Aug 13 Michigan Retailer

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MRA Officers Re-elected

MRA board members re-elected officers after members at the MRA Annual Meeting elected board directors for 2013-14.

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Upbeat Projections

Michigan retailers’ sales forecasts for the 3rd Quarter rose to their highest level in nine years, after an early summer dip.

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Fair and Just Hiring

Here are key legal tips to help you develop a fair hiring process that should stand up in court if ever challenged.

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® August 2013 Vol. 38 No. 4

MRA expecting vote on Main St. Fairness Michigan Retailers Association welcomes an anticipated vote on Main Street Fairness legislation when state lawmakers return to their regular legislative schedule after Labor Day. Rep. Jeff Farrington (R-Utica), chair of the Michigan House Tax Policy Committee, told Capitol reporters in late August that he expects a vote on House Bills 4202 and 4203 when the committee reconvenes in September.

A committee vote had been scheduled in May, but a last-minute political dispute not directly related to the Main Street legislation caused Farrington to postpone committee action on the package.

“We are pleased the committee is ready to vote and send this sorely needed legislation to the House floor,” said William J. Hallan, MRA senior vice president operations and general counsel.

“The retail playing field becomes more slanted in favor of out-of-state, online retailers every day.”

The legislation, sponsored by Reps. Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake) and Rob VerHeulen (R-Walker) would require some online retailers, including Amazon, to collect sales tax on merchandise sold to Michigan residents. It would do that by expanding the definition of “nexus” in Michigan.

Nexus, or physical presence, is the legal standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court for determining whether a retailer must collect sales tax in a state, Hallan explained.

“More than two dozen other states have taken action to require out-ofstate retailers to begin collecting sales tax. It’s time Michigan acted to stop the loss of jobs and dollars out of our state.”

The official publication of the Michigan Retailers Association

SM

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Buy Nearby gears up for big October 5 Michigan Retailers Association’s Buy Nearby campaign is gearing up to make “Get Caught Blue-Handed Day” on October 5 a big success for retailers and

their communities all across the state.

The latest efforts include: • Promotional items, including posters, window clings, lapel pins,

Ann Arbor travel agency charts course to the top

by Doug Henze

When Conlin Travel opened its doors in the late 1950s, leisure travel was all the rage, and booking a trip through an agency was the way to go.

Cruise ships were known as “steamships” Christopher Conlin then and a trip to Paris – including the flight and a seven-night

stay – was available for $299, said Christopher U. Conlin, president and chief executive officer, quoting from an old brochure.

“Travel was still considered glamorous,” said Conlin, whose now-retired father, L. Thomas Conlin, founded the Ann Arbor company in 1959.

“People dressed up, even for overnight trips.”

blue gloves and customer stickers are now available on the Buy Nearby website toolkit (BuyNearbyMI.com/ toolkit/tools).

• Retail marketing wizard Bob Negen will hold a Buy Nearby-focused Retail Marketing Boot Camp on September 13 in Grand Rapids.

• Communities and individual retailers are planning to tie special marketing to the Buy Nearby campaign in order to create excitement and shopper interest on October 5.

• A new ebulletin is keeping retailers and communities informed about the latest news and tips about Buy Nearby.

“We’re working to make October 5 a fun and rewarding day for retailers, shoppers and communities everywhere in Michigan,” said James P. Hallan, MRA president and CEO. “It’s up to all of us to help create excitement by adding our own touches to this special day.”

Blue-Handed MRA launched Buy Nearby this past spring as a year-round campaign to encourage shoppers to support Michigan retailers and understand the importance of keeping their shopping dollars in their communities and state.

“If just 10 percent of the out-of-state Continued on page 5

37 students earn fall scholarships

Industry Revolution Enter the 1970s, when extensive travel by businesses shifted the industry focus – one of a series of changes that revolutionized the industry.

Today, the automated, corporatedriven travel business is moving forward with 60 percent of the agencies it had two decades ago now defunct.

More than three-dozen students will head to college this fall with a total of $34,000 in financial assistance from the Michigan Retailers Association annual scholarship program.

Each of the 37 scholarships is funded by the Michigan Retailers Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization established by MRA to benefit member businesses and their employees and families.

Thirty-one students will receive $1,000 for one year at a public or private four-year college or university, and six will receive $500 for one year at a community college.

In the scholarship program’s 15year history, $365,000 has been

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Michigan Retailer

Success of Buy Nearby depends on all of us

by James P. Hallan, MRA President and Chief Executive Officer This is the last Michigan Retailer sumers to go to Chicago or New York the BuyNearbyMI.com website, which you’ll receive before Buy Nearby’s “Get or shop online from out-of-state reincludes helpful information and proCaught Blue-Handed Day” on October tailers such as Amazon. motional items you can download or 5. So I need to make my final pitch now.

We want to celebrate that fact purchase.

Michigan is a big state. There are o n O c t o b e r 5 a n d t h ro u g h o u t And please let us know, so we can thousands of retailers, hundreds the year. Please make sure you share with others, your creative of communities and millions of consumers here.

To reach all of the groups and individuals necessary to make this campaign successful – especially on October 5 – it will take all of us spreading the word, creating the excitement and providing shoppers with the information and incentives they need to “buy into” what we’re doing.

Buy Nearby, of course, is MRA’s do-good, feel-good campaign to increase traffic and sales at Michigan re t a i l e r s . E n c o u r a g i n g shoppers all across the state to Buy Nearby will benefit local communities and Michigan’s economy in The employees at MRA are ready to Get Caught Blue-Handed. big ways, including keeping hundreds of millions more dollars in are doing all you can to promote ideas, community events and tips our state and creating thousands of your business and community on to make October 5 the extremely new jobs.

Get Caught Blue-Handed Day and special and successful day it deWe have great retail businesses in throughout the year. serves to be.

Michigan. There is no need for conFor assistance, you can check out Thanks, and Buy Nearby!

Boards re-elect Ungrodt, Sobelton The MRA Board of Directors reelected Tom Ungrodt to a second one-year term as board chair and the Retailers Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors reelected chair Peter Sobelton to a second one-year term following the Tom Ungrodt organizations’ annual meetings in Lansing on August 20.

At the MRA Annual Meeting, members re-elected board members Orin M a z z o n i , J r. , Peter Sobelton Barb Stein, Joe Swanson, Dan Musser III and Ungrodt.

The policyholders of Retailers Mutual re-elected incumbent

board members Jeff Joyce, Dan Marshall and Larry Meyer to new three-year terms.

Mazzoni is president of Orin Jewelers in Garden City and Northville and has been a board member since 2007.

Musser is president of Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and joined the board in 2010.

Stein owns and operates Great Northern Trading Company in Rockford and has served on the board since 2001.

Swanson is district team leader for Southwest Ontario for Target Canada.

He was first elected in 2001.

