Buy Nearby Poster Inside
Start getting ready for Get Caught Blue-Handed Day on October 3 by putting an updated poster in your window or on your wall. Inside
3
Good Start for Summer Sales
Although national retail numbers slid in June, Michigan sales rose and summer forecasts remain strong. Page 3
6&7
Legacy Scholarships
Find out more about the retailers behind two of MRA’s legacy scholarships, Joe McCurry and Jim Walsh. Pages 6&7
® August 2015 Vol. 40 No. 4
Consumers still prefer shopping in real stores, new retail survey finds Consumers prefer to shop in brickand-mortar stores rather than online, despite all the hype around e-commerce, according to a new report. However, the key to competing successfully against online competition is providing an excellent in-store experience that includes superior customer service and product knowledge, the report says. Results of Timetrade’s survey of more than 1,000 consumers are contained in its report, “The State of Retail 2015.” They include: • Retail stores are still relevant: 87 percent of respondents expected to shop in stores this year at least as often as they did in 2014. • Consumers pr efer to shop in-store: 65 percent said that if an item is available online or in a nearby store, they prefer to shop in the store. • Mobile shopping is slow to grow: More than 42 percent of consumers have never purchased something on their mobile devices, and when looking to buy something, only 13 percent will make a purchase from their mobile device. Most use mobile for browsing and research. Validate Decisions “More than ever, customers are looking to the in-store experience to help them validate their final purchasing decisions,” the report says. “Retailers must be aware of this shopping behavior and make sure their in-store associates are equipped with the right knowledge to help customers. “Additionally, not only should store associates be knowledgeable, but also readily available…” Continued on page 4
The official publication of the Michigan Retailers Association
www.retailers.com
Governor signs local pre-emption bill Michigan businesses are now protected from new local wage, benefit and other employee mandates under controversial new legislation signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder and backed strongly by Michigan
Retailers Association. The governor signed House Bill 4052, the Local Government Labor Regulatory Limitation Act, on June 30 after it was approved in both chambers. Lawmakers gave the law
Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero greets Buy Nearby Guy at a news conference in his city. Photo by David Trumpie
36 scholarships awarded for upcoming school year Thirty-six students will head to college this fall with a total of $34,500 in scholarships from Michigan Retailers Association. Each scholarship is funded by Michigan Retailers Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization established by MRA to benefit MRA members and their employees and families. Thirty-three students will receive $1,000 toward tuition and fees at a public or private college or univer-
sity and three will receive $500 for community college or approved training institute. All of the scholarships are for the 2015-16 academic year. Recipients may reapply when the competition for the 2016-17 academic year begins next January. In the scholarship program’s 17year history, $433,000 has been awarded in 464 scholarships to students who are employees or the children of owners or employees of MRA-member businesses. “The Board of Directors’ strong commitment to the scholarship program drives its success,” said MRA President and CEO James P. Hallan. Continued on page 6
immediate effect. “This is another major victory for retailers and all Michigan businesses,” said Amy Drumm, MRA’s director of government affairs. “It protects them from a patchwork of arbitrary local rules that increase the cost of doing business. The bill continues efforts to improve Michigan’s business climate, by having only one set of wage and benefit rules for employers to follow.” Details The new law prohibits local units of government from adopting, enforcing or administering a new local ordinance, policy or resolution that: • Requires a higher minimum wage than the state minimum wage • Requires an employer to pay a wage or fringe benefit prevailing in the locality • Regulates work stoppage or strike activity • Regulates hours and scheduling Continued on page 10
No solution yet for fixing roads
The Michigan House and Senate have passed separate plans to fix Michigan’s roads, but sharp differences between the packages are causing more delay in reaching a solution. Few expect agreement anytime soon, likely causing the issue to drag into the fall. The chief stumbling block, as always, is how to come up with $1.2 billion or more annually for roads and how much “new” money will come from motorists and taxpayers. The good news for retailers is that neither plan would attempt to raise the state sales tax, said Amy Drumm, MRA’s director of government affairs. Voters overwhelmingly defeated the May 5 ballot proposal that included a one-cent increase in the sales tax rate. Different Packages The Republican-led House approved Continued on page 4
2
Michigan Retailer
Happy Together
www.retailers.com
Board of Directors: Dan Marshall
Chair Marshall Music Company, Lansing
by James P. Hallan, MRA President and Chief Executive Officer Do you recall the old Turtles song “So Happy Together?” Not only do I still like it, I played it for the MRA Board of Directors recently, because in my opinion it reflects perfectly how well Michigan Retailers Association, Michigan Retailers Services, Inc., Retailers Insurance Company and the Buy Nearby Guy all work together. It was actually the theme of my presentation at our late June board meeting as we clicked off another year. MRA’s fiscal year ended on June 30 in this 75th year of successfully representing the retail community and like-minded businesses. It was a very good year, indeed! Making History Michigan Retailers made history on several fronts. Foremost is the legislative passage of our Main Street Fairness package after decades of working to level the retail playing field for Michigan businesses. Starting October 1, the Amazons of the world will be required to collect and remit Michigan sales tax, just like all companies in Michigan selling in stores, catalogs or online. Also with our strong support, the legislature passed progressive preemption legislation that prohibits local units of government from enacting wage and benefit ordinances that exceed state standards. By comparison, think of the local challenges facing retailers in San Francisco and Seattle. We also surpassed the $1.1 billion mark in annual credit card processing volume for the first time since we pioneered this membership service in the late 1960s. We also can report that we now have accounts in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Buy Nearby Our young, vibrant Buy Nearby campaign has moved to a higher level of recognition with the addition of our colorful Buy Nearby Guy mascot. He helps remind consumers, in a fun way, the importance and value of buying from retailers in Michigan. In addition, the reorganization of Retailers Insurance Company provides a flexible new corporate structure that allows for more product offerings, capital growth and efficiencies in the future. Financially, the Association and its affiliated entities are in excellent health.
