|
Sponsors
|
 Friday
Facts - Archives -
Month of March 2006Current
Week
March 31, 2006
Fasten you seat belt! CT General Assembly Heads into Last 4
weeks of Session
Other News and Notes From the State Capitol
Get Ready for Bank Cards Rates to Rise
Member Service News
Golf Classic Reminder
Retail News and Notes
• Despite the warm weather that is finally hitting CT, the
General Assembly plans on staying indoors for the next 4 weeks
as they move into overtime towards the close of the session
May 3rd .
• This week the Appropriations Committee passed a state budget
that makes changes to what the Governor recommended.
• Next week the Finance Committee is expected to pass a
revenue plan that matches that spending.
• On the spending side, we expect more changes before the
final version is sent to the Governor, so for now we will hold
off on any review.
• That is simply life at the capitol these days. Even the
Budget is a “work in progress”.
• The Finance Committee will finish on Thursday and the
central part of the Governor’s tax package, elimination of the
car tax is already getting tweaked.
• This week the governor proposed changes in her plan by
offering to persons over the age of 65 the option to choose
between paying the car tax or taking advantage of the
exemption on your property tax.
• Under her original plan she eliminated the car tax and paid
for that by eliminating the property tax exemption of $350
that is current law.
• But there are still changes expected before the tax side of
the budget is completed.
• As always we will keep you up to date on these budget issues
with our weekly Friday Facts.
Other News and Notes From the State
Capitol
• Many of the bills that we have been following have started
to come out in file copy this week meaning they are getting
closer to action by the House or Senate.
• We encourage all members to participate in the CRMA
Legislative Committee to review these bills in more detail.
• The next Legislative Committee conference call is schedule
for Thursday April 6th at 11:00 EST.
• CRMA’s grass roots effort in trying to defeat a Tax on Jobs
bill (SB 462 “AAC a Fair Share Health Care Surcharge) will
kick into high gear next week.
• We have a number of in-district meetings scheduled for next
week with key members of the General Assembly.
• The meetings next week and the week after will be held in
Enfield, Milford, Norwalk, Bloomfield, East Hartford, and
Wethersfield.
• If you would like to participate in any one of these
meetings call our office today for more information.
• The next tax on jobs conference call is scheduled for Monday
April 3, 2006 at 4:00 EST. Please call our office at
860-527-1044 or email us at www.crmaonline.com for more
information.
Get Ready for Bank Card rates to Rise
• We hear that Master Card and Visa will increase interchange
rates on all processors by 3 basis points beginning April 1,
2006.
• If your rates go up by more than that, or more importantly
if you are interested in a fresh look at your bank card
program, call Cathy in our office today!
• Cathy would be happy to help you review your statement to
make sure you are getting the best rate. Call her or email her
at cathy@crmaonline.com
Member Service News
• Don’t forget our insurance offerings as well!
• CRMA’s strength in numbers allows us to offer great prices
and service in a number of insurance products including Group
Health, Workers Compensation and Property Casualty.
• Email our insurance representative KC Cook at
kcook@abiagency.net
for more information.
Golf Classic Reminder
• If members are interested in registering on line for the
CRMA Golf Classic you will be able to do so soon.
• Invitations went out in the mail this week and the
registration form will hit our web site ASAP.
Retail News and Notes
• Firm creates new sizing standards for women-Off-the-rack
women's apparel can vary in size among retailers, which led
Fit Technologies to develop a sizing system based on the three
most common figures. Although clothing companies Jones Apparel
and Garfield & Marks have started using the system, and
retailers Macy's, Nordstrom and QVC have agreed to carry the
lines, challenges remain for its widespread adoption, experts
say.
The New York Times (free registration) (3/30)
• High-tech goes pink- Women are expected to purchase $65
billion worth of electronics this year for themselves, and
manufacturers are offering devices in pink to attract this
audience. However, high-tech companies need to do more: Only
18% of women said they think products are designed to be
user-friendly for women, according to a survey by IDC.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer/San Francisco Chronicle (3/31)
• Now available at the NRF Bookstore: Store Windows No. 14
Store Windows No. 14 presents new and innovative promotional,
seasonal and advertising ideas for all seasons and occasions.
