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 Friday
Facts
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January 22, 2010
Loss Prevention Professionals to Hold Meeting Next Week
Appliance Rebate Program
Election 2010 Update
CRMA Legislative Committee Meeting Notice
Member Services
Retail News and Notes
• On Wednesday January 27, 2010, CRMA and Westfield Meriden
Mall will be Co-hosting the first in a series of Loss
Prevention Regional meetings we plan on holding in 2010.
• The meeting will begin at 9:00 with coffee and registration.
The roundtable discuss will begin at 10:00 with a welcome from
the Meriden Police Chief.
• The meeting will take place at the Upper Level – JC Penney
Wing (Across from The Limited) of the mall.
• Registration is filling up so if you have not yet had the
chance to register for this event, please call or email Cathy
in our office at 860-527-1044 or
cathy@crmaonline.com.
Appliance Rebate Program
• Many of our members participated in a webinar this week to
review CT’s new Appliance Rebate Program.
• The rebate program will begin on Monday January 25th and run
until April, when it is anticipated that there may be another
phase to the program.
• By now members should be familiar with the details of the
program, but if you are not, please call our office today and
we will forward you the information.
• Also, there will be another webinar on Tuesday Jan. 26th at
10:00 to review the program again. So, if you would like to
participate in that webinar, please call or email us today for
information about how to log on.
Election 2010 Update
• As if CT needed another jolt to its election year politics,
the election of Massachusetts State Senator Scott Brown as the
new United States Senator in that state, sent a very strong
message to office seekers here in CT.
• In addition to giving strong hopes to those who are running
AGAINST Attorney General Richard Blumenthal for the US Senate
seat that they still have a chance despite bad poll numbers,
they also instilled a sense of hope in the whole Republican
Party in CT.
• The GOP is now filled with a renewed sense of purpose as
they approach this legislative session and the upcoming
November election.
• And, in case you did not know this, Scott Brown has a
brother who lives in CT and is now being courted by House
Minority Leader Larry Cafero to run for the Legislature here
in CT.
• Meanwhile, another week another candidate for state wide
office.
• This week House Finance Committee Chair, Rep. Cameron
Staples, (D-New Haven) announced his running for the now open
seat for Attorney General.
• Staples will have to go up against Secretary of the State
Susan Bysiewicz who dropped out of the running for Governor to
run for the AG spot and former State Senator George Jepson.
• Also, Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry
Farrell announced last week that he is seeking the Republican
Nomination for the office of Secretary of State.
CRMA Legislative Committee Meeting
Notice
• On Tuesday of this week, the CRMA Legislative Committee will
hold its first meeting of the year to talk about the upcoming
session and some of the politics that we can expect.
• The meeting, which is open to all members, will be held on
Wednesday, January 27th, at 3:00 p.m. EST.
• We will send a reminder notice to all members of the
Legislative Committee on Monday, but if you are not a member
of the Legislative Committee and would like to participate in
this weeks call, please call our office today for the call in
number.
Member Services
• We are pleased to inform you today that CRMA has a new
Energy Supply Program that we are confident will save money on
your utility bill.
• CRMA and Public Power of Danbury CT, (www.publicpowerllc.com)
have teamed up to offer a great way for members to save money
on their energy bills.
• We will make a more formal announcement in next weeks FF,
but if you are interested in signing up today for that new
program we are open for business and would love to make you
the first member to sign up!
• If you are currently purchasing your power with either CL&P
or UI we know that we can reduce your cost. We promise you
that. Just call us and we can show you how.
Retail News and Notes
•
Bloomingdale's takes aim at outlet shoppers
Macy's, in its first foray into the outlet mall, will open
four Bloomingdale's outlet stores this year to sell a mix of
clearance merchandise and original products. The company said
it is also exploring the idea of opening Macy's outlets. As
fashion-focused shoppers have become more budget-conscious,
high-end retailers see outlet stores as a key to increasing
sales. Recently, Saks revealed its strategy to outfit its
outlets with original, lower-priced products.
The Miami Herald (1/21) ,
The Wall Street Journal (1/21)       
• Target
aims for renovation rather than growth
Target says it is scaling back plans for store openings and
will instead spend $1 billion this year on store renovations
that will add bigger grocery sections with perishable foods.
