|
Sponsors
|
 Friday
Facts - Archives -
Month
of October 2004
Current
Week
October 15, 2004
Annual Meeting fast approaching. Attorney General profile. Congratulations to a former
CRMA Board Chair. Member Services Update. Retail News and Notes.
· The CRMA Annual Meeting is now just 9 days away. If you have not already registered, please do so today.
· We are very excited about our meeting this year. We will be returning to the Autorino Great Hall at The Bushnell in Hartford, CT. This is a first rate location with a buffet lunch provided by the Max Restaurant Group, one of CT’s finest restaurant groups.
· Also, this year we are very pleased that CT Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, has agreed to be our keynote speaker. Mr. Blumenthal has served as CT’s AG since 1991 and his office has worked with CRMA on a wide variety of issues that impact retailers.
· We are also very pleased and proud to present our Retailer of the Year Award to Stackpole Moore Tryon. SMT is the oldest men’s and women’s clothing store in CT, and we are proud that they are members of CRMA.
· Please join us this year in what promises to be a great afternoon. If you have not received your registration, you can call our office at 860-527-1044 or print the registration form off our website at www.crmaonline.com.
· Hope to see you all on Oct 26th.
Profile on CRMA’s keynote speaker
· As we mentioned in a previous issue of the Friday Facts, our keynote speaker, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, has gained national prominence during his time as CT Attorney General.
· Blumenthal has been the topic of conversation for many years as a possible Democratic candidate for Governor. Those conversations and rumors are heard more and more these days, especially with the resignation of former Governor John Rowland.
· Although he has been around the Connecticut political circuit for a long time, he still remains somewhat of a mystery as an individual.
· There is a long, fascinating profile on Mr. Blumenthal in the Oct 3rd issue of the Hartford Courant’s Sunday Magazine, Northeast. The article is titled: the Crown Prince, The Public and Private Life of Dick Blumenthal.
· We strongly suggest you take some time and read this piece. You can find it on the courant’s website or by following this link: http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/northeast/hc-blumenthal.artoct03,0,3688838.story
Former CRMA Board Chair named Chairman of Filene’s
· We wanted to extend our congratulations to a former Chair of the CRMA Board of Directors, Mr. Michael Geraghty, as he was recently named Chairman of Filene’s/Kaufmann’s
· Mr. Geraghty served as Chairman of the Board for three years in the late 1980’s. We are extremely happy for him and proud of our association with him and Filene’s, one of our founding members.
· Congratulations Mr. Geraghty and continued success.
Member Services update
· As you know, the CRMA/Global Payments program is one of our top money saving programs for our members.
· Last week we watched with pride as Global Payments Executive Management Team including Paul R. Garcia, Chairman, President and CEO, rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
· Global Payments offers a complete line of processing solutions for credit and debit cards, gift cards, check guarantee, verification and recovery.
· For more information about Global Payments you can visit them online at www.globalpaymentsinc.com.
· Also, CRMA would be happy to help all members with their credit and debit card services. If you are not currently using the CRMA/Global Payments program or are unhappy with your current provider and would like a free quote, call Cathy in our office today.
· Cathy is the CRMA liaison to the Global payments program and can offer you free advice on ways to save money with all your credit, debit and check verification needs. Contact Cathy today at cathy@crmaonline.com, or 860-527-1044
· Also, don’t forget about our new business insurance offering with OneBeacon Insurance
· Remember, now is the time to have your business insurance needs reviewed by our insurance professionals.
· Call or email us today to learn more about this new money saving program that is designed to help small to mid sized retailers.
· Our professional insurance agents will give you a free quote on all of your business insurance needs. Simply call them at 1-800-211-4217 and tell them you are a CT retailer and want to learn more about the CRMA/OneBeacon program.
