October 12, 2015

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Annual Meeting
Last Chance To Hear The Center For Retailing Excellence's Dr. Brennan At October 22 Annual Meeting      
 
Wondering what drives change in the retail industry and what changes might impact your retail operation?  Join the Minnesota Retailers Association for our 2015 Annual Meeting featuring The Center For Retailing Excellence Co-Director and University of St. Thomas Professor Dave Brennan.

In addition to the keynote speech by Brennan, MnRA will present the results of its annual "State of Minnesota Retail" poll, giving attendees an anecdotal look at the attitudes of retailers across the state as they relate to our economic outlook.

Event Details:
2015 MnRA Annual Meeting
Joseph's Grill
Thursday, October 22, 2015
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

 
Minneapolis Working Families Agenda
Workforce Fairness Coalition Raises The Voice Of Employers, Employees And Customers      
 
Any organization (retail, non-profit, government) with employees in the City of Minneapolis will be impacted by a series of policy proposals deemed the "Working Families Agenda" as proposed by several Council members.  The policy set includes a 28-day scheduling mandate with penalties for changes and mandated paid time off for all employees.

Learn more and share your thoughts on these proposals through a coalition working to protect  innovation and fairness in Minneapolis--the Workforce Fairness Coalition.

 
Merchant Processing
Retailers Tell Congress EMV Cards Without PIN Provide 'No Significant Benefits' to Many Small Businesses   
 
From the National Retail Federation, October 7, 2015

"The National Retail Federation today told Congress that new chip-and-signature credit cards without a PIN will not stop data breaches, and that small businesses should not be pressured to install the equipment to accept them at the expense of more effective technology.

"The new EMV equipment does not stop breaches," NRF Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French said. "Indeed, in many cases it provides no significant benefits either to the business or to the business' regular customers. It is merely an additional expense small businesses are being told to bear."

If small businesses are pushed to adopt Europay MasterCard Visa technology, alternatives such as near-field communication contactless payment, mobile wallets and other smartphone-based technology "may effectively be locked out of the market," French said."
 

How's Business?
MnRA's Retail Outlook Survey Tells The Real Story; Take The Survey Today

Last year 100 retailers across Minnesota gave us a good look at what they expected over the holiday season and into the new year. That perspective helped MnRA tell the story of retail to legislators and the media.

Help us tell retail's story again by completing our quick eight question Retail Outlook Survey.

 
Jobs
Grim Jobs Report Is Likely to Delay a Move by the Fed on Rates  
 
From the New York Times, Patricia Cohen, October 2, 2015

"Employers added 142,000 jobs in September, the Labor Department said on Friday, spurring concerns about the American economy's momentum after the lackluster report for the previous month.

The official unemployment rate held steady at 5.1 percent. The report for August was revised, showing the economy created only 136,000 jobs, down from 173,000.

The report came just two weeks after the Federal Reserve decided that the recovery was still too frail to risk lifting interest rates from their near-zero level."
 
Plastics
St. Louis Park To Host Polystyrene Listening Session October 12 
 
From the City of St. Louis Park

"The St. Louis Park City Council is considering regulation of food and beverage packaging in the city, which would affect polystyrene and other packaging products. After discussion of the topic and hearing from an expert panel of industry representatives and interested stakeholders, city staff prepared a draft ordinance. The draft ordinance requires that licensed food establishments use reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging for food and beverages that are prepared and served on-site or taken to-go.  The draft ordinance was presented to the city council at a study session August 10, 2015.

The city council now wants to hear from residents, business owners and others who are interested in this topic and who would like to provide feedback on the proposed draft ordinance regulating food and beverage packaging. Attend a public listening session Monday, October 12, at 5:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park. This session will be broadcast live on ParkTV Channel 17 and will also be available for viewing after the session.

If you're unable to attend the listening session and would like to make your comments part of the public record, please send your comments to Kala Fisher, solid waste program coordinator, at [email protected], call 952.924.2183, or mail to 7305 Oxford St., St. Louis Park, MN 55426. Comments may also be shared via MyStLouisPark at www.mystlouispark.org.

To learn more about this issue and view the draft ordinance or expert panel presentation, visit slpmn.us/polystyrene."
 
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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]