For Immediate Release
October 11, 2005
LANSING — Three retail businesses that make outstanding community
involvement an integral part of their operations were honored today
as 2005 Michigan Retailer of the Year.
Receiving honors at the eighth annual awards luncheon were:
• Small Category (annual sales under $2 million): Golden Shoes,
Traverse City;
• Medium ($2-20 million): Gazelle Sports, Kalamazoo;
• Large (above $20 million): Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland,
Frankenmuth.
"These outstanding retailers are the best of the best and represent the thousands of other retailers across the state who make a difference every day through their countless charitable and volunteer activities," said Larry Meyer, chairman and CEO of the Michigan Retailers Association, which founded and sponsors the awards program. Co-sponsors are the Michigan Press Association, which represents 300 daily and weekly newspapers in Michigan, and Michigan Talk Radio Network, which provides programming services to Michigan stations.
Recipients are selected by an independent panel of community leaders: Nancy Barker, office of the president, Northwood University; Rick Blanchard, assistant business editor, The Detroit News; Jan Hayhow, former board chair of Michigan Retailers Association; Sandra Katt, Grand Haven manager of community affairs; Michael MacLaren, executive director, Michigan Press Association; Claude Martin, Winkelman Professor Emeritus of Retail Marketing, University of Michigan; David Scott, CEO, Michigan Talk Radio Network; Brenda Sternquist, professor of retailing, Michigan State University; and Dennis Toffolo, director, Oakland County Community and Economic Development.
The 2005 Michigan Retailer of the Year recipients:
Golden Shoes, Traverse City
Willard Golden, Owner; Craig Golden, President; Bill Golden, Vice President
Golden Shoes helped establish the "Boots For Kids" program
that during the past five years has provided boots and other necessities
to 1,600 area children in need. "Boots For Kids" also recruits
area businesses and individuals to donate money and goods to match these
boots with hats, socks and mittens, and local dentists contribute toothbrushes
and toothpaste. The shoe store serves as the collection point. In addition,
Golden Shoes is a long-time supporter of Grand Traverse Area Catholic
Schools and donated money to help build a new middle school as part
of the area’s Catholic school system.
Gazelle Sports, Kalamazoo
Bruce Johnson and Chris Lampen-Crowell, Co-Owners
Gazelle Sports is a charter member of "Girls on the Run,"
a national program designed to educate and prepare girls in third through
fifth grades for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. The
program combines uplifting workouts with training for a 5K run/walk
celebration event and is designed to help girls avoid the pitfalls plaguing
young women at risk: teen pregnancies, eating disorders, substance abuse
and depression. Largely through the many efforts of the Gazelle Sports
staff, the Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run is now the largest chapter
in the nation, with over 4,000 girls from six counties participating
in 2005. Gazelle is piloting a similar program for middle school girls
this fall.
Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, Frankemuth
Wallace Bronner, Originator and Chairman of the Board
The Frankenmuth school district, in dire need of renovations and additions
to its facilities, sought to raise the funds through a $16-million bond
issue. A major contribution from the Bronner family, which enabled the
district to significantly reduce the amount taxpayers would face over
the next 20 years, led to voter approval of the bond issue. The centerpiece
was a state-of-the-art performing arts center, which benefits students
during the school year and thousands of citizens year-round for evening
and weekend events, including concerts and town hall meetings.
Major contributions from the Bronners also have helped build numerous community facilities, including a veterans memorial, park pavilion, playgrounds and school facilities—all in addition to donations to hundreds of causes each year.
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 nearly 6,000 business members operate more than 13,000 stores across the state.
