2
New Chief Operating Officer
William J. Hallan is MRA’s new chief operating officer and board member, following Jean Sarasin’s retirement. Page 2
5
Growing Retail in Detroit
The Detroit Mercantile Co. represents two eras: Detroit’s former life as a retail leader and its new life as a comeback city. Page 5
9
Putting Your Data to Work
MRA will soon offer members a new service that enables them to use their credit card data to better market to customers. Page 9
® August 2014 Vol. 39 No. 4
MRA endorses Snyder, Schuette for re-election in November contests Michigan Retailers Association has endorsed Governor Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette for re-election, pointing to their leadership and understanding of the importance of Michigan’s retail industr y to the state’s economy. The endorsements by the M R A B o a rd o f Directors were Gov. Snyder unanimous. “MRA has developed strong working relationships with Gov. Snyder and Attorney General Schuette during the past four years, and Atty. Gen. Schuette we look forward to continuing to work with both of these fine leaders in their second term,” said MRA President and CEO James P. Hallan. Gov. Snyder “The governor and his administration are always willing to listen to the retail industry’s ideas and concerns and have demonstrated their solid commitment to improving the state’s retail and overall business climates,” Hallan said. Key retail legislative issues supported by Gov. Snyder include the Shopping Reform and Modernization Act, the Organized Retail Crime Act and Michigan Main Street Fairness legislation, he said, in addition to repeal of the Michigan Business Tax Continued on page 4
The official publication of the Michigan Retailers Association
www.retailers.com
Buy Nearby Guy to remind shoppers The new face of Michigan Retailers Association’s Buy Nearby campaign is more than just another attractive face. Much more.
The new mascot, named Buy Nearby Guy, is an 8-foot-tall representation of the campaign logo – a shopping bag in the shape of Michigan, colored
MRA’s Jim Hallan (left) holds a news conference with Jeff Joyce of Mieras Shoes in Grand Rapids to introduce Buy Nearby’s mascot. Photo by David Trumpie.
35 scholarships awarded for upcoming school year Thirty-five students are heading to college this fall with a total of $33,500 in financial assistance from Michigan Retailers Association’s scholarship program. Each scholarship is funded by the Michigan Retailers Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization established by MRA to benefit MRA members and their employees and families. Thirty-two students will receive $1,000 for one year at a public or
private college or university and three will receive $500 for one year at a community college. In the scholarship program’s 16-year histor y, $398,500 has been awarded in 428 scholarships to students who are employees or the children of owners or employees of MRAmember businesses. “The scholarship program is a valuable, added benefit of being a member of MRA,” said Tom Scott, MRA senior vice president communications and marketing. “The program helps not only members’ families, but also their employees and the employees’ families. The Board of Directors is deeply committed to the scholContinued on page 6
blue to mirror Michigan’s lakes and skies. Michiganders can expect to see Buy Nearby Guy in local stores, downtowns, malls and community events as part of the year-round campaign to encourage shoppers to buy from Michigan retail businesses. Communities, organizations and retailers can request a visit by the mascot. A request form is available at BuyNearbyMI.com. MRA President and CEO James P. Hallan and local retailers introduced Buy Nearby Guy at news conferences in Detroit, Okemos and Grand Rapids on July 23. They also released new economic data showing the benefits to local communities and the state economy from buying nearby (see story below). “We encourage shoppers to consider all of the benefits to their local communities, schools, businesses, families and neighbors when making purchases,” Hallan said at each stop. Local Guy Hallan also noted that MRA made sure to Buy Nearby when it needed a mascot, turning to The Parade Company in Detroit to design and produce Buy Nearby Guy. Continued on page 8
Buying ‘nearby’ worth extra $9B
Full consumer support for Buy Nearby would add billions of dollars in state economic activity and tens of thousands of new Michigan jobs, according to a new study by an East Lansing economic research firm. Anderson Economic Group found that Michigan in 2015 would gain an estimated 74,639 additional jobs and $9 billion in additional economic activity – including $2.5 billion in additional wages the new workers would earn – if Michigan consumers bought from retailers in Michigan rather than from “remote” sellers. Continued on page 8