mooney’s Store Big Top Market Bo Brines Briscoe Giftbox Comar & Comar PC Dapple-Gray Bed & Breakfast Devries Jewelry Store Dr. Louis E Boggs-Optometrist English Gardens Farmington Shoe Repairs Galesburg Hardware Inc. Andrew Gemmen Golden Shoes Inc. Bill Golden Goldstein Bershad & Fried PC Great Lakes Foods James Hallan 20

MICHIGAN RETAILER APR / MAY 2019

To contribute, or to learn more, contact Rachel Schrauben at rschrauben@retailers.com or 800.366.3699 ext. 346. Thanks to the following members who contributed in 2018:

William Hallan Ken Hayward Hi-Lite Super Market Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau J & M Holdings Inc. Jeff Joyce Becky Beauchine Kulka John Leppink Little Forks Outfitters Inc. Maloney Carpet Co. Maple Street Mall Dan Marshall Orin Mazzoni Jr. Joe McCurry Mecuryhead Gallery Cheryl Medler Larry Meyer Michigan Grocers Foundation Mieras Family Shoes Kimberly Mills Larry Mullins Bryan Neiman Orin Jewelers Inc.

Packaging Corp of America Rod Phillips Pilgrim Investment Co. Raymond Idzikowski Retailers Insurance Company Roll Models Inc. Jean Sarasin Schwark Family Service Floor Covering Sign of the Pineapple Size Reduction Specialists/FBE Corp Peter Sobelton Splash of Color Tattoo Barb Stein Joe Swanson Tender Turf Care Mole Man Thomas Ungrodt James Walsh Warshawsky Insurance Winglemire Furniture

New Members Garza Chiropractic Clinic PC, Adrian Lenawee Humane Society, Adrian Liberty Partner LLC, Adrian Alpha House, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, Ann Arbor Jack’s Hardware Inc., Ann Arbor From the Heart Adult Foster Care LLC, Bay City Restored to Glory Dance, Bay City Over the Top Asphalt, Belmont Backyard Kreations, Bronson Medrano Contracting Inc., Burton Hoitenga Insulation Inc., Cadillac JD Brigham Inc., Cedar Springs AKA Trucking Company, Center Line The County Journal Inc., Charlotte Don’s Sport Rentals LLC, Chassell Conscious Senior Living Properties LLC, Chesterfield Twp. David’s Heavy Duty Tool Sales LLC, Comstock Park Harbortown Fresh Market LLC, Detroit Royal Grill on Six Mile LLC, Detroit Smith Funeral Homes Inc., Elsie Windstream Enterprise, Farmington Hills Clare-Farwell American Legion Post 558, Farwell Dunnage Wash Systems Inc., Fraser Andersons Nordic Grocery, Felch Bailtek Cleaning and Restoration Inc., Galesburg Mulligans Hollow Base Camp LLC, Grand Haven Chelsea Marketing Inc., Grand Rapids

Eastown Hookah Lounge dba B&E Lounge Inc., Grand Rapids Field’s Fire Protection Inc., Grand Rapids Grand Valley Glass LLC, Grand Rapids Market Boss LLC, Grand Rapids SpringGR, Grand Rapids The Rapid Group LLC, Grandville Osborn’s Production Service Inc., Hale Art Cook Marine Services Inc., Harsens Island Dependable Logistics LLC, Hazel Park Van Tony’s Enterprises Inc., Holland Holt Auto Supply dba Parts Place NAPA, Holt Catch 120 Grill LLC, Howard City The Found Cottage LLC, Hudsonville T3 Investments dba TNT Fireworks, Indiana J & J Auto Express LLC, Jackson Integrity Tax Group, Jenison Stadler Tax & Company, Jenison Redmond Funeral Home, Kalamazoo Enterprise Labor Services Inc., Lansing VIDHI 7 LLC, Lansing Pierino Frozen Foods, Lincoln Park West Shore Bank Charitable Donations, Ludington Ventura Motel, Ludington Madison Petroleum Inc., Madison Heights Steinkraus Forest Management LLC, Marcellus Tourville Apartments, Marquette Lakefront Fix Inc., Martin Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club, Mesick Metamora Market, Metamora

Let us show you how the MRA private exchange takes the hassle out of group health insurance.

Wholesale Auto Co/ Draves Auto Center, Midland Milan Vault Inc., Milan F&C LLC dba Harbor Inn & Ale, Monroe Skeetown Tavern Inc., Muskegon Shelly’s Floral Boutique, Negaunee Albers Family Cabinets Inc., New Haven Nadia Saif dba Ram Jewelry, Oak Park Ashley & Zaleski PC, Owosso Valley Meat Market LLC, Pinconning St Frederick’s Corporation, Pontiac Photo Factory, Port Huron Ripple Effects Autism Learning Center, Portage Seaben Tree Service, Portage SW Michigan Miracle League, Portage Googlyoogly LLC, River Rouge Rockford Trucking LLC, Romeo Bell Engineering LLC, Saginaw Mail Room Service Center Inc., Saginaw Specialty Manufacturing Inc., Saginaw BRLA Inc. dba Country Party Store II, Saint Clair Shores Alpha Custom Extrusion Inc., Saint Louis Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, Saranac Clegg Enterprises LLC dba Pure Country, Sault Sainte Marie Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development, Sault Sainte Marie Superior Audiology LLC, Sault Sainte Marie Parkes Painting & Insulating Inc., Sheridan Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum, South Haven Cinderella Jewelers LLC, Southfield

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WWW.RETAILERS.COM APR / MAY 2019

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603 South Washington Avenue Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: 517.372.5656 Toll-free: 800.366.3699