Wanted: community-minded, caring retailersIn these tough economic times, will it be difficult to find generous, community-minded businesses for the 2006 Michigan Retailer of the Year Awards? Do retailers and other small businesses cut back on their charitable giving when they are finding it harder to make ends meet? Just the opposite, says Nancy Barker, retired vice president of university relations and marketing at Northwood University and one of the judges of the awards. “There’s something about hard times that brings out volunteerism and generosity in many business owners,” Barker said. “And when there’s less money in the till, it may bring out the entrepreneurial creativity of business people, leading them to innovate ways to give their time and energy as well as money.” According to Sharon Bond, of the Giving USA Foundation, which tracks charitable giving, donations from businesses of all sizes remain fairly steady—at about 1.5 percent of pre-tax earnings—in both good years and bad. However, these numbers reflect only contributions whose value can be easily measured in dollars. If you own an outstanding community-minded retail business, or know of one, it’s time to nominate that business for 2006 Michigan Retailer of the Year. MRA is accepting nominations for the awards that honor “the best of the best”—retail businesses that make a significant, positive impact in their communities through involvement in and support of civic, charitable and volunteer programs. This is the ninth year for the awards, which are divided into small, medium and large retail categories. Nominations will be accepted here. Business owners can nominate themselves, and those who have been nominated in previous years but not selected are encouraged to enter the program again. The awards luncheon will be held October 10 in Lansing. Nomination forms are due August 11, and the nominees will have until September 8 to return their more detailed application forms. |
Century-old
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