|
Sponsors
|
 Friday
Facts - Archives -
Month of Nov 2007Current
Week
November 30, 2007
CRMA Endorses Energy Supplier
Annual Luncheon Has Largest Turnout Ever!
Member Services Update
Retail News & Notes
• Over the course of the year we have talked a lot about the
desire on the part of CRMA to find the right energy supplier
to endorse.
• We are very happy today to announce that we have found that
supplier.
• Beginning in early 2008, CRMA Members will have the choice
of where to purchase their energy due to an arrangement we
have worked out with our energy provider, Integrys Energy.
• Thru the exclusive arrangement we have made with Integrys,
Members will be able to take advantage of the group purchasing
power of the Association.
• We will be sending you information shortly outlining the
details of the plan, which will include fixed pricing updated
on a weekly basis.
• In addition, CRMA has reviewed and approved the agreements
that Members and Integrys will enter into so that your best
interests are protected.
• We are very excited to add this new service to our menu of
products that we offer Members.
• If you are interested in learning more about this program,
you can contact our office immediately at 860-527-1044 or by
emailing Cathy in our office at
cathy@crmaonline.com
• You can also learn more about Integrys by visiting their
website
www.integrysenergy.com.
CRMA Annual Luncheon has Largest Turnout
Ever!
• Our Annual Luncheon is done for the year and we are very
proud of this year’s event.
• Over 125 people gathered in the Autorino Great Hall of the
Bushnell Theatre to honor this year’s award winners.
• We thank all of you who attended and especially thank our
sponsors for their help in putting this year’s event together.
• Finally, we congratulate once again this year’s award
winners and already are looking forward to the 2008 awards
luncheon.
• Also, we want to thank those Members that came early and
attended our Legislative Panel Discussion.
• Thanks to the positive result we received with that portion
of the day, we will look to include it in next year’s event as
well.
• Again, we thank all of our members and friends who attended
and hope to see everybody next year!
Member Service Update
• With the Holiday Season off and running, we understand it
may be difficult for Members to carve out some time to
consider some of our money saving programs.
• However, please keep us in mind if during this busy season
you have any questions or concerns that you think we can help
with.
• Specifically, if you have any problems with your credit card
processor, Cathy in our office is here to help.
• Cathy is very knowledgeable in the inner workings of the
bank card business and would be happy to assist any Member,
regardless if they process with us or not.
• And, we are still working towards our goal of a
retailers-only self insured workers compensation group. It is
never too late to call if you are interested in gaining more
information about that program.
• Finally, as the season heats up and you consider adding new
employees CRMA has a program with Castle Branch for employee
background checks.
• CRMA members will receive 15% off background check services
when you mention the CRMA Foundation in your correspondence
with them.
• For more information on Castle Branch please go to
www.castlebranch.com.
• To get started, please contact Charlie Kessler at
1-888-723-4263 ext 7118. Don’t forget to mention the CRMA
Foundation to receive the 15% discount on your services.
Retail News & Notes
•
Bath & Body Works trims outside brand offerings
Bath & Body Works has cut its vendor list by 50% as it
reverses an earlier strategy to create large stores and add
more outside brands to its offerings. "We still feel very
strongly about third-party brands and continue to carry them.
We continue to look for not only new items within the brands
we carry, but also additional brands," CEO Diane Neal said. "I
personally think we over-assorted ourselves, and we are really
just right-sizing."
Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (11/30)
•
Best Buy boosts products, customer service during holiday
season
Fifty-eight percent of Americans will buy consumer electronics
over the 2007 holiday season, a Best Buy holiday survey
reveals, and the electronics retailer is pulling out all the
stops to offer enhanced in-store and online shopping. "We
start holiday planning 11 months in advance so we can provide
the very best experience possible," company President and COO
Brian Dunn said. "Our holiday approach is focused on bringing
our customers complete gift solutions by offering a wide range
of products, knowledgeable sales associates, and premium
service to customers whether it's in store, online or through
our phone channel."
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) (11/29)
•
Apple invites shoppers to "use the stuff"
Technology lovers are flocking to the Apple Store in
Manhattan, but their goal often is to just look and touch, not
buy. With Apple's earnings leaping 67% over the last quarter,
rival retailers are eyeing the company's hands-off sales
approach that encourages shoppers to sample products in the
store at their leisure.