A member of the board since 2007, Ungrodt is president and CEO of Ideation, Inc. in Ann Arbor.

Marshall continues to serve as vice chair of the MRA board. Sobelton remains treasurer and Jean Sarasin, executive vice president and chief operating officer of MRA and Retailers Mutual, remains secretary of the board.

Continued on page 11

Leadership Matters Buy Nearby focuses attention on local communities. So it’s sad but fitting to pay tribute to a local leader who was instrumental in the modern transformation of downtown Traverse City: Bryan Crough.

Mr. Crough, who died of an apparent heart attack in June at the age of only 59, was the longtime director of the city’s Downtown Development Authority. He had a vision and a plan, and he worked hard to bring people together to make it all come together. Traverse City is a far better, more vibrant and nationally recognized town because of his extraordinary leadership and dedication.

Of all the accolades Mr. Crough received after his passing, the most visual came from filmmaker Michael Moore, who posted this message on the marquee of the revitalized State Theatre in the heart of downtown: “Bryan Crough: When we look down this street, we will always see you.”

www.retailers.com

Board of Directors: Thomas Ungrodt Chair Ideation, Ann Arbor

James P. Hallan

President and CEO Michigan Retailers Association

Dan Marshall

Vice Chair Marshall Music Company, Lansing

Peter R. Sobelton Treasurer Birmingham

Jean Sarasin

Secretary Michigan Retailers Association

Barb Stein

Past Chair Great Northern Trading Co., Rockford

Brian Ducharme AT&T

Becky Beauchine Kulka

Becky Beauchine Kulka Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, Okemos

Orin Mazzoni, Jr.

Orin Jewelers, Garden City

Joseph McCurry

Credit Card Group

Larry Mullins

Brandon Tire & Battery, Ortonville

R.D. (Dan) Musser III

Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island

Joe Swanson Target Corp.

James Walsh

Meijer, Inc., Grand Rapids

D. Larry Sherman

Board Member Emeritus

Michigan Retailers Services, Inc. Board of Directors: Bo Brines Little Forks Outfitters, Midland

Bill Golden

Golden Shoes, Traverse City

Lisa McCalpine-Wittenmyer Walgreens

James P. Hallan Thomas B. Scott Publisher

Editor

Pat Kerwin

Design Manager

Publication Office: 603 South Washington Avenue Lansing, MI 48933 517.372.5656 or 800.366.3699 Fax: 517.372.1303 www.retailers.com www.retailersmutual.com

Subscriptions:

Michigan Retailer (USPS 345-780, ISSN 0889-0439) is published in February, April, June, August, October and December for $20 per year by Michigan Retailers Association, 603 South Washington Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. Subscription fees are automatically included in the Michigan Retailers Asociation membership dues. 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.

August 2013

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MICHIGAN RETAIL INDEX

Summer sales forecasts strongest in nine years The Index gauges the performance of the state’s overall retail industry, based on monthly surveys conducted by MRA and the Federal Reserve.

Index values above 50 generally indicate positive activity; the higher the number, the stronger the activity.

Looking forward, 63 percent of retailers expect sales during July–September to increase over the same period last year, while 8 percent project a decrease

Current

and 29 percent no change. That puts the seasonally adjusted outlook index at 79.3, up from 76.6 in May and the highest since 80.4 in November 2004.

A year ago June it stood at 71.9.

At the national level, June retail sales excluding autos, gasoline and building materials also softened, increasing 0.15 percent from May, the weakest since January, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

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Michigan sales tax receipts totaled $586.6 million in June, up 1.8% from June 2012.

Complete results of this month’s Michigan Retail Index—including data on sales, inventory, prices, promotions and hiring—are available at www. retailers.com/mra/news/michiganretail-index.html. The website includes figures dating back to July 1994.

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Michigan retailers look forward to stronger sales the rest of the summer after a dip to start the season, according to the Michigan Retail Index, a joint project of Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

The Index’s future outlook component rose to its highest level in nine years during June, climbing to 79.3 on the 100-point scale.

“Retail sales continue their roller-coaster inconsistency from month to month, although optimism remains high,” said Tom Scott, MRA senior vice president communications and marketing.

He noted that Michigan’s unemployment rate increased to 8.7 percent from 8.4 percent in June. Gasoline prices fluctuated wildly because of refinery issues, jumping to the highest in the nation at mid-month before tumbling back.

The June Michigan Retail Index found that 34 percent of retailers increased sales over the same month last year, while 40 percent recorded declines and 26 percent saw no change. The results create a seasonally adjusted performance index of 47.7, down from 54.9 in May. A year ago June it was 58.6.

Seasonally adjusted diffusion index, calculated by adding the percent of respondents indicating increased sales and half the percent indicating no change, and then seasonally adjusting the result using the U.S. Census Bureau’s X-11 Seasonal Adjustment procedure. Index values above 50 generally indicate an increase in activity, while values below 50 indicate a decrease.

200 (millions)

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Be sure to complete your online survey each month!

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Michigan Retailer

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Ann Arbor travel agency charts course to the top Continued from page 1

MRA member Conlin Travel, the largest Michigan agency and one of the top 50 in the country in terms of sales volume, has been able to thrive through flexibility.

“We’ve gone from a 100 percent leisure traveler in 1959 to a 90 percent corporate traveler in 2013,” said Conlin, 52, who dipped his toes in the business as a high-schooler before launching his 30-year career.

“Fortunately, we’ve been able to make these pivots when things have changed and stay ahead of the curve.”

One change that devastated the industry happened about 20 years ago, when airlines eliminated the 10 percent commission they paid to agencies.

“A lot of agencies did not know how to adapt,” Conlin said.

To recover revenue, Conlin began charging clients professional service fees. The fee can be as little as $5 or, for a complicated overseas trip, as much as $50, he said.

“Frankly, I was all for it,” Conlin said of the revenue shift. “I always believed a travel agency should be compensated by its customers, not by its vendors.”

Rise of the Internet With the emergence of Internet sites such as Orbitz and Expedia, many vacationers began booking their own trips – creating another revenue drain for agencies.

“Travel is an outstanding application for the Internet,” Conlin said. “It allows

travelers to be do-it-yourself travel planners. That caused many other agencies to decline or go out of business.”

Leisure travelers likely have already searched the Internet for deals by the time they contact Conlin Travel.

“The difference we make is the knowledge our travel agents have,” Conlin said. “Many of our agents have been to the destinations that our travelers want to go to.”

Agents can steer travelers to the best experiences and away from bad ones.

“Many things can go wrong on a vacation,” Conlin said. “We make sure they’re picking the right suppliers and make sure they’re going to get the most out of their travel dollar.”

other groups.

“Just about any Big Ten team with a 6-6 record will now go to a bowl game,” Conlin said. “We put together a package where they fly down, stay in a hotel and go to some special

cess can be attributed to embracing both the corporate traveler and the Internet. Since it began offering an online travel tool about four years ago, revenues have grown from $33 million to $100 million, Conlin said.

