Jan Teague

President/CEO

360.943.9198, ext. 19

jteague@retailassociation.org

Mark Johnson

Vice President of Government Affairs

360.943.9198, ext. 15

mark.johnson@retailassociation.org

Tammie Hetrick

Vice President of Retail Services (RASI)

360.943.9198, ext. 13

tammie@retailassociationservices.com  

Jim Szymanski

Is recycling falling out of fashion?

By Jan Teague, President/CEO

Government seems to be cooling on the merits of recycling.  The local government movement to ban plastic bags is a good example of switching philosophies once businesses have invested in a recycling system and have it working well. 

Some local governments want no more plastic bag recycling, period. They just don't want the public to have the product any more.  As one local elected official said, "it's a small step in the right direction."  Little do these governments realize the unintended consequences that this thinking could have for the future of recycling.

There is no financial stability for businesses that might want to do recycling. Financial instability cools enthusiasm more quickly than anything.  That's the message these local governments are sending to recyclers.  I think the message back to local governments is "why should we consider developing a recycling system if government is going to cut off the source of recycled materials with a ban?

Investments in such systems can take years to recover. This is critical financial planning that any future business will have to consider.     

The recycling movement has all happened in my lifetime. And, we have become very successful at educating the public on what to recycle and how to do it.  But recycling was slow to start simply because there was no market driven force out there to collect, manufacture and re-sell the waste. There simply was no demand.  State and local governments encouraged business start ups to set up an infrastructure to collect the waste and develop recycled products. I remember those very conversations on recycling paper.  There was no one to collect it, and there was no one to buy it. Even today you can go to various fairs and see displays on products that have been manufactured using recycled materials such as plastic.

This past week when I spoke at a work session at the Lacey City Council meeting, I told elected officials how difficult these plastic bag bans were for the retailers.  We have heard stories about increased theft, increased stories of e coli from unwashed re-usable bags, and problems with customer service to name just a few of the concerns with the bag bans.  But I was not the only person there to tell my story. 

What prompted me to write this article was Philip Rozenski, who represents a recycler called Hilex.  His story helped me realize that these cities are messing with a larger question than plastic bag bans.  They are messing with the entire philosophy toward recycling. 

Can we sustain recycling programs when they can so easily be over run by environmental politics that sway officials with heart felt concern over environmental degradation?  In this world, even population growth itself degrades the environment.  Should we limit population growth and say we can only have one child? Of course, some would answer that by saying,  "it's a small step in the right direction."

Beer and wine tasting bill clears House

By Mark Johnson, VP Government Affairs

WRA members such as Cost Plus World Markets are thankful for the House's favorable support.  Cost Plus would like to do beer and wine tastings in its stores as a customer service to allow consumers to make a more informed purchase.  Additionally, stores plan to highlight fine Washington wines and beers. 

The added competition with existing retailers already hosting tastings will only serve to improve the marketplace and provide consumers with more choices.  The bill brings in line existing tasting square footage requirements with the recently enacted liquor initiative.

I am encouraging the Senate to follow the House's lead and give favorable consideration to House Bill 1422.

House delays action on Retro scheduling bill

Sells has indicated that he might be willing to hear debate on the bill next week. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on April 28.

Tammie Hetrick, WRA's Vice President Retail Services, encouraged the House to focus on approving the bill this session. It passed the Senate early in February.

In being granted scheduling authority, Retrospective Rating programs could assist Labor & Industries in achieving efficiencies that could clear workers' compensation cases more quickly and thereby reduce insurance premiums for employers.

"This is a good bill that would assist the Department of Labor and Industries and save the state staff time and money," Hetrick said. 

Senate, House reach deadlines today for votes

Today, Day 59 of the 2013 legislative session, lawmakers reach a key deadline for bills to pass out of either the House or Senate for final action. An exception to this rule involves bills deemed necessary to pass the state budget for the next two years before the legislature's scheduled April 28 adjournment date.

Today also is one week before state budget officials release a final state revenue outlook. The much-awaited report will influence how lawmakers choose to adopt a new state budget, including the degree of spending cuts and possible tax proposals.

