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National honor for MRA member
Bill Golden of Golden Shoes in Traverse City is recognized for his advocacy for independent retailers. Page 2
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Advocacy in Washington
Members travel to Capitol Hill to express retailer concerns with the Michigan Congressional delegation. Page 4
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Scholarship winners
We announce 14 students from Michigan high schools and colleges who will receive Michigan Retailers Foundation scholarships. Pages 6-7
® August 2017 Vol. 42 No. 4
The official publication of Michigan Retailers Association
6 ways to promote I Buy Nearby Weekend Oct. 7-8 Help us celebrate the fifth anniversary of our Buy Nearby campaign! You can do so by participating in I Buy Nearby Weekend on Oct. 7-8. At Michigan Retailers Association, we want to help however possible in making this year’s weekend a success. We’ll put on a full-court press to get shoppers through your doors. But we need your help. Here are six resources you can use to get more shoppers in your store: Publicize our contest Like last year, we are sponsoring a contest for your customers to win a $500 gift card. They can enter by: • Sharing at least one photo of their purchase or a selfie as they shop during I Buy Nearby Weekend on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
www.Retailers.com
Delayed: OSHA rule to publicly report injuries
Promote the I Buy Nearby Weekend event page You can direct customers to our Facebook event page (bit.ly/buynearby2017) by clicking the “Going” button on the page and also sharing it on your social media. This is the page you can use to connect with shoppers and share your deals as the weekend nears.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has put a pause on a requirement that would have required businesses to electronically report worker injury and illness records to the public starting July 1. OSHA has delayed the requirement until Dec. 1 to allow more time to review and reconsider the rule. You may recall that The Retailer reported in its February edition that businesses had concerns about the public shaming aspect of the rule, especially since the reporting method doesn’t allow businesses to provide fuller explanations. OSHA, which falls under the U.S. Department of Labor, said the rule is meant to encourage employers to increase efforts to prevent worker injuries. The public reporting would mean businesses would
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• Including the hashtag #buynearbymi in their post so we can enter them in the contest
Goldman Sachs ‘mini-MBA’ program helps businesses leap to next level Summer Schriner, owner of Grace Boutique in Lansing’s Old Town, recalls feeling insecure as she walked into her first session of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program a year ago. She was one of 23 participants to nab a $50,000 fellowship for the prestigious program – a mini MBA of sorts that will hold more four-month sessions in Michigan for at least two more years. The program, called 10ksb for short, targets promising business owners who are ready to leap to the next level. Schriner worried she’d be the only participant who didn’t know how to get a grasp on her inventory or deal with her financials (“I’d just hand them to my accountant”). “A lot of us have the impostor syndrome,” Schriner said – a fear that you’ll be discovered as a fraud. But Schriner, who has grown a loyal customer base for her eclectic mix of purses, hats, dresses and men’s ties at her boutique, discovered that her 10ksb peers had similar fears. It was a reassuring discovery. In November, she completed the program and has since purchased a point-of-sale system and Continued on page 8
Summer Schriner, owner of Grace Boutique in Lansing, talks about all that she learned through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program.
Ways to drive customers to your back-to-school merchandise - Page 3
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Michigan Retailer
A strong retail showing
www.retailers.com
Board of Directors: Orin Mazzoni, Jr.
Chair Orin Jewelers, Garden City
by James P. Hallan, MRA President and Chief Executive Officer Michigan Sales After a sluggish start, we are now at the mid-point of a Pure Michigan summer and from all reports coming into our Lansing-based “world headquarters” it’s been favorable for many of our members. Our retail index is showing strong numbers and the reports that we’ve heard from various parts of the state are good. Of course, retail is going through a major evolution and the growing segment of online sales is adversely affecting many stores, while others are enjoying growth due to an expanded customer base. Surrounded by our beautiful Great Lakes, we do have one major advantage over other landlocked states. Michigan will always be a destination vacation spot for tourists, which is a wonderful insulator to our economy. Part-time Legislature While all eyes are focused on the activities in Washington D.C., Lansing is fairly quiet as the legislature is on summer break. However, a signifi-
cant debate is brewing. The chatter is about a ballot initiative led by Lt. Governor Calley to move from a full-time legislature to a part-time legislature. The issue is complex and we will do our best to present both sides as the signatures are gathered. Like most major public policy issues, simplicity is never part of the equation. Another addition Forty-two years ago, on yes, Friday the thirteenth, I walked my bride down the aisle in a church in Portsmouth, Ohio. This year we decided to celebrate with a cruise down the Rhine. The trip fulfilled one of our items on our “bucket list”. Beautiful countryside and friendly people greeted us at every stop. The trip is also memorable as half way through the trip, our oldest daughter decided to have her third child a month early. Both are doing fine, but it did create a bit of anxiety. Thank goodness for cell phones. If you’re counting, we now have seven grandchildren,
two of which arrived this summer. Four boys and three girls make up the expanding tribe. And of course, just to keep things lively, we added a new puppy to the family. Winston is his name. Fiscal year June 30 marks the end of our fiscal year, and it was a terrific year. Together we attained record sales in merchant processing and a net gain in membership, experienced tremendous growth in our Michiganbased Retailers Insurance Company, welcomed hardware retailers into our membership, sold our ancillary properties, invested heavily in cutting edge technology and scored significant legislative victories such as prohibiting local units of government from taxing or banning the use of plastic bags. As we start our next fiscal year, we have many exciting opportunities on the horizon and we look forward to sharing those with you as they develop.