A growing economy – albeit slowly – has spurred more business, he said.

Teleconferencing technology has not become the substitute for face-to-face interaction it was projected to be.

B y b o o k ing through a single source, corporations can keep track of all of their travelers, in case of emergency, Conlin said, adding that companies could be managing Bowl Games as many as 1,000 Conlin Travel’s Christopher Conlin with daughter Lindsay and son Tom at One segment of the the University of Michigan Final Four Tour in Atlanta in April. travelers. leisure travel business The agency also that has grown is the booking of events. We can take as many as 7,000 assists with client cost containment. sporting excursions. Conlin’s father people to a Rose Bowl, as we have.

“Our typical corporate customer created that niche for the agency in There’s much less enthusiasm for a is one that may spend $500,000 to the 1960s, at a time when Big Ten seventh-place team.” $10 million a year on air, car and football teams were allowed only to It’s not one of the largest segments hotel arrangements,” he said. “Purgo to the Rose Bowl. of the business, but it’s one of the chasing of that magnitude has to be Conlin Travel now arranges many most high profile, Conlin said. controlled.” bowl game trips – and recently one Conlin Travel helps negotiate vento the basketball Final Four in Atlanta Face to Face dor contracts to reduce costs for – for the U-M alumni association and Much of Conlin Travel’s recent succlients.

For example, a company’s employees may make 50 trips to New York City, with travelers staying in 28 hotels, Conlin said.

“Let’s consolidate that to two hotels and save everybody money.

Volume speaks.”

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Multiple Offices Because of Conlin Travel’s ability to adapt to a constantly changing business environment, the firm has grown from about 25 employees when Conlin began working for his father to 67 workers today.

The firm has offices in East Lansing, Ann Arbor and Traverse City and a presence in San Francisco, where employees work from home.

It’s unclear whether a third generation of Conlins – Christopher Conlin’s 19-year-old daughter, Lindsay, and 16-year-old son, Tom – will take part in the family business. But Conlin said he has no plans any time soon to exit the business his father started.

“Those in travel like to say, ‘Once you’ve got travel in your blood, it’s hard to get it out.’”

Doug Henze is a freelance writer and former business reporter for the Oakland Press in Pontiac.

August 2013

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BNB gears up for big Oct. 5 Continued from page 1

purchases made by Michigan shoppers every year shifted to in-state sales, more than $700 million would stay in Michigan to protect and create jobs and businesses,” said Hallan.

“Everyone in the state benefits from Buy Nearby.”

The campaign is “celebrated” on the first Saturday in October every year with special events and marketing. This year’s celebration is called “Get Caught Blue-Handed Day” to encourage shoppers to take pride in buying nearby and having their fam-

Sessions scheduled prior to October 5 include Plainwell on Sept. 6, Holland on Sept. 12 and Brooklyn on Sept. 24.

If you are interested in having a community meeting, please contact MRA’s Susan Andrews at 800.366.3699 or sandrews@retailers.com.

Retailer support Retailers across the state are showing support for Buy Nearby in many ways, including using the logo in their advertising.

For example, Gilbert Rose, owner

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RETAIL TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Chip cards are in the mail John Mayleben CPP, is MRA senior vice president technology and new product development and a national expert on electronic payment processing. He is the first person in Michigan and among the first in the nation to receive the Certified Payments Professional designation from the national Electronic Transactions Association.

The catch-22 involving deployment of new chip cards – also known as smart cards because they have a computer chip on the front – seems to be re-

solving itself.

As evidenced by my receiving a new chip card in the mail recently to replace an expired credit card with the traditional magnetic stripe on the back, more and more card issuers are automatically sending the new cards to their card holders.

So, they appear to have made the decision to issue these cards in large numbers because the card brands (Visa, MasterCard) are changing some of the rules about chargebacks involving these cards.

change to shift some of this liability from the merchant to the issuing bank. This shift will be on a merchant-by-merchant basis and apply only to merchants using chipenabled equipment.

What this means to you, as a merchant, is that if you have to change your terminal for any reason in the near future, you should strongly consider upgrading it to a terminal that can accept smart cards!

If you don’t make the upgrade and simply replace your terminal with

“you should strongly consider upgrading to a terminal that can accept smart cards!”

ily and friends catch them shopping close to where they live or are spending the weekend in Michigan.

Shoppers are encouraged to post photos and comments on Facebook of themselves and their friends and relatives buying nearby. They can also post comments about their positive experiences at retail stores.

Retailers can post photos of their customers that day as well.

Negen Tips Negen, the internationally recognized expert and owner of Whiz Bang!

Training in Grand Haven, has held a series of MRA-sponsored Retail Marketing Boot Camps to help retailers increase sales by attracting new customers and making them lifelong fans.

The new one on September 13 will include practical tips to help retailers get the most out of Buy Nearby and the October 5 celebration.

“Buy Nearby can be a big asset if you know how to use it,” said Negen.

Registration information about the seminar is available at www.Retailers. com under the Education & Events tab near the top of the homepage.

Community Meetings MRA regional marketing representatives are adding Buy Nearby tips and discussions to the local, complimentary breakfast meetings they are holding in communities throughout their areas.

of Willow Tree, a clothing store in downtown Wyandotte, appears to be the first retailer to use the Buy Nearby logo in an ad. Bo Brines used the Buy Nearby logo and “Get Caught Blue-Handed” theme to put a special twist on advertising for his store, Little Forks Outfitters in downtown Midland.

Downtown Rockford, through its Heart of Rockford group, plans to participate fully on “Get Caught BlueHanded Day” with special events and local promotions, said Barb Stein of Great Northern Trading Company.

Searchable Database Still to come is an online searcha b l e d a t a b a s e o f re t a i l e r s i n Michigan that is being developed by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Pure Michigan Business Connect program.

MRA will let retailers know how to include their business, as well as specialties and brands, in the database once it’s ready to receive that information. The database is designed for consumers to find what they’re looking for so they can Buy Nearby.

You can keep up on the latest Buy Nearby news by making sure you’re receiving the ebulletin produced by MRA. If you haven’t received the August 6 and 23 bulletins, please sign up by sending an email to mra@retailers.com.

Previous bulletins’ content is available at www.BuyNearbyMI.com/ toolkit/ebulletin.

Fragmented One of the challenges in the U.S. for card issuers is that the market is very diversified – some might say fragmented. There are lots of different companies involved in the processing and support of merchants or cardholders.

And therein lies the catch-22 for every new technology, including chip cards. Merchants don’t want to spend money on upgrades to their terminals and point-of-sale systems to accommodate the new technology if consumers aren’t going to embrace it. And card issuers don’t want to upgrade their systems if there aren’t enough merchants to support the transactions.

