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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The Retail Advocate

Federal Issues

Virginia Retail Federation

Health Care

Now that the President has signed the Health Care Reform legislation into law, what does that mean for retailers? The National Retail Federation has put together a timeline of specific dates that will impact employers. Click here to view timeline: key dates and retail issues.

The Retail Merchants Association will hold Health Care Reform Workshops in late summer for members to increase understanding of how this law will impact their business.

State Issues

Virginia Sales Tax Holiday

Sales Tax Holidays

There are three annual opportunities for retailers to advertise tax free shopping days:

  • May 25-31 Hurricane Preparedness
  • August 6-8 Back to School
  • October 8-11 Energy Star & WaterSense qualified products

During each sales tax holiday there are specific tax exempt items on which no sales tax is collected, and any retailers may participate in the sales event by advertising that they will absorb the sales tax for the consumer. For example, during the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, certain Energy Star & WaterSense qualified products purchased for non-commercial use and costing $2,500 or less are exempt from sales tax.  However, if a clothing store would like to participate in the holiday, they may advertise their entire stock or any portion tax free for the seven day period created for the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday and absorb the 5% tax for the consumer. It’s been said that during the sales tax holiday period it’s not the amount of the discount that drives customers to the store it’s the fact that consumers don’t have to pay the tax. Click here for specific information on each sales tax holiday, http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=STHoliday

The VRF lobbied for the inclusion of the tax absorption language to enable all retailers to participate in each sale.

Dealer Discount

In a letter to Governor McDonnell dated March 29th, the Virginia Retail Federation expressed its opposition to the 60% reduction of the Dealer Discount for those with taxable sales of $4.8 million or less and the elimination of the allowance for those over that amount. In the letter the VRF requested that the Governor add language in the budget that would require the Department of Taxation to convene a series of meetings with representatives from the Governor’s Office, the Department of Taxation and representatives of the retail industry to determine a fair level of Dealer Discount for the retail industry and use that determination during the next budget cycle. Click here to view the letter to Governor McDonnell.

Channel 12 interviews RMA members Sarah Paxton, La Difference and James Hatcher, Pleasants Hardware regarding the loss of the Dealer Discount. Click hear to view Heather Sullivan’s interview.

Plastic Bag Legislation

D.C. shoppers opt for reusable bags to avoid nickel tax
Customer use of paper and plastic bags has dropped 86% in Washington, D.C., since a 5-cent fee went into effect Jan. 1. The revenue generated by the tax—originally estimated at about $10 million during the next four years—goes into a fund to clean up and restore the Anacostia River. ABC News (3/30)

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Member News & Events

Grand Opening of Expanded VMFA

Saturday & Sunday, May 1 & 2

The grand opening celebration of the largest expansion project in the history of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will be Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2, with an array of free special events and activities, including a ribbon cutting, Tibetan Monks creating a sand mandala, exhibitions, lectures, artist demonstrations, music, dance demonstrations, refreshments, highlights tours and family art activities.

The museum will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information, telephone 804-340-1400 or visit the museum online at www.vmfa.museum.

Friday Cheers 2010

Fridays, May 7–June 25
Brown’s Island on downtown Richmond’s historic riverfront, $2

Venture Richmond’s signature summer concert series, Friday Cheers, presented by Coors Light and Yuengling, is back on Brown’s Island for its 26th season and promises to feature some of the nation’s hottest touring acts, along with some regional favorites.  This year’s admission for each of the concerts will be $2 for those age 13 and over, free for children age 12 and under.

The series kicks off Friday, May 7, 6:00-9:30 p.m. All events are on Brown’s Island along downtown Richmond’s historic riverfront.  Again this year Friday Cheers will offer seven concerts and is focused on a variety of performers that may only be in the Region once this summer. The concerts take place Fridays, May 7 – June 25, not counting Friday, May 14, which is the first night of Dominion Riverrock, May 14-15 – a free event co-produced by Venture Richmond and the Richmond Sportsbackers.

www.venturerichmond.com

ReFinery invites you to the “Spring FFFFling” on Bellevue Ave

Saturday, May 8

Enjoy food, flowers, finery, and fiddling on Bellevue Avenue.  Find new and gently used finery at ReFinery and browse super saver deals on the sidewalk.  See artisan Cindy Hamlin making jewelry between 2 and 7 p.m. and shop her crafty creations! Cellist Jan Land will offer free mini lessons and Suzuki violin teacher Randy Allen will feature members of his Suzuki method violin studio at Mercury Strings, both from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and relax with refreshments provided for guests and participants. Attend a floral arranging demonstration at 2 pm. and enter to win a door prize at Nicola Flora. Shop homemade products from Market Umbrella artisans, while enjoying live music from 3 to 7 p.m. on the patio of Northside Grille.

www.refineryinc.com

Dominion Riverrock

May 14–15

Dominion Riverrock is a two day sports and outdoors festival held on and around Brown’s Island. Dominion Riverrock unites the community through a unique mix of sports, music and fun, set against the backdrop of Richmond’s downtown riverfront. The party begins on Friday with live music by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals…a Filthy 5k Mud Run...and an acrobatic freestyle bike competition. Then, join in the fun Saturday as athletes from around the region square off in high-adrenaline activities both in and around the river—like the James River Scramble 10k trail run, mountain biking, kayaking and much more. With additional musical performances on Saturday by Robert Randolph and the Family Band and other well-known rock bands, spectator water sports like the highflying Ultimate Air Dogs, food, exhibits and more, Dominion Riverrock is Richmond’s premier river event.

www.dominionriverrock.com

Homes For Our Troops

This article in the Henrico Citizen is about the home being built for Sgt. Dwayne Cole by Homes For Our Troops. Stephen Thomas Homes is the volunteer general contractor on the project. Thank all of you for your continued support on this project.

www.stchomes.com

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