Retail News and Notes
· Target helps authorities locate criminals
Target has instituted CriMNet in its supply chain systems to assist Minnesota officials in finding criminals by enabling the state's communications systems to talk to one another. The retailer also is involved at the federal level with several public safety projects. "The retail world is a very competitive world. When you have the same commodity and similar prices, giving back to the community and improving community safety helps us stand out," a Target official says. KPMG's Insiders (free registration) (10/1)
· September sales pace far exceeds expectations
Consumers have shaken off their summer slumber and headed back to the stores. Despite unfavorable weather, rising gas prices, and a generally sluggish economy, retail sales in September rose much higher than expected. According to NRF, September retail sales in the GAFS category (general merchandise stores, clothing and clothing accessories stores, furniture and home furnishings stores, electronics and appliances stores, and sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores) rose 6.0 percent over last year and increased 0.7 percent seasonally adjusted from August. Click here for more information. (NRF SmartBrief [nrf@smartbrief.com])
· Sears stores sport an ethnic flare
Courting its minority customers, Sears is converting 97 of its stores across the country to "multicultural stores," which will cater to the sizes and style tastes of Hispanic, Asian and black shoppers. . The Miami Herald (free registration) (10/7)
October 1, 2004
CT Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will be keynote speaker at CRMA Annual Meeting and Luncheon. CRMA announces 2004 Retailer of the Year award recipient. Member Services Update. Retail News and Notes.
· Early this week we sent out a special edition of the Friday Facts announcing CT Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will be our keynote speaker for our 2004 Annual Meeting and Luncheon.
· We are very pleased and honored to have the Attorney General as our speaker. This will be his first time before our group and we are excited that he is joining us.
· As you know, the Attorney General has gained national exposure for his work on a wide variety of issues. Some on our side and some not.
· Formal invitation’s and registration sheets will be sent out to members today. In addition, members can print the registration online today by visiting our website, www.crmaonline.com.
· We hope to see everyone for this event. This is one of our major events on our calendar and we hope that members will take some time out of their schedules to join us and to visit with the Attorney General.
CRMA Retailer of the Year – Stackpole Moore Tryon. – 95 years of excellence
· As is our custom, our Annual Meeting and Luncheon is collimated with the naming and honoring of our Retailer of the Year.
· This year we are especially proud to name Stackpole Moore Tryon as our Retailer of Year.
· SMT is, simply put, a great retail store. They are the oldest continuing operating clothing retailer in the state. This year they are celebrating their 95th birthday. Quite an accomplishment.
· They are lead by a fantastic owner, Cindy Lemery.
· We may be biased because Cindy is a member of our Board, but any objective viewer would agree that operating a retail business in this environment is tough, and to keep a longstanding store, like Stackpole’s, thriving like they have, and up to its standards, is a real challenge.
· Cindy and her team have met those challenges and that is why we are proud to name them our 2004 Retailer of the Year.
· We hope you will join us on Oct 26th at the Bushnell as we recognize Stackpole as our Retailer of the Year.
Member Services Update:
· Many members have business owners policy’s that expire in January. NOW is the time to have those policies’s reviewed and NOW is the time when CRMA’s new program with One Beacon insurance can help.
· If your policy is set to expire in the next couple months, call or email us today for a free quote. We are excited to have this relationship with One Beacon and are confident that we can help members with their business insurance.
· Give us a call or shoot us an email and we will have someone in touch with you ASAP to review your plan. Our office number is 860-527-1044 or you can email us through website, www.crmaonline.com
· Speaking of free review, it is always a good time to review you bankcard processing needs. And we can help you with that program as well.
· The CRMA/Global Payments program is designed to help members with their bottom line in this important part of their business.
· We encourage all members to take out there processing statements and review them carefully. Often times, members just look at the discount rate – which is very important - but don’t always realize that they are paying an enormous amount in other fees.
· The CRMA/Global payments program has no hidden fees. No statement fees, no minimum mark up, no application fee and a reduced chargeback fee.
· Don’t be seduced solely by lower discount rates. Our discount rate is pretty darn good and we don’t have the hidden fees.
· Call Cathy in our office today or email her at cathy@crmaonline.com and she can help you review your statement and maybe save you some money.
Retail News and Notes
· Cash takes a backseat to plastic
Experts say the use of debit, credit and prepaid cards has eclipsed cash for the first time in history, and they expect the trend to continue. Americans are using their plastic for big ticket items as well as small purchases like gas or a cup of coffee. · . The Sun (Baltimore) (free registration) (9/29)
· May stays in-house for new Fields CEO
Following its purchase of Marshall Fields, May Department Stores will move Hecht's CEO Frank J. Guzzetta to become the head of the new acquisition. Washington, D.C.-area business officials credit Guzzetta for his work to fuel development in downtown D.C. · Chicago Sun-Times (9/29)
· Shoppers may not see so many happy returns
Some stores are now carefully tracking shoppers' habits, including ones who are habitual return artists. Consumer advocates say the stores are not telling customers how often is too often when it comes to returns, leaving some consumers confused when they are denied the right to bring back merchandise. · CBS MarketWatch (free registration) (9/29)
|
