NOTE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

JENNIFER ROOK MRA Vice President, Communications and Marketing Contact Jennifer at jrook@retailers.com

“For many industries, the last 90 days of the year are “go time.” The last 90 days are coming. Are you ready?

Is it me, or does it seem like a bunch of new holidays have been added to the calendar in recent years? From fun holidays like Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19) to legitimate ones like Juneteeth, (June 19) to several unofficial events that everyone treats like holidays such as Black Friday (date depends on when Thanksgiving occurs), there are a lot more holidays to celebrate beyond the 11 on the federally-recognized list.

One trend I’ve noticed is the recognition of October 1, the official first day of the last 90 days of the calendar year. I became familiar with the concept when a friend of mine sent a notice on LinkedIn touting her availability to assist with “last 90” marketing projects. A week later, another friend invited me to take part in Rachel Hollis’ #Last90DayChallege. Hollis is the author of the popular self-help book, “Girl, Wash Your Face.” According to Hollis’ website, “the Last 90 Days is built on the belief that we can finish the last three months of the year stronger than we started it.” (Did I succeed? That’s a story for another time.)

For many industries, the last 90 days of the year are “go time,” the final push to end the year on a high note. Although presently we are in August, it’s typically the time of the year when people start to transition from the “lazy days of summer” to getting back to business, whether business is back-to-school or ironing out sales strategies.

We dedicate this month’s issue to planning by highlighting initiatives that require detailed planning: video production, PCI compliance, workers compensation, and claims management. There is always something to learn in these categories. By consulting with our trove of experts, we think we are giving you – our MRA members – an edge to succeed and to kick off the “October 1” holiday (you heard it here first) with a bang that helps your business finish the year strong.

SPEAKING OF EXPERTS…INTRODUCING COLD BOX FILMS!

We signed a new deal that we believe our members are going to like - a new partnership with Cold Box Films. Based in Lansing, Cold Box Films, is an award-winning, full-service commercial video production company led by Cooper and Tracey Spaulding. Cold Box Films believes that creating a compelling video requires a meticulous planning process to uncover all of the puzzle pieces that helps a story come together. costs and time. We started working with Cold Box Films in 2019 when they produced several Facebook video ads to promote our competitive credit card processing program. We were so impressed by the group’s creativity, production methods, and planning process that we thought our members would benefit too. In the months to come, we will be tapping Cold Box’s expertise to illustrate ways that help you connect with new customers and position your brand in a new light. As a start, I sat down with Tracey Spaulding and discussed five important steps you need to take before filming a video (page 9). Watch your email for more details on this partnership and what Cold Box Films can do for you.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MRA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS!

We are proud to feature the 2021-2022 MRA Scholarship award recipients. This year, MRA Foundation added two new scholarships increasing the number from 24 to 26. Award amounts range from $1,000 - $1,500 and are open to all students who either work in retail for an MRA member, or who have a family member that does. To date, MRA Foundation has granted 601 scholarships totaling $605,750. See pages 12-13 for more details.

HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING?

Faced with the challenge of keeping our members informed on changing legislation and regulatory issues, Amy Drumm, SVP of Government Affairs for MRA, and I came up with an idea: what if we did a brief weekly recording? In April, we launched our first MRA Legislative Update and have been going strong ever since. Weekly, we discuss all legislative issues happening at the State Capitol that may affect your business. If you haven’t had a chance, check your email and take the time to listen.

NOT TOO LATE!

You know who has been excited to be out after months of sheltering in place – our beloved Buy Nearby Guy! There’s still room on the calendar to book the Buy Nearby Guy for your fall or winter event. Reach out to me at jrook@retailers.com. This summer, the Buy Nearby Guy discovered TikTok and has been visiting members to film short video clips to promote their businesses. Search for Buynearbymi on TikTok to see where he has been.