Retailers Insurance Company maintains an “A” rating by Demotech, and written premium for the calendar year was up 24 percent. The Association’s operating income for its fiscal year was up more than 6 percent, and the organization does not carry any long-term debt. None of this could have been accomplished without the leadership of an entrepreneurial board of directors, which clearly reflects the core spirit
of our membership, complimented by our very talented management team. Of course, like any business, we inhabit a landscape filled with many challenges. Competition abounds and government regulation, at times, is overreaching. However, our unique business model of being “So Happy Together” has certainly stood the test of time. It also means there are many good years ahead.
Wm. Hallan named ‘Rising Leader,’ promoted to Exec Vice President
Hallan
The Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) was on the mark when it recently named MRA’s William J. Hallan a “Rising Leader” in the business community of state
associations. Shortly after MSAE publicly recognized MRA’s chief operating officer and general counsel as one of 15 young executives on the way up, the MRA Board of Directors elevated Hallan to executive vice president, chief operating officer and general counsel. The promotion adds greater responsibility to his constantly increasing duties. It also designates him as acting chief executive in the absence of President and CEO James P. Hallan, his father. Bill Hallan joined the organization in 2011 as vice president and general counsel. He expanded his responsibilities to include oversight of the Association’s legislative advocacy program in February 2012 and overall operations in September 2013. He was promoted to chief operating officer and named to the MRA board in 2014. He also serves as executive vice president, chief operating officer and general counsel for Retailers Insurance Company. He was instrumental in the recent state-approved restructuring that enables the company to expand more quickly and increase benefits to policyholders in the future.
Prior to joining Michigan Retailers, Hallan was a litigator in the Dykema Gossett law firm’s Bloomfield Hills office. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Toledo School of Law and a graduate of Denison University. Governor Rick Snyder appointed Hallan to serve on the state Organized Retail Crime Board. The board was created in 2012 legislation, pushed successfully by MRA, to provide law enforcement with tough, new tools to fight the growing problem of organized retail crime.
James P. Hallan
President and CEO Michigan Retailers Association
Orin Mazzoni, Jr.
Vice Chair Orin Jewelers, Garden City
Peter R. Sobelton Treasurer Birmingham
William J. Hallan
Secretary Michigan Retailers Association
Thomas Ungrodt
Past Chair Ideation, Ann Arbor
Brian Ducharme AT&T
Becky Beauchine Kulka
Becky Beauchine Kulka Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, Okemos
Joseph McCurry
Credit Card Group
Larry Mullins
Brandon Tire & Auto Service Center, Ortonville
R.D. (Dan) Musser III
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island
Barb Stein
Great Northern Trading Co., Rockford
Joe Swanson Target Corp.
James Walsh
Meijer, Inc., Grand Rapids
D. Larry Sherman
Board Member Emeritus
Michigan Retailers Services, Inc. Board of Directors: Bo Brines Little Forks Outfitters, Midland
Bill Golden
Golden Shoes, Traverse City
Lisa McCalpine-Wittenmyer Walgreens
James P. Hallan Thomas B. Scott Publisher
Editor
Pat Kerwin
Design Manager
Publication Office: 603 South Washington Avenue Lansing, MI 48933 517.372.5656 or 800.366.3699 Fax: 517.372.1303 www.Retailers.com www.RetailersInsurance.com www.BuyNearbyMI.com
The MSAE award, featured on the cover of its June/July magazine, was given to outstanding association executives under 35 or in the first five years of working in the association or hospitality industries. Hallan is 33 and beginning his fifth year at MRA.
Subscriptions:
Michigan Retailer (USPS 345-780, ISSN 0889-0439) is published in February, April, June, August, October and December for $20 per year by Michigan Retailers Association, 603 South Washington Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. Subscription fees are automatically included in the Michigan Retailers Asociation membership dues. Periodical postage paid at Lansing, Michigan. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 603 South Washington Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. The Michigan Retailer may be recycled with other white office paper.
August 2015
3
MICHIGAN RETAIL INDEX
Michigan retailers’ June sales and forecasts rise retail industry, based on monthly surveys conducted by MRA and the Federal Reserve. Index values above 50 generally indicate positive activity; the higher the number, the stronger the activity. Looking forward, 61 percent of retailers expect sales during July– September to increase over the same period last year, while 8 percent project a decrease and 31 percent no
Current
change. That puts the seasonally adjusted outlook index at 74.4, up from 73 in May. A year ago June the outlook index stood at 69.5. Retailers did well in all regions of the state except Southeast Michigan. It was the only area where there were more retailers with sales declines than sales increases. By trade line, gift stores and jewel-
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ers led the state. Michigan sales tax receipts totaled $641.1 million in June, down 1.2 percent from June 2014. Complete results of this month’s Michigan Retail Index—including data on sales, inventory, prices, promotions and hiring—are available at www. retailers.com/mra/news/michiganretail-index.html. The website includes figures dating back to July 1994.
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Michigan retailers’ sales rebounded in June and expectations remained strong for the rest of summer, according to the latest Michigan Retail Index, a joint project of Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Most retailers saw sales increase after a dip in May. The current-sales component of the Index jumped up 16.5 points to 63.9, the second highest mark of the year. “June’s sales growth is welcome news and points to continued improvement in the economy,” said MRA President and CEO James P. Hallan. “While consumer spending has fluctuated from month to month this year, the overall trend is upward.” The June survey of MRA members showed 53 percent of retailers increased sales over the same month last year, while 28 percent recorded declines and 19 percent reported no change. The results create a seasonally adjusted performance index of 63.9, up from 47.4 in May. A year ago June the performance index stood at 66.7. The 100-point index gauges the performance of the state’s overall
Seasonally adjusted diffusion index, calculated by adding the percent of respondents indicating increased sales and half the percent indicating no change, and then seasonally adjusting the result using the U.S. Census Bureau’s X-11 Seasonal Adjustment procedure. Index values above 50 generally indicate an increase in activity, while values below 50 indicate a decrease.
200 (millions)
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Be sure to complete your online survey each month!
