For Immediate Release

April 20, 2007

LANSING — The retiring CEO of the Michigan Retailers Association is inviting retailers across Michigan to discuss the future of retailing at breakfast meetings in 24 Michigan cities, including six in the Upper Peninsula. The breakfast meetings will be held between April and September at hotels and restaurants.

The “Hail and Farewell: Larry Meyer Member Appreciation Tour” will allow Meyer to thank MRA members personally and to speak informally about where the industry is headed.

 “So many things have changed in business since I arrived in Michigan in December 1972,” said Meyer, who has been CEO of MRA for more than 30 years. “Technology, especially, has had a huge impact on the retail industry—mostly for the better. But the core values of putting the customer first, differentiating your business and always seeking new and better ways to do business have remained essential. In fact, these fundamentals are even more critical as Michigan’s economy evolves.”

Retailers and small business owners may call MRA’s Kammy Johns at 800.366.3699 for more information about the tour schedule or to reserve a seat at one of the events.

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 5,500 retail business members operate more than 13,000 stores across the state.

To view a schedule of the breakfasts please click here.