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 Friday
Facts - Archives -
Month
of July 2004
Current
Week
July 30, 2004
The end of an era in CT retailing. CT welcomes a new retailer.
Sales Tax Free Week. CRMA PAC event invitations are out.
Retail News and Notes.
• Last week there was an announcement that another retail
company would be closing its doors for good.
• Brunner’s Home Furnishing made the decision to file for
Chapter 11 and close the doors on all of its divisions
including the Huffman Koos stores throughout CT.
• This decision by Brunner’s has a great impact on CRMA.
• In addition to the loss of a member, the Huffman Koos
closure is the closing of chapter in the history of CRMA.
• Prior to the Huffman Koos stores, they were the Wayside of
Milford stores, and were the leading home furnishing store in
CT.
• The Wayside of Milford stores were a great family business
and the President of that Company, M. Wallace Rubin, was one
of the founding members of CRMA.
• Not only did Wally serve on our board (and still does), but
he along with his brother in-law Harold Greenbaum were
respected voices on issues affecting retailers in the halls of
the State Capitol.
• They also gave their time in the community as well as
serving on numerous boards and commissions of community based
organizations.
• Mr. Rubin and Greenbaum left the company but their tradition
of serving the industry was carried on by Ann Loesch who
serves as the Vice Chair of CRMA today.
• We will greatly miss the Huffman Koos stores, even if we
could never really get use to the idea that they changed there
name from Wayside of Milford.
• We wish the over 200 associates in CT the best of luck and
offer any assistance we can.
CT welcomes a new retailer into the
state.
• It is the nature of the business we know, that is we bid
goodbye to one retailer we welcome in another.
• On Wednesday of this week, IKEA opened its’ only CT store
with great fanfare in New Haven.
• We will be reaching out to IKEA to get them to become
members of CRMA and if any member can help in that regard, we
welcome your help.
• In the meantime, there is plenty of excitement in the New
Haven area and throughout CT for that matter, in the opening
of this store. Good luck to IKEA.
• For more information on IKEA, see the Retail News and Notes
section
Sales Tax Free Week special notice
• The continuation of the Sales Tax Free Week was a high
priority for us this past session so we are happy to remind
members that this year’s holiday is scheduled for August 15 –
21.
• In the upcoming days we will be sending members a special
notice that the Department of Revenue Services is preparing in
conjunction with the week.
• Also, we would like to remind all members that the reporting
requirements the DRS asks for during the Sales Tax Free Week
are very important to the continuation of the holiday week.
• Please read this notice carefully when we send it to you and
please respond as completely as possible.
CRMA PAC event set for September 9, 2004
• The invitation went out this week for our PAC fundraiser
that is being held on September 9, 2004.
• As you will see from the invitation, the event is a
breakfast meeting and any help that members can give to this
cause is greatly appreciated.
• You don’t need to wait for the event to send in your
donation, please do so today. Your contribution to our PAC is
greatly appreciated.
• This will be our last Friday Facts until August 20, 2004
Retail News and Notes
• Target Selling Mervyn's for $1.65 Billion
MINNEAPOLIS -- Target Corp. announced Thursday it is selling
its Mervyn's business unit and retail stores to an investment
consortium for roughly $1.65 billion in cash. Under terms of
the agreement, Target will sell its Mervyn's retail
subsidiary, including 257 Mervyn's stores and four
distribution centers, to an investment consortium, which
includes Sun Capital Partners, Inc.; Cerberus Capital
Management, L.P.; and Lubert-Adler/Klaff and Partners, L.P.
