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 Friday
Facts - Archives -
Month
of May 2004
Current
Week
May 28, 2004
Golf Classic Reminder. OLR reports on Major Public Acts from this year’s Legislative session. CRMA Foundation update. Retail News and Notes. Memorial Day closing.
As we move closer to our 3rd Annual Golf Classic, I want to again remind members that it is not to late to register for this event. If you are interested please email or call us today.
As we have told you many times before, the Golf Tournament serves a number of important purposes for CRMA. First and foremost it is a fundraiser for us and in today’s economy we can all appreciate the need to raise funds.
The golf tournament also is a way for us to put on an event that allows members and guests to get together in a relaxed environment (depending of course on how you play) away from the office.
We know all to well the challenges that retailers face, and recognize the time pressures that face retailers today. That is why we appreciate those of you that have sent in your registration form.
Your commitment of time means a great deal to us.
If you have not sent in your registration form, we are making one last push. It is not too late. Do so today. You can find registration forms on our website, www.crmaonline.com
Or you can call us in the office at 860 – 527 – 1044. In fact, we will even come to your store and pick up your registration. Just kidding – sort of.
OLR Report on Major Public Acts
Annually the CT General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Research produces a report reviewing the Major Public Acts that the recently concluded General Assembly did.
Thanks to adjourning early, this year’s report is already done and can be accessed by going to the OLR website,
www.cga.state.ct.us/olr/.
There will be other reports that will come out about this year’s session, and we will update you on those as well.
On final note from the Capitol. On Tuesday June 7th, Governor Rowland is scheduled to give public testimony before the Legislature’s Committee of Inquiry. Stay tuned.
CRMA Foundation
Over the last year we have been building the Connecticut Retail Merchants Educational and Charitable Foundation.
The Foundation is embarking on some exciting projects, and we will send you information about those projects shortly, but in the meantime we continue to put the pieces together on the Foundation.
To that end, our Foundation Board of Directors will hold our second quarter Board meeting next week. Thank you Mike Goman, from Konover Construction.
Retail News and notes
Pink shoes -- not just for women anymore
Pink is in, especially for fashion-conscious men who want the latest women's running shoes for their colors alone. Men are lining up to grab shoes from urban retailers such as Phat Farm and K Swiss, leaving disappointed women with larger feet in their wake. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (5/23)
Kmart, WB team up for cross-promotion
Discount retailer Kmart and the broadcast network WB have struck a promotional deal under which actors on three WB shows will wear Kmart clothes. The pact is an extension of a larger cross-promotional campaign created for the two companies by Grey Worldwide that features WB actors getting dressed and having fun. Detroit Free Press (5/21), The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (5/20)
Vermont Listed as Endangered Place
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- A preservation group put Vermont on its list of America's most endangered places Monday, warning that this New England state's small-town charm is threatened by Wal-Mart. 5/25/2004. Associated Press
(http://www.ctnow.com/hc-vermont0525.artmay25,0,613809.story),
Happy Memorial Day!
In observance of Memorial Day, CRMA will close its office early on Friday and will be closed on Monday May 31, 2004 and reopen on Tuesday June 1st
May 21, 2004
CRMA Golf Classic inches closer. Capitol News and Notes.
Class Action Update. Retail News and Notes.
· As we move another week closer to our 3rd Annual Golf Tournament, we want to remind members again that it is not too late to sign up for this years event.
· We understand completely, if members feel overwhelmed with requests to participate in golf tournaments like ours. We do too; and you can’t say yes to all of them.
· But, this one is a little different. This event helps your Association.
· The CRMA Golf Classic is an attempt on our part to help raise funds for the Association, which in turn keeps the Association strong and vibrant so that we can continue to do the things that are necessary to represent the retail industry.
· It is hard for member companies to participate in every event they are asked to do. Again, we understand that. We only ask that you give this event your strongest consideration.