Bill Golden of Golden Shoes gets national recognition for his advocacy of retail issues Bill Golden of Golden Shoes in downtown Traverse City was named one of the top five retail champions, an honor bestowed annually by the National Retail Federation (NRF). The announcement came July 18 at NRF’s Retail Advocates Summit in Washington D.C., as small retailers from across the country were honored for their advocacy on behalf of the industry.
Year in 2005 in the small retail category. “Bill Golden bleeds retail, and he’s a longtime advocate for the independent retailer,” said Jim Hallan, President and CEO of MRA. “It’s good to see him recognized for his many contributions.” Golden is co-president with his brother Craig of the family-owned business, which succeeded a shoe store dating back to 1883. A Traverse City More on the summit, Page 4 native, Golden is chair of the Traverse City Downtown America’s Retail Champion Development Authority, a of the Year was Trudy Trommember on the Traverse City bley, owner of Truly Trudy’s Area Chamber of Commerce Boutique in Stowe, Vt. She was Board of Directors and active selected from 75 nominees and with the Northern Michigan the group of five finalists who included Golden. The program Bill Golden of Golden Shoes was named a top 5 retail Chamber Alliance. He has advocated on honors retailers who make their advocate by the National Retail Federation (NRF). many state issues, including mark on public policy debates. Golden was nominated by Michi“Going out and advocating for othMain Street Fairness and support gan Retailers Association (MRA) and er retailers is satisfying,” Golden said. for Downtown Development serves as a director on the board “To get the recognition is nice and Authorities. He is a proponent for it’s good to know there’s a voice out of Michigan Retailers Services, an MRA’s Buy Nearby program, which there for me and my fellow retailers. MRA subsidiary. Golden Shoes was celebrates I Buy Nearby Weekend We’re all champions.” honored as Michigan Retailer of the 2017 on Oct. 7- 8.
James P. Hallan
President and CEO Michigan Retailers Association
Becky Beauchine Kulka
Vice Chair Becky Beauchine Kulka Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, Okemos
Peter R. Sobelton
Treasurer Mondial Properties, Birmingham
William J. Hallan
Executive Vice President Michigan Retailers Association
Dan Marshall
Past Chair Marshall Music Company, Lansing
Brian Ducharme AT&T Mobility
Ken Hayward
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island
Joseph McCurry
Credit Card Group
Larry Mullins
Brandon Tire & Auto Service Center, Ortonville
Barb Stein
Great Northern Trading Co., Rockford
Joe Swanson Target Corp.
Thomas Ungrodt
Dayspring Gifts, Chelsea
James Walsh
Meijer, Inc., Grand Rapids
D. Larry Sherman
Board Member Emeritus
Michigan Retailers Services, Inc. Board of Directors: Chad Ayers Allendale True Value, Allendale
Bo Brines
Little Forks Outfitters, Midland
Bill Golden
Golden Shoes, Traverse City
Emily Matthews
Potent Potables Project, Lansing
James P. Hallan Meegan Holland 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
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 Association 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 2017
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Promote I Buy Nearby Weekend Continued from page 1
Dressing your windows for autumn Football, Halloween, Thanksgiving and the gorgeous colors of a Michigan fall give you lots of leeway. USE OF COLOR
All those vibrant reds, oranges, golds and yellows are gorgeous - but they can overpower as well. In other words, don’t overdo it on the fall colors to the detriment of your merchandise.
LEAVES OR NO LEAVES?
Why not? You can use contemporary window clings of leaves as your first layer of the threelayer rule for window design. Next is your merchandise and then the backdrop.
