News

Are your customers happy?

secret shoppers

The practice of secret shopping has been deployed by business owners for some time. Lately, businesses large and small are using secret shoppers in new ways in a pandemic.

By JENNIFER ROOK

The aftershocks of the pandemic are still being felt across the state.

MRA reports September retail sales drop after strong August

Actual Sales

Michigan retailers remain hopeful for sales to finish strong this year

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Retailers Association today reports a decrease in the September sales performance compare to August numbers.

Bivouac celebrates 50 years and counting

Bivouac

In a city known for its world-class institutions, the Ann Arbor retailer is a destination that has served generations of customers.

By SHANDRA MARTINEZ
Photos STEVE JESSMORE

In a Michigan city known for its world-class educational institutions,

So, er – what’s your customer’s experience?

By JENNIFER ROOK, MRA Vice President, Communications and Marketing

Hope you don’t mind my little play on a Jimi Hendrix’s lyric. I’m a big fan. We’ll save music talk for another day.

Couple shares how their store became Ace Hardware’s ‘Coolest’

Gemmen's coolest hardware store

By SHANDRA MARTINEZ
Photos STEVE JESSMORE

Andrew and Jennifer Gemmen believe their boots-on-the-ground approach to operating their store probably best illustrates their passion for both their customers and employees.

Legally Speaking: A practical approach to doing more with less

Thomas Clement MRA General Counsel

By TOM CLEMENT, MRA General Counsel

A positive experience for your customers is always a top priority and a primary focus of day to day operations. With the difficulty employers are having finding qualified employees,