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 Friday
Facts - Archives -
Month of May 2006Current
Week
May 26, 2006
Sales Tax Free Period Extended For Weatherization Products
State Parties Nominate Candidates and Prepare For Primary
Season
Washington Update
Is There a President Dodd in Our Future?
CRMA Golf Classic Update
Retail News and Notes
One of the benefits of the budget that was adopted this past
session will be seen immediately by consumers purchasing
household weatherization products.
Included in the budget was language that allows for
household weatherization products to be exempt from the
States 6% sales tax.
For retailers that sell those products, beginning June 1,
2006 thru June 30, 2007 no sales tax will be applied.
This week the Department of Revenue Services sent a special
notice out to retailers that explains in more detail all the
products involved and other information regarding this new
law.
We encourage all members to visit the DRS website http://www.ct.gov/drs/site/default.asp
. While there click on SN-2006(1) for the information.
State Parties Nominate Candidates and
Prepare For Primary Season
This past weekend both parties in CT held their conventions
to nominate candidates for statewide offices.
There were some surprises, but nothing that would be
described as a real shocker.
First the GOP: As expected the Republican Party
overwhelmingly nominated Governor M. Jodi Rell as their
nominee. The Governor announced early last week that she
wanted former State Rep. Michael Fedele as her running mate.
The Rell/Fedele team, who hold a commanding lead in the
polls, will be joined on the statewide ticket by some new
faces on the GOP side.
The Republicans nominated State Senator Cathy Cook for
Comptroller, State Representative Bob Farr for Attorney
General and former East Windsor First Selectman Linda Roberts
for State Treasurer.
The Republicans also nominated Richard Abbate for Secretary
of State. Mr. Abbate is the registrar of voters for the town
of Cheshire.
As for the Democrats, its not that easy: To begin with they
are going to have a primary for Governor.
In a mild upset Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy squeaked out a
delegate victory for the nomination for Governor but his
challenger for the nomination New Haven Mayor John DeStefano,
won enough delegates for a primary.
In the other state wide offices Democrats re-nominated the
same slate of candidates that currently hold office.
Nancy Wyman will once again run for Comptroller, Richard
Blumenthal will be the Democratic candidate for Attorney
General again and Denise Nappier will once again be the
Democratic Nominee for Treasurer.
And, Susan Bysiewicz will once again run for Secretary of
State under the Democratic banner.
Washington Update
In addition to a nomination battle for the right to run
against Governor Rell, the Democrats also had a family fight
over the US Senate seat.
The current Jr. Senator from CT and Vice Presidential
nominee Joseph I Lieberman will be challenged for his seat in
Congress by newcomer millionaire from Greenwich, Ned Lamont.
Lamont forces, which ran hard against Lieberman on his
support of the Iraq war, won enough votes at the convention to
primary Lieberman for the right to be the official Democratic
nominee for US Senate in November.
The campaign has begun and we will keep you up to date
periodically with any news, but keep an eye on this race
because CT has changed the date for when primaries are held
which could have a dramatic impact on the results.
Traditionally held in September, CT moved up the primary
season to August 9 and there is a concern among Democrats that
many of the Lieberman votes will be away on vacation when the
primary vote is held.
Is There a President Dodd in Our Future?
Shortly after the conventions were held, CT Senior Senator
Christopher Dodd all but announced his intention to seek the
office of President of the United States.
While not coming right out and officially announcing that he
was a candidate, Dodd left no doubt that he will explore all
avenues in running and that he will enter the arena and the
rough and tumble world of Presidential politics.
Dodds friend and colleague Lieberman had an interesting
quote about his friends chances of capturing the Democratic
Party nomination, He had a taste of this as Chairman of the
DNC. He traveled a lot and built a following.
CRMA Golf Classic
It would not be a Friday Facts without a mention about the
CRMA Golf Classic.
It is not too late to participate in this years event.
Remember the Golf Classic is an important fundraiser for the
Association.
The dollars raised at this event go right toward our bottom
line and keep the CRMA a strong and vibrant Trade Association
representing retailers large and small in CT.
Thanks to all who have already committed to participating.
And for those who have yet to commit, please call or email us
if you have any questions.
Retail News and Notes
Online sales help fuel retail industry growth
Online sales are expected to jump 20% this year, with pet
supplies, cosmetics and fragrances growing at a faster rate
than other online sales categories, according to the National
Retail Federation's online arm Shop.org and Forrester
Research. "People are used to the Internet now, for e-mail and
doing research. If you aren't in that game (as a retailer),
you're at a huge disadvantage," Shop.org executive director
Scott Silverman says.
USA
TODAY (5/22),
The New York Times/Reuters (free registration) (5/23),
The Wall Street Journal
(subscription required) (5/23)
Delight Your Customers. Empower Your Employees. Transform
Your Store.