Meanwhile, WRA has been tracking outcomes for 255 bills that could have at least some impact on retailers across the state and nation.

Here's a summary for bills and issues of prime importance to WRA:

SB 5022 would refine a legal definition of organized retail crime to make way for more prosecutions. WRA supports the law and hopes for approval in the House after the Senate passed the bill.

SB 5424 calls for establishing a paint recycling program, but it died in committee due to strong opposition from garbage and recycling companies who argued they could already perform the service. WRA opposed the bill as unnecessary.

HB 1294 would ban a flame retardant used in mattresses and furniture and require testing to find other chemicals deemed to be unsafe. It has passed the House. WRA, which opposes the bill, expects it die in the Senate.

WRA opposed Initiative 517 (enhanced access for signature, petition gatherers) and 522 (labeling of genetically modified foods). Both are expected to be on the November ballot with opposition from WRA. 517 compromises private property rights while 522 is an expensive, unnecessary regulation.

WRA co-sponsors three more free webinars this year

WRA is offering members three more free webinars this year following yesterday's presentation in preparation for national health care reform next year.

The webinars are presented in cooperation with the Council of State Retail Associations.

To register ahead of time, click on the following links:

*Intro to Social and Mobile Media Marketing, on April 24 - 6:30 a.m. MT / 5:30 a.m. PT (Webinar 1) or 9:30 a.m. MT / 8:30 a.m. PT (Webinar 2)

*How small retailers can recognize and prevent shoplifting, on May 21 - 6:30 a.m. MT / 5:30 a.m. PT (Webinar 1) or 9:30 a.m. MT / 8:30 a.m. PT (Webinar 2)

*Intermediate Mobile and Social Media Marketing, on June 27 -  6:30 a.m. MT / 5:30 a.m. PT (Webinar 1) or  9:30 a.m. MT / 8:30 a.m. PT (Webinar 2).

Please contact Jan Teague, WRA's President/CEO, if you have questions at 360-943-9198, Ext. 19 or a jteague@retailassociation.org.

Campaign launched to repeal Issaquah plastic bag ban

Organizers of a campaign to repeal Issaquah's plastic shopping bag ban began gathering signatures last weekend for a November election.

WRA supports the use of reusable bags but opposes plastic bag bans because they rob consumers of choice. WRA instead supports enhanced recycling of plastics bags to improve the environment. WRA objects to individual community bans that result in a patchwork of different regulations from community to community.

The Issaquah ban went into effect on March 1. It includes a minimum 5-cent per bag charge for requesting a paper bag from merchants. WRA also opposes fees that typically accompany plastic bag bans. Repeal organizer Craig Keller needs to gather about 2,800 signatures of registered Issaquah voters to qualify for an election to repeal the ban.

Visit saveourchoice for more background. Contact Keller at craig@saveourchoice.us.

The City of Shoreline has scheduled an April 29 meeting to consider adopting a ban on plastic bags, too. Visit Shoreline to review the city's schedule of agendas. Visit comment to submit comments about a plastic bag ban to the City Council.

Commercial energy reports due in Seattle on April 1

Owners and managers of commercial and multi-family buildings larger than 50,000 square feet in Seattle are required to make annual energy useage reports to the city.

This year's reports are due on April 1.

Click here to learn what to do to comply with the law. The city is conducting three free workshops to help owners and managers comply with the law.

Learn how to benchmark and comply before the spring rush, register for workshops:

• March 20th, noon to 2 pm (update & tune-up)
• March 28th, noon to 2pm (update & tune-up)

Source: City of Seattle

NRF website sorts through health care reform requirements

A National Retail Federation website is a good resource for companies large and small working to plan and comply with expected national health care reforms.

The site explains possible penalties, definitions of employee categories and current concerns in the business community. Visit the site at www.retailmeansjobs.com/healthcare.

Oregon promotes no sales taxes in commercial, video

Legislators who will vote on WRA-backed bills this session to waive or contain sales taxes should watch a commercial that has been airing in Washington by Travel Portland.