Order promotional materials MRA offers a range of free materials to help you inform customers about the special weekend – and now’s the time to order! How to get materials: • You can get posters, infographics, Buy Nearby Guy images, fact sheets and logos on https:// buynearbymi.com/retailers/ • Want more? Email us to request coloring books, window clings, shopping bag stuffers, hanger tags and more at buynearbymi@ retailers.com. Engage with our social media We’re publicizing the event through our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. If you haven’t already, please follow us on social media: • Facebook - fb.com/BuyNearbyMI • Twitter - @BuyNearbyMI • Instagram - @mibuynearby The more you share, retweet and like our posts, the broader the reach of our audience. Suggested social media posts Be sure to attach a photo of your
store or Buy Nearby Guy to attract more attention to your social media. For Twitter: If everyone would practice a “buy nearby” philosophy, Michigan would gain some 75,000 jobs and $9 billion in economic activity. #buynearbymi Put (NAME OF YOUR TOWN) first! Shopping here keeps neighbors employed and our downtown vibrant. #buynearbymi For Facebook: Check out our special deals for Buy Nearby Weekend on Oct. 7-8! When your dollars stay in (NAME OF YOUR TOWN), we keep our neighbors employed and create a more vibrant downtown. Join us Oct. 7-8 for the statewide Buy Nearby Weekend! We’re celebrating by offering (SPECIAL DEAL HERE). Stop in and say hello! Take our follow-up survey As you go throughout the weekend, think of ways we could improve the event next year. We’ll ask for your feedback in a survey after the weekend.
FIFTH BDAY
HAPPY
NOVEMBER SURPRISE
In other words, change it up. Shoppers’ eyes will glaze over after the third viewing of your display. You’ll want to change displays about once a month, and definitely by November!
KEEP IT CLEAN
Leaves, wood, pumpkins: they can all start looking creepy - in a bad, non-Halloween way if you don’t keep your window display immaculate. Get out the duster!
BUY NEARBY!
SIMPLE IS ALWAYS EFFECTIVE Take an unusual item in your store and play with it. One hardware store hung various brooms, with an orange backdrop, a few abstract crow images and the question: “Which broom?”
Celebrating five years of encouraging shoppers to support Michigan businesses and help their communities thrive.
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Michigan Retailer
www.retailers.com
U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop (left, R-Rochester) speaks with MRA members in Washington July 19 about the association’s opposition to the proposed Border Adjustment Tax.
Michigan retailers make their voices heard on Capitol Hill By Amy Drumm, MRA Vice President, Government Affairs Three Michigan Retailers Association members joined MRA’s Amy Drumm in Washington to advocate on Capitol Hill and participate in the National Retail Federation’s annual summit. Jimmy Edwards of Marshall Music Co., Barb Stein of Great Northern Trading Co. in Rockford, and Bill Golden of Golden Shoes in Traverse City met with five members of Michigan’s 16-member congressional delegation in mid-July. The Retail Advocates Summit brings together retailers from across the country to learn about pressing issues that impact retailers. “It’s a chance to find out that other retailers are as passionate as you are. As small business owners, we operate in such a small world we don’t realize others share our passion,” Stein said about her third trip to D.C. for the summit. Attendees heard from Vice President Mike Pence, who addressed the group on July 18. Pence told retailers, “as retail goes, so goes America.” He promised the administration is “very focused on economic growth” and spoke about the need for tax reform, stating that “when the field is level, American businesses win.” But Pence did not elaborate on
what the administration’s version of tax reform would look like. Retailers remain adamantly opposed to the Border Adjustment Tax (BAT), a potential component of tax reform that would raise the price of imported products by 20 percent. While many lawmakers gave assurances that BAT is dead, some noted that House Speaker Paul Ryan and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) are still strong supporters. Other issues discussed were potential changes to regulations on the fees charged to accept credit and debit cards, and ongoing efforts to achieve parity through collecting sales taxes online. Congressman Mike Bishop (R-MI) urged retailers to continue sharing how the BAT would affect their businesses. Senator Gary Peters’ (D-MI) staff echoed Bishop’s sentiments, saying they often hear from national associations but legislators really want to hear how policies will impact the people back home. After traversing the Hill, Bill Golden remarked, “It’s natural. You already know what to say.” In fact, Bill’s work wasn’t over in D.C. While there, he scheduled meetings in his Traverse City store with both U.S. Senator
From left, Bill Golden (Golden Shoes in Traverse City), Barb Stein (Great Northern Trading Co. in Rockford), MRA’s Amy Drumm and Jimmy Edwards (Marshall Music Co.) represented MRA at the national Retail Advocates Summit in Washington D.C.
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and U.S. Rep Jack Bergman (R-MI). NRF’s 2017 legislator of the year, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), summed up the importance of reaching out to elected officials: “If I don’t cut the lawn once a week, by the end of the month it looks like no one lives there. The weeds take over. It’s the same way in business if you ignore politics and policies. The weeds just get bigger and it becomes harder to
tackle the longer you wait. You can’t ignore it.” NRF hosts an annual Retail Advocates Summit in Washington D.C. MRA members interested in attending next years’ summit or getting involved in Lansing advocacy should contact MRA’s Amy Drumm at adrumm@retailers.com. As Marshall Music’s Edwards said, “It’s meaningful, powerful work that makes you want to get up and work even harder the next day.”
