Legally Speaking: Protecting consumers and maintaining your customer base
By TOM CLEMENT, MRA General Counsel
Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. The sun emerges, warm weather activities are on the horizon and the feeling of a fresh start generates a positive and optimistic attitude.
Planning, strategy help family-owned furniture business thrive amid pandemic
By SHANDRA MARTINEZ
Photos STEVE JESSMORE
The Vermeulens have been in the furniture business for three generations. While there’s no question the pandemic has been challenging, the past year has been one of the company’s most successful — even with being forced to shut down their stores for two months last spring.
5 Things to Consider when Refreshing Your Digital Campaigns
Campaigns go stale fast. Here are some ideas to keep content fresh
By JENNIFER ROOK
Oscar Wilde once said that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
News From The Capitol: Lighter version of normal
By AMY DRUMM, MRA Vice President, Government Affairs
We are weeks away from the first 100 days since the start of the new legislative session. While the general public hears a lot about politics during an election season,
Save the date for Buy Nearby Weekend, Oct. 1-3, 2021
BUY NEARBY WEEKEND 2021
Mark your calendars for Buy Nearby Weekend on Oct. 1-3, 2021. The annual celebration of shopping local is celebrated on the first weekend of October.
CEO Bill Hallan: Accepting a world full of risks
We live in a world of risk, yet for the past 12 months, the entire world has collectively locked down in an attempt to reduce the chance of contracting COVID.
In Her Own Words: Ball Park Floral & Gifts’ Jennifer Stehouwer
The corner of Fulton St. W. and Valley Ave. N.W. has been the home of Ball Park Floral & Gifts in Grand Rapids for over a century. Always locally owned and operated,
From the Editor’s Desk: Go Forward! Keep Moving!
By JENNIFER ROOK, MRA Vice President, Communications and Marketing
Spring forward! Spring Ahead! Think Spring! Spring Fever! Or my favorite, Spring is nature’s way of saying,
Read the April/May issue of the Michigan Retailer
The April/May issue of the Michigan Retailer is now available!
This issue is all about moving forward. Our feature story on Vermeulen’s Furniture highlights their winning strategy helping them thrive through the pandemic.
MRA reports February retail sales rise again after positive December and January numbers
Michigan retailers reported a large jump in February sales over January, now reporting three months of positive growth since slower sales in November.
The February Retail Index survey came in at 71.0,