In light of all that, it’s no surprise that the U.S. has been one of the last places in the world where merchant processing systems don’t process transactions with a chip on the card instead of the mag stripe.

Chargebacks What does all this have to do with chargebacks? A chargeback is when a cardholder disputes a transaction and requests additional information from the merchant (via the issuing bank). Today, most chargebacks flow through the system and back to the merchant.

In 2015, however, the rules will

the same one you have today, you will have to upgrade it in two years to take advantage of the chargeback liability shift and the savings that can provide.

As always, if you have any questions about this issue or anything else about merchant processing, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our customer services representatives.

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Michigan Retailer

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37 students receive MRA college scholarships Continued from page 1

awarded in 393 scholarships to students who are employees, or the children of owners or employees, of MRA-member businesses.

“The Board of Directors’ strong commitment to the scholarship program drives its success,” said MRA President and CEO James P. Hallan.

“Each year the program helps dozens of students and their families afford a college education while providing an opportunity for contributors to give something back to their industry and add to their legacy of good works.

“It’s a valuable, added benefit of membership in MRA.”

be a freshman at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the fall. She is the daughter of David and Michelle Ketterer.

Ketterer received the Fred E. and Lillian Sherman Scholarship, funded

by MRA board member emeritus D. Larry Sherman in honor of his parents, founders of the former Sherman Shoes in Birmingham.

Joshua Rios, of Dorr, son of Rick and Terri Rios. Terri is an employee at Thresholds in Grand Rapids. Joshua is a graduate of Caledonia High School and will be a freshman at the

Scott and Kathy Hill. Scott is an employee at Kroger in Grosse Ile. Emily is a graduate of Airport Senior High School in Carleton and will be a freshman at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti in the fall.

Nicole Moustakas, of Clinton Township, daughter of George and Brenda Moustakas. George is an employee at Garan Lucow Miller PC in Detroit.

Nicole is a graduate of Lutheran High School in Macomb and will be a freshman at Oakland University in Rochester in the fall.

wood High School in Lake Odessa and will be a sophomore at Michigan State University in the fall. He is the son of Michael and Amy Acker.

Sarah Kijek, of Clinton Township, daughter of Mark and Janet Kijek.

Mark is an employee of Art Van Furniture in Warren. Sarah is a graduate of Fraser High School in Fraser and will be a sophomore at Oakland University in Rochester in the fall.

Acker and Kijek each received a Joseph Swanson Legacy Scholarship, funded by contributions from MRA

Top Row (left to right): H. Acker, L. Anderson, A. Back, A. Boening, T. Butler, C. Carlson, A. Champagne, K. Chapin, C. Cook, Middle Row: C. DeGraaf, G. Dixon, N. Eigner, T. Euwema, N. Haisma, T. Hemphill, J. Hensler, E. Hill, H. Ketterer, S. Kijek, A. Monroe, Bottom Row: N. Moustakas, J. Rios, N. Rodgers, K. Slagh, L. Stevens, J. VanAtter Jolicoeur, E. VanderZwaag, J. Veitengruber, P. Ward, A. Wilburn, E. Wilburn.

Criteria MRA’s scholarship program is managed by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc., in Nashville, Tennessee, which administers scholarship programs for businesses and organizations across the nation.

An independent panel of educators selects the recipients based on aboveaverage academic achievement and extracurricular involvement. Financial need is not a consideration.

The application period for the competition begins in January and ends in early April. Details are on MRA’s website, www.retailers.com.

The following students are receiving scholarships for the 2013-14 academic year from the Michigan Retailers Association: Legacy Scholarships Hana Ketterer, of Harbor Springs, an employee of Three Pines Studio in Cross Village. She is a graduate of Harbor Springs High School and will

University of Michigan in the fall.

Rios received the D. Larry Sherman Scholarship, named for MRA board member emeritus Sherman.

Allison Wilburn and Emily Wilbur n, of Rockford, daughters of Rick and Karen Wilburn. Karen is an employee at Grand Rapids Public Museum. Both are graduates of Rockford High School. Allison will be a senior at Albion College in the fall, and Emily will be a freshman at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. Allison won an MRA scholarship in 2011.

Allison received the Nathan Rosenfeld Scholarship, named for the late founder of Jacobson Stores, Inc. Emily received the Barb Stein Legacy Scholarship, funded by contributions from past MRA board chair Barb Stein. Stein is the owner and operator of Great Northern Trading Co. in Rockford.

Emily Hill, of Carleton, daughter of

Hill and Moustakas each received a Raymond A. and Mildred C. Sobelton Scholarship, funded by MRA board treasurer Peter Sobelton and his sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Douglas Stranahan, in honor of the Sobeltons’ parents, founders of Churchills Ltd. in Birmingham.

J o n a t h a n Ve i t e n g r u b e r , o f Rockford, son of Kurt and Tina Veitengruber. Kurt is an employee at Meijer, Inc., in Grand Rapids. Jonathan is a graduate of Rockford High School and will be a senior at Michigan State University in East Lansing in the fall.

Veitengruber received the Mark Schrag Scholarship, funded by contributions from former MRA board member Mark Schrag. The late Mr. Schrag owned and operated the former Season’s Fine Gifts store in Okemos.

Hayden Acker, of Sunfield, an employee of Mapes Furniture Company, in Sunfield. He is a graduate of Lake-

board member and former board chair Joe Swanson, district team leader for Target Canada.

Timothy Butler, of Saginaw, son of Karen Butler, an employee at the Public Libraries of Saginaw. He is a graduate of Swan Valley High School in Saginaw and will be a sophomore at Michigan Technological University in Houghton in the fall.

Charisa Cook, of Harsens Island, daughter of Art and Tracy Cook, owners of Art Cook Marine Service in Harsens Island. Charisa is a graduate of Algonac High School and will be a freshman at Northern Michigan University in Marquette in the fall.

Nicole Haisma, of Comstock Park, an employee at Haisma Heating & Cooling in Comstock Park. Haisma is a graduate of Kenowa Hills High School in Grand Rapids and will be a senior at Grand Valley State University in the fall. She is the daughter of Garry and

August 2013 Brenda Haisma.

Alexander Hansen, of Edmore, son of Jeffrey Hansen, an employee at Packaging Corporation of America in Edmore. Alexander is a graduate of Vestaburg Community High School and will be a freshman at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant in the fall.

Kevin Slagh, of Zeeland, son of Ross and Laura Slagh. Ross is an employee at Top Line Equipment in Zeeland. Kevin is a graduate of Zeeland East High School and will be a freshman at Davenport University in Grand Rapids in the fall.

Butler, Cook, Haisma, Hansen and Slagh each received a Target Cor poration Scholarship, funded by contributions from Target.

Ellyn VanderZwaag, of Holland, an employee at Ditto Upscale Resale in Holland. She is a graduate of Holland Christian High School and will be a freshman at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo in the fall. She is the daughter of Russ and Nancy VanderZwaag.

