For Immediate Release
September 3, 2002

LANSING — The Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) has completely redesigned its website (www.retailers.com) to give current and prospective members easier and faster access to information and services.

The new website represents the first complete overhaul since the site originally went online in 1996. "MRA was one of the first state retail associations and among the first wave of Michigan associations to establish an Internet presence," said Larry Meyer, MRA chairman and CEO. "As more and more retailers have come online in the past six years, we've seen a tremendous opportunity to give faster and better service to our members through the web."

Reworking the website enabled MRA to streamline navigation, add helpful customer-service features, update the look and feel of the site and generally make it more user-friendly.

Through the six major sections of the site, members and prospective members are now able to fill out or download forms needed for MRA services such as credit card processing and insurance coverage. Businesses can fill out a membership application, order materials, nominate a Michigan Retailer of the Year or submit news about their store for the Michigan Retailer print publication.

The new website was developed by MRA's communications staff in conjunction with Gaslight Media in Petosky.

The Michigan Retailers Association is the unified voice of retailing in Michigan and the nation's largest state trade association of general merchandise retailers. MRA's more than 5,700 retail business members operate more than 12,000 stores across the state.