Stay Updated on Retail Policy News

Get the latest updates on legislation impacting Michigan retailers.
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Michigan Retailers’ Sales Dip Again in June

Retail Index shows sales up year-over-year
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Michigan Retailers’ Sales Dip Slightly in May, But Optimism is On the Rise

Retailers Adjust to Uncertainty and Predict Steadier Summer Sales
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Recognizing Non-Traditional Retail

As the nation’s largest state retail trade association, Michigan Retailers Association has an...
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Non-Traditional Retailer Highlight: Paradise Shores Cabins

On the Shores of Lake Superior, Resort Operators Rely on MRA’s Retail Tools By Shandra Martinez
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Retailers Unite at the 2025 Capitol Day and Legislative Reception

Retailers from every corner of Michigan gathered in Lansing on April 23 for MRA’s 2025 Capitol Day...
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Regulatory Rundown: June/July 2025

Law Changes Coming in June and July 2025 Michigan’s Slow Budget Summer With divided government and...
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Legally Speaking: Trump v. CASA and the Fate of the Nationwide Injunction

A few weeks ago, I was in Washington, D.C. where I had the opportunity to meet Chief Justice John...
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Under the Dome: Tariff Uncertainty Harms Retail

Michigan retailers have a global reach, sourcing products and serving customers around the world....
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From the CEO: 85 Years of Advocacy, One Powerful Day in Lansing

For 85 years, the core mission of Michigan Retailers Association has been to advocate for our...
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Michigan Retailers Foundation Announces Winners of $49,000 in Scholarships for 2025-26 School Year

Michigan Retailers Association is awarding 14 college students with scholarships totaling $49,000...
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Michigan Retailers’ Sales Rebound in April

Retailers Predict Similar Sales Through July
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Michigan Retailers Report Significant Impacts of Tariffs

Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) has released results from a May 2025 member survey regarding...
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Legally Speaking: Spring Cleaning of a Different Variety

Every year many of us go through the usual spring cleaning routine including tasks like...
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Creative Counsel: Welcome a Change in Your Strategy

In March, I had the pleasure of attending Crain’s Power Breakfast, themed “Women Who Mean...
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May is National Small Business Month

This is your opportunity to celebrate small businesses, all month long. Whether you’re pouring...
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How Retailers Can Use Social Districts to Their Advantage

By Rachel Schrauben Photos By Alison Jakubcin for the Alpena DDA In 2020, social districts were...
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Changes to Youth Employment Laws

What Michigan Retailers Need to Know On Oct. 1, 2026, Michigan will implement significant...
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Milkins Jewelers Marks 120 Years of Family Tradition

By: Shandra Martinez The jewelry store has evolved while preserving family legacy and...
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Interview with a Regulator: Earned Sick Time and Minimum Wage

By: Sean Egan Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity Wage and Hour Division ...
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Regulatory Rundown: April/May 2025

Law Changes Coming in April and May 2025 ESTA Sample Handbook Language Available After the...
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Meet MRA’s Newest Team Member

Hi, I’m Drew Beardslee, the new Vice President of Government Affairs for Michigan Retailers...
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Michigan Retailers See Drastic Drop in February Sales Activity

Retail Index down over 20 points
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Michigan Retailers’ January 2025 Sales Perform Above Years Past

Three-month sales prediction strong through April
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Michigan Retailers announces Drew Beardslee as VP, Government Affairs

Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) is excited to announce that Drew Beardslee has joined our team...
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Embracing Sustainability as a Competitive Edge

For small business owners in Michigan, adopting a sustainable approach is not only...
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2025 Legislative Priorities

Fixing the Earned Sick Time Act Lawmakers were unable or unwilling to reach an agreement on...
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Regulatory Rundown: February/March 2025

Law Changes Coming in February and March 2025 Earned Sick Time Act As the clock ticks down to...
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Michigan Retailers’ Sales Rise in December, Holiday Season Outperforms Year

Retailers boast strong optimism heading into 2025
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Michigan Retailers Association Seeking Scholarship Candidates for 2025-2026 School Year

Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) launched its annual scholarship competition on Jan. 1, 2025....
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Now Hiring: Vice President, Government Affairs

Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) is hiring for Vice President, Government Affairs.
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Michigan Retailers See Positive Sales Activity in November, Down Slightly from October

Holiday shopping drives a second consecutive month of positive sales activity

From the Archives: Michigan Retailer Turns Fifty

Every now and then, we stumble upon gems from our archives. Michigan Retailer Vol. 1, No. 1, 1975
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Supporting Retailers in the Michigan Legislature

Speaker-elect Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, is state representative for the 42nd House...
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Treat Yourself This Season With Local Luxuries

By: Shandra Martinez
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Annual Scholarship Competition Begins Jan. 1

Michigan Retailers Association to Award 14 Scholarships for 2025-26 Academic Year Michigan...
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Regulatory Rundown: December 2024/January 2025

Law Changes Coming Dec. 31/Jan. 1 Federal overtime rule invalidated: no change to wage...

How Locked Up Merchandise Affects Buyer Behavior

Retailers face a challenging dilemma when combating retail crime: locking up merchandise may...
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Gun Violence During the Holiday Shopping Season: The Impact On Retail

Erin Acheson, VP of Marketing for ZeroEyes
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Michigan Retailers Association Launches “Michigan Monday” awareness campaign for Cyber Monday

Raising awareness for Michigan-based e-commerce, MRA is encouraging consumers to shop on...
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Michigan Retailers' October Sales Rise Over Stagnant September

Retailers mark first positive activity index since June 2023 Michigan Retailers Association...
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MRA Launches Holiday Shopping Challenges

The “Shop 3 Challenge” and “Michigan Monday” bring awareness and support to Michigan-based retail...
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Michigan Retailers See Fall in September Sales

3-month optimism highest since summer 2023
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Two Board Members Advocate in Washington, D.C.

Pictured with MRA’s Senior VP, Gov. Affairs Amy Drumm, Congressman John James (MI-10), and...
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Open Enrollment is Happening Now

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Enrollment Period this year from Nov. 1...
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Dispelling the Myth of "Corporate Price Gouging"

James Carville, Bill Clinton’s political advisor famously said in 1992, “it’s the economy,...

Join MRA's 2025-26 Retail Ambassador Program

Calling all next-generation leaders! Become a visible member of the retail community and ensure the...
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MRA, RIC Boards Announce New Leadership

At the Annual Meeting held in late August, the Michigan Retailers Association, Michigan...
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Regulatory Rundown: October/November 2024

Fight Retail Crime Day – Oct. 24, 2024 This day of action unites the retail industry in...
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Seeking Implementation Changes On Paid Leave

Editor’s Note: This article should be read consecutively with Tom Clement’s Mothering Justice v...
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Mothering Justice v Attorney General: Minimum Wage and Paid Leave

Editor’s Note: This article should be read consecutively with Amy Drumm’s Seeking Implementation...
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Retail-Specific Election Guidance: Friends of Retail

MRA’s 2024 General Election Friends of Retail The Michigan Primary Election saw over 2 million...
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Elections Have Consequences

On Nov. 5, 2024, Americans will participate in the most important aspect of our democracy – the...
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Holiday Shopping Season Kicks-Off with Annual Buy Nearby Weekend, Oct. 4-6

Shop local, visit participating retailers, and Keep Your Money in Michigan© Businesses and...
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Michigan Retailers’ August Sales Dip Following July’s High

100-point Index marker sees a 2.6-point decline in August, but towers over 2023 numbers by more...
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Michigan Retailers Association announces Victoria Veda as VP, Communications

Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) is pleased to announce Victoria Veda as its new Vice...
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A Letter from the President and CEO

Dear Valued Members,
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Michigan Retailers’ July Sales See Rise Over June

100-point Index marker reaches highest point since February 2024

Numerator: Private Label Trends

Over the past year, private label products have constituted nearly 23% of unit sales across ten...

