2004 Michigan Retailer of the Year AwardsT hree Michigan retailers—McNally’s Shoes in
Allen Park, Douglas J Day Spa Salon in Okemos and Meijer, Inc. in Grand
Rapids—are the 2004 Michigan Retailers of the Year. They were honored
for their outstanding community involvement at the Retailer of the Year
Awards luncheon on October 12 in Lansing.
Awards are given in three categories—small, medium
and large—based on annual sales volume. An independent panel composed
of leaders in business, government, higher education, non-profit organizations
and the news media selects the recipients. Emcee Adela Uchida, news anchor on WILX Channel
10 in Lansing, warned the audience: “You’re going to hear a
lot of good things being done by a lot of good people. If you’re
on a low-carb diet and can’t take that much sweetness, you might
want to slip out from time to time and tune in to the regular news.” The awards program, now in its seventh year, is cosponsored by Michigan Newspapers, Inc., the Michigan Press Association affiliate that represents 300 daily and weekly newspapers in Michigan, and Michigan Talk Radio Network, which provides programming services to stations throughout the state. Small
(less than $2 million
in annual sales)
Judges chose McNally’s Shoes in Allen Park in the small category to honor Mark Bailey’s tireless efforts on two projects: first, the Elks Pumpkin Patch, an annual Halloween event that has benefited thousands of special needs children and other children in the downriver area, and, second, Mark’s bike-a-thons, which have raised nearly $10,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the past two years. Mark and Clare Bailey’s community involvement is also evident in many other organizations and events. Medium
($2 million-$20 million)
Scott (left) and T.J. Weaver accepted the award for their father’s business, Douglas J Day Spa Salon in Okemos, in the medium category. Douglas J’s programs to provide complimentary salon services for chemotherapy patients and abused women from shelters was the primary reason for the judge’s selection. The business also makes generous contributions to various nonprofit organizations.
John Zimmerman (left), Meijer’s vice president of community relations, accepted the award from MRA’s Larry Meyer on behalf of Meijer, Inc. The recently launched Meijer Community Rewards program, which assists local schools, churches and other organizations in fundraising, is only one of the many charitable activities that led to the award for Grand Rapids-based Meijer, which operates 159 stores in the midwest and Kentucky.
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“Today’s
award winners are only the peak of the mountain,” said Larry Meyer,
chairman and CEO of the Michigan Retailers Association, sponsor of the
awards program. “By honoring them, we also pay tribute to all of
the thousands of well-deserving retailers around the state who give back
to their communities in thousands of ways, day in and day out.”