The company says it plans to open fewer than 10 stores this
year and that it is developing a smaller format for urban
markets.
Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.)/The Associated
Press (1/21) ,
The Wall Street Journal (1/22) ,
MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (1/21) ,
CNNMoney.com/Dow Jones Newswires (1/21) 
• Favre
comes out of retirement for funny Sears spots
In a continuation of a one-off commercial NFL quarterback
Brett Favre did for Sears last year, the retail chain is
launching a series of ads featuring the longtime player. This
year's spots, which aim for the funny bone, are slated to air
during this weekend's playoff games. Sears is counting on the
ads to boost sales of TV packages.
MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (1/21)
January 15,
2010
Political Musical Chairs Continues
Number of Candidates for Governor Now at 12
OPM to Host Webinar on Appliance Rebate Program
CRMA to Co-Host Loss Prevention Roundtable
Retail News and Notes
• The Connecticut political version of musical chairs
continued this week.
• Yesterday, CT Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz
formally announced that she would abandon her bid to gain the
Democratic nomination for Governor and instead run for the now
vacant seat for the Democratic nomination for Attorney
General.
• Bysiewicz is running for the AG spot because the current
holder of that seat, Richard Blumenthal is running for the US
Senate seat that is being vacated by Chris Dodd.
• But, as soon as Bysiewicz announced she was running she got
hit by other Democrats who want that seat who are making
claims that she is not qualified for that seat.
• You can check out that story and more by going to the
Hartford Courant’s political blog,
http://blogs.courant.com/capitol.watch.
Number of Candidates for Governor Now at
12
• While State Sen. John McKinney (R- Fairfield) announced this
week that he would NOT seek the Republican nomination for
Attorney General, making it now two statewide offices he will
not seek, another person decided they wanted to get back in
the game.
• Former congressman and University of New Haven President
Lawrence DeNardis held a presser this week to tell the state
that he was running for the Republican nomination for
Governor.
• DeNardis’s entry into the race for Governor brings the total
number of folks who have either officially announced they are
in or have strong “exploratory” committees to 12.
• Here is a rundown by Party.
• For the D’s, who have 7 interested candidates, they are:
Former House Speaker Jim Amann, (D- Milford) State Senator
Gary LeBeau (D- East Hartford) former Stamford Mayor Dan
Malloy, Greenwich millionaire and former Democratic candidate
for US Senate Ned Lamont, Simsbury First Selectman Mary
Glassman, former Hartford State Rep., Juan Figueroa (who may
end up with an independent run but for now we will put him
with the D’s) and Ridgefield First Selectman, Rudy Marconi
• For the Republican’s, who have 5 interested candidates the
list looks like this:
• Lt. Governor Mike Fedele, former ambassador to Ireland Tom
Foley, DeNardis, Metro Hartford Chamber Executive Nelson “Oz”
Griebel and Chester First Selectman, Tom Marsh.
• Twelve and counting. We will keep you updated on CT
political musical chairs in next week’s FF.
OPM to Host Webinar on Appliance Rebate
Program
• CRMA has learned that the Office of Policy and Management
will be hosting a webinar on a new Appliance Rebate Program
that the State of CT will participate in on Jan 20, 2009 at
10:00 am.
• The state expects to receive $3.4 million for the State
Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program when their
application is approved by the Department of Energy.
• The webinar is designed to give retailers participating in
the program detailed information about the program and answer
any questions.
• If you are interested in participating in this webinar
please call our office today for more information at
860-527-1044.
CRMA to Co-Host Loss Prevention
Roundtable
• On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, at the Westfield Meriden
Mall CRMA will be Co-Hosting an event to discuss Loss
Prevention issues in CT.
• It will take place from 9:00 – 11:30 am on the upper level
of the Westfield Meriden Mall in the JC Penney Wing (across
from the Limited)
• The event is open to all members and is free of charge. For
more information or to RSVP please call Cathy Peruccio in our
office @860-527-1044 or via email @
cathy@crmaonline.com.
Retail News and Notes
•
U.S. retail chains among those aiding earthquake relief.
