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 Friday
Facts - Archives -
Month of August 2005Current
Week
August 29, 2005
CRMA Announces 2005 Retailer Awards
BRAC Commission Votes to Keep Groton Sub Base Open
Help for the Waterbury Opportunities Industrialization Center
Retail News & Notes.
Earlier this week, CRMA announced this years winners of the
Retailer Awards.
As you may know, CRMA surveyed over 500 retailers in CT for
nominations for the Retailer Awards.
In the end, 4 retailers will receive awards this year at the
CRMA Annual Luncheon and Awards Ceremony which will be held
November 10, 2005 at the new Connecticut Convention Center in
Hartford.
We will forward you more information about this years event
in the upcoming weeks.
CRMA is very proud to announce the 2005 Retailer Award
recipients:
o 2005 Retailer of the Year North Cove Outfitters Old
Saybrook, CT
o 2005 Excellence in Customer Service Footprints
Newington, CT
o 2005 Excellence in Community Service Roxanne Coady owner
of R.J. Julia Bookseller, Madison CT
o 2005 Excellence in Marking Innovation Flanders Fish
Market, East Lyme, CT
We will have more details on each of these winners in our
weekly Friday Facts. We congratulate them on there awards and
we look forward to honoring them on November 10th.
BRAC Commission Votes to Keep Groton Sub
Base Open
CTs economy received some great news this week when the
Base Realignment and Closure Commission voted to remove the
Groton Sub Base from its list of base closures.
For CT residents who rely on the Sub Base for work, this
news was met with celebration and relief.
The political impact on the save of the base is not
immediately known, but it has to help Congressman Rob Simmons
(R- Groton) who campaigned in his last election that he would
prevent any base closing.
Help for the WOIC
Waterbury Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. (WOIC)
is a private, non-profit job/skills training agency, operating
solely on grants and donations for over 30 years.
In September of 2005, they will be moving to a new location,
77-79 Bishop Street in Waterbury.
As they prepare to open their new site they are soliciting
much needed donations of office furniture and computer
equipment, e.g. desks, computer stations, chairs, file
cabinets, room dividers, printers, computers with monitors and
financial support.
If you are interested in helping the WOIC, please contact
Michele Mesek at 860-527-1044 or michele@crmaonline.com
Retail News & Notes
Levi unveils Warhol line: Jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co. said
yesterday it signed a licensing agreement with the Andy Warhol
Foundation and will introduce a line of clothing imprinted
with images from the artist's works. The move is the latest
effort by Levi to jumpstart declining sales, and the
high-priced Warhol Factory X line will be unveiled to
prospective retail buyers at a trade show in Las Vegas next
week. New York Post (free registration) (8/25)
Urban Outfitters may pursue J. Jill, sources say
Urban Outfitters may be a potential buyer for multichannel
women's retailer J. Jill, financial insiders say. The
acquisition could give Urban a new channel for fortysomething
women, an analyst said, but Urban's CFO said the chain has had
no discussion with J. Jill. Women's Wear Daily (subscription
required) (8/24)
Gap debuts Forth & Towne
Gap's Forth & Towne stores, targeting women 35 and older, will
feature four distinct brands and looks to compete with Chico's
and Talbots. The retailer hopes to have 30 locations open by
the end of 2007. The Wall Street Journal (subscription
required) (8/23)
August 19, 2005
Sales Tax Free Week Kick Off with Governor Rell
Department of Revenue Service Special notice and Link to
Website
CRMA Annual Meeting Update
Retail News and Notes
As we enter the third full week of August it is time once
again for the states annual Sales Tax Free Week.
As you know for six years now the state holds a Sales Tax
Free Week on clothing and footwear under $300.00
And for six years, retailers in the state have had the help
of then Lt. Governor Rell and now Governor Rell to spread the
word about the Sales Tax Free Week to consumers all over the
state.
On Thursday of this week. CRMA President Tim Phelan joined
the Westfarms Mall and Governor Rell in kicking off this
years Sales Tax Free Week with a press event at the Westfarms
Mall.
And on Monday the 22nd, Mr. Phelan will join the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, Jim Amann (D-Milford) at the
Westfield Connecticut Post Mall in Milford for a similar
event.
We wish all of our members luck with Sales Tax Free Week and
hope that their stores are packed with customers in the buying
mood.
Department of Revenue Services Special Notices
We understand the DRS has sent out at least 3 notices to
retailers informing them of the upcoming Sales Tax Free Week.
If by some chance you have not received a notice, or have
any last minute questions regarding the week, we suggest you
visit the DRS website.
The link for any questions is:
http://www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?A=1514&Q=276780
CRMA Annual Meeting Update
Save the Date!
CRMAs 2005 Annual Meeting and Luncheon will be held on
Thursday, November 10th at the new Connecticut Convention
Center in Hartford.
We hope you can join us. Registration will begin at 11:30
a.m. followed by our luncheon and awards ceremony.
Four Connecticut based retailers will be honored at this
years award ceremony. Awards will be presented for Retailer
of the Year, Excellence in Community Service, Excellence in
Customer Service and Excellence in Marketing Innovation.
Look for your invitation and registration in the mail in the
upcoming weeks!
Retail News and Notes
Report: Tommy Hilfiger may hang out "for sale" sign
Tommy Hilfiger reportedly is planning to field offers from
private equity firms and trade buyers, according to a Wall
Street Journal report. The fashion design company was
unreachable for comment.