MSNBC (11/29)
November 9, 2007
Legislative Panel Highlights/2007 CRMA Annual Luncheon and
Awards Ceremony
CRMA to Honor Four Connecticut Based Retailers
CRMA President Appointed to Streamline Tax Task Force
Member Services Update
Retail News and Notes
• Our Annual Luncheon is now just six days away.
• If you would like to attend there are still some seats
available, but please do not delay in contacting us.
• You can also register online by visiting us at our website.
• This year we are very proud to add a Legislative Panel prior
to the lunch.
• We have four of the top Legislative Leaders from both
parties and both chambers who will discuss issues that are
impacting retailers and the rest of the state.
• The legislative panel begins at 10:00am and will be held in
the Seaverns Room at the Bushnell.
• If you are planning on attending the lunch, we urge you come
to a little early and attend our legislative panel. You will
get a chance to talk to these Legislative Leaders about the
many issues that impact retailers.
CRMA to Honor Four Connecticut Based
Retailers
• As excited as we are that we will have top legislative
leaders in attendance, we do not for a minute want to take
away from the luncheon where we will be honoring four of the
best retailers in CT.
• This year we will honor, Michaels Jewelers (www.michaelsjewelers.com)
with our highest honor, The Retailer of the Year Award.
• In addition, we will recognize, for their outstanding work
and accomplishments the following retailers:
• Katz Ace Hardware, Glastonbury, for Excellence in Marketing
(www.katzhardware.com),
dotcom Wine and Spirits of West Hartford for Excellence in
Customer Service (www.dotcomwines.com),
Mariella Creations Bridal Shop of Rocky Hill for Excellence in
Community Service (www.mariellacreations.com).
• Again we are extremely proud to issue these awards. They are
all outstanding examples of what great retailers we have in
this state and we urge all of you to visit their websites and
then visit their stores!
• Come to our celebration on November 15th to join us in
honoring these worthy retailers.
CRMA President Appointed to Streamline
Tax Task Force
• Speaker of the House Jim Amann, recently appointed CRMA
President Tim Phelan to the Streamlined Sales Tax Commission
that was created by PA -07 -4 Section 100.
• This commission which includes the chairs and ranking
members of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and
other appointments, will examine if and how CT can comply with
the Streamlined Sales Tax Simplification effort.
• We are very pleased to have a seat on this important
commission and will keep you up to date on its progress.
Member Service Update
• We are very close to an announcement concerning a Retail
Energy Supplier.
• Our goal is to make that announcement at our Annual Luncheon
and we are still on track. Look for more information about
this new member service offering very soon.
• As we get closer to the Holiday Season, now is the best time
to examine your Bankcard Program to ensure you are not paying
too much in fees.
• If you are interested in switching processors, Cathy in our
office can make that transition easy for you. We urge you to
call her today at 860-527-1044 or email her at
cathy@crmaonline.com.
• Another New Partnership…The CRMA Foundation has partnered
with Castle Branch to offer CRMA members 15% off background
check services when you mention the CRMA Foundation in your
correspondence with them.
• For more information on Castle Branch please go to
www.castlebranch.com.
• To get started, please contact Charlie Kessler at
1-888-723-4263 ext 7118. Don’t forget to mention the CRMA
Foundation to receive the 15% discount on your services!!
Retail News and Notes
•
Retailers unveil aggressive online incentives
Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, a division of
the NRF, speaks about incentives retailers are offering to
boost online shopping this year. "The biggest incentive will
be free shipping. Sometimes they'll require a minimum purchase
size and sometimes it will be completely free regardless of
the size of the order," he says. Other incentives include
Internet-only sales and gift cards.
Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (11/6)
•
Sears launches integrated marketing campaign,
Sears' holiday marketing campaign is "more diversified" than
in previous years, said Richard Gerstein, SVP and chief
marketing officer, in a statement. The campaign combines
television and radio spots, new functions on the Sears.com Web
site, print magazine inserts for certain products, additional
online media, sweepstakes, catalogs, direct mail and circulars
-- all built around the theme of the company's relaunched
holiday Wish Book.
DMNews
(11/7)
• Best Buy strategy: Cater to best-spending customers rather
than operating as a discounter, Best Buy's new strategy is to
focus on competitively priced high-end products and services
such as installation. The retailer is also using its Reward
Zone program to market high-demand items to its best-spending
customers.
