e-News

Open to all members and future members. Please refer to our online Calendar of Events for chapter meetings and locations.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007: Member Power Hour

Topic: Are You Using All Of Your RMA Marketing Tools?

Location:
Retail Merchants Association
5101 Monument Avenue
Henrico Room, 2nd Floor
(804) 662-5500
Directions >>

Tuesday, October 23, 2007: SLPA Monthly Meeting: Cyber Crime & Credit Card Scams—Is Your Business a Target?

Guest Speaker: Special Agent Victor "Jake" Oleson, Cyber Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Location:
Retail Merchants Association
Richmond Room
5101 Monument Avenue
(804) 662-5500
Directions >>

Title Sponsors

SunTrust
Trusco

Print Media Sponsor

Richmond Times-Dispatch

Radio Media Sponsor

Community Idea Stations

Audio Visual Sponsor

Visual Aids Electronics

Reception Sponsor

James River Meat Company

Friday, November 2, 2007: Economic Forecast Breakfast

The Retail Merchants Association's Economic Forecast Breakfast will feature a panel discussion moderated by Gregory J. Gilligan, a deputy business editor and columnist at The Richmond Times-Dispatch. Gilligan also will video "man on the street" interviews in advance to bring you some perspective on the consumers' views on the economy and consumer confidence.

Alan Gayle, who is responsible for developing and communicating the investment outlook, strategy and asset allocations at Trusco Capital Management, will provide an economic perspective about the upcoming holiday season and the first quarter of 2008. Scott Krugman, vice president of public relations for the National Retail Federation, will talk about what retailers can expect and challenges they face this season.

Location:
Holiday Inn—Central
3207 N. Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23230
Directions >>

RMA News

Call for Nominations

Both will be announced at a special December First Friday Forum to be held at the historic Byrd Theatre in Carytown.

Village Bank to Sponsor 2008 First Friday Forums

RMA is pleased to have Village Bank continue as the Title Sponsor for First Friday Forums for 2008.

Last Chance! FREE PROMOTION – Do you have a unique or one-of-a-kind item to suggest as a gift?

If so, send a high-resolution photo (300 dpi) and brief description (25 words or less, including the price) to Patricia Vitsky to be included in the December issue of Retail Partners or the Dec. e-news. E-mail: patricia@retailmerchants.com no later than Oct. 22. Questions: Call Patricia Vitsky at 662-5518.

NEW – RMA Membership Guide to be Published

Advertising Concepts, Inc. (A.C.I.) has been selected by the RMA to publish the 1st Annual Retail Merchants Association Membership Guide in January 2008. They are dedicated to providing you with a publication that will truly prove to be a valuable tool…one which each member will use regularly throughout the entire year.

A.C.I. will be producing 3,500+ copies of the attractive full-color guide, which will be distributed to all members, including new members who join throughout the year. Additional copies will also be distributed at networking events and other Association functions held during the year.

Member News

VHS Family Day Celebrates Opening of New Exhibit

In conjunction with the opening of a new exhibition, Lee and Grant, the Virginia Historical Society (VHS) invites the community to attend a free event filled with music, games, prizes, re-enactments, and much more on Saturday, October 20, 2007, from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., the VHS will host a Civil War-themed open house.

On Oct. 28, the VHS hosts Oliver Hill Remembrance Event Panel Discussion about the Civil Rights Leader’s Life. Members of the public are invited on Sunday, October 28, 2007 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Prominent community leaders will share their memories and experiences about the late Oliver Hill (May 1, 1907 – August 5, 2007).

Lee and Grant Exhibition - Two great opposing commanders of the Civil War, Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant, are the subjects of a major exhibition at the VHS, which runs Oct. 21, 2007 – March 31, 2008. The Banner Lecture Series on Lee and Grant is Nov. 1 at noon with Dr. William M. S. Rasmussen, the exhibition co-curator.

On Nov. 8, Josiah Bunting III, superintendent emeritus of the Virginia Military Institute, presents “Who is Buried in Grant’s Tomb?,” a look at Grant’s character and the changes in his reputation since his own time. Visit www.vahistorical.org for more information.

Halloween Fun

Kings Dominion transforms into Halloween Haunt every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 28. Here’s a quick look >>

One North Belmont Restaurant Presents

Sunday, October 28, 2007 at 2:30 pm

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at 7:00 pm

A Wine Dinner, with Terence Shiple, Director of French Estates, The Country Vintner. Check out the Menu >>

Donna Leone joined Thalhimer/Cushman & Wakefield...

...in 2007 and is a member of the Retail Specialty Group. Prior to joining Thalhimer, Ms. Leone ran the commercial brokerage division of a local real estate firm. Donna brings to Thalhimer her marketing and advertising experience focusing on retailers in the Richmond metropolitan area. Donna spends her time working with Tenants/Buyers and Landlords/Sellers, while networking in multiple commercial and retail focused groups, and actively pursing her Brokers and CCIM designations.