CNNmoney/Reuters
(8/18)
Retailers expect college students to buy gadgets
Electronic retailers expect college students to spend about
$8.2 billion on electronics in the upcoming weeks, according
to a National Retail Federation study. The stores hope the
back-to-college rush compensates for lower spending by younger
students.
USA TODAY
(8/17)
Analysis: The last days of denim
Slate writer Michelle Leder writes the $110 million premium
jeans market -- anchored by brands such as Seven for All
Mankind and True Religion -- appears to be past its peak. As
celebrities move on to the next fashion fad, consumers will be
less likely to spend $300 on a pair of jeans, when the average
pair still goes for $25, she writes.
Slate
(8/10)
August 5, 2005
Governor Rell Signs
Connecticuts New Gift Card Law
Sales Tax Free Week Soon Upon Us
CRMA Golf Classic a Success
CRMA Annual Meeting Plans Underway
Member Services Update
Retail News and Notes
Welcome to another edition of our weekly Friday Facts. We
are back after a brief absence and hope all members are having
a prosperous summer.
Are lead story has to be the recent announcement that CT
Governor Jodi Rell has signed into law, SB 123 An Act
Concerning The Expiration of Gift Cards
The Governor signed the bill, which became Public Act
05-189, earlier this month. The signing of the bill completes
a two year effort to repeal an unfair and confusing law that
potentially put retailers at odds with their customers.
This law, which goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2005, eliminates
any need for retailers, whether they are corporately domiciled
in CT or not, to escheat any unused portion of a gift card.
In return, retailers must honor that gift certificate for
ever.
In other words no expiration date, no escheating.
As we mentioned this was a two year effort on our part to
eliminate the previous law which would have had retailers
collect names and addresses of customers and escheat any
unused portion of a gift card after three years even if they
were corporately domiciled in other states.
We want to thank all of our members, especially those on the
gift card committee, who made phone calls, emailed or wrote to
their legislators. It made all the difference in the world.
One final note on gift cards and the legislature.
We must be mindful that there is always a chance that our
chief opponent on the gift card issue, the state treasurer,
will make an attempt to undo our changes to this new law. So
next session will be critical and we may need to call our
members into action on this issue next year.
Sales Tax Free Week
Another positive note from this past Legislative Session is
that the General Assembly did not repeal the annual sales tax
free week on clothing and footwear.
The annual event, which begins the third Sunday of each
August until the next proceeding Saturday will get a boost
this year with the help of Governor Rell.
On Thursday, August 18, 2005, Governor Rell and CRMA
President, Tim Phelan will be at the Westfarms Mall center
court to kickoff the 2005 sales tax free week.
Look for a special notice from us as we move closer to this
years event, which begins Sunday August 21, 2005 and runs
until Saturday August 27.
The special notice will remind members what is included in
the sales tax free week and what reporting requirements the
Department of Revenue Services is expecting from retailers.
CRMA Golf Classic
Last time we spoke, we were getting ready for our Annual
Golf Classic that was being held at Blackledge Country Club in
Hebron, CT. The event was another success and was a great
benefit to the Association.
We want to thank all the golfers who took time out of their
busy schedules to join us for a wonderful day of golf under
beautiful blue skies.
Also, we would like to thank all of the companies that
donated a raffle prize. The raffle was another success and we
appreciate the participation of the companies who contributed.
Finally, the success of the CRMA Golf Classic is due in
large part to the work of one of CRMAs Board Members, Mr. Tom
Wholley of Better Bedding.
Toms leadership on the Golf Classic has been instrumental
in the success of the event.
Soon, we will begin making plans for next years event. Look
for information about the 2006 CRMA Golf Classic in upcoming
editions of the Friday Facts.
CRMA Annual Meeting Plans Underway
Speaking of events, plans for our Annual Luncheon and Awards
Ceremony are nearing completion and soon we will have news
about the event to share with you.
Look for more information, including date and location for
the Annual Luncheon in upcoming Friday Facts.
Member Services Update
Dont forget to take a look at the number of money saving
programs that are available to members.
CMRA has a menu of services that it can offer members, from
discounted credit card processing fees, group health
insurance, discounted workers compensation insurance and
property casualty and business insurance.
Call Cathy in our office today for more information about
these programs. She can help you save money today!
Retail News and Notes
Slogans that work
Eric Swartz of the Byline Group recently surveyed 100
professionals in the advertising, branding and marketing
fields to come up with the top 100 advertising slogans and top
30 advertising jingles since 1948. The top five slogans:
1. "Got milk?"
2. "Don't leave home without it"
3. "Just do it"
4. "Where's the beef?"
5. "You're in good hands with Allstate"
Click
here for the full
list. Click below for a BusinessWeek interview with Swartz.
BusinessWeek (8/4)
Adidas acquires Reebok, prepares to take on Nike
In a move that is shaking up the athletic footwear and apparel
industry, Germany's Adidas-Salomon will acquire
Massachusetts-based Reebok in a reported $3.8 billion deal.
The merged company, which is subject to government approval,
would have about 20% of the American market, including
licensing deals with two major sports leagues, putting it in a
prime position to compete with market leader Nike.
MSNBC/Associated Press
(8/3)
STORES releases annual list of top specialty retailers
Specialty retailers continue their expansion into the
"lifestyle" sector, offering smaller prototypes with
more-focused merchandise. STORES magazine identifies the Top
100 Specialty Retailers of 2005. Best Buy tops the list,
followed by Gap, Staples and Office Depot. The 25th annual
ranking is sponsored by Alliance Data Systems.
STORES Magazine
(8/2005)
The list: Click
here for the complete list of Top 100 specialty retailers.
(PDF file)
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