This resource book is full of idea starters that will be a
constant source of display and merchandising ideas for the
novice or seasoned professional. The 176 pages are filled with
over 250 full-color photographs of the very best in store
window displays and serve as testament to the truth of this
statement. NRF members receive 10% off the price of the book
at the NRF bookstore. Click here
for more information or to order.
March 24, 2006
Quiet Week at the Capitol
ARF Bill Advances thru Environment Committee
Other News and Notes from the State Capitol
CRMA Golf Outing Update
Member Services Update
Retail News and Notes
• All quiet at the Capitol this week. Most committees finished
their business this week while others will finish early next
week.
• Next week we expect that the two big money committees,
Finance and Appropriations will turn up the heat on issues
before their committees.
• Finance and Appropriation Committees, along with the
Judiciary Committee are the last of the committees to take
action on bills.
• After their deadlines, most of the action at the State
Capitol will shift to the House and Senate where all members
will get a chance to debate bills.
• CRMA will continue to update you about what is happening at
the Capitol, but if you have any questions about issues,
please feel free to contact us.
ARF Bill Advances thru Environment
Committee
• On Monday of this week, the Environment Committee reported
out of committee SB 196, AAC Recycling of Electronic Devices.
• The bill would impose an Advance Recovery Fee on the sale of
any electronic devices, similar to what is now in place in
California.
• The Senate Chair of the Environment Committee, Sen. Bill
Finch, and (D-Bridgeport) is a strong supporter of the
California approach. CRMA opposes the collection of an ARF at
the point of sale by retailer and will continue to fight this
bill.
Other News and Notes from the State
Capitol
• Tax on Jobs update: CRMA’s grass roots team is putting in
place a number of meetings with key legislators in their
districts to talk to them about the health care legislation
that is making its way thru the General Assembly.
• If you are interested in hosting or attending an event
please call or email our office today.
• CRMA Legislative Committee continues to meet bi-weekly. Our
Legislative Committee is open to all members and we encourage
any member to join in our call.
• Our next call is scheduled for April 6, 2003. Please call or
email us for more information.
CRMA Golf Outing Update
• The 5th Annual CRMA Golf Classic will be held this year on
June 13, 2005 at Blackledge Country Club in Hebron, CT.
• Invitations and registration forms will be sent to members
and friends next week so we encourage everyone who is
interested in playing this year to return your registration
form right away.
• The CRMA Golf Classic is a major fundraiser for the
Association and it is a great way for members to get out of
the office and enjoy a day on the links and help your
Association.
Member Services Update
• As of April 1, 2006 we understand that Master Card & Visa
will be increasing their rates. When you get your new
statement please take a look at it.
• We would love to have the opportunity to do a side by side
comparison for you at no charge to see if we can save you some
money.
Retail News and Notes
• Q-and-A with Isaac Mizrahi: The man behind the brand
Business Week talks with the designer, whose work ranges from
Target Corp. to Bergdorf Goodman. Mizrahi touches on the
merging worlds of fashion and art, and how high-end and
low-end can co-exist.
BusinessWeek (3/23)
• Low-rise gives way to midrise.
Although many women struggled to adapt to the low-rise denim
trend, it is a style that sold steadily for about five years.
The times appear to be changing, however, as major designers
and retailers are introducing midrise jeans.
MSNBC/Newsweek (3/22)
• Windows Vista delay could impact retailers, PC makers
Microsoft Corp.'s surprise announcement late Tuesday that it
will delay the release of the consumer version of its new
operating system until after the holidays "hits retailers and
it hits PC makers that were looking toward Vista for a surge
in consumer PC sales at the end of the year," said one
analyst, but it is not expected to have a lasting effect on
Microsoft or PC sales. The delay will allow the company to
further test the product to ensure it meets the company's new
goals for security, Microsoft said.
