September 16, 2013

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As part of its month-long "Celebration of Service", last week forty Home Depot
volunteers began work on Vietnam Veteran Nathaniel Hull's Minneapolis home. 
The Retail Economy
Retail Sales Growth Remains Tepid, Up 0.1% in August

From the National Retail Federation, Stephen E. Schatz, September 13, 2013

NRF "Retail sales increased in the month of August but came in at a much slower pace than anticipated. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) - the world's largest retail trade association - August retail sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) increased 0.1 percent seasonally adjusted from last month, and increased 3.9 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

"Slow growth continues to be the economic story five years after the financial crisis," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. "The economy, employment, wages, and retail sales continue to stagger along. Retailers and consumers are resilient but not overly optimistic about the broader economy. While positive retail sales growth continues month-after-month, it is just not strong enough to move the needle."

August retail sales, released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, showed that total retail and food services sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as automobiles, gasoline stations, and restaurants) increased 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and increased 4.7 percent adjusted year-over-year.

"Retail sales gains continue to be tepid," NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. "Retail sales and employment, while measurably positive, have been disappointing over the last few months, and have been difficult to reconcile with consumer confidence. The data suggests that consumers remain cautious with their pocketbooks and purchases. This month's weak retail sales report will continue to put pressure on policymakers, who are dealing with tapering, and retailers, who will need to focus on price and value to entice consumer spending."

Read the report for retail segment highlights.

Better, Stronger, Faster
Retail Icon Yale Dolginow To Share His Experience Tuesday


Join the Minnesota Retailers Association and the Minnesota Shopping Center Association for "12 Essential Tasks To Complete Before Year End" featuring Yale Dolginow (Elanstrategic) tomorrow.

This interactive workshop will leave you empowered with strategies, ideas, and tools essential to successfully impact the fourth quarter of 2013 while crafting business plans and financial plans for 2014. 

Tuesday, September 17, 8:00 - 9:45 a.m.
Holiday Companies, Bloomington

No cost to attend. Non-members welcome.
 
Thank you sponsors:
 - Thrifty White Pharmacy
 - Grand Jete
 - Boulay

Learn more or register now.
Sunday Liquor Sales
Advocates Of Sunday Alcohol Sales Gird For Renewed Fight With Powerful Liquor Lobby


From Politics In Minnesota, Briana Bierschbach, September 13, 2013
 

 

"Jason Alvey says he's tired of mincing his words when it comes to the powerful lobbying forces that have protected a decades-old ban on Sunday alcohol sales in Minnesota.

The native Australian, who owns the Four Firkins craft beer store in St. Louis Park, is a rarity among liquor store owners: He wants to see the ban lifted. He's the face of a growing movement of mostly metro-area and border community beer store owners and brewers who call themselves the Minnesota Beer Activists and want to reframe the perennial issue at the Capitol as a question of what the public wants rather than what liquor store owners want. He cites a poll from Public Policy Polling in May of this year that puts approval ratings for Sunday alcohol sales at 62 percent, with bipartisan support.

"Customers overwhelmingly want this, and the number one rule of retail is listen to your customers," Alvey said. "Some of these liquor store owners - it's a very old boys' club. A lot of these owners are in their eighties. We are talking about silver-haired old men who haven't stepped a foot in their retail stores for years. They are so out of touch with their customers, it's a joke, and these are the guys who are overwhelmingly the majority."

Most of the liquor store owners in the state are members of the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA), a powerful lobbying force at the Capitol. Opponents argue Sunday sales would cost Mom and Pop liquor shops by forcing them to be open seven days a week while simply stretching out the same revenue they'd make in six days. They win most of their battles in St. Paul - Minnesota is one of just 12 states that still restrict Sunday liquor sales, and most of the state's core regulations governing the industry date back to the end of prohibition."
  

Celebrating Retail
High Five To Retailers

MnRA members fuel over 788,000 jobs--an important part of our communities and state. The Minnesota Retailers Association gives these retailers a high five for their accomplishments:

Minnesota-based Whirl-a-Style, known as the most fashion forward resource available today for upstyle hair designs, was recently in Brasil with the U.S. Consulate for a fashion show. See the photos here.

As part of its month-long "Celebration of Service", forty Home Depot volunteers began work on Vietnam Veteran Nathaniel Hull's Minneapolis home in Minneapolis last week. The Minneapolis project includes an $8,300 grant to the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity from The Home Depot Foundation.

Share your good news with the Minnesota Retailers Association at [email protected] and we'll share it here, or call us at (651) 227-6631.

The Economy
U.S. Economic Growth Gauge Highest Since 2010


From Reuters, Steve C. Johnson, September 13, 2013
 

 

"A measure of future U.S. economic growth hit its highest level in more than three years last week and the annualized growth rate rebounded from a previous 39-week low, a research group said on Friday.

The Economic Cycle Research Institute, a New York-based independent forecasting group, said its Weekly Leading Index rose to 132.3 in the week ended September 6, up from 131.5. The reading was the highest since the week ending April 30, 2010.

The index's annualized growth rate rose to 4.1 percent after dipping to 3.9 percent the prior week, which was the lowest since November 30, 2012."
  

Member Service
MnRA's RetailPlus+ Buying Group

The Minnesota Retailers Association (MnRA) has leveraged the collective clout of our members to offer increased savings on the products and services essential to retailers. These vital products and services help Minnesota retailers navigate the often complicated terrain of operating as a retailer.

Thank you for your patience as we redesign the web presence of the RetailPlus+ Buying Group in the coming weeks.

Question on the program? Contact the MnRA staff at (651) 227-6631.  

 
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Minnesota Retailers Associaiton
400 Robert Street North, suite 1540
St. Paul, MN 55101
Tel. (651) 227-6631 - mnretail.org - [email protected]


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