The nonprofit arms of Publix Super Markets and Wal-Mart are
among a slew of U.S. companies and foundations pledging aid to
earthquake-torn Haiti this week. The Wal-Mart Foundation has
pledged $500,000 in cash and is sending $100,000 worth of
food, and Publix Super Markets Charities is donating $100,000.
San Jose Mercury News (Calif.)/The Associated Press (1/13)
•
Zale makes changes at the top focuses on diamonds, three
top Zale Corp. executives left the company this week,
including CEO Neal Goldberg. The departures come as the
company repositions to focus on its core diamond business
after several losing quarters. "Our board is determined to do
all in its power to put in place effective leadership to help
return the company to profitability," said Zale Chairman John
B. Lowe.
The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires (1/13)
•
Holiday season ends on high note as sales rise 1.1%
Stronger-than-expected December sales resulted in a total
holiday sales increase of 1.1%, NRF reported this morning.
Though the increase remained much lower than the 10-year
average, sales were higher than NRF had been forecasting.
Apparel and sporting-goods stores performed well, providing
hope that the industry is beginning to recover.
Read the news release.
January 8, 2010
Election Year Scramble Keeps Adding Candidates
Start of the Legislative Session Looming with Rough Waters
Ahead
CRMA Legislative Committee Update
Retail News and Notes
• Ok, we are now about 48 hours from the news that Senator
Chris Dodd will not seek reelection for his 5th term this fall
and it is getting hard to keep track of who is seeking what
job.
• As we mentioned in yesterday’s special FF within hours of
Dodd’s announcement Connecticut’s current Attorney General
Richard Blumenthal announced his intention to seek the
Democratic nomination for the US Senate and with that, became
the instant favorite.
• Despite the Dodd announcement none of the current Republican
candidates for that seat changed their minds, which is not
unexpected, but they found that they will have to shift gears
because who they thought they were taking on is not there
anymore.
• Meanwhile, with Blumenthal’s announcement some of the
Democrats that were interested in running for Governor are now
taking a look at the AG seat.
• Today, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, who was an
unofficial candidate for Governor, openly stated that she has
friends that are encouraging her to take a look at the AG spot
and that she is going to do just that.
• One of her rivals for the Democratic nomination for Governor
former Stamford Mayor, Dan Malloy indicated that he has no
plans to look at the AG spot and that it is full speed ahead
for Governor.
• In addition, one more Democrat threw his hat into the ring
for Governor yesterday.
• Former State Rep. Juan Figueroa announced that he too is
interested in the top spot.
• That makes the total number of folks interested in the seat
that is being vacated by incumbent Governor M. Jodi Rell to 8
– as of today. Who knows it could increase by next week’s FF.
• And, by next week we may have even more candidates for the
open AG seat as well.
• The news, first of Governor Rell then of Sen. Dodd
announcing they will no longer hold their seats, has created a
wild set of circumstances and we will try our best to keep you
up-to-date on who is interested in what seats and how the
candidates are doing.
Start of the Legislative Session Looming
with Rough Waters Ahead
• We can’t forget that, behind all these announcements about
who is running against whom and for what seat, is the prospect
that the CT General Assembly will begin the next formal
session about a month from now.
• We also can’t forget that ALL members of that body are up
for re-election in 2010 as well.
• The State’s current fiscal problems have not improved
despite a pretty good Christmas season and a corresponding
increase in the sales tax collection.
• The General Assembly’s Democratic membership cannot agree
with Governor Rell on any deficit mitigation plan with the
latest attempt at comprise ending with the Governor’s veto of
the Democrats budget plan.
• Our sense is that there really is no next move on the part
of the General Assembly and they simply will wait until the
start of the next session to deal with the budget.
• In their mind, they passed a two year budget and if they
have to they will make “adjustments” during the regular
session. Even if things are getting worse not better.
CRMA Legislative Committee Update
• Our Legislative Committee will be holding an organizational
meeting, including reviewing issues and setting a schedule for
next year, soon.
• We are looking at some dates at the end of January for our
first call and will notify members as soon as we have firmed
up a date and time.
• We encourage all of our members to participate in our
bi-weekly conference calls.
Retail News and Notes
•
Macy's cuts number of store closures from '09
Macy's plans to close five underperforming stores this month,
down from the 11 locations it shuttered this time last year.
