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Facts - Archives -
Month of September 2006Current
Week
September 29, 2006
Zane’s 2006 Retail of the Year
2006 Award Winners for Excellence in Retailing
New Member Services Offering
Workers Comp Update
Latest Q Poll Shows Lieberman Holding Steady Lead
Retail News and Notes
• CRMA is very pleased and proud to announce today our winners
of the Retailer of the Year and Excellence Awards in
Retailing.
• The 2006 CRMA awards include Retailer of the year,
Excellence in Community Service and Excellence in Customer
Service.
• The 2006 Retailer of the Year Award will be presented to The
World Famous Zane’s Cycles of Branford. Zane’s award will be
accepted by its owner and dynamic leader Chris Zane.
• Zane’s encompasses all that we look for when selecting a
Retailer of the Year; he excels in the categories of
marketing, customer service, community service and employee
relations.
• Zane’s will follow a long line of outstanding of CT
retailers to receive this award. We are proud to name Zane’s
as our 2006 Retailer of the Year and offer our congratulations
to Chris and his outstanding team.
2006 Award Winners for Excellence in
Retailing
• In addition to our Retailer of the Year, we will also be
recognizing two retailers for their excellence in Retailing.
• Pilgrim Furniture City, a great CT based home furnishings
retailer will receive our 2006 Excellence in Community
Service.
• Pilgrim Furniture City is lead by it two great leaders, Mike
Albert, Owner & President and Steve Bichunsky, Vice President,
who are committed to the community in which they serve.
• Each year, Pilgrim holds events throughout the year to give
back to the community. They hold an annual golf tournament for
the United Way; their warehouse is the home base for the toys
for tots program.
• In addition, a recent spectacular redesign of their store
now includes a café where all proceeds go to local charities.
• Horan’s Flowers and Gifts will receive the 2006 CRMA
Excellence in Customer Service.
• Horan’s a third generation retailer, who’s owner Tom Horan
impressed our committee so much with his warm and inviting
nature and strong commitment to his customers.
• For the highly competitive business they are in and for
their strength of character and commitment to their customers,
Horan’s is a worthy recipient of our 2006 award for Excellence
in Customer Service.
• With so many outstanding retailers in CT, it was hard for
our committee to narrow down the list of this year’s award
winners. But, we think you will agree that this year’s class
represents the very best of what CT offers in retailing.
• Congratulations to the 2006 award recipients!
• Please join us on Oct 19th to celebrate these retailers at
our Annual Meeting and Luncheon. Go to our website for more
information.
New Member Services Offering
• We are happy today to announce that we have a new member
services offering.
• John Hancock Insurance and CRMA have teamed up to offer
members a discounted Long Term Insurance product.
• Long Term Insurance protects assets and independence at any
age due to unforeseen accidents and/or illness.
• This coverage includes benefits for Home Health Care, as
well as facility care. Premiums are based on your age and
health at the time of purchase.
• Best of all, as a member benefit, you and your family are
entitled to a special group discount with John Hancock.
• To learn more about this important member benefit please
call Michael J. Lehrhaupt, toll free at 1-800-661-0253 or at
mlehrhaupt@jhnetwork.com.
• Be sure to mention to Michael that you are a member of CRMA
to receive the added benefits.
Workers Comp Update
• One last member service update, our efforts to form a
retailer’s only self insured workers comp program is making
tremendous strides.
• We are very close to meeting the threshold for our first
phase of the project and urge members to call K.C. Cook if
they have not done so already. He can be reached at (203)
464-4516 or
kcook@abiagency.net. You can also call our office to learn
more about the project @ (860) 527-1044.
• Remember: our goal is to form a RETAILERS ONLY self insured
Workers Compensation group. Call us today for more
information!
Latest Q Poll Shows Lieberman Holding
Steady Lead
• Because there has been so much national discussion of the
local U.S. Senate race between Joe Lieberman and Ned Lamont,
we wanted to give you a quick update.
• First, the latest poll numbers: from a recent Quinnipiac
poll has Lieberman leading the race over Lamont 49% to 39%
with GOP candidate Allan Schlesinger getting 5% with 7% still
undecided.
• Here are two interesting quotes from that race. First from
GOP Candidate Allan Schlesinger, who as we mentioned is
currently tracking at 5% talking about Lieberman:
• “I think he’s very concerned that we’re within striking
distance of winning this.”
• And the second from Quinnipiac pollster Douglas Schwartz,
“Ned Lamont has lost momentum. He’s gained only two points in
6 weeks. He is going to have to do something different in the
next six weeks or Sen. Joseph Lieberman stays in for another
six years.”
