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 Friday
Facts - Archives -
Month of
February 2005
Current
Week
February 25, 2005
Identity Theft Emerging as a Major Issue This Session
Gift Card Bills on Deck
Capitol News and Notes
Member Services Update
Retail News and Notes
• During every session there seems to be a sleeper issue. By
that we mean an issue that sort of takes on a life of its own
and emerges as an issue that takes the attention of
Legislators.
• This year that issue seems to be Identity Theft
• Thanks in large part to recent news reports regarding Choice
Point, (see Retail News and Notes) the issue of ID theft has
gotten the attention of a leading CT Legislator.
• Rep. Chris Stone, (D-East Hartford), raised the issue with
us last week as we met to discuss SB 950, “AAC Protection
Against Identity Theft"
• CRMA opposed SB 950, which is modeled after the California
law that allows for file freezes. We have met with Rep. Stone
on a number of occasions to outline our concerns.
• We were making progress on this issue with Stone, who was a
victim of ID theft himself, before the Choice Point news
broke.
• The issue now has a higher profile and we will have to
redouble our efforts on this issue and any other legislation
that relate to privacy issues.
• The General Law Committee will continue to take the lead on
this issue and we should have more to report in next weeks
Friday Facts.
Gift Card Bills on Deck
• One of our priority issues for this session is the repeal of
CT’s Gift Card Statute.
• As we have mentioned in previous FF, the General Law
Committee has before them at least three bills that would be
helpful to retailers.
• The General Law Committee will hold a public hearing on
these bills Tuesday March 1, 2005.
• We will testify on these bills and will update you in our
next FF.
Capitol News and Notes
• Tuesday will be a busy day for us before the General Law
Committee.
• In addition to the Gift Card bills, General Law will hold a
public hearing on a number of issues that we have been
following.
• Among them are SB 652 “An Act Regarding the Return Policy of
Retail Stores” and SB1181, “Posting of Prices on Retail End
Caps”
• The General Law Committee will also be holding a Public
Hearing on another file freezing bill, this SB 650,”An Act
Requiring Credit Bureaus to offer Security Freezes.”
• The Finance Committee held a meeting this week that lasted
about 3 minutes when they raised over 30 “concept” bills for
drafting. We will have to wait and see what develops with
these concepts.
• Finance is not expected to gather again as a full committee
until sometime after March 7th
• Reminder: The CRMA Legislative Committee will hold its next
Legislative Committee conference call on Thursday, March 3,
2005 at 9:30 am.
• The Legislative Committee is open to all members. If you are
interested in joining in the call, please email Cathy in our
office at cathy@crmaonline.com or call the office at
860-527-1044 for the call-in number.
Member Services Update
• Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the following events:
• Thursday, March 3, 2005 - Legislative Committee conference
call – 9:30 a.m. EST.
• Wednesday, May 18, 2005 – 5:00pm – 7:00pm – CRMA/ICSC
Legislative Reception – Old Judiciary Room, State Capitol.
• Wednesday, June 14, 2005 - CMRA Golf Classic – Blackledge
Country Club, Hebron, CT.
Retail News and Notes
• Facing The Music ATLANTA -- ChoicePoint Inc. chief executive
Derek Smith said Thursday he supports congressional hearings
and tighter regulation of the data collection industry, if
necessary, after revelations that his company was duped into
giving criminals access to its massive database of consumers'
personal information. By HARRY R. WEBER Associated Press
February 25 2005 http://www.courant.com/business/hc-choicepoint0225.artfeb25,0,7663314.story?coll=hc-headlines-business
• Target Commits To Dollar Section
In an effort to compete with the growing popularity of dollar
stores, next month Target plans to introduce its One Spot
dollar program at all of its stores. Supermarket News (2/25)
• Penney, Limited, Kohl's Beat Forecasts
NEW YORK -- A strong finish to the holiday season lifted
fourth-quarter profits at J.C. Penney Co. and Limited Brands
Inc. well above Wall Street expectations as shoppers used gift
cards to snatch up clearance items and spring merchandise last
month.
By CHRISTOPHER WANG, Associated Press. February 25 2005
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-earnsretail0225.artfeb25,0,4573925.story?coll=hc-headlines-business
February 11, 2005
Governor’s Budget Address Highlights Week at the Capital
Cigar Retailers Hit Hard in Governor’s Proposed Budget
Gift Card Changes are High Priority for CRMA
Legislative Committee Meeting Set for Thursday
Member Service Update
Retail News and Notes
• On Wednesday of this week, Governor M. Jodi Rell presented
her first two year budget to the General Assembly. The
Governor’s budget, which now must be approved by the General
Assembly, included a mix of tax increases and spending cuts.
