2005 Michigan Retailer of the Year AwardsT hree Michigan retailers—Golden Shoes in Traverse City, Gazelle Sports in Kalamazoo and Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth—are the 2005 Michigan Retailers of the Year. They were honored for their outstanding community involvement at the Retailer of the Year Awards luncheon on October 11 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, spoke of the recent catastrophes in the news—hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes—that have awakened our charitable impulses. “In the wake of these disasters, the generosity of ordinary people has been more visible than usual,” she said. “But some less noticeable kinds of generosity are underway all the time, in the form of the programs and contributions of community-minded retailers like the ones we’re here to honor.”
Three MRA board members received tributes in recognition of achieving the Legacy Club level in the MRA Scholarship program fundraising campaign. They are: D. Larry Sherman, retired owner of the former Sherman Shoes in Birmingham; Peter Sobelton, of Sundries Plus in Troy, and Joe Swanson, district team leader at Target. The awards program, now in its eighth year, is cosponsored by the Michigan Press Association, which 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)
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. 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. Medium
($2 million-$20 million)
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. 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.
A major contribution from the Bronner family enabled the Frankenmuth School District to significantly reduce the amount it sought in a bond designed to pay for necessary renovations and additions, thus saving taxpayers money for the next 20 years. The centerpiece of the project was a state-of-the-art performing arts center, which benefits students during the school year and thousands of citizens year-round. Major contributions from the Bronners also have helped build numerous community facilities, including a veteran’s memorial, a park pavilion, playgrounds and school facilities.
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“In
honoring these retailers, we also pay tribute to the thousands of well-deserving
retailers around the state who give back to their communities in thousands
of ways every day to make their towns—and our state—a better
place for all of us,” said Larry Meyer, chairman and CEO of the
Michigan Retailers Association.
Two
other groups were honored at the luncheon as well. Ten retailers joined
MRA’s list of Michigan Centennial Retailers and will be profiled
in the next issue of Michigan Retailer.
