News

Governor adds momentum to Main St. Fairness

LANSING – Michigan’s retail industry applauded Governor Rick Snyder today for his support of Main Street Fairness legislation and said it accelerates momentum for passage of the Internet sales tax collection measure currently in the Michigan Legislature.

Retailers’ 2014 forecasts turn chilly

LANSING – Michigan retail businesses project only a 1.4 percent increase in their own sales this year, following a poor holiday shopping season and a worse January, according to the Michigan Retail Index,

More lessons from latest data breaches

I mentioned in a previous blog that all of us can learn from the massive retail data breaches that were announced during the holidays, and we should be using the knowledge as a tool to strengthen protection of our own data.

Governmental Affairs: February 14, 2014

Comprehensive recycling push begins

The state’s comprehensive recycling workgroup met yesterday and received DEQ Director Dan Wyant’s proposal. His plan was based on feedback from several meetings and only takes the first step toward establishing more recycling opportunities in Michigan,

Lessons to learn from latest data breaches

As almost everyone has heard, a number of large retailers suffered massive data breaches over the Christmas season. While all of the details around these attacks have not been made public,

How to handle merchandise returns

Our biggest problems with customers involve merchandise returns and refunds. We have a fairly strict return policy, and some customers tell us we can’t be so restrictive. We have always maintained that we are free to set our own policies.

Retail isn’t rocket science, but …

While retail isn’t rocket science, it requires its own kind of very smart, even brilliant, people … those who can analyze situations that are gray, rather than black and white,

Michigan Retailers Association offering more than 30 college scholarships

LANSING —Michigan Retailers Association is offering more than 30 college scholarships this spring through its annual competition funded by Michigan Retailers Foundation.

At least 34 scholarships will be available to MRA members and their employees and families for the 2014-15 academic year.