The Wall Street Journal (free content)
(11/7)
November 2, 2007
CRMA Annual Luncheon Now Just Two Weeks Away
Legislative Panel Kicks Off the Day
Retailer’s Only Self Insured Group Gains Key Endorsement
Member Services Update
Retail News and Notes
• The CRMA Annual Luncheon is fast approaching.
• This year’s event will be held on Thursday November 15, 2007
at the Bushnell Theater’s Autorino Room.
• If you have not sent in your registration form, please do so
today. The room is filling up for this year’s luncheon which
will once again honor some of CT’s leading retailers.
• You can fill out a registration form on line and return it
to us by visiting our website www.crmaonline.com.
• We look forward to seeing you on the 15th.
Legislative Panel Kicks off the Day
• This year we have added a new wrinkle to the day by
including a Legislative Panel that begins at 10:00 am in the
Seaverns Room of the Bushnell.
• Four of the top legislative leaders from the State
Legislature will discuss the many issues that are facing
retailers in CT.
• You will not want to miss this discussion. It will be
moderated by Channel 30’s chief political reporter Tom Monahan
and is open to all members who have registered for the
luncheon.
• Please make every effort to come early and participate in
this unique opportunity.
Retailer’s Only Self Insured Group Gains
Key Endorsement
• Over the past year we have been making slow but steady
progress towards forming a Retailer’s Only Self Insured
Workers Comp Group.
• Many of you have participated to date, but we need more.
• Please send us your latest Workers Comp premium information
so that we can include it in a critical part of our effort –
an actuarial study that determines the potential savings
members will receive if the group gets up and running.
• Call our office today or call Frank Michaud, from ABI
insurance at 1-800-211-4217 (ext 226) for more information.
• Finally, this week we may have cleared a very big hurdle
imposed by the State-the group’s net worth.
• The State requires the proposed SIG have a net worth of
$5million but they must be backed up with audited financials.
Thanks to two members, the latest coming this week, we will be
able to meet those standards and move to the next step in the
process.
• To those two members, a big thanks for your support!
Member Services Update
• This week, Cathy Peruccio in our office singed up a new
member on our Bank Card program saving them a considerable
amount of money.
• Cathy is off and running with this program with other
retailers in the pipe line ready to go but she would be happy
to find ways to save you money on your bank card needs as
well.
• We strongly urge you to email her today at
cathy@crmaonline.com
and have her show you how she can save you money on your bank
card needs.
• We remain on track to endorse an energy supplier by the time
of our Annual Meeting in two weeks. Stay tuned for more
information about that program.
• Finally, health insurance remains a big cost to all size
retailers. CRMA can help you in that area by finding the right
plan for your company. Call us today for more information on
ways to deal with the ever increasing health care costs.
• Another New Partnership…The CRMA Foundation has partnered
with Castle Branch to offer CRMA members 15% off background
check services when you mention the CRMA Foundation in your
correspondence with them.
• For more information on Castle Branch please go to
www.castlebranch.com.
• To get started, please contact Charlie Kessler at
1-888-723-4263 ext 7118. Don’t forget to mention the CRMA
Foundation to receive the 15% discount on your services!!
Retail News and Notes
• Congratulations to CRMA member and former Board Member Cindy
Lemery on the sale of her great, landmark store in downtown
Hartford, Stackpole Moore Tyron to Ron and Jody Morneault.
• We are very proud to have Stackpole as a member and very
appreciative of Cindy’s service on our Board of Directors. We
are excited about the future of Stackpole under the dynamic
leadership of Ron and Jody Morneault.
•
Black Friday coming early for retailers wary of slow season
reflecting their
concerns about a weak holiday shopping season, Wal-Mart, Toys
"R" Us and other major retailers will start offering big
discounts and special deals this Friday, about three weeks
ahead of the traditional post-Thanksgiving sales. "This is
clearly a win-win situation for consumers," said Ken Perkins,
president of
MSNBC/Associated Press
(10/31)
•
Merchants rev up e-marketing for holiday season
retailers are developing new online promotions and spending
additional funds on search-engine marketing as they prepare
for a holiday shopping season that is expected to be soft on
sales, a survey by Internet Retailer reveals. Almost 77% of
retailers predict that online holiday sales will grow by 20%
or less this year, and 55.3% say holiday purchases account for
more than 25% of their annual sales, according to the survey.
More than 70% of respondents are taking steps to improve their
Web site performance to drive more sales.
Internet Retailer (11/1)
|