August 2017
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What’s Happening In... Hardware
Shipping
Grocery
Ace Hardware came out on top of a survey of 7,800+ consumers who were asked about their favorite place for home improvement shopping. Market Force Information asked participants to rate their satisfaction with last experience with a home improvement store, and if they would recommend the store. Brand selection, store cleanliness, merchandise and value were included in the survey. Stores were given a final customer loyalty score. Here are the rankings: • Ace Hardware - 63 percent loyalty score (ease of shopping, customer service, knowledgeable sales associates and quick checkouts) • Menards - 60 percent (best variety of merchandise and value) • Lowe’s - 55 percent (best parking lots) • Home Depot - 51 percent Market Force Information provides customer experience research.
A new Michigan Retailers Association member that took advantage of MRA’s partnership with Federal Express has been named a Fed Ex $1,000 sweepstakes winner. OEM Corp. in Port Huron joined MRA in January 2017. OEM makes welded metal components and assemblies for the automotive and manufacturing industry. Members can take advantage of the MRA Discount Shipping Program and save up to 29% with select express services and up to 25% with select ground services. Discounts are also available for home delivery, less-than-truckload and other freight shipments. You can route shipments inbound from your suppliers and outbound to your customers to maximize your savings. The program is easy, straightforward and, for many small retailers, the savings are sizable. For more information go to PartnerShip.com/41MRA.
The National Conference on Weights and Measures, rejected a requirement for retailers to have equipment, purchased after 2020, that prints the tare on the receipt for each item weighed on the scale at the point of sale. Examples: produce and bulk goods. The Food Marketing Institute, which advocates for grocers and wholesalers, argued the majority of FMI members do not have POS systems that can print the tare (the weight of a container before it is filled). Updating would be costly, which would be shifted to the consumers. FMI also noted that tare is already entered into a retailer’s item system to account for packaging on random weight items, and that is regulated by each state’s weights and measures department. Item 3200-3 will be sent to the NCWM’s Specifications and Tolerances Committee. FMI will continue to follow this item closely.
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Michigan Retailer
www.retailers.com
14 students receive Retailers 2017 -18 scholarships MRA’s annual scholarship competition is awarding 14 scholarships totaling $20,500 for the 2017-18 academic year. The awards are funded by the Michigan Retailers Foundation and contributions from MRA members and other donors. There are 13 $1,500 scholarships and one $1,000 scholarship this year. The $1,500 scholarships go to students attending four-year colleges and universities and the $1,000 scholarship goes to a student attending a community college or approved institution. The program’s totals have now reached $484,500 awarded to 511 recipients since 1999, when the current
program format began. Judging by third-party administrator International Scholarship and Tuition Services was held in early May. To be eligible, recipients must be an employee of a MRA member business or the dependent of an owner or employee of a member business. Students apply between January 1 and April 1 each year for the scholarships. The award amounts were increased from $1,000 scholarships for four-year colleges and universities and $500 for students at community colleges. 2017 also brought changes in the amount of scholarships awarded. Three legacy scholarships became platinum legacy scholarships and two
new legacy scholarships were added, bringing the total number of scholarships awarded to 14.
Erin Drylie, Warren Raymond A. and Mildred C. Sobelton Platinum Legacy Scholarship
Quinton Bortel, Midland Target Corporation Platinum Legacy Scholarship
Alicia Kasper, Hessel Joseph Swanson Platinum Legacy Scholarship
Grant Avery, Grand Rapids Helen McCurry Legacy Scholarship
David T. Bortel M.D., P.C., Midland; Alma College, Integrated Physiology and Health Science/Pre-Optometry, Freshman; H.H. Dow High School
Richard B. Morrison, D.D.S. P.C., Pickford; Ferris State University, Chemistry, Freshman; Cedarville High School.
Kentwood Community Church, Kentwood; Davenport University, Computer Information Systems, Sophomore; Home-Schooled.
Julia Butch, Alpena Fred and Lillian Sherman Legacy Scholarship
Marissa Cox, Flushing Thomas Ungrodt Legacy Scholarship
Clare Evett, Ann Arbor Linda Mayleben Legacy Scholarship
Consolidated Fruit, Alpena; Eastern Michigan University, Biology, Freshman; Alpena High School.
Cary Ann Hallmark, Flushing; Grand Valley State University, Biomedical Science, Freshman; Flushing High School.