The 15-second commercial that recently has been on major Washington tv stations encourages visitors to shop in Oregon because it doesn't have a sales tax. Tourism promoters in Oregon know the same reality as WRA: lack of a sales tax is an incentive to stretch budgets and to shop.

WRA supports HB 1329 and SB 5529 that would allow a sales tax holiday weekend starting this year for back-to-school items. A study shows it would raise government revenues by encouraging shoppers to buy other items on which there is a sales tax.

WRA opposes HB 1273, which would repeal the sales tax exemption for out-of-state residents. This tax break has proven to be an effective incentive for Oregon residents to shop across the Columbia River if they work in Vancouver, and similarly for Spokane retailers.

Sources: You Tube, Washington Legislature

WRA shipping service redesigns, improves websites

Our national partner, PartnerShip, unveiled a new company website and an improved, separate shipping website.

The new company website includes new content, live chat, an employee directory and the ability to buy discounted shipping supplies. The new shipping site has streamlined the enrollment process.

As a WRA member, you could begin saving up to 27 percent on select FedEx shipping services by joining a new shipping service free of charge.

And considering new annual shipping rate increases from major carriers, it's a good time to check out WRA's agreement with PartnerShip, a national freight management company committed to reducing shipping costs particularly for small businesses.

Savings from the new shipping program can, of course, help you to offset the cost of your WRA membership dues.

The program is available to all WRA members with no minimum shipping requirements or obligations. Enrolled customers can save up to 27 percent on select FedEx services and at least 70 percent on less-than-truckload freight shipments arranged through PartnerShip.

"The new WRA Shipping Program makes a great addition to our menu of services designed to save our members money," said WRA President/CEO Jan Teague. "This program is clearly advantageous to all WRA members."

State revenue forecast weakens

As legislators await a March 20 state revenue report update, there are early hints the news will not be promising. Legislators are awaiting the report to re-gauge estimates of the current state revenue shortfall, estimated at up to $2.8 billion, going into the next two-year budget period.

The revenue forecast has weakened since November for two main reasons, according to the Washington Research Council:

*Tax increases in January to avert a "fiscal cliff" were higher than forecast, $148 billion as opposed to the expected $66 billion.

*Spending cuts that have come to be known as sequestration happened earlier this year, not in 2014 as state economists originally expected.

This combination of Congressional events will weaken state revenue expectations, according to the Research Council blog.

Despite an expected overall revenue slowdown, tax payments across all retail sectors tracked by the state were up in the one-month period ending this past Sunday. Sporting goods, toy and music stores showed the strongest gains in tax payments, according to the latest state monthly revenue update.

Source: Washington Research Council

Vancouver paper prints WRA letter in support of back-to-school tax holiday

As lawmakers continue to debate a proposal to allow a sales tax holiday this year for back-to-school shopping, the Vancouver Columbian published a letter in support of the idea by Jan Teague, WRA's President/CEO.

Teague thanked Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver and Sen. Ann Rivers, R- La Center for sponsoring bills to allow a sales tax free weekend in August for select back-to-school items up to $100 for clothing and $10 for supplies.

"The incentive would help keep Washington shoppers home who typically shop in Oregon, where there is no sales tax," Teague wrote.

WRA supports the bills because a tax holiday would boost revenues to government and retailers while extending a break to parents. The increased sales also would encourage retailers to hire additional employees to help meet the increased demand from the sales tax holiday. Click here to read the entire letter.

Temporary health exchange website launched

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange this week launched a website to begin answering questions about how health care reform will work in the state. The new site will evolve into the online portal where customers will be able to compare policies available to them.

Washington is one of a dozen states that elected to establish its own health care exchange accessible through the website, www.wahbexchange.org. The site will begin enrolling customers on Oct. 1 for health insurance policies that will take effect on January 1, 2014.

The new temporary site will "re-launch" in the same location later this year.

Any questions or comments about the site or the enrollment process can be directed to info@wahbexchange.org or by calling 360-407-4100.

WRA urges retailers to reject court settlement on swipe fees

WRA President/CEO Jan Teague today asked members to reject a proposed court settlement with Visa and MasterCard regarding fees they charge retailers who do business with those creditors.