Retail News and Notes
• Housing market not dampening consumer confidence. Consumer
spending is on the upswing right now as personal income is up,
late credit payments are in check and fuel prices are
dropping, according to industry statistics that reveal the
slowing housing market is not undercutting consumers. Analysts
are at odds as to whether household wealth or available equity
will determine consumer-spending levels.
BusinessWeek
(10/9)
• Clothing, electronics among expected holiday season winners:
Online retailing also is forecast to make a strong showing
during the holiday selling season, according to Retail
Forward, which expects holiday sales to be slightly above the
National Retail Federation's predicted 5% increase.
CNNmoney.com/Fortune
• De Niro becomes unofficial role model for trans-fat ban. In
a recent news conference, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg,
with actor Robert De Niro standing behind him, defended the
city's proposed ban on trans-fat oil in its restaurants. De
Niro-owned Nobu and Tribeca Grill were used by the mayor as
examples of successful establishments that don't use trans-fat
products.
The Washington Post/Associated Press (free registration)
(9/28)
September 8, 2006
Annual Luncheon
Election 2006 Update
Member Service Update
Retail News and Notes
• We lead off this weeks FF with a kick off of our Annual
Meeting and Luncheon.
• The final details of the event are in place and invitations
and registrations will be mailed on Monday.
Here is a preview:
• The event will be held on Thursday, Oct 19, 2006 in the
Bushnell’s Autorino Great Hall.
• Registration will begin at 11:30 with the luncheon starting
at 12:00.
• We will be giving out our annual award to the CRMA 2006
Retailer of the Year at our luncheon.
• The cost of the luncheon is $55 per person, with tables of 8
available for $400.
• We also a have a number of Sponsorships available that
include tickets to the luncheon and special recognition thou
ought the day.
• As we mentioned, all the details will be sent to members
next week and information will be posted on our website.
• We are excited about this year’s event including returning
to the Bushnell. It is a first class setting with outstanding
food catered by the Max Restaurant Group.
• We look forward to seeing you there!
Election 2006 Update
• In the battle for the 4th Congressional District seat in
Congress; Rep. Christopher Shays is in a battle to retain his
seat against former Wilton First Selectman Dianne Farrell.
• The two campaigns announced this week that they have agreed
to 11 debates in the months of September and October.
• Meanwhile, in the 2nd CD, former President H.W. Bush was in
the state this week to stump for incumbent Rob Simmons.
• Simmons is in a close race with challenger Joe Courtney, a
former member of the Ct House of Representatives and
Democratic Lt. Governor candidate.
• Those two races, along with another close race in the 5th CD
where incumbent Nancy Johnson has her hands full with State
Sen. Chris Murphy, have once again put CT on the national map
for election night.
• Our spotlight this week, in State Legislative races, is on
the 14th Senatorial district which includes Milford, parts of
West Haven and parts of Orange.
• There freshmen Democrat Senator Gayle Slossberg is being
challenged by Republican Barbara Lisman. Lisman is the wife of
the late Mayor of Milford, Fred Lisman.
• The 14th District had been an automatic for the GOP for over
20 years.
• The Republicans held that seat from 1980 until Slossberg
knocked off Win Smith two years ago in an upset.
• If the GOP is to regain the majority in the State Senate
they must win this seat. They are hoping that Lisman’s strong
name recognition will be enough to win back the seat.
Member Service Update
• Remember if you are not satisfied with your current credit
card processor, CRMA can help.
• Our program with Global Payments provides members with great
rates, no hidden fees and great service.
• If you are interested in getting a free quote on your Bank
Card rates, please call Cathy in our office today.
• Also, another week and another positive update on our
efforts to form a RETAILER’S ONLY self insured workers
compensation trust.
• This week 3 more members submitted their workers comp
information to us and we are very close to our goal. WE NEED
YOUR HELP TO PUT THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER. IT CAN BE A GREAT WAY
FOR MEMBERS TO SAVE MONEY AND HELP THE ASSOCIATION GROW!
• Please call or email us today for more information.
Retail New and Notes
• RETAIL VETERAN JOINS BERNIE’S AS PRESIDENT – Enfield, CT
Sept. 6, 2006 – Retail veteran Mike Honeyman has joined
Bernie’s as its President and Chief Operating Officer. Milton
Rosenberg, the company’s current President and
second-generation owner, and member of the CRMA Board of
Directors will remain actively involved in the business as
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Go to
www.bernies.com to
read more.
• Macy's wants to be "wherever" shoppers are; Macy's this week
is rolling out a national ad campaign to promote the
conversion of 400 former May units by parent Federated
Department Stores. The "wherever you are" campaign, whose
budget will exceed the $100 million Macy's spent on
advertising last year, will feature "Dancing in the
Street"-themed cable and network TV spots, as well as print
ads in newspapers and fashion magazines.