VanderZwaag received the James P. Hallan MRA Leadership Scholarship, funded by contributions from MRA board member emeritus D. Larry Sherman in honor of the current MRA president and chief executive officer.

Maire Car mody, of Petoskey, an employee at Country Casuals in Petoskey. She is a graduate of Petoskey High School and will be a sophomore at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the fall.

Carmody received the Retailers Mutual Scholarship, funded by contributions from MRA’s workers’ compensation insurance company.

Jeffrey Hensler, of Saginaw, son of Brian and Kathy Hensler. Brian is an employee of Hensler Furniture Restoration. Jeffrey is a graduate of Valley Lutheran High School in Saginaw and will be a sophomore at Western Michigan University in the fall.

He received the Michigan Retailers Services, Inc., Scholarship, funded by contributions from the wholly owned subsidiary of MRA that delivers services to the membership.

MRA Scholarships Lauren Anderson, of Grand Rapids, daughter of David and Sharon Anderson. Sharon is an employee at High Grade Concrete Products in Spring Lake. Lauren is a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School and will be a senior at the University of Michigan in the fall. She also received a scholarship in 2012.

Alyssa Back, of Union City, daughter of Tom and Cheryl Back. Cheryl is

7 an employee at Meijer, Inc., in Coldwater. Alyssa is a graduate of Coldwater High School and will be a freshman at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac in the fall.

Allison Boening, of Saginaw, daughter of Tina Boening, an employee at Art Van Furniture in Flint. Allison is a graduate of Valley Lutheran High School and will be a sophomore at Northwood University in Midland in the fall.

Kimberly Cantrell, of Comstock Park, daughter of John Cantrell, an employee at Meijer, Inc. in Comstock Park. She is a graduate of Comstock Park High School and will be a junior at the University of Michigan in the fall.

Chad Carlson, of Rockford, son of Tom and Karen Carlson. Karen is an employee at Grand River Physical Therapy Specialists, P.C., in Ionia.

Chad is a graduate of Rockford High School and will be a freshman at Hope College in Holland in the fall.

Aver y Champagne, of Saline, an employee at Steven Poplawski, MD, PLLC, in Ypsilanti. She is a graduate of Saline High School and will be a freshman at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, in the fall. She is the daughter of Paula Poplawski.

Kaitlin Chapin, of Allendale, daughter of Robert and Marla Chapin.

Marla is an employee at Allendale Public Schools. Kaitlin is a graduate of Allendale High School and will be a freshman at Baker College of Muskegon in the fall.

Chad DeGraaf, of Hudsonville, son of Ken and Karen DeGraaf. Ken is an employee at HL Bolkema Decorating in Wyoming. Chad is a graduate of Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville and will be a freshman at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, in the fall.

Gabrielle Dixon, of Muskegon, daughter of Heidi Dixon, an employee at Meijer, Inc. in North Muskegon. Gabrielle is a graduate of Orchard View High School in Muskegon and will be a sophomore at Adrian College in the fall.

Nicole Eigner, of Saginaw, daughter of Gail Eigner, an employee at Meijer, Inc. in Saginaw. Nicole is a graduate of Heritage High School in Saginaw and will be a senior at Michigan State University in the fall.

Taylor Euwema, of Byron Center, son of Pete and Cindy Euwema. Cindy is an employee at Bio-Chem Laboratories in Grand Rapids. Taylor is a graduate of Wayland High School and will be a sophomore at Grand Valley

State University in the fall.

Taylor Hemphill, of Tawas City, an employee at Village Chocolatier in East Tawas. She is a graduate of Tawas Area High School and will be a freshman at Delta College in University Center in the fall. She is the daughter of Jeff and Rhonda Hemphill.

Carley Jawor, of Nunica, daughter of Jeff Jawor, owner of Jawor Brothers Blueberries in Ravenna. She is a graduate of Ravenna High School and will be a freshman at Muskegon Community College in the fall.

Adam Monroe, of Davison, an employee at Meijer, Inc. in Davison. He is a graduate of Davison High School and will be a junior at Kettering University in Flint in the fall. He is the son of Annette Monroe.

Nathan Rodgers, of Coldwater, son of Michelle Rodgers, an employee at Wal-Mart in Coldwater. Nathan is a graduate of Coldwater High School and will be a freshman at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, in the fall.

James Sloan III, of Grand Rapids, son of Deborah Sloan, an employee at Natural Solutions Salon in Grand Rap-

ids. He is a graduate of Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids and will be a freshman at Eastern Michigan University in the fall.

Lindsey Stevens, of Grand Rapids, daughter of Michael and Tammy Stevens. Michael is an employee at Meijer, Inc. in Grand Rapids. Lindsey is a graduate of Forest Hills Eastern High School in Grand Rapids and will be a junior at Grand Rapids Community College in the fall.

Mithil Suryadevara, of Novi, son of Soma Suryadevara, an employee at Sescoi USA Incorporated in Southfield. He is a graduate of Novi High School and will be a freshman at the University of Michigan in the fall.

Jennifer VanAtter Jolicoeur, of Wellston, an employee at Whitetail Party Mart in Wellston. She is a graduate of Plainwell High School and will be a freshman at Baker College of Flint in the fall. She is the daughter of Steve and Teresa VanAtter.

Paige Ward, of Homer, daughter of Karen Ward, an employee at Carelinc Home Medical Equipment and Supply in Jackson. Paige is a graduate of Jackson Christian High School and will be a sophomore at Jackson Community College in the fall.

8

Michigan Retailer

Membership Services Corner

Quick notes on key services. Call 800.366.3699 for details.

We appreciate your membership. Let us know whenever we can help you with a question or a problem, no matter how large or small.

by Penny Sierakowski, MRA Customer Service Department Manager Cr edit Car d Processing • To p ro tect our members’ accounts and information, we always ask for and require the business bank account number, Social Security number or tax identification number whenever we receive a request for secure data such as full credit card numbers or bank account information.

• To make sure your credit card transactions are processed at the lowest cost, always answer the following prompts on keyed

Offer Gift Cards, Increase Sales.

transactions: - Enter AVS (street number and zip code) of the billing address - Enter purchase order number - Enter sales tax amount if prompted - Obtain and pass through a valid authorization number - Make sure authorization and settlement amounts match (except for tip adjustment) - Settle within 24 hours.

• Data Security compliance is mandatory, therefore you must complete an annual PCI SelfAssessment Questionnaire to verify if your business is PCI compliant.

Visit www.compliance101.com to begin the questionnaire.

• These terminals are no longer PCI Compliant: Zon Jr, Tranz, Omni and Hypercom T7P.

800.366.3699

www.retailers.com

Collaborate to succeed

by Steve Flaster

Saying the same word three times in a row carries special charm for retailers. “Location, Location, Location” is the ultimate caveat in selecting the right store site.

Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton said the route to retail success is “Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.”

My addition to these mantras is “Collaborate, Collaborate, Collaborate.”

For today’s retailers, especially smaller ones with extremely limited resources, collaboration means working with others to achieve big ideas and plans that you can’t achieve on your own. Since 90 percent of American retailers are one-store operations, collaboration is relevant and important to all.

Think Outside the Bus Let me give you an example of successful collaboration. Four women storeowners in four different Michigan cities rented a bus recently and took customers on a shopping tour of all four stores. They filled the bus with women who paid $45 each for the tour and boxed lunch en route.

Participants enjoyed shopping at each stop as they generated new revenues for each participating store.

This is thinking outside the box and is collaboration in motion. Retailers need to open their eyes and minds to the endless possibilities for success.

Of course, not all collaborations are successful. This past holiday season, Target and Neiman Marcus collaborated by presenting the same designer collection at the same price and time in both stores. How Neiman’s thought it would benefit by this collaboration puzzled me, since its customers shop Neiman’s to obtain exclusive merchandise.

In coming up with ideas for collaborative efforts, stores must keep their own marketing objectives in mind and tread cautiously when working with competitors.

Four Routes While there are no guarantees for success, the best forms of collaboration should offer win-win situations.

Retailers should consider collaborating with others in these groups: • Complementar y Retailers.

Retailers should think of their businesses in terms of meeting a customer’s broader needs. By thinking this way, they will recognize collaboration opportunities with retailers who complement their own business.

One of so many possibilities is a

store that sells bridal gowns. This store should see itself as being in the wedding business and join forces with caterers, bridal accessory stores, musicians, printers, tour agencies, tuxedo rental establishments and jewelers. It should look to maximize promotional opportunities and customer satisfaction for today’s more sophisticated, somewhat older bride who has more money to spend and less time for planning.

Just as important, it should do this on a daily basis rather than wait for some outside event specialist to bring the stores together on an infrequent basis.

• Competitors. While this situation must be treated with greater caution, there are times when collaborating with competitors stimulates demand for the entire group. Such is the case with restaurant weeks created by groups of usually competing restaurants in the same city during a relatively slow period of time. Many, if not all, of the restaurants benefit from the promotion.

• Common-Interest Organizations.

Sometimes it is expedient for groups of retailers and other organizations to join together and address issues affecting them in common. Currently, groups of retailers are addressing the problem of labor conditions in Bangladesh, where much retail merchandise is manufactured. Many issues go unanswered or are poorly answered because groups of retailers don’t collaborate to find the right answer.

• Channel Partners. Cosmetic manufacturers collaborating with retailers often results in powerful instore events, but the idea is relevant to so many other product areas. The trend of cause marketing by retailers can be more powerful if manufacturers support the effort and are included in the communication efforts by retailers. Saks Fifth Avenue thanked specific vendor partners in its recent ads for its in-store breast cancer awareness event.

Back to the Future Many years ago, shopping center landlords created merchants associations whereby groups of individual tenants collaborated on center promotions. These associations generally are a thing of the past, but the need for collaboration isn’t.

Stores need to re-create new formats and ongoing strategies for achieving collaboration among them.

Collaboration is a powerful tool for retailers and should not be a one-time occurrence.

Steve Flaster is a retailer, instructor of retailing and marketing at Michigan State University, speaker and consultant. You can reach him by email at srflaster@gmail.com.

August 2013

9

IT’S THE LAW

PAC CONTRIBUTORS

‘Fair and just’ hiring tips

by William J. Hallan, MRA Senior Vice President Operations and General Counsel

legal system with due process, fair trials, and peer judgment. The outcome may not always seem “fair,” but justice should be found in the process.

The same concept applies in the employment world.

crimination in hiring based on age, height, weight or marital status.

Employers that standardize hiring procedures that adhere to federal and state law are much less likely to be subject to discrimination actions.

Here are some tips for ensuring that your hiring practices comply with applicable law: • Develop an employment application that only requests information that can be used to lawfully evaluate the applicant.

• Develop a list of lawful questions you may ask each applicant. For example, you may ask about: - Educational, professional, vocational or academic background.

- The applicant’s full name and whether any additional information relative to a different name is necessary to check the applicant’s work record.

- You may ask the applicant which languages he or she speaks fluently.

• Identify questions you may not ask during an interview. For example, you may not ask about: - Marital status or children.

- Name change due to court order or maiden name.

- Religion, creed, sex, race or color.

• Develop a consistent rating form to evaluate applicants.

Fair Hiring Federal and state laws guide the hiring process to ensure fair outcomes.

Specifically, federal laws prohibit employers from discriminating against any individual in hiring because of that individual’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or citizenship.

Michigan law also prohibits dis-

Justice Served Although these tips are not exhaustive, they will help you develop a fair hiring process that should stand up in court if challenged.

An applicant may believe that your decision not to hire was an unfair outcome, but if you’ve set up a fair evaluation process, justice can be served.

It seems that every time I turn on the TV a new criminal case is being highly publ i c i z e d : A a ro n Hernandez, Trayvon Martin, Casey Anthony. The list goes on and on.

After the verdict, pundits argue whether justice was served. Was an innocent person convicted or a guilty person set free?

It’s at those times I like to remember my favorite quote from law school: “justice is found in the process, not the outcome.”

In other words, we’ve developed a

“The outcome may not always seem ‘fair,’ but justice should be found in the process.”

THANK YOU to our 2013 PAC Contributors (Through August 12, 2013) A healthy political action committee, or PAC, is critical in order for MRA to have a “seat at the table” when important legislation is discussed. Our PAC contributors make it possible for MRA to support legislators and candidates we have identified (through their votes and our questionnaires) as friends of retail at the state and local level. Our contributions help retail-friendly candidates get elected or re-elected.

Thank you to all of our donors for your personal, financial commitment to strengthening MRA’s PAC. If you have any questions about how our PAC works, what it does and why it is important, or you would like to know how you can contribute or help us raise funds, please do not hesitate to contact MRA Government Affairs Manager Amy Drumm at 800.366.3699 or adrumm@retailers.com.

