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Friends of Retail
MRA has endorsed Gov. Snyder and Atty. Gen. Schuette in the Nov. 4 election and designated legislative candidates who support retail. Page 4
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Apple Pay a Game-Changer
Are you ready for the millions of Apple fans who expect to pay for goods with their new contactless devices? You better be! Page 5
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Protection for Your Bank Account
Retailers Mutual will begin automatically providing all policyholders protection against their commercial bank accounts being hacked. Page 9
® October 2014 Vol. 39 No. 5
MRA offers help filing claims in $5+ billion credit card settlement Businesses that accepted Visa or MasterCard credit and debit cards any time between January 1, 2004, and November 28, 2012, can begin the process of obtaining a share of the recently approved $5+ billion settlement of the class action lawsuit against the card organizations. Michigan Retailers Association has hired a class action settlement expert, MCAG, to streamline the claims-filing process and secure recoveries for eligible businesses. Although official claims forms are not yet available, businesses can act now to ensure that a proper and timely claim is filed on their behalf. Businesses can visit the program’s website at https://mcagvmc.com/portal and enter the code MRA100 to complete an enrollment form online. There is no cost to enroll, and service fees are based on the amounts actually recovered. Data Collection The MRA/MCAG Settlement Recovery Service will research and provide supporting data on the amount the business processed during the period covered by the settlement. The service also will file the claim and track it on behalf of the participating business. While businesses may submit a claim on their own and there are other companies that offer filing assistance, MRA believes MCAG provides the best value to enrolled businesses. For example, MCAG: • Has a proven history of increasing recoveries for clients when compared to a default filing method. In a recent national class action settlement, MCAG clients recovered an average of 44 percent more than claimants who were not represented by MCAG. Continued on page 5
The official publication of the Michigan Retailers Association
www.retailers.com
Sales climb during Buy Nearby event Retail sales rose across Michigan on Buy Nearby’s Get Caught Blue-Handed Day, according to an analysis of Michigan Retailers Association members’
credit and debit card transactions. Although the weather in much of the state was cool, wet and blustery on Saturday, October 4, total sales
The Buy Nearby mascot admires a sign outside a downtown Marshall store. Photo by David Trumpie
MRA board elects officers; names Marshall new chair Dan Marshall, president of family owned Marshall Music Co., headquartered in Lansing, was elected chair of the MRA Board of Directors for 2014-15 at its August 19 meeting. Marshall Music was established in 1948 by Dan’s Marshall
parents and has become one of the largest full-line music retailers in the country. The company operates stores in Lansing, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Troy, West Bloomfield, Allen Park and Traverse City. Marshall was first elected to the board in 2008. As chair he succeeds Tom Ungrodt, president and CEO of Ideation, Inc., Ann Arbor, and owner of two Michigan gift stores. Ungrodt served two consecutive one-year terms as chair, with Marshall as vice chair. Named as the new vice chair was Orin Mazzoni, Jr., owner of Orin Jewelers in Garden City and Northville. Mazzoni was first elected to board in 2007 and is a past president of MRA’s Michigan Jewelers Continued on page 11
volume climbed by 4.5 percent over the first Saturday in October last year, the study of nearly 500 members’ card sales found. Get Caught Blue-Handed Day is the day when MRA’s year-round Buy Nearby campaign focuses the most attention on the importance of buying from retail businesses in Michigan. Retailers are encouraged to make the shopping day even more fun and festive, and shoppers are urged to go shopping with friends and relatives and “get caught” supporting their communities and Michigan’s economy. It was the campaign’s second annual Get Caught Blue-Handed Day. Sales also rose last year, by double digits on a warmer and more pleasant fall day. “We’re pleased by the overall results and wish to thank all of the shoppers and retailers who participated in the event. Although the weather didn’t cooperate, store owners and consumers did,” said James P. Hallan, MRA president and CEO. Greater Awareness Hallan said it appears more business people and consumers were aware of Buy Nearby and wanted to Continued on page 6
Insurance plan expects final ok Final state approval is expected this fall for the plan put forward by Retailers Mutual Insurance Company to help it grow more rapidly, increase its financial strength and provide greater benefits to policyholders in the future. The growth plan was approved overwhelmingly by policyholders in a vote at the company’s Annual Meeting on August 19 at MRA and RMIC headquarters in Lansing. “Policyholders’ affirmative vote cleared the way for final approval by the state Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS). We expect to receive DIFS’ signoff any week Continued on page 8