Looking for innovative ideas on how to improve your customers
In-store experience? Our complimentary Executive Retail Kit
features the Aberdeen Group's white paper "Mid-Size Retailing:
The Sweet Spot of Customer Centricity".
Click
here to receive your kit.
Americans crave bolder flavors, Hispanic and Asian
immigrants are helping to foster a desire in Americans for
bolder flavors, which are "selling", according to industry
experts at the National Restaurant Association show.
Restaurants are infusing bolder flavors into their menus,
while beverage makers and food manufacturers also are aiming
to rise to the challenge.
Chicago Tribune (free
registration) (5/23)
May 19, 2006
CRMA Golf Classic Inches Closer
Capitol News and Notes
Member Services Update
Retail News and Notes
The 5th annual CRMA Golf Classic will soon be upon us and we
hope all members and friends will find a way to support the
event.
The Golf Classic will be held on June 13, 2006 at Blackledge
Country Club in Hebron, CT. The event will begin with at 10:00
A.M. shotgun start.
There are lots of ways that folks can help with the Golf
Tournament.
o First you can play, or better yet put a foursome together.
o You can purchase at tee sign or better yet be a hole
sponsor.
o And you can donate a raffle prize for our raffle that
follows.
o To find out all the ways you can help, visit our website,
Once there, double click the events icon and from there you
will find our Golf Classic information.
To all of you who have committed to helping this year, a
hearty thank you!
And for all of you who have not yet committed but are
considering, please call or email us if you have any questions
regarding the event.
Capitol News and Notes
Despite the session ending there is still some news out of
the State Capitol.
The GAE Committee has been holding a hearing into
fundraising irregularities involving the campaign of Governor
Rell.
The committee heard testimony from the Governors chief of
staff and from her former ethics czar this week and is
expected to hear testimony on Friday from the Executive
Director of the States Election Enforcement Commission.
The Speaker of the House held a special energy summit
hearing on Wednesday of this week to examine a range of energy
issues including how, if at all, to lower gasoline prices. We
will up-date you on the results of that meeting.
Also this week the longest serving member of the CGA
announced that he will not seek re-election this year.
George Doc Gunther, (R-Stratford) held a press conference
on Tuesday to inform his constituents that he will not seek
re-election for a 21st. term.
Doc Gunther served in the CT General Assembly since 1966.
This week Governor Rell officially introduced her running
mate for the upcoming November election.
Governor Rell has selected former 5 term State
Representative Michael Fedele from Stamford to be her Lt.
Governor. Fedele ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate 4
years ago and is today the President and CEO of his own
company.
The Democrats will gather to select their nominees for state
wide office, including Governor, at their convention this
weekend.
Among the interesting things to look for coming out of the
weekend, does Ned Lamont, who is challenging U. S. Senator Joe
Lieberman, get enough delegates to force an August primary
against Lieberman.
Member Service Update
This weeks member service update is another request to
consider helping with the CRMA Golf Classic.
This event keeps your Association strong so that the many
great programs we offer like great bank card rates with Global
Payments and full service insurance offerings can continue.
Please support the Golf Classic!
Retail News and Notes
Consumer Reports to launch shopping magazine for women
Consumer Reports' new ShopSmart magazine will aim to be a
quick source for younger women looking to purchase household
items. Like the traditional Consumer Reports magazine, the new
entry will not accept advertising, but it will be brighter
than its companion magazine, with easy-to-read items, Consumer
Reports says.
The Philadelphia Inquirer/Associated Press
(free registration) (5/14)
Rising gas prices to further squeeze consumers Consumer
confidence is slipping and inflation concerns are rising,
according to forthcoming economic reports. "The economy will
motor along at a solid pace, though the driver will be
businesses rather than the consumer," Argus Research Corp.'s
chief economist says.
Bloomberg
(5/14)
Designer toddler lines springing up Several designer toddler
lines now are offering parents alternatives to more
traditional children's clothiers and furniture makers. Parents
say sites like ModernNursery.com and BabyGeared.com offer
lines that allow them to outfit their children stylishly,
until the children are old enough to choose their own vibe.
San
Francisco Chronicle
(5/14)
May 12,
2006
Legislature Adjourns for the Year
Good Year for CRMA
Capitol News and Notes
CRMA Golf Classic
CRMA Global Payments Update
Retail News and Notes
At midnight Wednesday May 3, 2006 the gavel struck for the
last time and the Connecticut General Assembly adjourned for
the year.
The General Assembly finished its work on time and for the
first time in recent memory they adopted a budget and the
budget bills without having to call a special session.
House Speaker Jim Amann (D-Milford) and Sen. President Don
Williams (D-Brooklyn) along with Majority Leaders Chris
Donovan (D-Meriden) and Martin Looney (D-New Haven) should be
congratulated for running an efficient and productive
Legislative Session.