New Management Team at Schwarzschild in Place for 2007 Holiday Season

There’s an air of excitement at the Schwarzschild Jewelers stores as they prepare for the 2007 holiday season. By promoting from within, reaching out to dedicated employees no longer on store rosters and recruiting talented managers from like businesses, the venerable Richmond firm has established a new management team focused on providing an unrivaled customer experience. J. Eric Tyree, Benjamin Stahl and Dennis Popp are the store managers, assisted by Amy Featherston, Mike Gordon, Jamie LaRou, Anne Miller, Todd Minnich and Pam Proffit-Wright. Read more about each of the team here >>

Emerging North Carolina Artist to Show at White Canvas Gallery

White Canvas Gallery is pleased to announce that beginning October 19 the gallery will feature new works by emerging North Carolinian artist, Kay Hutchison. The show, Travels, is free to the public and opens with a reception from 5:30pm-8:00pm on October 19. The show will run through November 15.

Kay Hutchison’s show, Travels, embraces the every day and turns it into the extraordinary through her masterful use of color, shape, and light. Instead of Hutchison’s familiar interpretations of Southern landscape and architecture, she draws inspiration and subject matter from her recent trip to Europe.

Morton’s Will be Open for Lunches in December

Morton’s will be open for lunches in December to celebrate the holiday season.The following dates are open — December 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th, & 21st for any size reservation (2 to 60) from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Morton’s is located at 111 Virginia St. Contact AnnMarie Grohs at 804.648.1662 or cm_richmond@mortons.com for more information and reservations.

Mary E. Fender Has Been Awarded Master Certified Picture Designation

Mary E. Fender of Frame Nation, located in Richmond’s historic Shockoe Bottom, has earned the MASTER CERTIFIED PICTURE FRAMER (MCPF®) designation from the Professional Picture Framers Association.

This achievement, the first awarded to a Richmond, Virginia framer, permits Fender to use the professional designation MCPF. This designation was granted after Fender met established qualifications. The Certification Board worked with a number of conservators and utilized existing published methods of framing to develop a set of criteria on which to base the evaluation of candidates.

Dominion Sign Company Has Moved

The new address is 3825 Gaskins Road. The phone number remains the same—804-346-8922.

Modernism Class—Wednesdays in November

FYI

First Fridays Artwalk in Full Swing

First Fridays Artwalk officially kicked off Oct. 5 with a new sponsor, the University of Richmond’s Modlin Center. The center is contributing $25,000 in funding and will supply some of First Fridays’ talent this season. On tap for December are holiday window displays. Art galleries, restaurants and other business along the downtown Broad Street corridor are open during the First Friday.

Preparations in High Gear for McDonald’s ITU Duathlon World Championships—Oct. 21

With 500 of the world’s top run-bike athletes coming to Richmond for the 2007 McDonald’s Duathlon Long Course World Championships on Sunday, October 21st, preparations are underway to create an exciting event for spectators and athletes alike. Check here for all the details >>

The Richmond Regional Summit on Preventing Infant Deaths is Oct. 22

Restaurant Week Oct. 22–28

Make your reservations for The Seventh Annual Richmond Restaurant Week to benefit the Central Virginia Food Bank. October 22nd through the 28th. Twenty of Richmond’s favorite local restaurants bring you a week of fantastic meals designed to help a local cause. Need a good reason to eat out seven nights in a row? All you need to do to help is call some friends, make reservations at the participating restaurants, and order the Restaurant Week Menu priced at $25.07 a person (not all restaurants take reservations). Each restaurant will donate $2.07 per menu sold to the Central Virginia Food Bank in support of their continued efforts to ensure those less fortunate in our area don’t go hungry. $13,000 was raised last year with your help.

The Eighth Annual Brunswick Stew Festival at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market—Nov. 3

The Eighth Annual Brunswick Stew Festival, Sponsored by Ukrop’s and First Market Bank, will be held, rain or shine, on Saturday, November 3, 2007, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market on 17 th Street between Main and Franklin Streets.

Bringing the Experts to You—More Trends in Travel and Tourism on Nov. 8

Program: Stay current on the latest information that drives visitors and groups to your organization. Judy Randall, of Randall Travel Marketing, will present two workshops: 1) 2007 Travel Industry Update & Trends in Generational Marketing and Trends and2) Survival Skills for Attractions. The date is Nov. 8. Click here for all the details >>

Mathiasen Honored as Manager of the Year

Jon E. Mathiasen, president and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Commission, was recognized as the 2007 Airport Manager of the Year during the Virginia Department of Aviation's 2007 Virginia Aviation Conference.

RMA e-News October 2007

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