Internet2/UCAID, Ann Arbor; Eastern Michigan University, Music-Performance/Management, Senior; Pioneer High School.
Michael Flickinger, Grand Rapids Walsh Family Legacy Scholarship
Meijer, Sterling Heights; Wayne State University, Nursing, Senior; Warren Cousino Senior High School.
New Awards Two new legacy scholarships were awarded this year: the Linda Mayleben Legacy Scholarship and the Thomas Ungrodt Legacy Scholarship. The Linda Mayleben Legacy Scholarship was created by former MRA senior vice president technology and new product development, John Mayleben CPP, in memory of his late wife. John Mayleben CPP retired from MRA in October 2016. The Thomas Ungrodt Legacy Scholar-
ship was created by current MRA and RIC board member Thomas Ungrodt. Ungrodt owns Dayspring Gifts in Chelsea. Below are the 2017-18 recipients.
GUIDE TO PROFILES BELOW Information for each student is listed in this order: MRA member business where the student or student’s parent works; business location; the student’s college or university; major; status and high school he/she attended.
Meijer, Grand Rapids; Aquinas College, Biochemistry, Freshman.
August 2017
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Paul Flickinger, Grand Rapids Barb Stein Legacy Scholarship
Emma Harris, Royal Oak D. Larry Sherman Legacy Scholarship
Meijer, Grand Rapids; Benedictine College, Finance, Junior; HomeSchooled.
Varsity Shop, Birmingham; Butler University, Biology, Freshman; Royal Oak High School.
• A $500 gift card contest for customers! • An event page where retailers can promote steals and deals at bit.ly/buynearby2017 • Free promotional materials for stores.
Sarah Hettig, Bridgman Mark Schrag Legacy Scholarship H.R. Hannapel Door Co., Dowagiac; Concordia University, Family Life Ministries, Senior.
Isabella Licavoli, Macomb Kenneth A. and Margaret Schwark Legacy Scholarship
• For more information and a toolkit, go to buynearbymi.com/retailers/ or email buynearbymi@retailers.com
Kroger, Shelby Charter Township; University of Michigan, Biology, Freshman; Eisenhower High School.
Explore all the great shopping in Michigan. Support your community!
www.BuyNearbyMI.com Kaitlin Piggott, Fowler James P. Hallan MRA President and CEO Legacy Scholarship Michigan Farm Bureau, Lansing; Central Michigan University, Undecided, Freshman; Fowler High School.
Garrett Pinson, Atlanta Nathan Rosenfeld Legacy Scholarship Montmorency Press Inc., Atlanta; Kirtland Community College, Business, Freshman; Atlanta High School.
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Michigan Retailer
www.retailers.com
Goldman Sachs ‘mini-MBA’ program helps businesses leap to next level Continued from page 1
dealt with profit/loss statements among many other skills learned at 10ksb. Soon she plans to launch an ecommerce section on her site (oldtowngrace.com), and projects to almost double her revenues within a year. The program, with sites in 17 cities across the nation, is described by the New York Times as “an intensive educational experience.” It’s funded by Goldman Sachs and is hosted by a higher ed institution – in Detroit’s case, Wayne State University, with Macomb and Oakland community colleges as partners. In addition to coursework, it offers a loan program administered through nonprofit community lenders like Invest Detroit. It teaches business and management strategies and provides technical assistance, networking opportunities and access to capital. “There’s a lot of self-actualization
that takes place,” says Camille Walker Banks, executive director of the Detroit program. “We help you figure out - what kind of a leader are you? What kind of team do you need?” While 10ksb caters mostly to growing Detroit businesses, participants have come from Grand Rapids to Gladwin, Toledo to Kalamazoo. Participants must be an owner or co-owner of a business that has been in operation for at least two years, with at least two employees and revenues of more than $100,000. The group ranges from manufacturers to professional services to IT and retailers. Each sector has its own needs. Retailers, for example, tend to have a tough time gauging whether they’re really making a profit. They often don’t have standards and procedures, so new hires don’t know what is expected. And many store owners
are afraid of making the leap to ecommerce. “That’s why the mix in the program works,” Walker Banks says. “There may be an IT person who can help that retailer figure it out. We often say that the answers aren’t always with the facilitators – they’re often with your peers.” Each program in the U.S. is unique. For example, the program in New Orleans started shortly after Hurricane Katrina, so retailer needs there were very different from the recession-battered Michigan participants, especially manufacturers. As a result, Michigan participants often lack confidence. Especially in the early years of the program, “You could see it,” Walker Banks
said. “We had to focus on rebuilding that confidence. We help them realize that in this program you are surrounded by other entrepreneurs who all have their own skills and weaknesses, but this is a safe and open environment where you can put it all out there.” Apparently it’s working. Walker Banks notes that the Detroit-based program is No. 1 out of the 17 Goldman Sachs sites. It has the highest percentage of business owners who increased revenues (76 percent) and increased jobs (52 percent) within six months of graduating. Are you interested in applying for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program? You can find out more online at http://10ksbdetroit.com/.