Also, hats off to the Minority Leaders of the House and
Senate Rep. Bob Ward (R-North Branford) and Sen. Lou DeLuca
(R-Woodbury) for their conduct during the session.
Together, these gentlemen played the role of loyal
minorities but did not act as obstructionists and allowed for
important issues to be debated and voted upon.
We do not expect the General Assembly to be back in special
session for any reason this year.
Good Year for CRMA
Finally, with the close of the session, the CRMA Legislative
Committee has also finished its work for the session.
We want to thank all of our members who participated in our
conference calls this year. Your guidance to us was
instrumental and greatly appreciated.
Short session, a good one for Retailers!
Every session is different, but short sessions pose
different sets of challenges.
In a short session, obviously, there is not a lot of time to
digest and review bills. So, we spend a lot of time on the
defense.
This year we were successful in stopping bills that would
have caused problems for retailers while pushing hard for one
that will provide relief for some of our members.
Among those bills that we lobbied against and were
successful in stopping include:
SB 462 AAC Fair Share Health Care
SB 196 AAC the Recycling of Electronic Devices
SB 503 AAC Gift Certificates, Gift Cards and Business
Closing-Out Sales
SB 561- AAC Prohibiting Expiration of Credit Receipts
HB 5030 AAC Captive Audience Meetings
HB 5694 AAC Identity Theft of Personal Information
HB 5275 AAC Expanding the Beverage Container Redemption
Provisions to Water Bottles.
We are happy to report that we were successful in passing a
bill that we worked very closely on with our friends at the
Connecticut Food Association.
SB 496 AAC Item Pricing of Consumer Commodities passed
overwhelmingly this session.
In addition to these bills, there are a host of other bills
that we lobbied against in various Committees this year that
never got out of Committee.
We have a complete listing of all the bills we tracked this
session and we would be happy to share them with members.
In addition, we are preparing a complete review of the
session, including a look at the budget and tax package, for
members.
Capitol News and Notes
While the session ended on time there were still some issues
that were not dealt with this year.
Included among those was an intense discussion regarding
energy costs in CT. The issue centers on whether Northeast
Utilities can re enter the generation business.
The legislature failed to adopt a bond package, usually a
big item in an election year.
There are some rumblings that the General Assembly will be
called back into session to deal with both of those issues.
CRMA Golf Classic
It is not too late to register for this years CRMA Golf
Classic.
If you are interested in participating in this years event,
please visit our website www.crmaonline.com.
You can also call our office at (860- 527-1044) for more
information.
Please, please give every consideration to supporting our
Golf Outing. It is an important fundraiser for YOUR
ASSOCIATION!
CRMA/Global Payment Program Update
If you have seen your bank card rate increase (effective in
April) or if you are interested in ensuring that you still
have the best bank card rates for your business, call our
office today.
CRMA will give members free quotes on all their bank card
needs to show you ways we can save you money or give you piece
of mind that you are getting the best rates that are available
in todays market.
We know that the number of Bank Card providers has grown
tremendously over the years and rates have gone up and down
because of that. However, CRMA with our bank card provider,
Global Payments, remain confident that we have the best
overall program on the street for retailers.
Our program offers retailers great up front pricing on
Visa/Master Card rates, check card and debit card rates.
In addition, the CRMA Global payments program has NO HIDDEN
CHARGES!
We have NO statement fees, application fees, or minimum
monthly requirements.
Call Cathy in our office today. She would be happy to show
you how we can save you money!
Retail news and Notes
Moms, daughters embrace multigenerational fashion
Daughters are inheriting their moms' sense of style at a young
age, prompting designers to offer fashions with more edge for
young girls and clothing that invokes memories of a simpler
time for moms. "For the working mom who is pretty much on top
of trends, her kids become a reflection of who they are," the
owner of the Los Angeles boutique Intuition says.
The Indianapolis Star/Associated Press (5/11)
Costco case could cut wine, beer prices nationwide
Wine and beer drinkers across the U.S. could benefit if the
ruling in Costco Wholesale Corp.'s suit challenging Washington
States beer and wine distribution laws is upheld.
The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (5/10)
Retailers urge Senate to vote for Small Business Health
Plans
NRF is urging the Senate to vote in favor of legislation that
would help small employers meet rising health insurance costs
by authorizing the creation of Small Business Health Plans. In
a year when retailers are again facing significant increases
in health care premiums, this legislation would allow small
retailers the opportunity to band together through bona fide
trade and professional associations to purchase affordable
health benefits, NRF Senior Vice President for Government
Relations Steve Pfister said in a letter to senators. The
Senate is expected later this week or early next week to hold
an important procedural vote on S. 1955, the Health Insurance
Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act. Click
here to read more.
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