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Michigan Retailer
www.retailers.com
Consumers still prefer shopping in real stores, new retail survey finds Continued from page 1
The importance of a knowledgeable and well-trained staff can be seen in the following survey results: • Nearly 90 percent of respondents said they are more likely to buy when helped by a knowledgeable associate. • Similarly, nearly 90 percent of consumers who research online said they are more likely to buy in-store when helped by a knowledgeable associate. • 50 percent said what they value most in a sales associate while shopping is smart recommendations. • 63 percent said that if an item is the exact same price at four different retailers, they will decide where to shop based on the overall customer experience they have in the store. • If a knowledgeable sales associate recommends items a customer may need, or based on what the store knows about them, 64 percent said they will leave the store much more satisfied. Behavior Shift Timetrade said today’s retailers must keep in mind that customer in-store behavior has shifted from “discovery” to “final purchase decision.”
Fifty-three percent of survey respondents reported that after they browse online before making a purchase, they have generally narrowed their selection to two or three products but need help making a final decision. “For this reason, customers today need prompt service from the right person, because they, for the most part, know what they want, they just need help with the last steps in buying. “How store employees handle instore behavior is more crucial than ever.” $5 Trillion The report reminded in-store retailers that despite the faster growth rate of online shopping, brick-andmortar stores still account for the lion’s share of consumers’ retail spending and will remain dominant in the future. In 2014, it said, e-commerce accounted for only 8.3 percent of total retail sales. “The fact that consumers will be spending $5 trillion in brick-andmortar by 2020 means that retailers have to be prepared to accommodate shoppers and their changing needs.”
Timetrade provides an ap pointment scheduling solution to consumer retail, retail banking, health
and wellness, and higher education customers. Its survey asked in-depth questions of 1,029 consumers.
No solution yet for fixing roads Continued from page 1
a 12-bill package on June 10 that would redirect to roads existing funds – especially economic development funds – in the state budget. It also would increase the 15-cent per gallon tax on diesel fuel to match the 19 cents charged on regular fuel and raise registration fees for electric and hybrid vehicles. In addition, the House plan would eliminate the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, which provides working, low-income families with about $150 per year. The Republican-controlled Senate, with Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley casting the deciding vote because of a 19-19 tie, approved a phased-in, 15-cent gas tax increase as part of the overall plan. It also would redirect $700 million to roads from existing state funds, but did not single out economic development money. House Democrats, meanwhile,
introduced their own plan on July 14, calling for a 50 percent increase in the state corporate income tax, an increase in truck registration fees, a reduction in the truck weight limit and renegotiating Michigan Economic Growth Authority tax credits. Republican leaders dismissed it as a nonstarter. Legislative Process The legislative process essentially puts the ball back in the House’s court, because the Senate acted on the House bills and sent its package to the House for action. House members returned to Lansing in mid-July from their summer break to discuss the Senate plan in private. They took no action on it before returning to their break, a sign that the votes are not there to pass a gas tax increase, at least right now, if ever.
August 2015
5
Lansing says Buy Nearby means jobs – and more To Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, the meaning of Buy Nearby is vital – and straightforward. “It means jobs, plain and simple,” he said during a June 17 Michigan Retailers Association news conference. “Buy Nearby makes a big difference economically. Keep your neighbors working. Keep yourself employed, keep your neighbors working and buy nearby. The money that you put in the community here has a reverberating effect.” To entrepreneur Aaron Matthews, an attorney and owner of Zoobie’s Old Town Tavern, the site of the news conference, Buy Nearby’s importance goes beyond economics. “Obviously, the economic numbers are impressive about what Buy Nearby means and the impact it has on our local economy. For us here at Zoobie’s, it goes beyond that and is more about community. “By shopping local, by shopping with your neighbors, you can really build that sense of community. You
get to know the people from whom you’re purchasing and they get to know you, and that strengthens our community across the board.” Spreading the Word The news conference in Lansing’s revitalized Old Town area brought together local retailers and community leaders to discuss the economic i m p o r t a n c e o f M R A’s year-round campaign to encourage consumers to buy from stores and websites in Michigan. The campaign is “celebrated” on the first S a t u rd a y i n O c t o b e r – October 3 this year – with special sales and promotions throughout the state. The idea is for shoppers to want to “Get Caught Blue-Handed” buying from retailers near
Cravings Gourmet Popcorn owner Chad Jordan and MRA President and CEO Jim Hallan.
where they live, work or are visiting in Michigan. The Lansing event was the second in a series of regional news conferences to help get out the word about the campaign and Get Caught Blue-
Handed Day. “Retail in Michigan represents about 95 billion dollars in economic activity, and shopping at nearby retailers means you build stronger Continued on page 10
MRA’s Jim Hallan leads off the news event at Zoobie’s. Photos by David Trumpie
Austin Ashley, executive director of the Old Lansing business and media leader Chris Holman Town Commercial Association is all thumbs up. is tickled to meet the Buy Nearby mascot.
Zoobie’s and The Cosmos co-owner Aaron Matthews with some members of The Cosmos pizzeria team.