· Call or email us today (860- 527- 1044 www.crmaonline.com) and we can talk about ways that you can help out this year. Remember, CRMA is for retailers; our mission is to represent retailers at the State Capitol and in the marketplace. Events like the Golf Tournament are an important part of that effort.
· Visit our website, www.crmaonline.com , today for more information about the CRMA Golf Classic. Thank you for your consideration.
Capitol News and Notes:
· With the Legislature adjourned for the year they now are focusing on other issues.
· First among them seems to be the ongoing inquiry into whether Governor Rowland should be impeached.
· This week, Sen. Leaders from both sides of the aisle met to review possible procedures for a trial that may take place in the Senate if the House takes action to impeach the governor.
· Also, legislators are focused on their re-election campaigns or in some case their retirement speeches.
· A number of legislators have announced they are not running for re-election this time including some good friends of retailers.
· First among them, is the House Chair of the General Law Committee, John Wayne Fox, who is also the Co-Chair of the Special Committee of inquiry into Governor Rowland. Fox is a first rate lawmaker who will be missed.
· Also, House Chair of the Transportation Committee and friend to retailers Jackie Cocco of Bridgeport has also announced that she is not running.
· We hear there may be others including 3 House members, Vin Tonnucci, Tom Conway, and Nancy Karensky.
· Finally, keep an eye on the 19th Senatorial Race.
· Our friends in the Sen. Republican office feel they have a real strong candidate to run against veteran lawmaker and Sen. Chair of the Labor Committee, Edith Prague. We will keep a close eye on that race.
Washington update – Class Action Reform
· Our friends on the Class Action reform coalition inform us that Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn) has announced plans to bring the class action bill to the Senate floor for consideration on June 1.
· Connecticut’s Senior Senator, Chris Dodd, has led a group of Senators that forged a compromise on the bill that has the support of 62 members of the US. Senate.
· The bill would expand Federal Court jurisdiction over class actions filed in State Court by allowing Federal Courts to hear large national class action lawsuits involving plaintiffs and defendants from different states.
· We encourage all members to contact Senator Dodd and Senator Lieberman and ask them to support S. 2062. You can contact Dodd’s CT Office by calling 860 – 258- 6940 and his D.C. office by calling 202 – 224 -2823.
· Lieberman’s CT office is 860 – 549 -8463 and his D.C. office is 202- 224 – 4041.
Retail News and Notes
· Circuit City to act as middleman for eBay and its consumers
Circuit City's new side business, Trading Circuit, will handle eBay sales of items customers drop off at designated stores, with the retailer taking a 35% cut of the first $500 of the profits and 25% of the rest. Being tested at six Atlanta stores, Trading Circuit will handle all eBay details, from photos and listings to shipping and payment, while consumers set the minimum bid price. Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Ind.) (5/15)
· Tweaks have Rich's-Macy's poised for success
Mike Krauter, the new co-president and chief merchandising officer for Rich's-Macy's department stores, is focused on building employee loyalty and adding new lines to bolster the stores' business. After the merger of Rich's and Macy's in 2003, Federated renovated all of the locations in the Atlanta area and edited product lines to keep pace with changing customer needs. Journal and Constitution (Atlanta) (free registration) (5/18)
· Kmart reports second straight profitable quarter
Citing improved productivity and margins, along with reduced operational costs, Kmart reported earnings of $93 million, its second consecutive profitable quarter since emerging from bankruptcy protection. While same-store sales continued to fall, the retailer's president said, "Given our success, Kmart today is a financially strong company." Detroit Free Press (5/18)
May 14, 2004
CRMA Golf Tournament is fast approaching.
Legislative Committee wraps up the session. Gift card issues still on our agenda.
Member Services Update. Retail News and Notes.
· The countdown begins! Our Annual Golf Tournament is just about 3 weeks away. It will be held on June 8, 2004 at Blackledge Country Club in Hebron, CT. If you have not already registered for the event and would like to, you still have time. But do not delay!