Michigan Retail Index 6-Month Snapshot

The 100-point Index provides a snapshot of the state’s overall retail industry. Index values...
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Election Outcomes Will Impact Your Business

It’s election season. Yes, again. Most people are sick of campaign ads and campaign promises,...
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SCOTUS Extends Relief to Merchants and Consumers, For Now

On July 1, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) properly ruled against the Federal Reserve...
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Organized Retail Crime Up Close

I’ve talked a lot about organized retail crime over the years, but a couple of weeks ago it hit...
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Economic Study Highlights Impact of Shopping Local

Michiganders’ local purchases make a difference
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Michigan Retailers Association statement on Michigan Supreme Court decision in Mothering Justice v. Attorney General

The opinion issued today is disappointing and will have an immense negative impact on all...
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Michigan Retailers’ June Sales Down from May

Michigan Retailers Association today reports that June 2024 sales dropped from May, landing at 43.3...
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PCI Compliance Migration

It is our priority to ensure that you are kept up to date with changes that might impact your...
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Michigan Retailers’ Sales Rise Over April

Index number still below positive threshold
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Alert: Receiving Unsolicited Calls, Emails, or Letters

MRA member shares their personal experience.
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Now Hiring: Vice President, Communications

JOB DESCRIPTION Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) is the largest state retail association in the...
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Keep Pure Michigan’s Intent “Pure”

Promoting Michigan tourism is worth $50M
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Thirteen Students Receive 2024-25 Michigan Retailers Foundation Scholarships

Michigan Retailers Association is awarding 13 college students with scholarships totaling $45,500...
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From the CEO: Collaborate, Advocate, and Engage

In April, the collective voices of Michigan’s retail industry reverberated through the halls of the...
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Legally Speaking: Credit Card Theft Impacts Most Vulnerable

I was grateful but dismayed to recently receive an article from former MRA employee, current MRA...
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Register for $5.54 Billion Settlement on Interchange Fees by Aug. 30, 2024

The Visa/Mastercard Class Action Settlement claim filing deadline of May 31, 2024, has been...
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Michigan Retailers Report Decrease in April Sales

Michigan Retailers Association today reports that April 2024 sales dropped slightly, landing at...
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Michigan Retailers Report Stagnate Q1 Sales Numbers

Michigan Retailers Association today reports that March 2024 sales again performed moderately,...
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Swift Hardware Celebrates 155 Years Serving The Copper Country

Swift Hardware in Houghton has been an essential part of the Upper Peninsula for 155 years. From...
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Shining the Spotlight: Munising

Whether you are coming from the east or the west, driving into Munising offers beautiful sights....

Explore MRA's Suite of Savings

Are you getting the most out of your MRA membership? Take a journey through this flowchart and...

From the Archives: Mascot spreads Buy Nearby word

Michigan Retailer October 2015 Vol. 40, No. 5 In an effort to spread the importance of Keeping...
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Shining the Spotlight: Sault Ste. Marie

By Andrea Bitely Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is a small town with a big presence for the U.S....

Annual Report Milestones

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Intended Holiday Spending 2024

Which holidays will be the top celebrated in 2024, where will consumers be shopping, and what’s...
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Regulatory Rundown: April/May 2024 Michigan Retailer

Regulatory News & Trends ICYMI – Period clothing exempt from sales tax The Michigan Department of...
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Michigan Retailers Report Low January Sales, Positive Future Outlook

Michigan Retailers Association today reports that January 2024 sales performed moderately, landing...
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From the Archives: At Home for 25 Years

Although the building we call MRA Headquarters has been standing for over 100 years, MRA officially...
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Emily Walters Joins MRA Sales Department

MRA is happy to announce the hiring of Emily Walters as Business Development Representative, in our...
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Regulatory Rundown: February/March 2024 Michigan Retailer

Regulatory News & Trends NRF and Appriss Retail Report: $743 Billion in Merchandise Returned in...
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Michigan Retailers Report Dec. Sales Rise Over Nov.

December retail sales index up year-over-year
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Michigan Retailers Reports Retail Sales Fall Again

Retailers report second consecutive month of sales decrease
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MRA to Award 13 Retailers Foundation Scholarships in 2024

MRA’s annual scholarship competition will launch on Jan. 1 for the 2024-25 academic year. The...
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How to Attract New Business in Winter Months

By: Andrea Bitely, Vice President Communications and Marketing

View our 2024 Annual Legislative Report

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