The department store chain also said it plans to continue
opening new stores in 2010, adding to its post-closure store
count of 809 Macy's and 40 Bloomingdale's.
The Cincinnati Enquirer/Bloomberg (1/6)
•
Retailers get creative to keep customers in challenging
times, many retail chains increasingly have become innovative
in the ways they reach out to customers, from free yoga
classes at Lululemon to launching a line of more affordable
Coach Bags. STORES Editor Susan Reda shares some of the best
and encourages others to adapt the good ideas to their own
companies.
STORES magazine (1/2010)
•
Retailers optimistic after December sales rise some
retailers saw sales rise in December, according to new figures
from MasterCard Advisors' Spending Pulse, ending the season on
an uptick and providing merchants with cause for cautious
optimism. Sales of jewelry and consumer electronics grew over
the same month last year, while apparel sales fell slightly.
Reuters (1/6) ,
ABC News/The Associated Press (1/6)
Special Friday Facts
Dodd Out/Blumenthal
In
US Senate Race Now a Whole New Ball Game
One Move Has Ripple Affect
Should Be a Fun Ride
• In somewhat stunning news yesterday, Connecticut’s senior US
Senator, Christopher Dodd announced that he would not seek
reelection to a 5th term in the fall.
• Dodd’s announcement was followed up with an announcement by
CT Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal that he will throw his
hat in the ring to replace Dodd.
• His announcement that he will end a thirty year career in
the US Senate comes at a time when his poll numbers and
popularity in the state are at an all time low.
• As much as the Dodd supporters felt he would have come thru
this very difficult time with a victory in November, Dodd
himself felt it was time to leave the stage.
US Senate Race Now a Whole New Ball Game
• Within minutes of Dodd’s announcement, CT Attorney General,
Richard Blumenthal held a press conference to announce that he
would be running for the open seat this fall.
• Blumenthal’s entry is no surprise. He has coveted this seat
for as long as he has been in public life and he comes to the
race with a long track record as Attorney General.
• In addition, Blumenthal instantly becomes the front runner.
In any number of polls that have included him as a candidate
for either the US Senate or Governor, he consistently polls
higher than any of the current candidates.
• But, Blumenthal also comes with a track record that is not
all that friendly to business with an activist agenda that is
pro consumer first.
• Blumenthal will face the winner of a three way Republican
primary, assuming of course that he deposes of his primary
opponent, in a race that was once leaning Republican but is
now leaning Democrat.
One Move Has Ripple Affect
• With Blumenthal now in as a candidate for US Senate, he will
vacate his spot as the State’s top lawyer which will set off a
wild scramble for that seat among D’s and R’s.
• First the Democrats. There was instant speculation that
possibly two of the current candidates for Governor will take
a look at the AG seat.
• Secretary of the State, Susan Bysiewicz and former Stamford
Mayor, Dan Malloy, are lawyers and have both been mentioned as
candidates for the AG seat. If those two do in fact shift from
candidates for Governor to Candidates for AG than it may open
the way for former Speaker of the House, Jim Amman to become
the front runner for the Democratic nomination for Governor.
• But, there are others besides Bysiewicz and Malloy that
might be interested in the AG, including former State Party
Chair and State Senator George Jepson who canceled a trip to
Jamaica yesterday to stay home for the Dodd announcement.
• Within the next week the list of possible candidates for the
Democratic nod for AG will no doubt grow, as for the first
time in well over 15 years there is movement at the top of the
ticket for D’s and there are a long list of folks ready to get
back in the game.
• On the Republican side, the Dodd/Blumenthal announcement
will certainly impact the field of candidates too.
• There is speculation that some current members of the
General Assembly including Senate Minority Leader, John
McKinney might enter the race.
• It appears the three candidates for Governor and US Senate
will remain but there will no doubt be some shuffling before
the state party convention this summer.
Should Be a Fun Ride
• With one move by one politician, for the first time in a
long time, we are going to be wall to wall politics in CT this
year.
• It should be lots of fun for those of us who follow this
stuff and we promise we will keep you up-to-date as best we
can thru our weekly FF or with special FF like this one.
• So, fasten your seatbelt and get ready for a political ride
from now thru the fall!
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