OSHA rule on reporting injuries Continued from page 1
be “compelled by their competitive spirit, to race to the top in terms of worker safety.” The new rule also included provisions that would encourage workers to report injuries and illnesses and prohibit employers from retaliating against them for making reports.
Critics questioned OSHA’s ability to impose the rule and privacy concerns that may be raised. Also, the rule could create another layer of reporting, because businesses already must keep hard copies of reports. Stay tuned for the results of OSHA’s review.
August 2017
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How to handle workplace harassment and bullying by Richard I Lehr, Esq.
Not only must a retail employer be sure that employees understand what behaviors from each other may result in harassment or bullying, but also what should be done if employees are harassed or bullied by customers or vendors. Developing a workplace culture with a reduced risk of harassment begins with the commitment that employees will treat each other, customers and visitors – and be treated by customers and visitors – with the highest level of respect. Leadership sets the tone, so all members of the leadership team must model the behavior for which they hold employees accountable. I recommend you include these points in a comprehensive policy that defines workplace harassment and bullying and directs employees on how to report such incidents. • Define harassment to include unwelcome, offensive, degrading or threatening behavior, regardless of whether it is based on a protected class status (race, sex, etc.) • Explain that the behavior of supervisors, subordinates, peers, applicants, temporary employees, customers, vendors or visitors may be the source of harassment. • Provide examples of behavior that would violate the policy and include specifics about what may be considered sexual harassment. E x p l a i n t h a t n o s u p e r v i s o r, manager or other leader may condition an employee’s continued employment or the receipt of any benefit or privilege based upon that employee’s submission to sexual advances. Many organizations have a “touch and go” policy for supervisors, managers and leaders. You touch or tr y to touch an employee, you go. This is regardless of whether the overtures are from the employee or the supervisor. • Define what is meant by bullying, such as yelling, fist pounding, derogator y comments about an employee to others, attempts to sabotage an employee’s work, isolating an employee from others and threats of physical contact. • Make clear the policy applies to employee actions away from work, including messages posted on social media. For example, an employee who makes a sexually inappropriate comment to another employee at work is also accountable if such comments are made to or about an employee
Businesses should make employees aware of what constitutes harassment and feel empowered to report it.
on social media. • Establish a process so employees know to whom harassment should be reported. • Encourage the repor ting of behavior that may violate the company’s policies regarding equal employment opportunity, harassment or retaliation even if the employee repor ting the behavior is not the recipient. The culture should be that if another employee is aware of this possible harassment, then that employee should report it. • Reported information will result in a prompt and thorough investigation. • After the investigation, the employer should make a decision that is most likely to stop the behavior. • Retailers have a higher level of responsibility to make teenage employees aware of harassment and bullying issues and how it should be reported. For all employees, cover the policy in detail during the onboarding process and review at least annually. This is a reprint of a regular column by Richard Lehr that appears in the Alabama Retailer.
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Michigan Retailer
Member services update
Michigan sales report Current
3-Month
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Above: These graphs are based on responses from MRA retailers on their actual sales as of May (upper left) and their optimism/pesimism for the next three months (upper right). Values above 50 generally indicate an increase in activity, while values below 50 indicate a decrease. Left: Michigan is up in sales tax revenues in May/June, year over year.
Be sure to complete your online survey each month!
Michigan’s choice for workers’ compensation and group dental insurance. Work Comp rates reduced for 2017 Dental rates reduced for 2017 Also providing EFT Guard to protect our workers’ compensation insurance policyholders’ business banking from cyber criminals and other unauthorized electronic transfers.
1016
APR
200 (millions)
MAR
300
FEB
400
JAN
500
DEC
592
HEALTH INSURANCE UPDATES
15 -16
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686
OCT
594 593
645
AUG
648
SEP
600
JUL
700
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Michigan Sales Tax Collections
by Ally Nemetz, Customer Service/Data Administration
16 -17
Outlook Index
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www.retailers.com
To learn more, ask your Independent Agent, call 800.366.3699 or visit www.RetailersInsurance.com.