Retailers should have received a 27-page notice from Visa and MasterCard regarding a lower court decision on transaction fees. The National Retail Federation, Retail Industry Leaders Association and WRA consider it a bad settlement and are urging retailers to reject the terms before a May 28, 2013 court deadline for objecting to the deal.

In exchange for minor financial relief for fees paid, retailers would waive all rights to further litigation against Visa and MasterCard.

The settlement notice includes a form Teague urged members to fill out stating that they object to the settlement. By opting out the settlement, retailers lend weight to attempts to negotiate terms more favorable to retailers.

To opt out of the proposal, retailers must submit an attached letter to the settlement administrator by May 28. The attachment includes both a letter to object to the settlement and another one-page form to opt out of receiving any payment.

At a minimum, WRA is asking that retailers submit a letter of objection that will help when the appeal is heard on the terms of the settlement this fall. The letter of objection can be submitted and will not change a retailer's settlement payment should a retailer want to settle now.

It must be mailed to Payment Card Interchange Fee Settlement, P.O. Box 2350, Portland, Oregon 92708-2350 and postmarked by May 28. Retailers are urged to keep a copy of the opt out letter for their records.

April 4 webinar scheduled regarding health care law

WRA members are encouraged to register for an upcoming free webinar that will offer an overview of requirements related to national health care reform, the Affordable Care Act that takes effect next year.

Neil Trautwein, a national expert in health care reform for the National Retail Association, will moderate the discussion.

Regulations related to the act are being made public rapidly and with little advance warning. It's important for retailers to understand their obligations under this law to avoid possible penalties.

Click here to register for the webinar, to be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (West Coast time) on Thursday, April 4. The presentation is free to all NRF members and members of WRA. 

Cyber crime seminar in Lakewood March 20

Businesses needing to learn more about protecting computer information from hackers are invited to a March 20th seminar in Lakewood City Hall.

The event, sponsored by the Pierce County Economic Development Department and City of Lakewood Economic Development, will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon. City Hall is located in Lakewood Towne Center, 6000 Main Street S.W.

Presenters will cover topics including protecting trade secrets, securing point-of-sale systems and the new threats to identity posed by smart phone applications.

Click here to learn more and to register. 

Homeland Security issues new I-9 hiring form

By May 7 of this year, employers must shift to using the U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Service's new employment eligibility verification form.

The new, longer form is available now for employers who want to get used to the new forms earlier than the deadline for switching over to the new format.

The new form is two pages instead of one and includes additional data fields, including an employee's foreign passport information (if applicable) and telephone and e-mail addresses. The immigration service also believes the instructions are clearer for employers and applicants to understand.

Visit form to print a copy of it. Visit notice to review the Federal Register announcement about the new form. 

Free disaster survival seminar in Bremerton, April 11

Kitsap County businesses are invited to a free disaster survival seminar on April 11 at the Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside.

The seminar aims to help businesses prepare for and respond to disasters ranging from floods to earthquakes. It is presented under the auspices of the Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Many unprepared businesses don't survive disasters or they lose market share if they recover. The seminar will outline steps to maintain continuity through an interruption in service.

Pre registration is requested. To register and learn more, click on survive. 

Safety tip: (one in a series)

How to reduce risk in a potentially hazardous workplace

A potentially hazardous workplace can cause injury for employees from their heads to their toes.

Employers need to be aware of the sorts of jobs and workplace environments with a tendency to generate accidents and lost work time.

This topic coincides with new federal regulations approved this month for handling communications about hazardous situations.

The state offers a handy checklist of the types of work assignments that could be hazardous to employees including endangering sight, hearing, feet, breathing and skin. 

The new Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule on hazardous communication plans and expectations calls for employers to complete training of employees by the summer of 2014. To review the new federal rule and the schedule for phased in implementation, visit OSHA.

WRA employs Maria Justin as a safety advisor who can work with members to complete a workplace safety visit, draw up a safety plan or suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact her at 360-943-9198, Ext. 21 or at maria@retailassociationservices.com.