Stay Updated on Retail Policy News

Get the latest updates on legislation impacting Michigan retailers.
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Read the February/March issue of the Michigan Retailer

The February/March issue of the Michigan Retailer is now available!
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MRA reports December sales increase over November

Michigan retailers reported an increase in their December sales over November, thanks in part to...
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CEO Bill Hallan: Believe it or not, 2020 had some positives

As we close out 2020 the phrase “good riddance” comes to mind. Undoubtedly, 2021 will be welcomed...
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MRA reports Nov. sales down from Oct., retailers hopeful for a boost from last-minute holiday shopping

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan retailers reported a decrease in November sales over October, but remain...
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Michigrain Distillery's pivot during the COVID shutdown saved the day

By MEEGAN HOLLAND Photos STEVE JESSMORE
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Music retailers find their rhythm in a pandemic through improvisation

By SHANDRA MARTINEZ Photos STEVE JESSMORE
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Legally Speaking: COVID-19 employee screening made simple

By TOM CLEMENT, MRA General Counsel
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MEDC offers winter strategies to keep the customers coming

Three more months of wintry weather is a daunting prospect for many businesses and downtowns as...
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A year without lame duck?

By AMY DRUMM, MRA Vice President, Government Affairs

In her own words: Jennifer Reattoir of Sault Ste. Marie's Mole Hole

In 1979, Jennifer Reattoir’s grandparents finished construction of a building in downtown Sault...
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MEDC wants to hear about your downtowns' winter events

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has launched a Support Local program to boost holiday...
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Leaving MRA but still cheering on Michigan retailers

By MEEGAN HOLLAND, MRA Vice President, Marketing and Communications
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MRA encourages consumers to visit 3 local shops to stay afloat this holiday season

LANSING, Mich. – This holiday season Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) is calling on...
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MRA reports October sales down from September, retailers optimistic about holidays

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan retailers reported that although overall sales decreased in October from...
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Jennifer Rook joins Michigan Retailers Association

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) today announced Jennifer Rook will join the...
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With September sales up, retailers optimistic for holiday season

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan retailers reported a large upswing in September sales over August.

MRA awards prize in Buy Nearby Weekend photo contest

Sault Ste. Marie native wins $500 gift card on Buy Nearby Weekend
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Buy Nearby Weekend is Oct. 2-4!

Pandemic be damned – we are forging ahead with Buy Nearby Weekend on Oct. 2-4. And of course the...
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CEO Bill Hallan: Retail has proven it’s safe during COVID

By BILL HALLAN, MRA President and CEO
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MRA announces 2020-21 scholarship winners

MRA’s annual scholarship competition is awarding 24 college students with scholarships totaling...
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Smaller grocers benefit from boost in sales amid COVID-19

By SHANDRA MARTINEZ Photos STEVE JESSMORE
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May sales still dismal but retailers optimistic for summer

LANSING, Mich. – May retail sales continued to tank with stores shut down for most of the month.
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The last three months have been a fire drill like no other

By AMY DRUMM, MRA Vice President, Government Affairs
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The conundrum of enforcing face masks

By BILL HALLAN, MRA President and CEO
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Catch-all

FREE SIGNAGE FOR YOUR STORE Michigan Retailers Association has designed several signs that you can...
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Our letter to the governor

Michigan Retailers Association has been lobbying the Governor’s office for many weeks to allow...
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March sales nosedive as pandemic and closures hit Michigan stores

LANSING, Mich. – The pervasive business shutdown prompted by COVID-19 hit Michigan retailers hard,...
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From CEO Bill Hallan: Help us help you

“Thank you so much for your response. I really do appreciate everything that MRA is doing for small...
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Michigan retailers report strong February, brace for March

LANSING, Mich. – Retailers in Michigan had momentum going into February, according to the Michigan...
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Herbruck brothers 'serve the bird'

By SHANDRA MARTINEZ Photos STEVE JESSMORE
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Helpful tips for our credit card processing customers

If you do your payment processing through Michigan Retailers, here are some helpful updates:
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From CEO Bill Hallan: A Boomer brain drain also has its upside

By BILL HALLAN, MRA President and CEO
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Michigan retailers report strong sales in January

LANSING, Mich. – Retailers in Michigan reported a steep increase in sales this past month compared...
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Michigan Retailers announces 2019 Legislators of the Year

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) has honored two freshman lawmakers as 2019...
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Michigan retailers are optimistic for a strong winter

Retailers in Michigan reported higher sales in December and predict stronger winter sales than a...
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MEDC grants offer new way to help small businesses

Charlevoix’s popular new restaurant, My Grandmother’s Table, started out as a stand at the...
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Michigan retailers report growing sales as holidays approach

Retailers reported higher sales in November and the outlook looks strong for this winter, according...
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Progress in Visa/ MasterCard class action suit; have you signed up?