Benefactor ($1000 and up) Jim Hallan, Michigan Retailers Association Jeff Joyce, Mieras Family Shoes, Inc. & Retailers Mutual Board of Directors (Grand Rapids) Dan Marshall, Marshall Music & MRA Board of Directors (Lansing) D. Larry Sherman, MRA Board of Directors Chairman’s Circle ($500-999) Ross Kogel, Tire Wholesaler’s Inc. (Troy) John Mayleben, Michigan Retailers Association Burke Sage, Michigan Retailers Association Jean Sarasin, Michigan Retailers Association Tom Scott, Michigan Retailers Association Joe Swanson, Target & MRA Board of Directors Tom Tuggle, Michigan Retailers Association Jim Walsh, MRA of Directors Patron ($250-499) Nick Alfano, Alfanos Stride Rite (Saginaw) Amy Drumm, Michigan Retailers Association C. Ronald Dufina, Loonfeather Gift Shop (Mackinac Island) Bill Hallan, Michigan Retailers Association Orin Mazzoni, Jr., Orin Jewelers, Inc. & Michigan Retailers Association Board of Directors (Garden City)

Timothy Moffit, Sleep Care Supplies & Equipment (Portage) Barb Stein, Great Northern Trading Co. & MRA of Directors (Rockford) Executive Club ($150-249) Larry Meyer, Retailers Mutual Board of Directors William Spreder, Mack Alger Firestone (St. Clair Shores) William Van Dis, V & A Bootery (Kalamazoo) Contributor Don Baron, Baron’s (Lansing) Joe Benchley, Benchley’s Amish Furniture (Clare) Cassandra Brockenbrough, Windjammer Gifts & Clothing (East Tawas) Philip Elkus, Baron’s (Farmington Hills) Gerald Gilroy, Dr. Gerald Gilroy (East Lansing) Harvey Konynenbelt, Zeeland Bakery Inc. (Zeeland) Craig Ohm, B&T Party Store (Somerset Center) Casimir Palaszek, Dr. Casimir Palaszek DDS (Grand Rapids) Naran Patel, Tuffy Auto Wize Northville (Plymouth) Don Rapson, Flying Eagle Coins (Bay City) Marylou & John Zaloudek, Americana Gallery (Traverse City)

RE: RETAILERS

Meijer opens supercenter as first Detroit store Meijer Inc., Grand Rapids, opened its first Detroit store on July 25, a 190,000-square-foot supercenter at Eight-Mile and Woodward. The store anchors the new Gateway Marketplace retail center and includes a gas station, drive-through pharmacy, more than 100,000 products and 700 types of fresh produce.

The store creates approximately 550 full- and part-time jobs, according to Meijer.

Developer Dale Watchowski of Redico LLC in Southfield told Crain’s Detroit Business that there are 174,000 residents within a three-mile radius of the retail center and 480,000 within five miles. Average household income is $54,000 in the three-mile radius,

dropping to $52,000 in the five-mile area. About 120,000 vehicles drive through the Eight-Mile and Woodward intersection each day.

Shopping centers are alive and well and transforming what consumers can expect from a shopping experience, according to a new report, “Brick by Brick: The State of the Shopping Center,” by The Nielson Company. Total shopping center sales for 2012 topped $2.4 trillion, an increase of 2.8 percent over the previous year and more than half of retail sales in the United States. Shopping centers also have grown in numbers and gross leasable area over the past five years, with large centers increas-

ing 65 percent the past five years and leasable area climbing 41 percent.

The report said the rise of smaller, upscale Lifestyle Centers represents a strong trend toward giving shoppers a unique shopping experience and place to gather.

P e t ro s K o m o d i k e s h a s b e e n appointed to the Lynch Sales Company, where he will be pivotal in expanding the company’s activities in Europe and the Middle East. He has many years experience as sales and operations manager for the Polis Xinaris Company in Cyprus. He also has worked in foreign exchange markets and in promoting Cypriot interest in the United States.

Douglas Dayton, who transformed his family’s department store into retailing giant Target Corp., died July 5 at the age of 88 in Minnesota after a long battle with cancer. The youngest of George Nelson Dayton’s five sons, Douglas Dayton took over the downtown Minneapolis department store from his father in 1948. In 1960 he became the first president of offshoot Target, and within two years the company had opened four Targets in the Minneapolis and St. Paul suburbs. He left Target in 1968 to help run the Dayton Hudson department store parent company, which eventually consolidated into Target Corp. Mr. Dayton left the company in 1974 to form a venture capital firm and retired in 1994.

10

Michigan Retailer

www.retailers.com

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Sharing a zeal for two wheels with customers

by Jean B. Eggemeyer

Mike Casey, owner of Aberdeen Bike & Outdoors in Chelsea, has been in the bicycle business for more than 32 years. Even as a child, bikes fascinated him – so much so that he would routinely hang out at his neighborhood bike shop and ask questions until the owners kicked him out.

As an adult, he has worked his way up from shop hand to bike sales representative to store manager. Then, in January of 2003, he opened Aberdeen.

What Casey enjoys most about owning the shop is the one-on-one interaction with customers.

“My staff and I take a lot of pride in our work, and I like it when customers see that effort,” he said.

“And, then, I like seeing them come back.”

Another perk of owning the store, admitted Casey, is trying out the newest bike models as they arrive.

“The best bike I ever rode, though, was a 1953, two-speed Schwinn Jaguar,” he said. “Nothing beats an old Schwinn.”

Enthusiasts His eight employees also are bike and outdoor enthusiasts who know their stuff and enjoy sharing their

knowledge of sports, recreation and the products the store sells.

“We offer straight talk, no gimmicks – and customers appreciate that,” Casey added.

The shop carries a large selection of high-quality road and mountain bikes, as well as kayaks, canoes and outdoor apparel and outerwear.

Casey and his staff also build relationships with customers by leading bike rides from the shop several times a week, planning canoe and kayak outings and

hosting clinics featuring guest speakers.

Aberdeen takes “re-cycles” as well.

For about a year now, the shop has been offering customers the opportunity to trade in a used, bike-shop quality bike for credit toward a new one.

“It’s a nice avenue for our customers to trade up into a new bike,” Casey said.

Savings Casey, himself, traded up to MRA in February this year, taking advantage of the Association’s competitive credit card processing rates.

“The processing rates with our previous provider had continued to go up,” he explained. In doing an annual review of his overhead, he asked MRA

sales representative Ken Kowalski to provide him a quote.

“The prices I was quoted were lower and, after starting with the MRA program, I’ve found the numbers don’t lie. I’ve seen a 30-percent decrease in [my] credit card processing costs.”

Casey also was impressed with MRA’s commitment to service. When he experienced a problem with his processing equipment, Kowalski drove to his store the same day to solve the problem.

“No other provider would have done that,” Casey said.

Jean Eggemeyer is a freelance writer and former Michigan Retailers Association employee. She once owned a pretty cool Schwinn bike with a banana seat.