• The highlight of the Governor’s budget was her emphasis on
transportation improvements. In her speech the Governor called
for $1.3 billion in transportation improvements including $667
million for 342 new railroad cars.
• Rell’s transportation plan will be paid for by increasing
the State’s gas tax by 5 cents over the next five years.
• Reaction to Rell’s speech was somewhat predictable with
Democrats calling it an extension of the Rowland years; and
Republicans, while pleased over the call for transportation
improvements, were not thrilled with the other tax increases.
• The budget process now begins with the Legislature’s Tax and
Spending Committees scrutinizing the budget in greater detail.
• We will keep you up-to-date on the progress of the budget
because there are real implications for retailers in this
budget.
• Also, you can view the budget and the details behind it by
visiting www.ctnow.com.
Cigar Retailers Hit Hard in Governor’s
Proposed Budget
• As we said the budget calls for a mix of spending cuts and
tax increases. We have already spoken about the gas tax, but
the Governor’s budget also calls for a tremendous increase in
other tobacco products (OTP). These tax increases will have a
direct impact on retailers who sell those products.
• For CRMA members, an OTP tax increase means that retailers
who sell cigars, pipes and chewing tobacco will see the tax
they pay rise from 20% of the wholesale price to 90%.
• This increase is tremendous for our OTP members and we will
work with them to defeat this proposed increase.
• The Governor is also calling for an increase in the alcohol
tax by 15%, including beer, wine and spirits.
• In addition to the so called sin taxes, the Governor also
restored the Corporate tax surcharge for the 2005 and 2006
calendar years.
• We will work with other business trade associations to
oppose this increase. The surcharge was set at 25% but was
scheduled to be zeroed out in 2005. The Governor’s budget
wants the surcharge to be set at 15% in 2005 and 10% in 2006.
• Good news on the budget, the Governor did not call for the
elimination of the sales tax free week!
• We will keep you up-to-date on all of these issues.
Gift card changes high priority for CRMA
• As most of you know, CT changed its gift certificate law 2
years ago. We strongly opposed those changes and have made
changing that law one of our top priorities.
• There are a number of bills that have been filed this year
that repeal the gift card law and replace it with something
that is more favorable to retailers.
• CRMA has established a special Committee within our
Legislative Committee to review and strategize on how to
repeal the bad law. We encourage all members to consider
joining this special Committee.
• If you are interested, please send us an email at tim@crmaonline.com
or call our office at 860–527–1044. We need as much input from
members as possible.
Legislative Committee meeting set for Thursday
• Finally on the legislative front, our next Legislative
Committee conference call is set for Thursday, February 17,
2005 at 9:30 a.m. EST. If you are interested in joining in on
the call, which is open to all members, please email Cathy in
our office at cathy@crmaonline.com or call or office at
860–527–1044.
Member Services update
• We haven’t talked about this issue in a while but it is
still a big one for all of our members – Group Health
Insurance.
• If you are looking for a “special” plan, those are simply
not out there. Changes in CT law have taken trade associations
and chambers out of the exclusive deals business.
• Some groups will claim they have a “members only” discounted
plan, but unless you have over 50 people, it is hard to
negotiate a special deal.
• At CRMA we don’t try to trick our members into thinking we
can offer something that no one else can. What we offer our
members is this; we can shop the market for you. We can find
what plans meet your needs.
• Essentially we do the leg work for you. It may not sound as
exciting as an “XYZ Plan” but it is a great value and time
saver in today’s real market.
• If this sounds good and you would like us to be your agent
in the field, combing the market to find the right plan for
you, call us today. Or you can email us at cathy@crmaonline.com.
Retail News and Notes
Wal-Mart to shutter unionized Canadian location
A Wal-Mart store in Canada will shut its doors this spring
after the retail giant and a worker's union failed to come to
terms on what would have been the first labor contract between
the store and its employees. "The store in Jonquiere has been
struggling for sometime economically, and in our view the
union's demands failed to take into account the fragile
condition of the store," a Wal-Mart spokesman said. CNNmoney
(2/9)
Fashion Week shows kids want to be trendy too
For the first time in Fashion Week history, young children
sported the latest apparel from Kenneth Cole and Sean John,
among others, on the New York City catwalk. Analysts say the
rise in children's fashion comes from both children wanting to
wear new styles and parents who take their children along when
shopping for themselves. The Sun (Baltimore) (free
registration) (2/8)
Yum! Brands talks on Chinese expansion strategy
Yum! Brands CEO David Novak says the company is building a
global food dynasty by pushing growth efforts in such places
as China and India, as well as working to keep its brands
fresh, offering consumers choices and executing its strategy
in a disciplined fashion. USA TODAY (2/7)
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