The New York Times (free registration) (3/22)
March 17, 2006
Tax on Jobs Bill Advances Out of Labor Committee
Franchiser/Franchisee Provision Taken Out of Bill
General Law Committee Update
Other News and Notes from the State Capitol
CRMA Golf Tournament
Member Services Update
Retail News and Notes
• This week the Connecticut General Assembly’s Labor Committee
reported out of its committee SB 462, “An Act Concerning a
Fair Share Health Care Surcharge”.
• The Labor Committee reported on this bill despite strong
testimony given by three CT retailers at the labor public
hearing last week.
• CRMA has been leading the charge against this bill and we
will keep up that effort even more so now that the bill has
been sent out of Labor.
• The key thing for all members to remember is that this bill
targets retailers and despite the claim of the bill’s
supporters that it is only intended for larger retailers (the
bill calls for a surcharge to be assessed to those retailers
that employ 5,000 or more employees) we know that those
thresholds can only go down, not up.
• CRMA will continue to press members of the CGA to kill this
bill, but we need your help.
• This year we have hired a grass roots firm, Coursey and
Company, to help members connect with their legislators.
Please help us by talking to Coursey and Company when they
call your store.
• The CRMA grass roots efforts will ultimately make the
biggest difference in defeating this bill. Retailers at the
local level have a tremendous influence. Please help us to
defeat this bill by contacting your legislator.
Franchiser/Franchisee Provision Taken
Out of Bill
• One piece of good news on this bill is that CRMA was
successful in persuading the Labor Committee to remove a
terrible provision that would have grouped franchisers and
franchisees as one.
• The Labor Committee included this provision so that it could
include more retailers in their tax on jobs proposal.
• During our testimony, we clearly pointed out to members of
the Labor Committee the difference between franchisers and
franchisees. Thankfully Labor listened to us and that
provision of the bill was removed.
General Law Committee Update
• This week the General Law Committee finished its work for
the session by reporting on a number of bills, including some
that have us worried.
• Among the bills that General Law reported on was one that
would require that retailers issue cash to customers on gift
cards used in a going out of business sale. ( HB 503, An Act
Concerning Gift Certificates, Gift Cards and Business
Closing-Out Sales)
• Under the bill, any business that has applied to the
Department of Consumer Protection for a Going out of Business
Sale must include in its notices and advertisements that all
gift cards are also available to be redeemed.
• During the committee meeting an amendment was added to the
bill that would allow customers to redeem that gift card for
cash during the GOB if they wanted to.
• We are watching this bill very closely and are concerned of
the precedent it may send for future discussion regarding gift
cards. If you have any comments on this bill please email or
call us ASAP.
• General Law also passed a bill out of its committee that
allows for no expiration dates to be placed on any merchandise
sales credit that a retailer issues.(SB 561, An Act
Prohibiting Expiration of Credit Receipts)
• Again, we don’t like this bill and have been assured by the
House Chair of the committee (Rep. Chris Stone, D – East
Hartford) that he will continue to work with us on it. We need
your input on this bill as well.
Other News and Notes from the State
Capitol
• The Environment Committee has a Monday deadline to act on
bills.
• CRMA is working with the committee chairs and key members to
persuade them NOT to pass SB 196, An Act Concerning the
Recycling of Electronic Devices.
• This bill would require that any Retailer that sells
electronic devices such as computers, place an Advance
Recovery Fee on all electronic devices they sell.
• CRMA does not support this approach and we urge members that
have a concern about this issue to contact us for more
information and for ways to get involved in killing this bill.
• The Environment Committee did pass out of committee this
week, SB 192 “An Act Concerning the Expansion of the Beverage
Container Redemption Provisions and the Increase of the Refund
Value of Beverage Containers”. This bill expands the bottle
redemption program to water bottles.
• CRMA is working with our friends in the grocery industry,
the CFA, in attempting to defeat this bill.