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Michigan Retailer
www.retailers.com
36 scholarships awarded for upcoming school year Continued from page 1
“Each year the program helps dozens of students and their families afford a college education while providing an opportunity for contributors to give something back to their industry and add to their legacy of good works. It’s a valuable benefit of membership in MRA.” MRA’s scholarship program is managed by an outside firm with expertise in operating scholarship programs for large businesses and organizations, International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS), in Nashville, Tennessee. An independent panel of educators assembled by ISTS selects the recipients based on above-average academic achievement and extracurricular involvement. Financial need is not a consideration. Judging by ISTS panelists was held in early May. There were 252 completed applications, up from 245 last year. Legacy Scholarships Legacy scholarships are created by contributors who donate $10,000 or more to the Foundation during their lifetime. The named awards enable re-
tailers to give back to their industry and establish their legacy within MRA. One new legacy scholarship was awarded this year: the Walsh Family Legacy Scholarship, established by Jim and Kathy Walsh. Jim Walsh, retired Meijer chief financial officer, is a member of the MRA board and an adjunct professor at Aquinas College. The legacy scholarship recipients for the 2015-16 academic year are: Laura Geneseo, of Auburn, daughter of Robert and Jennifer Geneseo. Jennifer is an employee at Community Mental Health in Midland. Laura is a graduate of Bay City Western High School and will be a freshman at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the fall. Geneseo received the Fred E. and Lillian Sherman Scholarship, established by MRA board member emeritus D. Larry Sherman in honor of his parents, founders of Sherman Shoes. Faith Cole, of Marquette, an employee at Doncker’s LLC in Marquette. Faith is a graduate of Marquette Senior High School and will be a sophomore at the University of Michigan in the fall. She is the daughter of
Fred and Cathy Cole. Cole received the D. Larry Sher man Scholarship, established by MRA board member emeritus Sherman. Molly McCranner, of Holland, daughter of Bryan and Laura McCranner. Bryan is an employee at Holland Vision Systems in Holland. Molly is a graduate of Holland High School and will be a freshman at Alma College in Alma in the fall. McCranner received the Nathan Rosenfeld Scholarship, named for the late founder of Jacobson Stores, Inc. Cole VanOosten, of Kalamazoo, son of Scott and Beth VanOosten. Scott is the owner of Woodwork Specialties in Kalamazoo. Cole is a graduate of Kalamazoo Christian Schools and will be a freshman at Lake Superior State Uni-
versity in Sault Ste. Marie in the fall. VanOosten received the Barb Stein Legacy Scholarship, established by MRA board member Barb Stein, owner and operator of Great Northern Trading Co. in Rockford. Madelyne Luddy, of Royal Oak, daughter of Pete and Faith Luddy. Pete is an employee at Sears Holding Co. in Royal Oak. Madelyne is a graduate of Shrine Catholic High School in Royal Oak and will be a freshman at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, in the fall Madelyne received the Helen McCurry Legacy Scholarship, established by MRA board member and retired Sears executive Joe McCurry in honor of his late wife, Helen. Erin Drylie, of Warren, daughter
McCurry scholarship honors dedicated wife and teacher
by Doug Henze
For decades, Joe McCurr y watched his wife, Helen, give all she could to the at-risk children she loved to teach. After lung cancer claimed her life at age 63 in 2008, he felt it only fitting to give a little more in her name. Wo r k i n g t h ro u g h Michigan Retailers Association, McCurr y established the Helen McCurry Legacy Scholarship, an annual $1,000 college award for students with ties to the retail industry. Created in 2013, the scholarship was first awarded last year. The scholarship reflects both Helen’s love of education and Joe’s passion for retail. The longtime MRA board member worked for Sears for 38 years, retiring from the company 12 years ago. Perfect Combination “A retail scholarship fund seemed to be the perfect combination,” said the 74-year-old McCurry. “I think she would have
liked it. Her life was devoted to the kids. That’s what she did.” McCurry, who married Helen in 1965, recalled the early years of his marriage to a dedicated teacher. The time and energy she devoted to her urban Chicago students extended beyond the school day. “We would have kids over to our h o m e , ” M c C u r r y, remembered. “We would take a few kids on vacation.” Throughout her career, Helen dedicated herself to at-risk students living in primarily Hispanic or black neighborhoods, he said. While she taught at the high school and elementary levels during a career that spanned Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, Helen believed she made her greatest impact on the younger students, McCurry said. Her last position was at a charter elementary school in Detroit. “She felt, at the high school level, some of the habits had already been established,” McCurry said. Continued on page 8
Top Row (left to right): Ahee, Biernaczonek, Christensen, Cole, Row 2: Damen, Drylie, Duckworth, Evett, P. Flickinger, Row 3: S. Flickinger, Geneseo, Gibbs, Greco, Hagerty, Row 4: Horn, Jenkin, Jones, Lardie, Luddy, Row 5: Marentette, McCranner, Okoniewski, Outman, Payne, Row 6: Peterson, VanOosten, Visser, Walters, Wilson.
August 2015 of Jim and Heidi Drylie. Jim is an employee of Meijer, Inc. in Utica. Erin is a graduate of Cousino Senior High School in Warren and will be a sophomore at Wayne State University in Detroit in the fall. Paul Flickinger, of Grand Rapids, son of Dave and Lydia Flickinger. Dave is an employee at Meijer, Inc. in Grand Rapids. Paul was homeschooled and will be a freshman at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, in the fall. Drylie and Flickinger each received a Raymond A. and Mildred C. Sobelton Scholarship, established by MRA board treasurer Peter Sobelton and his sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Douglas Stranahan, in honor of the Sobeltons’ parents, founders of Churchills Ltd. Clare Evett, of Ann Arbor, daughter of Dr. Matthew and Susan Evett. Susan is an employee at Internet2/ UCAID in Ann Arbor. Clare is a graduate of Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor and will be a sophomore at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti in the fall. She also received a scholarship last year. Evett received the Mark Schrag Scholarship, established by former MRA board member Mark Schrag and friends. The late Mr. Schrag owned and operated the former Season’s Fine Gifts store in Okemos. Marlee Rothman, of Huntington Woods, daughter of Darlene Rothman, an employee at Yad Ezra in Berkley. Marlee is a graduate of Berkley High School and will be a sophomore at Michigan State University in East Lansing in the fall. Rothman received the Joseph Swanson Legacy Scholarship, established by MRA board member Joe Swanson, district team leader for Target stores in Indianapolis, Indiana. Marisa Biernaczonek, of Utica, daughter of Mark and Mary Biernaczonek. Mary is an employee at Target in Shelby Twp. Marisa is a graduate of Utica High School and will be a freshman at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant in the fall. Daniel Christensen, of Augusta, son of Jeff and Pamela Christensen. Jeff is an employee at Kalamazoo County. Daniel is a graduate of Gull Lake High School in Richland and will be a freshman at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in the fall. Mohamad Damen, of Dearborn Heights, an employee at Target in Dearborn Heights. Damen is a graduate of Crestwood High School in Dearborn Heights and will be a freshman at Wayne State University in the fall. He is the son of Riad and Nabiha Damen. Anne Lotterman, of Caledonia, an employee at Target in Caledonia. Lotterman is a graduate of South Christian High School in Grand Rapids and will be a sophomore at Calvin College in Grand Rapids in the fall. She is the daughter of David and Joy Lotterman.
