Minnesota Retailers Association
The Retail Beat | June 24, 2013
news giving retailers an edge from the Minnesota Retailers Association 

MnRA Board Chair Lisa McCalpine-Wittenmyer with Rep. Greg Davids and CenterPoint
Energy's Al Swintek at the 15th Annual Legislative Wrap-Up Golf Tournament.
Public Policy | E-Fairness            
MnRA Issues Statement on E-Fairness and the Need for U.S. House Action on the Federal Marketplace Fairness Act     

June 19, 2013 - Amazon's recent business decision to drop its Minnesota affiliates in response to the new affiliate nexus law passed by the state Legislature underscores the need for Congressional action on this issue.

Earlier this year the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the federal Marketplace Fairness Act and now it is time for the U.S. House of Representatives - with the support of our Minnesota delegation - to do the same.

Amazon's notice to affiliates voiced strong support for the Marketplace Fairness Act, and mentioned that the company will reinstate the Minnesota affiliate program once the Act is passed. The Minnesota Retailers Association looks forward to the return of the affiliate program, and until then encourages Minnesota businesses seeking affiliate relationships to look to the many brick-and-mortar and online retailers that continue to offer similar programs.

Right now it is up to the U.S. Congress to end uncertainty for retailers by passing legislation that permanently ends special tax treatment for online-only retailers. We urge Minnesota's House delegation to support this important legislation, and to urge their leadership for a vote on this issue.

Public Policy | 2013 Session            
MnRA To Be Recognized As Leader In Public Policy By Finance & Commerce      

MnRA is honored to be recognized by Finance & Commerce as a "Leader in Public Policy" at a July 11 event, along with others selected by a panel based on nominations received.

If you are interested in attending the recognition event contact MnRA's Rochelle Westlund at (651) 227-6631, or e-mail [email protected].

Click here to read the announcement in Finance & Commerce.

Retail Trends | Mobile Coupons           
Report Finds Mobile Coupons Drive In-Store Purchases    

From Drug Store News, Jason Owen, June 21, 2013

"RetailMeNot.com, a U.S. digital coupon website, today announced the results of a mobile commerce survey reviewing consumers' current mobile commerce behaviors. The results were presented at the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition in Chicago on June 7.

An overview of the survey revealed that the vast majority of consumers surveyed have moved beyond making simple phone calls and sending text messages via their mobile device to having it become their personal research tool. In fact, almost 8-in-10 respondents reported using their mobile devices to do some sort of research online in the most recent month. More than half of consumers surveyed (54%) used their mobile device while buying something in the month prior to taking the survey in April 2013.

 

The survey showed deal-seeking behavior has become the norm within the purchase cycle. One-third (33%) of consumers surveyed have conducted searches on a mobile device for coupons online, while over a quarter (26%) bought something in a physical store using a coupon found on a mobile device. Of those consumers who made purchases in-store using a digital coupon, 90% had done so in the last month.

 

Furthermore, relevant offers seemed to further incentivize consumers to buy. More than half of respondents (51%) indicated that they are more likely to enter a store and buy something if they receive a coupon on their mobile device while near that store. If the consumer received a coupon on their mobile device while already inside the store, more than 6-in-10 consumers (63%) indicated that they would be more likely to buy something.

 

"There's no doubt that today's consumers are more empowered than ever by smartphone technology, and retailers can recognize and enable those behaviors or lose business to competitors who understand the power of mobile marketing," said John Faith, SVP external affairs for RetailMeNot."

E-Fairness | Marketplace Fairness Act            
Internet Sales Tax Bill Splits GOP In Many States     

From Politico, Lauren French, June 23, 2013

"The battle over the online sales tax is heating up in the states and is starting to pit Republicans against members of their own party - again.

An issue that split the GOP on Capitol Hill last month - when 21 Senate Republicans voted for the tax and 22 opposed it - is proving just as divisive at the state level.

In one corner, GOP governors in Virginia, Wisconsin, Maine and Iowa are pitching voters on the benefits of the levy in an effort to raise pressure on their congressional delegation. Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia, for instance, has promised to use the anticipated revenue to fund transportation projects in his traffic-clogged state.

"It's critical to our capital needs," Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton told POLITICO. "All the funds ... are dedicated to our construction fund ... and we're talking about, for Virginia, the potential of $150 million a year."

In the other corner, Montana Attorney General Tim Fox, a Republican, is leading the opposition. He launched a coalition earlier this month to fight the online sales tax bill sitting in Congress on the grounds that it's unconstitutional."

 Click here to read the full article. 

  

Session Wrap-Up | Retail Issues         
2013 State Legislative Recap for Retailers   

The 2013 legislative session came with new opportunities and challenges as the DFL took full control of the legislature and executive office.

MnRA has produced a 2013 State Legislative Recap for retailers.  The report includes the following good news:

- Two of our three proactive legislative priorities, e-fairness and the gasoline pre-pay preemption, were passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.
- The "Ban the Box" legislation that was passed does not include a private civil right of action.
- Minimum wage did not pass this year.
- The state sales tax will not be extended to clothing.
- There will be no additional state-level tax on sports memorabilia. 

Click here to see the full report.  
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