(4:17 AM EDT, July 30, 2004, By Associated Press) http://www.ctnow.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-target-mervyns,0,2638135.story
• Saks soon may see renovations, closings
New CEO Fred Wilson said he plans to spend $150 million
renovating the flagship Saks Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan,
while considering closing some stores to help the department
store return to its luxury roots. Wilson says under his
management Saks has been able to clear 30% to 40% of excess
inventory, and June same-store sales were up 18.3%. The New
York Times (7/27)
• Upscale Wholesale
ENFIELD -- Can't find the Louis Vuitton "sologne" bag at the
Hartford area Sam's Club or BJ's Wholesale clubs? There is one
on sale for $800 at the Costco Wholesale store that opens in
Enfield today. The new store is Costco's fifth in Connecticut,
but it's the first one within easy driving distance of the
Hartford area. July 29, 2004 By STACY WONG, Courant Staff
Writer (http://www.ctnow.com/business/hc-costco0729.artjul29,0,1268252.story
)
• Ikea opens first New England store
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- With cheers and tunes from a Dixieland
band, hundreds of die-hard Ikea fans who braved a night of
thunderstorms and pounding rain streamed into the Swedish home
furnishings company's first New England store Wednesday. The
store opened at 9 a.m., after managers sawed a log in half - a
traditional Ikea opening ritual. (July 28, 2004 Associated
Press) http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/statewire/hc-28164341.apds.m0744.bc-ct--ikeajul28,0,329813.story
July 16, 2004
CRMA PAC Event set for September.
Capitol News and Notes. Sales Tax Free week is getting closer.
Washington Update. Retail News and Notes
· Last week we informed you of our plans for a fundraiser to benefit our Political Action Committee, CRMAPAC.
· We are pleased to announce that next week we will be sending out an invitation to attend our next PAC fundraiser that will be held, September 9, 2004
· Details of the fundraiser will be spelled out in the invitation that will be sent to members next week. In the meantime, please mark your calendar for September 9, 2004 and look for your invitation in the mail.
· Please give every consideration to supporting out PAC event, it is our only fundraiser for the year for the PAC and with the fall elections fast approaching the funds raised will go directly to candidates who support retailers.
Capitol News and Notes
· The Rell administration continues to take shape.
· Late last week, Governor Rell accepted the resignation of a number of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners including the resignation of DEP Commissioner Art Rouque.
· With a majority of the changes haven taken place, the Rell administration must now begin the business of running State Government. One of the very first items the new Governor said she must do is to restore trust in State Government.
· To that end, the new Governor held an open house of sorts on Thursday of this week. Her meet and greet of citizens, where 1,000 well wishers were able to talk briefly with their new Governor, lasted 3 hours. This open house was part of what Rell calls the healing process after an administration filled with much scandal.
· In other news from the State Capitol, House Majority Leader Jim Amann,(D-Milford) indicated in a local paper that he would be interested in running for Governor in 2 years if the Democrats have not settled on a candidate.
· Amann, is expected to replace Moria Lyons as the next Speaker of the House.
Sales Tax Free Week is fast approaching.
· Connecticut’s annual Sales Tax Free Week is only 6 weeks away – August 22nd – 28th.
· We will once again be promoting the Sales Tax Free week – hopefully with our old friend and new Governor Jodi Rell.
· If you recall the Governor, when she was Lt., was a constant supporter of the holiday. We will be in contact with the Governor’s office to request that the Governor join us in promoting the annual Sales Tax Free Week.
Washington Update
· Class Action Reform Update: The Class Action Fairness Act S. 2062 failed on a procedural cloture vote late last week. This action effectively kills the bill for the year. Connecticut Democratic Senators, Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman continue to be supportive of our position on the issue and had committed to voting in favor of the bill but the procedural maneuvering caused the issue to not be discussed. We will continue to work with our U.S. Senators and others to enact this much needed reform for retailers.
Retail News and Notes
· At Macy's, eat while you shop
Seeking to distinguish itself from discounters and specialty apparel shops, Federated Department Stores Macy's division is letting customers eat while they shop. The retailer currently has licensing agreements with 40 different food vendors, including Starbucks, Cosi and McDonald's, and locations of food stations are geared to match the customer likely to be shopping in a given department. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (7/13)
· Bar codes will move to new global standard
The first product to employ a bar code was Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum in 1974, and while American goods worked on a 12-digit bar code, European goods were using a 13-number code. The Uniform Code Council has told North American retailers beginning next year their scanners need to be able to read 13-digit codes, although 12-digit items will still be scannable on the new machines. The New York Times (free registration) (7/12)
· Weather, gas prices blamed for decline in June retail sales
The Commerce Department reported June retail sales were down 1.1%, the biggest drop since February 2003. Separately, prices for imported goods dropped 0.2%, and analysts generally were optimistic the economy would remain healthy. . USA TODAY (7/15), Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg (free registration) (7/15)
July 9, 2004
Rell Administration begins to take shape. CRMAPAC Update.