NEW MEMBERS John D Hatch Jr. DDS PC, Ann Arbor Akervall Technologies, Ann Arbor Kristin F Nickodemus DDS PLC, Ann Arbor Esquire Interiors, Ann Arbor Regina R Davis DDS PLLC, Ann Arbor Player’s Grill, Augusta Al Hanson Motors Inc., Bad Axe Paige Wiard Gallery, Calumet Gary Mac’s Upscale Dive, Clinton Township Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn, Curtis Kevin’s Whitefish Inn, Curtis Savon Foods, Detroit Food Pride Supermarket, Detroit Jefferson Veterinary Center, Detroit Small Plates Detroit LLC, Detroit Woven Art Inc., East Lansing Balance Concierge-Holzen Health, East Lansing Triumphant Temple of Praise, Flint Federal Tax Resolution LLC, Flint Hidden Treasures of Fremont LLC, Fremont WoolyBuggers, Gaylord Fredricks Design Inc., Grand Haven Lakeshore Kayak Rental LLC, Grand Haven ServiceMaster Advantage/OHare Inc., Grand Rapids Grand Rapids Gravel Company, Grand Rapids Bayshore Contractors LLC, Grand Rapids Ashbaugh Builders LLC, Grand Rapids Advanced Plastic Surgery, Grand Rapids Michigan Delta Mechanical Inc., Hazel Park Closet Treasures Boutique, Holland United Soccer Athletes, Holland

Holland Detailing and Auto Body LLC, Holland Carriage House Designs, Howell The Happy Fish Inc., Indian River Wesley United Methodist Church, Ishpeming Buday’s Home Electronic Simplified, Kalamazoo The Arc Community Advocates, Kalamazoo G & G Budget & Financial Service Inc., Lansing Zoobies Old Town Tavern, Lansing SS Hair Designers LLC, Lansing Dall Finger Fit LLC, Livonia HPK Lakeside Properties LLC, Ludington Lighthouse Associates LLC, Ludington Scotty’s, Ludington Big Al’s Golf, Midland Robin Hoods, Mount Pleasant Solomon Plumbing Co., New Hudson Dan Vigil’s Academy of Taekwondo, Northville Granite Creations Inc., Novi Bella Mia LLC, Plymouth The Q Hair Studio, Plymouth Windmill Motel LLC, Port Hope Village Hardware & Auto Supply, Ravenna Robinet Physical Therapy, Rockford Brown Sugar & Spice Book Service, Romulus Northwest Collision, Sparta PKG LLC, Sturgis RGS Limited LLC, Troy Fairway Discount Stores, Vassar A & S Warren Foods Inc., Warren Millers Big Red Holding LLC, Washington West Michigan Youth for Christ, Zeeland Gemini Services LLC, Zeeland

August 2013

11

LOTTERY

Lottery offers first multi-state raffle in time for Halloween

by M. Scott Bowen, Commissioner

Embrace the cool weather with the ultimate coolness of becoming a millionaire!

The Michigan Lotter y’s newest and first ever multi-state raffle, “Halloween Millions Raffle,” falls into sales beginning September 3.

The “Halloween Millions Raffle” will be available for purchase starting September 3 and sales close on October 31 at midnight. These raffle tickets will cost $10 and can be purchased with a WonCard or cash, and each raffle number will be automatically generated just as if it were a typical easy pick; players do not have the option to pick their own numbers.

The drawing for the “Halloween Millions Raffle” will be conducted on November 1 by the Multi State Lottery Association. A minimum of two grand prizes for $1 million will be awarded for this raffle.

The more tickets sold, the more $1 million grand prize winning tickets. In addition to the national prizes, there

are opportunities to win 50 $100 prizes and 500 $20 prizes for every 10,000 tickets sold in Michigan!

This raffle will make a lot of big winners in Michigan, but the retailers will score a large prize as well. Retailers that sell a grand prize $1 million winning ticket will receive a $5,000 bonus commission.

All of the $20 and $100 prizes can be redeemed in store, meaning a lot of happy players and lots of cashing commissions for retailers. Retailers also will earn 60 cents on every ticket sold. Remember, the more tickets sold, the more prizes awarded – and better chances for your business to earn commissions, too.

Millionth Drawing Another exciting event includes the Michigan Lottery nearing the one millionth Club Keno drawing. This is the perfect time to push sales.

At the beginning of the month, remind players that they could be part of the millionth Club Keno drawing.

Building excitement for this historical mark will increase sales and redemptions and lead to more money for your establishment.

Boards re-elect Ungrodt, Sobelton Continued from page 2

Retailers Mutual On the Retailers Mutual board, Joyce remains vice chair. He is vice

Jeff Joyce

Dan Marshall

Orin Mazzoni

Larry Meyer

Dan Musser III

Barb Stein

president and co-owner of Mieras Family Shoes in Grand Rapids and has been on the board since 2010.

Marshall is president of Marshall Music Company, headquartered in Lansing, and has been on the board since 1998.

Meyer, the retired chairman and CEO of MRA, is an original board member of the former Retailers Fund workers’ compensation insurance program. Retailers Fund was converted to Retailers Mutual in 2006.

There were not enough proxy ballots returned to establish a quorum for a vote on a proposed amendment to Retailers Mutual’s Articles of Incorporation. The amendment would increase the minimum number of board members to five from two.

The MRA board also elected, for one-year terms, the four directors of Michigan Retailers Services, Inc.: James P. Hallan, MRA president and CEO; Bo Brines, Little Forks Outfitters, Midland; Lisa McCalpine-Wittenmyer, Walgreens; and Bill Golden, Golden Shoes, Traverse City.

Joe Swanson

Fall Schedule Players will be able to purchase all Michigan Lottery games, including Pull Tabs, not just from you, but from our mobile retail outlet (MRO) as it travels throughout the state to various events. If the MRO is in your area, be sure to stop by and say hello!

Here are some of the stops over the next few months: • Lions Tailgate – Detroit- Ford Field, September 8 • Renaissance Festival – Holly, September 21-22 • Lions Tailgate(s) – Detroit- Ford Field, September 29, October 20 & October 27 New Instants Look out for these two new Instant games, both at the $2 price point, which will go on sale at all Michigan Lottery retailers on September 3: 50x The Cash™ (IG 649) and Lucky Number Bingo™ (IG 671).

On September 2 the following $2 Instant ticket is set to expire: Cashword™ (IG 491).

Retailers are reminded to always activate instant game tickets before putting them on sale to ensure winning tickets

can be redeemed by players.

Over 97 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In fiscal year 2012, the contribution to schools was a record $778.4 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed over $17 billion to education in Michigan. For additional information, please visit the Lottery’s website at www.michiganlottery.com.

Looking for the best way to reach retailers in Michigan?

Advertise in the Michigan Retailer.

Rates as low as $35 per issue.

Call 800.366.3699 for more information.

Doubles players’ chance to win!

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2-WAY AND BOXED BETS NOT ELIGIBLE. WHEEL BET WINNERS WILL BE PAID THE STRAIGHT PRIZE ONLY AND ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE REVERSE PRIZE. Daily 4 odds: Straight Back Bonus: 1 in 10,101; Straight: 1 in 10,000; 4-Way Box: 1 in 2,500; 6-Way Box: 1 in 1,666; 12-Way Box: 1 in 833; 24-Way Box: 1 in 416. If you bet more than you can afford to lose, you’ve got a problem. Call 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help.