Sponsors

Operating a retail business is expensive. Bankcard fees, service fees and insurance premiums are only part of the cost of doing business, but they can account for a major portion of your expenses. Membership in the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association saves you money.

CRMA negotiates better rates on services to members-services that would be more costly to an individual retailer. We're Connecticut's only statewide business group that represents retailers and only retailers. Join CRMA and start saving. If you're already a member, take advantage of more services. Contact CRMA for more information.

Group Medical Benefits

We, at CRMA, understand the complexity and changes that make up today's group benefits market: HMO's, PPO's and Indemnity plans are evolving every day and with mergers and consolidations, the insurance carrier you have today may change tomorrow. That's why we want to act as your professional expert in shopping the market to find the best plan that meets your needs.

Our benefits experts know the market and have the ability to place you with the insurer that can best satisfy your bottom line while keeping you and your employees covered and happy.

Please call the CRMA office at (860)527-1044 to ask about our plans and begin to take advantage of your membership in CRMA by having our group experts act as your special agent.

Business Insurance

Designed to meet all your commercial business insurance needs, the CRMA Insurance Program, through The Hartford, has provided substantial savings to participating members, while improving their coverages. Whether it's our dividend paying workers' compensation program or our business owner's package, each product is designed to provide first class protection at discount prices.

Included within our portfolio of products are the following coverages:

• Comprehensive Business Liability
• Broad property protection for your building, contents, stock and leasehold improvements.
• Business Interruption coverage designed to replace your loss of income while closed due to an insurable loss.
• Employment Practices Liability
• Commercial Auto Coverage, including Non-owned and Hired Coverage
• Workers' Compensation
  
  Call the CRMA office at (860)527-1044 to talk to an insurance representative today.
  

Legislative Representation

As the legislative and regulatory process on every level of government becomes more complex and important, it is imperative that retailers speak with one voice at the State Capitol. Our professional government relations specialists have extensive experience lobbying the General Assembly and have the know-how to assist you with State agencies.

By becoming a member of CRMA, you benefit from their experience and are provided invaluable protection. You will participate in the formulation of the legislative agenda for retailers throughout the State and during the legislative session you will receive monthly bulletins that will update you on the progress of legislation affecting your business. You will also have access to any bill, regulation or Public Act whenever you need it.

Grass roots lobbying works best when people join together. Join the CRMA and make your voice heard at the State Capitol. Together we can make a difference.

Call the CRMA office at (860)527-1044 for more information about how the legislative operation works!

Discount Credit Card Processing Program

Get the Global Payments™ Processing @dvantage!

Global Payments and CRMA have teamed up to help save you money! Global Payments understands the unique challenges that the retail industry faces. In addition to specialized applications, our payment processing program includes:
• Comprehensive transaction processing: credit, debit, EBT, purchasing card, and check acceptance services
• Increase traffic flow and revenue by accepting all payment types:
         - American Express®
         - Discover®
         - MasterCard®
         - Visa®
         - Diners Club®
• All inclusive POS solutions - telephone, terminals, wireless, PC and Internet
• Volume discounted rates exclusively for CRMA members
• 24/7 Live operator help desk and terminal management program
• Local service and representation

Call for your free, no obligation cost analysis to see how Global Payments can save you money!

Contact Claire Burger 
Two Enterprise Drive, Suite 408
Shelton, CT 06484 
800-545-6416
claire.burger@globalpay.com
www.globalpaymentsinc.com

Check Guarantee Services

With Global Payments’ check guarantee programs, accepting a check from anyone with a valid ID is as safe as any other form of payment – including cash! Global Payments’ check guarantee programs ensure coverage of 100% of a check’s face value if it is returned by your financial institution.

Global Payments’ check guarantee services provide numerous features and options to maximize risk management efforts.

Features
• Fast claims payment
• No charge for collections on amounts over guaranteed limits
• Additional discounts for high volume merchants
• Integration with electronic cash registers, terminals, and check readers
• Interactive voice response unit using a standard touchtone phone for processing
• Detailed statements with monthly itemized description
• Optional – forwarding of returned checks by your financial institution directly to Global Payments reducing internal handling costs and time
• Optional – ACH claim reimbursement that transfers payment electronically to your business bank account

Check Verification Services
Merchants who do not need the full coverage of a check guarantee program find Global Payments’ Check Verification Services to be an affordable choice. With this service, merchants have instant access to Global Payments’ comprehensive, national databases of up-to-the-minute check acceptance information.

Verification is a low-cost loss prevention solution that is used by hundreds of thousands of retailers nationwide. Merchants can use major cash register systems, terminals, or check readers to access Global Payments’ features such as negative and positive check files, velocity control tracking and bank-provided “account closed” files. 

A Money-Saving Combination
Choice Xpress is Global Payments’ exclusive program that combines check guarantee with verification based on the dollar amount of the transaction. Using Choice Xpress, you can customize a program to verify transactions that are under a pre-established dollar amount and guarantee transactions over that limit. You reduce both your risk and check processing costs.

Check Recovery Services
Global Payments’ Check Recovery Service offers a cost-effective, customer-sensitive approach to collecting returned checks and provides up to the full face value of each check successfully recovered.

Using state-of-the-art dialing systems and data sources, Global Payments’ collectors have proven to be particularly effective at reaching check writers. If necessary, Global Payments’ experienced legal staff also provides a full range of recovery program support.

The e-Collect program allows Global Payments to electronically re-present a check that has not cleared for payment. By strategically re-presenting checks as close as possible to paydays, the probability of collecting the full face value of the check can increase collection rates from 5% to 20%, or higher.

For additional information, call the CRMA office at (860) 527-1044.