· You can register online, by visiting our website, www.crmaonline.com. Once there, you will find the golf information in the upper left hand column. Simply double click that icon and away you go.
· Also, if you can’t play, you can still help out by purchasing a full page tee sign. The tee sign will be prominently displayed on the course and is a great way to show your support.
· Another way you can help is by donating a raffle prize. Everybody can do that! Raffle prizes make the tournament fun for the participants, and we would greatly appreciate any help members can give in this area.
· Finally, thank you to all of you who have already sent in your registration, purchased a tee sign, or donated a raffle prize. Our goal this year is to make the golf tournament the best ever and with your continued support we can reach that goal.
Legislative Committee wrap up meeting held
· With the session behind us (thank God) the CRMA legislative committee held its’ final conference call for the year on Tuesday of this week.
· We want to thank all of our members again who joined us on these calls. It is very important while lobbying to know that you have the support of members and you can count on them to help in any way they can.
· The members of the Legislative Committee are those types of members and we appreciate all that they do.
· One final note of appreciation goes out to the Chair of the Committee, Tom Zapf, of Macy’s Northeast. Tom was terrific in keeping us focused on the important issues facing us this year as well as maintaining regular meetings to keep folks up- to-date. Thank you Tom.
· One final note on the Legislative Committee, soon we will be organizing a fundraiser for CRMA’s Political Action Committee. This event, like all events at CRMA, is designed to help retailers by raising money for the upcoming election cycle.
· Whether we like it or not, or until they change the rules, money will continue to play a major role in campaigns and elections. Retailers need to be represented and the CRMAPAC is our way to represent you.
· We will let you know more about our PAC events in the upcoming weeks.
Gift Card Committee to meet next week
· There is still one issue that we continue to be concerned about despite the legislature adjourning for the year. That is the new gift card/gift certificate law.
· As you know, this past session we attempted to repeal the confusing and constitutionally questionable public act but were met with tremendous resistance by the state Treasurer’s office.
· The Legislature ultimately buckled under to the Treasurer and took no action.
· Although we were greatly disappointed by this failure to act, we will not go away on this issue. To that end, our Legislative Committee will hold a conference call next week to discuss our next steps.
· If you are interested in joining us on this call, please contact us via email at www.crmaonline.com or by calling 860 – 527 – 1044.
Member Services Update
· With all this talk about the legislative process and the golf committee, please don’t forget that we have rolled out a new member service offering that we think will be of great benefit to members.
· The new CRMA/One Beacon Property Casualty Program is designed to save all of our members, but especially our smaller market member’s, money.
· If you are interested in this product, which is open to all members, call us today. We will put you in touch with one of our insurance professionals to get you started on your way to saving money on your property casualty insurance.
· Also, we are very close to an announcement concerning a new member’s only workers compensation plan as well. We should have more information about that within the next two weeks.
Retail News and Notes
· Federated speaks on potential Marshall Field's deal
Federated Department Stores confirmed its interest in acquiring Marshall Fields from Target, but the company's chief financial officer vowed not to overpay for the department store. Federated also announced quarterly earnings of $96 million, more than double last year's. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul) (free registration) (5/13), The Cincinnati Enquirer (5/13), Journal and Constitution (Atlanta)/Associated Press (free registration) (5/12)
· Body scanner could cut cost of custom clothes
The latest digital scanner from TC2 can register more than 200,000 points on the body, setting the stage for faster and cheaper customized clothing. Brooks Brothers uses an older version of the technology and is considering buying the new scanner, and Levi Strauss and J.C. Penney are also pushing to move apparel into the digital age. Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Associated Press (5/12)
· A Connecticut Icon
Our friends at Connecticut Magazine have a great article in their May 2004 issue about Gillett Castle, a Connecticut icon. May’s issue features this story on page 128. To learn more or to subscribe to CT magazine go to www.connecticutmag.com
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