Update: Since this article appeared the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York...
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Amy Drumm: Policy changes retailers should be grateful for

By AMY DRUMM, MRA Vice President, Government Affairs
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs sales tax fairness bill

Today, Michigan retailers applaud Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the state Legislature for the early...
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Kositchek's of Lansing: How a 154-year-old business stays relevant

By MEEGAN HOLLAND Photos DAVID TRUMPIE
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From CEO Bill Hallan: Keeping Christmas nostalgia alive

By WILLIAM J. HALLAN, MRA President and CEO

Buy Nearby: 6 ideas to encourage a shop-local culture

Retailers are always looking for new ways to keep customers coming back and nurture those consumers...
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Michigan retailers report sluggish October sales as economy slows

LANSING, Mich. – A slowing economy and other factors has prompted Michigan retailers to report...
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HGTV star Cari Cucksey and her husband make Holly a destination

By SHANDRA MARTINEZ Photos STEVE JESSMORE
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MRA puts out legislative fires

By AMY DRUMM, MRA Vice President, Government Affairs
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Bill Hallan column: 3rd grade math - A lesson in time management

By WILLIAM J. HALLAN – MRA President and CEO
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Retail Index survey - August shows strong retail sales

Retail sales have had ups and downs this year, but August helped make up for the slow periods.
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Michigan Grocers Select 2019 Outstanding Achievement Award Winners

The Grocers Division of the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) is pleased to announce that...
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Attorney Thomas P. Clement named General Counsel for Michigan Retailers Association

LANSING, MI – The Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) today announced the appointment of Thomas P....
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MRA announces 2019-2020 scholarship winners

21 students receiving Retailers scholarships
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Food Retailers Summit is Sept. 23-25 at Crystal Mountain; register now!

Grocers, suppliers and friends – join us at Crystal Mountain Resort for the Food Retailers Summit,...

The power of power tools on your shelves: More customers

According to Hardware Retailing magazine, 81 percent of power tools are purchased in-store, not...
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Retail shop Copper Nail gives back to Grass Lake in a big way

Story and photos: SHANDRA MARTINEZ
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Congratulations to 3 MRA retirees

Michigan Retailers will say goodbye to four retiring employees this summer, and three are happening...
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Urgent Verifone Terminal Issue

If you don’t process with a Verifone terminal, or if you have already completed this update, please...
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Buy Nearby unveils two new features to promote shopping local

Buy Nearby Guy is out visiting parades, festivals, 5Ks and business expos, as the busy season to...
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James Hallan: Late-Spring musings

By JAMES P. HALLAN – MRA President and CEO
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Sales on the upswing, but so is labor shortage

Retailers reported a higher number of sales in April, a thaw from the stagnant first quarter of...
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Soft sales in March, but wage growth is cause for optimism

LANSING – A look-alike February and March temperature-wise kept sales stagnant in March, but wage...
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Contest, lottery or sweepstake: Which makes the best customer promotion?

By BILL HALLAN Retailers are a creative bunch and they’re constantly devising new ways to get...
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James Hallan: Spring Musings

ROADS Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced her long awaited solution to fix the roads by proposing a...

Retailers often targets in active shooter tragedies

MIOSHA funding free sessions for training employees to respond in violent situations

Planning for a disaster: A crucial exercise

Have you reviewed your business disaster plan lately? If not, it’s a good exercise to go through...

A tornado is near your business – what to do?

We’re heading into tornado season, which means employees need to be prepared on the protocols in...
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More snow, cold to blame for lower sales in February

The frigid temperatures and continuous snow storms across the state slowed retail sales in...

MRA sales reps get national CPP certification

Two MRA employees have earned a prestigious national designation that recognizes professionalism...
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Snow, cold to blame for lower sales in January

The drop in temperatures coincided with a drop in retail sales in the first month to start 2019,...
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President/CEO James P. Hallan to retire from Michigan Retailers

Longtime President James P. Hallan of Michigan Retailers Association announced that he’ll retire on...
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Increased hires, sales shape a strong November

November continued the positive sales trend for Michigan retailers, according to the monthly Retail...
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William Hallan: Keeping up with shoplifters is a common frustration

Perhaps the most famous shoplifting incident occurred when an 8-year-old boy, who was left home...
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James Hallan: Year-End Musings

Thank you for your membership. As we close out the year, I thought I’d share random year-end...
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Michigan Marihuana Act: 5 things employers should know

By LAURA J. GENOVICH Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C.
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Retailers gear up for massive holiday shopping weekend

With the highest number of holiday shopping days and consumer confidence at a high, retailers are...
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Halloween, early holiday spirit boost sales | October Retail Index

October continues to be an excellent month for Michigan retailers, according to the monthly Retail...
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5 Tips: Recruiting

Retailers are looking for employees who can help create gratifying experiences for customers. In a...
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Retailers felt the cold temperatures in Sept.

As the temperatures cooled, September retail sales dipped a bit as well, but the picture is still...
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What if a patron claims you’ve violated her religious beliefs?

It’s a cloudy morning in Lansing, and as usual, I’ve arrived before dawn. The coffee has started to...
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Fall Musings

By JAMES P. HALLAN, MRA President and Chief Executive Officer
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Mackinaw City business named Michigan Centennial Retailer

Aaron Murdick, fifth generation candy maker, carries on family business
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Retailers gearing up for holidays, higher sales

A strong summer tourism and back-to-school sales helped Michigan retailers post strong sales in...

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