Member Services News. Retail News and Notes.
· As expected the new Rell Administration is beginning to take shape.
· As we reported last week, CT’s newest governor held a series of meetings to determine who stays and who goes.
· Among the notables that have been given the green light, is the Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Pam Law.
· In addition, Department of Motor Vehicle Commissioner Gary J. DeFilippo was also given indications by the new governor that he would stay on as well.
· There will be more announcements from the Governor’s Office about the state of the state Commissioners in the upcoming weeks. We will keep you up to date as soon as we hear.
CRMA Pac event update
· As we have mentioned to you in previous Friday Facts, it is critical that the Association have a strong Political Action Committee or PAC. The CMRAPAC is our vehicle to contribute to our friends who are running for reelection.
· To that end, we need to raise funds for our PAC and will be hosting a fundraiser sometime in September.
· Details are being worked and we hope to have more information to share with you next week.
Member Services update.
· Attention members: If you have not taken advantage of the CRMA endorsed One Beacon Property Casualty program please do so today.
· The One Beacon OnePac program covers losses involving mechanical breakdown (cash registers and other equipment), money and securities, employee dishonesty and more.
· In the next few weeks we’ll also introduce so new rates to make us even more competitive.
· If you are a small, medium or large retail that has a question about you insurance needs call us today. We have partnered up with a first rate agency, Association Benefits Insurance. We can handle any class of business as well as answer any questions you may have.
· If you are interested, please feel free to email us through our website at www.crmaonline.com or call our office at 860-527-1044. You can also call ABI directly by calling 1-800-211-4217 ask for Frank Michaud
Retail News and Notes
· Report: New Sears locations won't compete with mall sites
Sears, Roebuck and Co. says the 61 standalone locations it is buying from Kmart and Wal-Mart shouldn't affect sales at its mall-based stores because the new stores will be an average of eight miles away from those locations. The new stores are expected to sell traditional goods that are sold in other Sears stores, as well as convenience foods. Chicago Tribune (free registration) (7/6)
· Making it manly to moisturize
The market for men's grooming products is taking off, with some companies crossing their fingers that the market ultimately may be as large as that for women's skin care. To overcome notions that cleansing, toning and moisturizing are "girly," companies such as Gillette are recruiting sports stars such as soccer sensation David Beckham -- a self-confessed moisturizer user -- to promote their brands. BBC (7/7)
· Government recalls toy jewelry for high lead levels
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall for 150 million pieces of toy jewelry, many of which contain dangerous levels of lead. The jewelry is made in India and is often sold in vending machines for less than $1. The import companies involved said they are working with the government to come up with new lead standards for toy jewelry. The New York Times (free registration) (7/8)
July
2, 2004
Rell replaces Rowland as
Connecticut Governor. Changes on the way. Kevin
Sullivan sworn in as new Lt Governor. Sen. Williams elected
new Senate President. Retail News and Notes.
-
In
her acceptance speech Rell said it best, “It is not a
position that I sought through the normal course of
electoral politics, but little has seemed normal over
the past several months. Few could have accurately
predicated the incredible, seemingly unrelenting series
of events that have led to today’s actions’.
-
As we
have mentioned in previous Friday Facts, Rell is a great
friend to the Retail industry and in fact, we have
spoken to a key staff person of hers this week to extend
our best wishes to the new governor.
Changes on the way:
-
We
keep hearing that there will be changes in three
agencies, Department of Public Safety, Department of
Environmental Protection and the Department of Community
and Economic Development sooner rather than later.
Changes in the State Sen
ate:
-
As we
mentioned last week, it is not a position that Sullivan
sought, or relishes, but he pledged to work with the new
Governor in any role that she would like.
Retail News and Notes:
-
Weathervane
Stores In Liquidation “The
Weathervane chain of girls' clothing stores, the last
remaining piece of a New Britain-based retail business
that started in 1911, is liquidating and will close all
of its 95 Northeast and Midwest locations this
summer.” “Weathervane was founded in 1969 by the Davidson
family, which also owned and operated D&L Stores
and, later, J. Putnam.” (6/24) By DAN HAAR, Courant
Staff Writer (http://www.ctnow.com/business/hc-weathervane0624.artjun24,0,2402069.story
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