For Medicare participants If you are turning 65 soon or recently turned 65, you can expand your understanding of Medicare and your Supplemental Coverage Options from the Michigan Dental Association’s Medicare advisory team. The next seminar is Aug, 23 from 1–3 p.m. at MDA Headquarters, 3657 Okemos Road, Okemos, MI 48864. To register or to schedule a meeting with Rick Seely of our Medicare advisory team, call 877-906-9924, ext. 450, or send an email to denise@mdaifg.com. Vision and Hearing Insurance National leader Vision Service Plan (VSP) provides a member-friendly vision program, with an annual eye exam and prescription glasses. There is no minimum group size. TruHearing is now an exclusive member extra of VSP Vision Care. To learn more, please contact our office at 800.366.3699, ext. 681. 21st Century Cures Act With all the hype about health insurance of late, look into the options made possible with the passing of the 21st Century Cures Act that President Obama signed into law last December. The law allows companies that employ fewer than 50 full-time workers to reimburse insurance premiums for employees who buy their own health insurance. As a result, a business can choose to stop offering a group insurance plan but get the tax benefits of paying for insurance, according to Forbes magazine. Small employers that may be interested in this type of plan can contact our office at 800.366.3699, ext. 681. Also, for small employers that may opt for this route, please go to bcbsm-exchange.gohealth.com/ agent/34qa48bgt. Employees can enroll in an individual health plan and keep the advocacy of the Michigan Retailers Association.
CREDIT CARD SERVICES
Beware of new scam We have been notified of a scam where the customer informs the clerk their card will decline and proceeds to provide the clerk an authorization/approval number provided by their card company. DO NOT PROCESS. All credit card authorizations must be received from the processing device or our voice authorization center at 800.563.5981 option 4. Call customer service to discuss options available.
Coming upgrades The support of SSL v3 and TLS 1.0 in the test/certification platforms will be disabled for all integrated Transaction Classic and Transaction Express systems during the following date ranges: August 7 - August 18, 2017 and permanently disabled on September 6, 2017. Test your payment application system during these dates to make sure it can connect and process transactions. Authorize.Net plans to disable TLS 1.0 and 1.1 by September 18, 2017. They also plan to retire the 3DES cipher (a data encryption standard) in production soon. Upgrade your web browser to TLS 1.2 or contact your web developer/web hosting company to confirm that you can support TLS 1.2 for your API connection. MasterCard has begun field testing to validate 2 series BIN acceptance and enforce compliance. Failure to accept a 2 series BIN card may result in noncompliance assessments beginning at $2,500 per occurrence for the first 30 days, and increasing significantly per occurrence for days 31-60, 61-90, etc. Contact customer service to verify your processing device supports MasterCard 2 series BIN. Card Associations have announced there will now be Final Authorizations and Pre-authorizations. If a merchant does not follow the schedule they will incur processing integrity fees. Final Authorizations (Sales or Authorization/Capture) are good for 7 days and must be settled or reversed by the 7th day. Pre-Authorizations (Authorization only) are good for 30 days and must either be settled or reversed by the 30th day. Data security compliance You must complete an annual PCI Self-Assessment Questionnaire to verify if your business is PCI compliant. Visit www.compliance101.com. If you haven’t upgraded your processing device to accept “chip cards,” you should upgrade soon. If you currently utilize a dial-up connection on your credit card terminal and experience communication errors, you may want to explore utilizing an ethernet connection to eliminate these errors. Keyed transactions must be imprinted to remedy a customer dispute. Contact customer service if you need to purchase an imprinter or need imprinter slips. If you receive a “Re-Enter or Lost Communication” when processing a transaction, contact Customer Service before you continue to process.
August 2017
11
LOTTERY
NEW MEMBERS
Bonus Draws Return to popular Daily 3 and Daily 4 Games by Aric Nesbitt, Commissioner The Daily 3 and Daily 4 games are among the most popular games of fered by the Michigan Lottery, making up about 25 percent of total sales. Promotions that have run with the Daily 3 and Daily 4 games have been among the most popular offered by the Lottery. In March, the Lottery offered Bonus Draws for the Daily 3 and Daily 4 games. The promotion was a huge success leading to a seven percent sales increase compared to March 2016. To build on this popularity, the Lottery will conduct Bonus Draws for the Daily 3 and Daily 4 games again in August. The promotion was expected to start on Aug. 1, offering Daily 3 and Daily 4 players the chance to win larger cash prizes.
NEW INSTANT TICKETS: These tickets go on sale Aug. 1: IG 209 - Hit It Big - $20 IG 221 - Cash Club - $5 INSTANT GAMES SET TO EXPIRE: Aug. 7 IG 734 - $100 Frenzy - $2 IG 735 - Bonus Jackpot - $3 IG 736 - Win Big - $5 Sept. 4 IG 720 - Blazing 7’S - $1 NEW PULL TABS TICKETS: These tickets go on sale Aug. 1: MI 596 - Kickoff Cash - $1 MI 595 - Cherry Twist - $.50 PULL TABS GAMES SET TO EXPIRE: Aug. 8 MI 559 - Money Night Lights - $1 Aug. 21 IT 861 - $25,000 Jackpot - $5 Sept. 12 MI 558 - Baggin’ Bucks - $.50 MI 560 - Win It All - $.50 TICKET ACTIVATION: Retailers are reminded to activate all game tickets before putting them on sale to ensure winning tickets may be redeemed by players.