• Next week we expect the Finance Committee will begin holding
hearings on a number of bills that implement the Governor’s
Budget, including the Governor’s proposal that would eliminate
the surcharge on the corporation business tax.
• Next week the CRMA Legislative Committee will hold a
conference call to review bills. That call will take place
next Thursday at 9:30am EST.
• The meeting is open to all members. If you are interested in
participating, please call Cathy in our office at 860-527-1044
for more information.
• Finally, look for more information within the next week
regarding the annual CRMA Legislative Reception. We are
finalizing details now and will be sending notices out next
week.
CRMA Golf Tournament
• Speaking of events, the 5th annual CRMA Golf Tournament will
be held again this year at Blackledge Country Club in Hebron,
CT.
• The event will be held on Tuesday, June 13, 2006.
• Please hold that date on your calendar. We will be sending
invitation and registration information out to members soon.
• Please help the CRMA by supporting our Golf Tournament. It
is an important fundraiser for the Association and your
support is greatly appreciated.
Member Services Update
• With all the activity taking place at the Capitol it is
still very important for members to remember that CRMA not
only is your voice at the State Capitol but we have a number
of great money saving programs available to members.
• If you are interested in getting a free quote on a full line
of insurance products, from Group Health, to Business and
Workers Compensation Insurance, please call us 860-527-1044.
• And with bank card rates continuing to rise, we understand
that Master Card/Visa will be increasing rates yet again this
April, the CRMA/Global Payments program remains the best
overall program for retailers in CT.
Retail News and Notes
• Target launches Channel Red; Target has added an in-store
network to its electronics department that will show company
ads and commercials for CDs and DVDs. Other retailers,
including Wal-Mart Stores and Best Buy Co., currently have
such networks, which generated more than $200 million in ad
revenue last year, according to Info Trends.
Drug Store News (free registration) (3/13)
• Fashion industry looking to set up copyright protections
The Council of Fashion Designers of America today is meeting
with Congress to discuss the possibility of introducing
copyright like protection to the industry, similar to design
protection provided by a boat-hull statute enacted in 1998.
One law professor notes the industry might actually benefit
from copycats, because once a design goes mainstream,
fashionistas are ready to buy the next big thing.
Slate
(3/13)
• BP to franchise convenience stores
BP is rolling out a franchised format for BP Connect and Wild
Bean Cafe, which will offer Amoco fuel, gourmet coffees, soups
and sandwiches. The first franchise is set to open in southern
Florida.
Convenience Store News (3/13)
March 3, 2006
CT General Assembly’s Labor Committee Introduces Fair Share
Health Care Bill
Capitol News and Notes
Water Bottle Update
Member Services Update
Retail News and Notes
• This week the General Assembly’s Labor Committee version of
a universal health care bill came out in bill form and there
is a lot not to like in it.
• This bill, SB 462 “An Act Concerning a Fair Share Health
Care Surcharge” targets retailers directly.
• The bill would place a surcharge on retailers requiring that
they pay into a special fund that would cover uninsured
individuals.
• CRMA is very, very, concerned about SB 462 and will be
holding a special conference call on Monday March 6, 2006 at
4:00 EST to discuss the bill in complete detail.
• In addition, we will discuss our plans and strategies for
dealing with this bill.
• All retailers, large and small, will be impacted by this
bill.
• Therefore, we strongly encourage all members to join us on
this conference call.
• There is no doubt that the Connecticut General Assembly is
targeting retailers with this bill. CRMA is ready to spring
into action to defeat this proposal, but we need your help.
• Call us at 860-527-1044 or email us at
cathy@crmaonline.com
for the call in number.
Capital News and Notes
• There are lots of other bills that are moving thru the
process this session that impact retailers as well as some
other news and notes of interest. Below is just a snapshot of
some of the events and bills that we are following.
• This week, a long time GOP Legislator announced that he is
leaving the General Assembly.