USA TODAY (9/5), The
Wall Street Journal
(subscription required) (9/5)
• Retailers go high-tech to combat shoplifters. As
professional shoplifters proliferate, retailers are
increasingly trying to foil crimes with advanced technology
such as surveillance software that tracks shoppers' movements
and RFID-equipped shopping carts. "It won't be long before
retailers link their store data to crime reports and
statistical analysis to predict losses," a National Retail
Federation official says.
BusinessWeek (9/11)
September 1, 2006
Retailer of the Year Nominations Submitted
Workers Compensation Survey Closer to Goal
Election Update
Retail News and Notes
• As we informed you in last weeks FF, the deadline for
nominating a retailer for this years Retailer of the Year was
Friday of last week.
• As we go to print with this weeks FF, we have a number of
outstanding nominations to consider.
• After Labor Day, our committee will get together and begin
the process of reviewing the nominations and will have an
announcement soon.
• In the meantime look for information regarding our Annual
Meeting and Luncheon, where we honor our Retailer of the Year.
• We are working on the final details and hope to have all of
that ironed out by the end of next week.
• If you are interested in being a sponsor for our Annual
Meeting, which will be held October 19, 2006 at the Bushnell’s
Autorino Great Hall in Hartford, please contact Cathy in our
office today.
• We also want to thank all those members who nominated a
retailer for the Retailer of the Year. We appreciate it!
Workers Compensation Survey Closer to
Goal
• As we mentioned in last weeks FF, we are moving forward with
a very exciting and potentially great money saving program for
members – a Retailers-only Self Insured Workers Compensation
Fund.
• This week some more members stepped up and agreed to
participate in our first stage of the process, the gathering
of information needed to conduct an actuarial study of various
retail class codes.
• We are very encouraged by the support we have received from
members and are nearing our goal of gathering enough
information to produce the study.
• But, we are not there yet. If you are interested in
participating in the study, again no commitments are needed,
just information, please call our office today or contact KC
Cook from ABI Insurance (1-800-211-4217 ex 229 or
kcook@abiagency.net
today!
• We are close to our goal but we still need your help! Please
consider helping us today by giving KC a call.
Election Update
• With the summer officially over this weekend, the campaign
season will really heat up.
• We’ve told you about the big ones, Lamont vs Lieberman and
the Governor’s race Rell vs DeStefano, but all members of the
General Assembly and the rest of the Congressional races along
with the other constitutional officers are up for grabs as
well.
• This week we want to inform you of a couple of interesting
State House and State Senate races to keep an eye on as we
move closer to Election Day in November.
• In the State Senate 7th District old friend Senator John
Kissell is running for reelection against former House Member
and now retired teacher Bill Kiner.
• Kiner was a member of the House in the 1980’s and is making
his second attempt to unseat Kissell. Kissell has been a
member of the State Senate for 7 terms and has been a good
friend to retailers.
• Another interesting race in the 37th House District; where a
retailer is facing a freshman House Member.
• The 37th district includes the towns of East Lyme and Salem
and it is where Paul Formica, owner of Flanders Fish Market
and former winner of the 2005 Retailer of the Year for
Marketing Innovation will challenge Ed Jutila.
• Formica is a very popular local official who has experience
on local boards and commissions and will give Rep. Jutila as
much as he can handle.
• We will keep you up to date on these races as well as others
that we see pop up from time to time.
• If you have an interesting House or Senate race in your
district that you would like to share with us, please let us
know and we will include it in our election update in upcoming
FF’s.
Retail News and Notes
• Back-to-school sales gives teen retailers a reason to smile
American Eagle Outfitters and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. posted
positive August sales as teens shopped for the trends to
return to school in fashion. Retailers that cater to adults,
such as AnnTaylor Stores, however, continued to feel the pinch
from higher gas prices and a cooling housing market.
The Boston Globe /Reuters (8/31)
• L.L. Bean plans fivefold retail store increase
Armed with a new retail strategy, L.L. Bean is gearing up to
open 26 stores in the U.S. over the next several years --
international expansion also is under consideration. The new
stores will offer outdoor discovery schools, a wide range of
inventory and accessible parking.
The Boston Globe (9/1)
• Little black dress has Nike sitting pretty
Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova and her sleek cocktail
dress-cum-tennis outfit are helping Nike garner lots of
attention this week with the U.S. Open taking place in
Flushing, N.Y. Sharapova also stars in a Nike ad campaign
featuring the song "I feel Pretty" that juxtaposes her
"pretty" looks with her athleticism.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (8/31)
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