7 Demi Outman, of Davisburg, daughter of Todd Outman, an employee at Target in Auburn Hills. Demi will be a junior at the University of Michigan in the fall. Biernaczonek, Christensen, Damen, Lotterman and Outman each received a Target Corporation Scholarship, established by Target. Hannah Stevens, of Zeeland, daughter of Paul Stevens, an employee at Fris Office Outfitters in Holland. Hannah is a graduate of Zeeland East High School and will be a sophomore at Hope College in Holland in the fall. Stevens received the James P. Hallan MRA Leadership Scholarship, established by MRA board member emeritus Sherman in honor of the current MRA president and chief executive officer. Sarah Flickinger, of Grand Rapids, daughter of Dave and Lydia Flickinger. Dave is an employee at Meijer, Inc. in Grand Rapids. Sarah was homeschooled and will be a junior at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, in the fall. Flickinger received the Walsh Family Legacy Scholarship, established by MRA board member James Walsh, retired chief financial officer of Meijer, Inc., and his wife, Kathy. Kaitlin Hor n, of Mt. Pleasant, daughter of Timothy and Denise Horn. Timothy is an employee at Rogers City Home Furnishings in Rogers City. Kaitlin is a graduate of Rogers City High School and will be a junior at Central Michigan University in the fall. Horn received the Retailers Insurance Company Scholarship, established by MRA’s workers’ compensation and dental insurance company. Katy Gibbs, of Cadillac, daughter of Rod and Amy Gibbs. Rod is owner of Hagstrom’s Flowers in Cadillac. Katy is a graduate of Cadillac Senior High School and will be a freshman at Ferris State University in Big Rapids in the fall. Gibbs received the Michigan Retailers Services, Inc. Scholarship, established by the wholly owned subsidiary of MRA that delivers services to the membership. MRA Scholarships Ryan Ahee, of Auburn Hills, son of John and Sheryl Ahee. John is an employee at Meijer, Inc. in Grand Rapids. Ryan is a graduate of Avondale High School in Auburn Hills and will be a sophomore at the Michigan State University in the fall. He also received a scholarship last year. Chandler Biggs, of Midland, son of Kelly Biggs, owner of The Menu Manager in Midland. Chandler is a graduate of Bullock Creek High School in Midland and will be a freshman at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids in the fall. Jacob Duckworth, of Holland, son of Vincent Duckworth, an employee at Cunningham Dalman, P.C. in Hol-
land. Jacob is a graduate of West Ottawa High School in Holland and will be a freshman at Michigan State University in the fall. Christopher Fenrich, of Milan, son of Crystal Fenrich, an employee at Kroger in Milan. Christopher will be a junior at the University of Michigan in the fall. Elizabeth Fris, of Holland, daughter of John Fris, president of Fris Office Outfitters in Holland. Elizabeth will be a junior at Hope College in the fall. Amelia Greco, of Zeeland, daughter of Tom and Shelly Greco. Shelly is an employee at Trivalent Group in Grandville. Amelia is a graduate of Zeeland East High School and will be a freshman at Central Michigan University in the fall. Kaitlin Hager ty, of Brooklyn, daughter of Chad and Trinda Hagerty. Chad is an employee at Brooklyn Plumbing, Heating, & AC Inc. in Clarklake. Kaitlin is a graduate of Columbia Central High School in Brooklyn and will be a sophomore at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo in the fall. She also received a scholarship last year. Rachel Jenkin, of Commerce Township, daughter of James and Denise Girard. James is an employee at Best
Buy in Commerce Township. Amanda is a graduate of Walled Lake Northern High School in Commerce Township and will be a freshman at Grand Valley State University in the fall. Kaitlyn Jones, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, daughter of Mark Jones, an employee at the Michigan Ground Water Association in Westerville, Ohio. Kaitlyn is a graduate of Mount Vernon High School and will be a freshman at the University of Dayton in the fall. Kyle Lardie, of Portland, an employee at Meijer, Inc. in Ionia. Kyle is a graduate of Portland High School and will be a junior at Lansing Community College in the fall. Kyle is the son of Randy Manshum and Ann Lardie. Jordan Marentette, of Grand Rapids, son of Jeff and Sarah Marentette. Jeff is an employee at Meijer, Inc. in Walker. Jordan is a graduate of Kenowa Hills High School in Grand Rapids and will be a freshman at Grand Valley State University in the fall. Gabrielle Okoniewski, of Howell, daughter of John and Lisa Okoniewski. John is owner of F.A.O. Jewelers in Brighton. Gabrielle is a graduate of Fr. Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor and will be a sophomore at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, in the fall. Continued on page 8
Walsh scholarship combines interests in retail, education by Doug Henze What do you do after a successful, fast-paced career devoted to retailing? For Jim Walsh, the answer came easily: an active retirement dedicated to teaching college students. Walsh’s involvement in higher education grew naturally out of his retail management positions that provided opportunities to coach employees. He found he especially enjoyed that part of the job. “I suppose that’s why I went into teaching in my retirement,” said Walsh, a member of the Michigan Retailers Association Board of Directors and former chief financial officer for Meijer. And what better way to tie two of his major interests together than by establishing a scholarship helping young people with an interest in the retail industry go to college? “It combines my retail career interest with my interest in education,” said Walsh, who this year established the Walsh Family Legacy Scholarship with his wife, Kathy. It is part of MRA’s Legacy Scholar-
ship program, a large and growing piece of the Association’s overall scholarship program. Legacy scholarships benefit students and enable contributors to leave their outstanding mark on the retail industry and MRA. “I was in retail my whole career, which was fortunate,” he said. “The scholarship is a great way to give back.” Chicago Native The 65-year-old Parnell resident began his retail career in 1972 with food dealer Jewel Companies Inc. in Chicago after college. The Chicago native held a variety of positions with the company, ending his 12 years there as assistant controller. Walsh then served two years as controller with Chicago-area holding company Household Merchandising. While Household Merchandising wasn’t a household name, consumers knew its brands – Ben Franklin, Coast to Coast Hardware and TG&Y variety stores. Continued on page 9
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Michigan Retailer
36 scholarships awarded for 2015–’16 Continued from page 7
Thomas Payne, of Okeana, Ohio, son of Keith and Catherine Payne. Keith is an employee at Superior Environmental in Marne. Thomas is a graduate of William Henry Harrison High School in Harrison, Ohio, and will be a freshman at Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, in the fall. Jean Peterson, of Lupton, an employee of Lovewells Corner Store in Lupton. Jean was homeschooled and will be a freshman at Kirtland Community College in Roscommon in the fall. Jean is the daughter of Robert and Marjorie Peterson. Erica Utter, of Buckley, daughter of Susan Utter, an employee at Meijer, Inc. in Traverse City. Erica will be a senior at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids in the fall.