• House Minority Leader Bob Ward (R-North Branford) announced
that he will not seek reelection this fall. Ward has served
for 8 terms and will likely be replaced by his Deputy Larry
Cafero (R-Norwalk)
• House Speaker Jim Amann is planning a rally on the steps of
the Capitol next week to build support for his transportation
plan.
• The Speaker has asked retailers to help with this rally. If
any members are interested in getting more information about
the rally, please call or email us.
• The Speaker’s transportation plan includes taking most of
the states Transportation Strategy Board’s
www.opm.state.ct.us/igp/TSB/tsbinfo.htm recommendations.
• What he has yet to announce is how he will pay for it. The
TSB called for a ½ cent increase in the sales tax to support
their plans. Does the Speaker have the same thing in mind?
• We expect continued debate on the Transportation issue and
more importantly how it is paid for and we will keep a close
eye on it.
• The General Law Committee continues to hold hearings on a
number of bills, but most of them do not impact retailers.
• We expect that the General Law Committee will hold a hearing
soon on Senate Bill #496 “An Act Concerning Item Pricing of
Consumer Commodities” which makes changes to the State’s item
pricing law.
• CRMA participated on a task force this interim that looked
at changes to the State’s item and unit pricing laws and
Senate Bill #496 “An Act Concerning Item Pricing of Consumer
Commodities” is the result of that task force.
Water Bottle Bill Update
• The Environment Committee is once again moving forward this
session with a bill that would require that water bottles be
included as part of the State’s recycling efforts by placing a
5 cent deposit, similar to that which is placed on soda, beer,
etc.
• CRMA will keep a close eye on that bill and if members are
more interested in the progress of that, please call us today.
• Advanced Recovery Fee (ARF Bill) also on environment’s
agenda.
• The Environment Committee is also considering a bill, Senate
Bill #196 “An Act Concerning the Recycling of Electronic
Devices”, which would place an advanced recovery fee on the
purchase of all electronic devices. CRMA strongly opposes this
bill.
• Our understanding is that the bill will not pass this year.
• But, the Sen. Chair of the Committee, Sen. Bill Finch
(D-Bridgeport) is hot to trot on this issue and will not give
up without a major fight.
• On the House side, we have met with the House Chair Rep.
Richard Roy – (D-Milford) and he assured us that it was not on
the top of his list of bills to do.
• However, we need to stay on top of this issue, and we urge
members that have an interest in this issue to contact us.
• Finally, the CRMA Legislative Committee is holding our
regular Legislative Committee conference call this Thursday to
discuss these issue and others.
• All members are welcome to join us. Please email Cathy,
cathy@crmaonline.com
in our office for more information or call her at
860-527-1044.
Member Services Update
• The CRMA/ABI property casualty/workers compensation program
continues to roll on. If you are renewing your PC or WC
insurance or are interested in information about our program,
please call K.C. Cook.
• KC can be reached at (203) 464-4516 or by email him at
kcook@abiagency.net
• This week we are pleased to announce that the CRMA/Global
Payments program added a new member to our program.
• We encourage all members to contact Cathy in our office for
more information on this great money saving program.
Retail News and Notes
• Pay By Touch technology begins to take hold at retailers,
Pay by Touch's biometric fingerprint scanner is getting
noticed as more retailers, especially grocers, begin to put
the technology to work in their stores. Piggly Wiggly Carolina
Co. attributes a 15% increase in spending at select stores to
the scanners.
The New York Times (free registration) (3/1)
• J.C. Penney aims to change shoppers' views of its brand,
J.C. Penney Co. is unveiling its New York City "pop-up"
showcase store and kicking off its largest advertising
campaign to date in an attempt to reconnect with customers and
attract new ones. The retailer emphasizes it is not going
upscale but rather will continue to serve "Middle America."
• Home Depot looks to military model for success, The Home
Depot CEO Robert L. Nardelli incorporates military-style ideas
and discipline into his management strategy amid intense
competition from Wal-Mart Stores and Lowe's. Since the
retailer launched its store leadership training program,
almost half the recruits have been junior military officers.
Business Week (3/6)
|