For a limited time in August, Daily 3 and Daily 4 Bonus Draws will be announced during select midday and evening broadcasts of the winning numbers. Every time there is a Bonus Draw, all Daily 3 prizes will be increased by 20 percent, and all Daily 4, prizes except straight and wheeled plays, will be increased by 20 percent. The promotion is easy for retailers because it requires no additional action during the sale. Additionally, retailers will earn higher redemption commissions on all Bonus Draw prizes paid. We expect it to be popular again among players because there is no additional cost required for a player to take part in the Bonus Draw promotion. We often hear from players who have a special story or reason they have played their numbers for years. That personal link, along with the chance to win cash, keeps players regularly playing the Daily 3 and Daily 4 games. Historically, Daily 3 and Daily 4 promotions have been very successful. They have proven to boost player awareness and interest in daily games, leading to increased sales and commissions for retailers.
About 97 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets benefits the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers and vendors. In 2016, the Lottery provided a record $888.9 million to help support Michigan’s public schools. Since it began in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $20.5 billion to support public education. Follow the Michigan Lottery on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and online at www.michiganlottery.com.
Looking for the best way to reach retailers in Michigan? Advertise in the Michigan Retailer. Rates as low as $35 per issue.
Call 800.366.3699 for more information.
Antler Bar Amusements LLC, Rothbury Automated Techniques LLC, Brown City Bay Lanes, Alanson Big Water Bakery LLC, Mears Bob’s Roofing Company Inc., Whitehall BS & G Recycling Inc., Holland Canton Canopies Inc., Canton Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center, Augusta Community First Health Centers, Algonac Dan Winter Poured Walls Inc., West Branch Dave’s Glass Service Inc., Kalamazoo First Congregational Church UCC, Lowell Gilbert Chocolates, Jackson Goggin Rental, Kalamazoo Hull Brothers Rental Inc., Taylor Image Builders Unlimited powered by Performa, East Lansing Independent Community Living, Midland International Auto Care & Power Washing, DeWitt International Temperature Control Inc., Au Gres Kerr Albert Office Supply Inc., Port Huron Kerrytown Shops of Ann Arbor Inc., Ann Arbor
Ludington Truck Tops LLC, Ludington M & M Construction & Painting, Alger Market 41, Newaygo Medical Exam Specialists PLLC, Plymouth Michigan United, Detroit New Friends Dementia Community, Kalamazoo Office Central Inc., West Branch Ogemaw Veterinary Clinic PC, Rose City Otsego Club & Resort, Gaylord Pinnacle Cabinet Company Inc., Mount Pleasant PMR Industries Inc., Port Huron Ross Sheet Metal Inc., Ferndale Schafer Agency Inc., Carleton Schuil Coffee Company, Grand Rapids She Active Boutique, Rockford Silo’s Sports Grill Inc., Reading St. Pierre Ace Hardware, Monroe Staging Optics Inc., Waterford Superior Sweeping Service Inc., Kalamazoo Team Rental Inc., Warren Teamsters Local 214, Detroit Top O’ The Hill LLC, Tipton Trillium Financial Advisors, Grandville Trump Inc., Clinton Township Wright Custom Coatings and Finishes, Traverse City
D ITE ST! LIM UGU RA A FO E I N TI M
––– WIN –––
ON DAILY 3 & 4 ANY DRAW CAN BE A BONUS DRAW! Daily 3&4 BONUS DRAWS will be announced during the broadcast of the midday and evening winning numbers. For each BONUS DRAW, all eligible Daily 3&4 prizes will be increased by 20%.
During the March Bonus Draws promotion players won over $1.1 million in bonus prizes! DAILY 4 STRAIGHT AND WHEELED BETS NOT ELIGIBLE. Daily 3 odds: Straight: 1 in 1,000; 3-Way Box: 1 in 333; 6-Way Box: 1 in 167; 1-Off Straight: 1 in 1,000; 1-Off One Digit: 1 in 167. Daily 4 odds: Straight: 1 in 10,000; 4-Way Box: 1 in 2,500; 6-Way Box: 1 in 1,666; 12-Way Box: 1 in 833; 24-Way Box: 1 in 416; 1-Off Straight: 1 in 10,000; 1-Off One Digit: 1 in 1,250. Knowing your limits is always the best bet. Call the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline for confidential help at 1-800-270-7117.