Hanna Visser, of Fremont, daughter of Todd and Kristi Visser. Todd is an employee at Fremont Insurance Company. Hanna is a graduate of Fremont High School and will be a freshman at Calvin College in the fall. Paige Walters, of Kalamazoo, daughter of Joe and Leah Walters. Joe is an employee of Physical Therapy One PC in Portage. Paige is a graduate of Portage Central High School and will be a freshman at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, in the fall. Paige Wilson, of Lowell, daughter of Phillip and Marilyn Wilson. Marilyn is an employee at Meijer, Inc. in Grand Rapids. Paige is a graduate of Lowell Senior High School and will be a freshman at the University of Michigan in the fall.
McCurry scholarship honors wife and teacher Continued from page 6
Retail Excellence While Helen focused on shaping young minds, Joe put his efforts toward retail excellence. It was a field he never expected to be in, but one that grabbed him nonetheless. After graduating from high school in his hometown of Athens, Georgia, McCurry joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a staff sergeant. He left the military and attended Husson College in Bangor, Maine, until his funds were diminished. He moved in with his brother in Chicago and, latching on with Sears to earn cash, he planned to attend law school. But law school never happened. Instead, he found two great loves – Helen and a retail career. “I got the retail bug – it attracted me,” McCurry said. “Circumstances changed and I didn’t regret the decision.” He went on to manage four Sears stores – two in Wisconsin and two in Illinois – and to become the company’s director of equal opportunity, focusing on upward mobility for women and minorities. “My last job was as the district manager for Southeast Michigan and the northern part of Ohio,” McCurry said. After concluding his Sears career, he spent four years as vice president of operations for High Point Group, a furniture company in Springfield, Mass., before retiring and leaving Michigan five years ago for Georgia. He now consults from his home northeast of Atlanta for a credit card processing sales company, The Credit Card Group, that is affiliated with MRA’s expert processing program. Service McCurry has served the association in a number of important ways. A past MRA board chair, he is now
chairman of the MRA Political Action Committee. He also serves on the Association’s Executive Committee. “I still commute [from Georgia] for the board meetings,” McCurry said. “It’s something I enjoy. As long as they feel I can offer service, I will continue to be involved.” When he’s not serving MRA or consulting, McCurry spends time with his wife of four years, LaTanya, and her two children, ages 15 and 10. He has two adult children, 45-year-old Malcom, who lives in Illinois, and 39-year-old Ashika, a Lansing resident. Legacy Scholarships The scholarship McCurry created can be won by high school seniors or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors. It is open to student applicants who work at an MRA member business or who have parents or guardians who do. It is part of MRA’s Legacy Scholarship program, a large and growing part of the Association’s overall scholarship program. Legacy scholarships benefit students and enable contributors to leave their outstanding mark on the retail industry and MRA. The competition for the scholarships runs annually from January 1 to April 1. “It just gives them a little bit more freedom to pursue their dreams,” McCurry said of the scholarship’s impact on recipients. “The other thing is to keep people interested in the retail field. It’s something we love. As the country becomes more service oriented, it’s one of the fields people can enjoy and become very successful at.” Doug Henze is a freelance writer and former business reporter for the Oakland Press in Pontiac.
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RETAIL TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Small MasterCard change could create major upsets John Mayleben CPP, is MRA senior vice president technology and new product development and a national expert on electronic payment processing. He is the first person in Michigan and among the first in the nation to receive the Certified Payments Professional designation from the national Electronic Transactions Association. “2015: Year of Change” keeps living up to its billing. Amongst all the chatter and conversation about EMV, Chip cards, NFC and ApplePay, along comes MasterCard with an announcement that could create even more serious churn in the credit card authorization world.
debit, business), which drives the interchange rate the merchant pays for accepting that card. The major problem that will surface because of the MasterCard change is that many terminals in play today are “legacy” devices, which is a polite way of saying they aren’t being supported any longer by their manufacturer. This means that the merchant who is using one of these machines will face even more pressure to upgrade to a new terminal. The new MasterCards, once they work their way into consumers’ wallets, won’t work in those stores still using legacy terminals. Legacy machines usually continue to work fine, but they simply can’t be upgraded. Because some of these terminals last a very long time in the relatively low impact use within most retail stores, they keep on working long after new systems have evolved to handle transactions.
“We will see a dramatic surge of retailers upgrading to new terminals because of MasterCard’s announcement.” As most people know, MasterCard account numbers always start with 5 (Visa with 4, American Express 3 and Discover 6), but that is about to change. MasterCard announced it is going to start issuing cards that start with a “2” – in addition to the current cards that start with the standard 5. This may seem like a very small issue until you realize all of the places where digital systems have been developed to recognize a MasterCard based on the first digit of 5. One of the big issues surrounding this change involves the programming inside your standalone credit card terminal. Within that “box” is programming that prevents a card that doesn’t start with a 3, 4, 5 or 6 from being processed. To correct this and allow the terminal to process a card starting with 2, you must write new code that opens the BIN (Bank Identification Number) range. BINs are the first 6 digits of the Visa or MasterCard and are used to identify the bank that issued the card. Legacy Terminals This change is critical in the processing of the card, because those numbers also identify the type of card the customer is using (rewards,
New Terminals Much like the late 1990s, when the industry started issuing cards with a 00 expiration date and we discovered that the terminals regarded those cards as expiring in 1900, instead of 2000, we will see a dramatic surge of retailers upgrading to new terminals because of MasterCard’s announcement. If you have recently upgraded to a terminal that can accept contactless or EMV transactions, your terminal should be able to accept the new download that enables it to process the new MasterCards. If you have been delaying the decision to upgrade your systems for EMV, ApplePay or contactless transactions, you will want to reconsider that delay in light of this MasterCard development. As always, if you have questions about this or any other issue involving merchant processing, please don’t hesitate to contact our expert customer service team at Michigan Retailers Association.
August 2015
9
IT’S THE LAW
New website tracking organized retail crime by William J. Hallan, MRA Executive Vice President, COO and General Counsel Yo u m a y b e surprised to learn that org a n i z e d re t a i l crime accounted for $87 million of loss in Michigan for 2012. That’s according to figu re s f ro m t h e Michigan Department of Treasury and National Retail Federation. This serious crime is not simple shoplifting; it is a crime committed by sophisticated criminals who steal goods so they can resell them to further other illicit activities. Because Michigan’s penal code only included standard misdemeanor and felony statutes designed to punish ordinary retail theft, Michigan Retailers Association worked the legislative channels to pass an organized retail crime statute that went into effect in 2013. The law (MCL 752.1084) creates stiffer penalties for criminals who steal retail merchandise with the intent to resell the goods. In order to measure the effectiveness of the law and ensure its utilization by law enforcement, a state-level advisory board was created. I have the honor of serving on the board, which meets at least four times per year to review industry trends and ongoing investigations.
Tracking Crime One of the main duties of the new board was to develop a database to track and report, in real-time, organized retail crime. I am pleased to report that the website supporting that database is now live. The website represents the coordination of public and private sector industries to combat organized retail crime. It puts tools directly in the hands of retailers by allowing users
“The website puts tools directly in the hands of retailers by allowing users to post alerts and upload relevant information.” to post alerts and upload relevant information, such as surveillance photos, about suspected organized retail crimes. Users also can search by time period or location to help strengthen loss prevention. Law enforcement uses the website to build its investigations and find criminal patterns. With nine of 10 retailers reporting they were victims of organized retail crime in 2013, the development of the website is welcome news. Retailers interested in utilizing the website can apply for access at www.miroc.us.
Walsh scholarship combines retail, education Continued from page 7
Walsh seized a new opportunity when he joined Warehouse Club – a Chicago-area chain similar to Sam’s Club or Costco. He served as CFO and then president before leaving his home state for Michigan in 1992. That was when he hired on with Meijer as controller. He finished his career with the fast-growing chain, retiring in 1998 as CFO. Walsh said it was the rapidly changing nature of retailing that kept him engaged with the industry for 26 years. “It is an interesting and ever-changing business,” he said. “There is a lot of competition in retail. Things change monthly, if not weekly.” And, he added, “there’s high people involvement, even in a financial role.” Into the Classroom Walsh, who’s also a CPA and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Loyola University Chicago and an MBA in finance from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, soon took his vast experience into the classroom. He began by teaching corporate finance and investing classes at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. He taught there for five years, then moved to Aquinas College in
Grand Rapids, where he has taught corporate finance and personal financial planning for the past two years as an adjunct professor. “I enjoy associating with the young people,” said Walsh. “Hopefully, my experience is valuable to them. “I see a surprising number of my students working in retail. It’s a great source of jobs for them.” An avid runner and golfer with three children and seven grandchildren, Walsh also finds time to do volunteer tax work for the elderly and low-income individuals. Full Circle When MRA President and CEO Jim Hallan invited Walsh several years ago to contribute, first to the Michigan Retailers Foundation, which funds the Association’s scholarship program, and now through his own scholarship, Walsh said he found it easy to say “Yes.” “The scholarship program is a great way to reward hard-working young people in retail,” he said. “I’ve benefited greatly from my education and career in retail. I see it as coming full circle.” Doug Henze is a freelance writer and former business reporter for the Oakland Press in Pontiac.
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10
Michigan Retailer
Railing for Retailing
Mall of America lives up to name Editor’s note: Retailer, retailing instructor, consultant and columnist Steve Flaster has embarked on a 30-day train trip looking for good retail ideas and stories: eight states, 12 stops, the Mall of America, the “Big Apple” and more. by Steve Flaster B L O O M INGTON, MN – Current retail literature talks a great deal about the importance of providing a unique customer experience. The Mall of America lives up to its name and fame because of its sheer size (520 stores) and the unique customer experience it delivers. In truth, many of the same stores and franchises are found in malls in Michigan, but the customer experience here is something else. The center of the covered mall is a colossal amusement park. There are also special exhibits and a giant aquarium. Watching the smiling children on rides and their beaming relatives, I couldn’t help smiling myself. I found myself feeling very happy and wanting to buy things. I felt that I was living proof that happy customers spend more money, enjoy doing so, and come back for more. The Mall of America makes people
happy with a great customer experience that entertains them and puts them in the right frame of mind for shopping. Why can’t all retailers do the same thing? I’m not talking about adding an amusement park. I’m talking about putting a new strategic emphasis on making customers happy when they arrive in our stores, while they are shopping in our stores, when they are leaving our stores, and when they remember how they were made to feel in our stores. If we leave our customers with a deep reservoir of happiness, doesn’t it make sense (and dollars) that they will come back? How about author-signing nights for book stores, cooking demonstrations for food stores, art lessons for craft stores – and on the list goes. In putting a new emphasis on customer happiness, enlist the ideas of staff and put new emphasis on their happiness as well. In the spirit of the Mall of America, you may make so many customers happy that you can start calling yourself “The Health and Happiness Store” of your town.
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Governor signs pre-emption bill Continued from page 1
(a locality can still set limits on the hours a business may operate) • Requires an employer to offer paid leave time • Requires a fringe benefit that would create an additional expense for the employer • Regulates or creates administrative or judicial remedies for wage, hour or benefit disputes • Regulates the information an employer can request, require or exclude on an application for employment. The legislation underwent several changes and went back and forth between the two chambers twice before it was enrolled on June 17 and sent to the governor’s desk for his signature. Changes made to the bill were designed to protect local and state governments’ ability to set parameters on projects, contracts and tax credits. Another key change grandfathered local prevailing wage laws adopted before January 1, 2015. They will remain in effect.
committee. MRA had planned to testify before a House committee, but time ran out on the hearing after visitors’ loud outbursts delayed the proceedings. Petition Drive A Detroit-based coalition wasted little time in announcing a ballot petition to circumvent the new law by requiring paid sick leave for all Michigan workers. Voter approval at the state level would get around the local
“The bill drew fire from groups s u p p o r t i n g s p e c i f i c w o rk place benefit s such as paid sick leave and highr wages.”
State Authority Passage of the legislation means that only the state can enact such laws or policies, thereby preventing businesses operating in multiple communities from facing a confusing array of different local regulations. The bill drew fire from groups supporting specific workplace benefits such as paid sick leave and higher wages. Opposition also rose from local governments, which saw the preemption as an infringement on local control. MRA lobbied for the bill and testified in favor of it before a Senate
pre-emption. The Time to Care Coalition said at a news conference on the Capitol steps the proposal would require employers to provide one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Under the proposed petition language, a business with 10 or fewer employees is considered a small business and would only be required to offer 40 hours of paid sick leave a year, with an additional 32 hours of unpaid leave time available to employees who exceed 40 hours. Businesses with more than 10 employees would be required to offer up to 72 hours of paid leave time each year. The group said more than 1.5 million Michigan workers currently cannot take a paid sick day. Organizers of the petition drive would need to collect more than 250,000 qualified signatures to send it to the legislature. If lawmakers did not act, the measure would go to a statewide vote in November 2016.
Buy Nearby means jobs – and more Continued from page 5
communities,” said MRA President and CEO James P. Hallan. “An Anderson Economic Group study found that if all ‘remote’ purchases were made locally, it would generate another nine billion dollars in economic activity in the state, which would create another 74,000 jobs.”
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Creative Entrepreneurs Chad Jordan, owner of Cravings Gourmet Popcorn, said buying nearby supports creative entrepreneurs who help make a community “cool,” “hip” and “cutting edge.” “One of the impacts of buying local
and shopping where you live is that it creates an atmosphere of creativity and entrepreneurship,” he said. “And those two things combined are the things that make … where you live a special place.” “The thing that has always motivated me is the creative people around me, because I want to be as good as the best entrepreneurs in town, and I want to keep up with the great ideas. “So the important thing for everybody to remember is to support local businesses. [Now] you have the Buy Nearby campaign, which is a wonderful campaign to remind you of the importance of keeping it local.”
August 2015
11
LOTTERY
NEW MEMBERS
Lottery expects ‘Doubler’ to boost Club Keno sales by M. Scott Bowen, Commissioner The Michigan Lotter y’s Club Keno game has one of the most avid and loyal player followings of any Lotter y game, representing about 20 percent of total player ticket purchases. The popularity of the game comes from the variety of play options it gives players, plus its social aspect. We hear time and again from players who have made visiting their favorite restaurant or tavern and playing Club Keno with friends a part of their regular routine. The popularity of Club Keno is sure to surge during September when the popular Doubler Days promotion returns. From September 1–30, each Club Keno ticket purchased is eligible for the Doubler. The Doubler feature will be printed at random on Club Keno tickets and will double the base game and Kicker prizes for players, all without any additional cost. This popular promotion has a track record of generating excitement among players and retailers. During the most recent Doubler Days promotion in March, Club Keno sales increased by 14 percent, or about $6.9 million, compared to the same time period in 2014. Doubler Days offers double benefits to retailers, with increased sales and redemption commissions. Tickets must be valid Club Keno winners to be eligible for double winnings. Receiving a Doubler message alone does not denote a win. If a player purchases a multi-draw ticket and receives a Doubler message, all winnings for all the drawings on that ticket are doubled. New Instants This ticket goes on sale August 4: IG # 723 – $1,000,000 Jackpot – $10
These instant games are set to expire: August 3 IG # 638 – Cherry Blast Tripler – $2 IG # 657 – Fire & Ice – $5 IG # 676 – Monopoly Jackpot – $5 September 7 IG # 660 – Cash Multiplier – $5
New Pull Tabs This ticket goes on sale August 4: MI # 559 – Money Night Lights – $1
These pull tabs games are set to expire: August 17 MI # 515 – Lucky Bars – $.50 September 14 MI # 519 – The Golden Ticket – $1 MI # 539 – $10,000 Explosion – $2 MI # 594 – Rollin’ Dice – $.50
Retailers are reminded to activate all game tickets before putting them on sale to ensure winning tickets may be redeemed by players. About 97 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In the 2014 fiscal year, the Lottery’s contribution to Michigan’s public schools was $742.8 million. Since it began in 1972, the Lottery has contributed nearly $19 billion to education in Michigan. For additional information, please visit the Lottery’s website at www.michiganlottery.com.
Thunder Bay Scuba, Alpena Home & Community Recreation, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club, Ann Arbor Kermit W Stanton DDS, Ann Arbor Pleasurecraft Outfitters, Bay City Village Peddler Gift Shoppe Inc., Brooklyn Costless Inc., Burton Detroit Custom Paint, Clinton Township Family Tree Cafe, Dewitt Complete Auto & Truck Parts Inc., Flint Bermont Gage & Automation Inc., Fraser Michigan Beauty Supply Inc., Freeland Lindenmeyr Munroe, Grand Rapids Longest Day 5K, Grand Rapids K9K Race, Grand Rapids Run 4 A Cause, Grand Rapids Slip N Slide 5K, Grand Rapids Midnight Marathon, Grand Rapids The Rhino Challenge, Grand Rapids Hillsdale CASA Inc., Hillsdale Don Miguelitos Restaurant, Holland
Chef Container LLC, Holland Akin Akin Inc., Howell Cross in the Woods, Indian River Lakeshore Adult Foster Care LLC, Lexington Lincoln Hardware, Lincoln ElectroCycle LLC, Livonia Bucksnort Saloon, Mesick MT Countywide Towing LLC, Millersburg Monroe Public Access Cable Television Inc., Monroe Beachcomber Motel, Port Austin SA Torello Inc., Port Huron 180 Medical Billing Service Inc., Portage Shakers Restaurant, Prudenville Arroway Self Storage, Rockford Scott’s Enterprises Inc., Roscommon Landsharks, Saugatuck Camp Ao-Wa-Kiya, Shelby Kart 2 Kart, Sterling Heights Body by Bruce Inc., Warren American Paper & Supply Inc., Warren Headway Styling Salon Inc., Woodhaven The Bank of Holland, Wyoming Aachen Auto/KEB Inc., Ypsilanti
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