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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The Retail Advocate

Federal Issues

Virginia Retail Federation

Debit Card Swipe Fees

Amendments sponsored by Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), passed with bipartisan support in the Senate but the amendments were not in the bill passed by the House in December. Lawmakers must reconcile the two versions before sending the legislation to President Obama. The fees—known as interchange or "swipe" fees—have become the focus of intense lobbying.

The amendment allows retailers to give customers discounts for paying with cash and to set price thresholds for accepting cards. It also tasks the Federal Reserve with determining whether swipe fees for debit cards are "reasonable and proportional"—the provision that most troubles the banking industry. Typically, fees range from 1 to 2 percent of the purchase price, and retailers argue that the amount can wipe out their profit on small sales.

The fight over swipe fees is heating up, and current legislation before Congress could greatly reduce the $10 billion a year merchants are required to pay on debit card transactions. Retailers can help ensure the "swipe fee fix" is preserved in financial reform legislation—your voice can make a difference. Click here for more information; make a difference be heard today.

Health Care

More businesses may be required to pay health care penalties

More small businesses than first anticipated might be forced to pay a tax penalty under a health care reform provision that requires premiums to be less than 9.5% of a worker's household income, according to a study by Mercer. Critics say it can be hard for a business owner to determine workers' household income. The New York Times (free registration)

What the new health care mandate will cost your company

Most companies will incur financial penalties starting in 2014 if they fail to offer coverage to full-time employees or if that coverage is unaffordable. Want to know what your company's exposure may be under the new law? NRF's recently released Health Mandate Cost Calculator was created to help businesses better understand the costs. Try the calculator now.

State Issues

Accelerated Sales Tax Payment due this month

An accelerated sales tax payment for all retailers who have $1 million or more in gross taxable sales is due this month. The payment is due on June 25th if you file your tax remittance by mail and due June 30 if you remit your payment electronically.

For a list of frequently asked question click here.

Dealer Discount, cut to 40% or eliminated

Beginning with the June, 2010 return due July 20, 2010, dealers required to remit the Retail Sales and Use Tax by electronic funds transfer ("EFT") may no longer retain a dealer discount. Virginia law requires any dealer who has an average monthly Retail Sales and Use Tax liability exceeding $20,000 to remit the Retail Sales and Use Tax by EFT. Any dealer may choose to make payments electronically, but the suspension of the dealer discount only applies to dealers who are required to remit the tax by EFT.

For all others the dealer discount will be reduced. Click here for complete details.

ABC Privatization

A joint meeting of the Government Relations Committees of the Retail Merchants Association and the Retail Alliance met on June 1 to discuss legislative priorities for the Virginia Retail Federation. 

One topic of discussion was privatization of distilled spirits. The Virginia Retail Federation is a member of the Governor's Work Group that will develop the framework for ABC Privatization. A number of points were made by committee members, however the comment made most often was that privatization must be open and fair. Representatives of the two committees will meet with Eric Finkbeiner, Governor McDonnell’s Senior Advisor for Policy, to ensure that the voices of our Virginia based retail members are heard.

A second meeting of the Governor’s ABC Work Group was held on June 2nd, where a number of key issues were identified to be reviewed at individual stakeholder meetings. Again, members of the Government Relations Committees will meet with the Governor’s representative to discuss key issues and express their thoughts and concerns of how ABC Privatization will best work for the Commonwealth and retailers who currently sell ABC products.

If you have questions or have comments regarding ABC Privatization or any other legislative issue, please contact George Peyton at 804-662-5505 or email gpeyton@retailmerchants.com.

Upcoming Event

Thursday, June 10, 2010

"We Love Our Members" PICNIC

The biggest RMA picnic yet!  Expect to mingle with a HUGE crowd, enjoy much food, lots of networking, laughs and entertainment.  Bring the family!  We’re cooking up American fare plus interesting additions & trimmings courtesy of RMA friends & members.

Sponsors

Casa Vinicloa Zonin, USA—Wine

Ukrop's Homestyle Foods—Potato Salad

City Ice—Ice

PLUS...

Silent Auction for VRF

You’ll find lots of goodies in the Silent Auction—and at the same time, you’ll benefit the Virginia Retail Federation, your lobbying arm at the Virginia General Assembly. (Click here for an up-to-date list of auction items.)

It's Not Too Late!
Do you have a product or service to donate for the Silent Auction? Contact George Peyton, gpeyton@retailmerchants.com  or 804-662-5505.

FeedMore Backpack Program

As soon as you find out about our local critically hungry children, you’ll want to join the effort and help.  Financial donations (whatever you can give) will be accepted (instead of canned goods) this year!

Thursday, June 10 (rain or shine)

4:00–7:00 p.m.

Location: Retail Merchants Association
5101 Monument Avenue
Richmond, VA 23230
(804) 662-5500
Directions >>

Cost: Entry fee is a donation to FeedMore’s Backpack Program.

Contact: If you have questions, please contact Julie Hill (804) 662-5500 or jchill@retailmerchants.com.

Register Online

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Member News & Events

FREE LISTING FOR RME EXHIBITORS!

In July Retail Partners Newsletter—35 words or less

Promote your presence at the August 3 Retail Marketing Expo.  Send your listing information to Pat Vitsky by Monday, June 14—email patricia@retailmerchants.com and be sure to include a few words on what your ‘Show Special’ will be!  Questions?  Call 804-662-5518.

Foster Care Homes Urgently Needed by the Richmond SPCA

Kitten season has officially sprung, which means that we are beginning to receive as many as 30 new orphaned kittens, including neonates, into our shelter daily. We are in urgent need of foster care homes for kittens for the next several weeks and months, and for puppies and adult dogs and cats on an ongoing basis.

If you're interested in being contacted about helping out as a foster care volunteer for this urgent need, please click here. This volunteer sign up form may be used whether you are new to the program or are already an active foster care volunteer.

Through participation in our Meet the Fosters TM foster care program, which is generously supported by Veterinary Emergency Center, you can help guarantee a second chance to homeless animals in need. Our lifesaving foster care program provides temporary care to pets throughout the year, especially during the summer months. By offering your time, energy and home to an animal in need, you help prepare that animal for adoption into a permanent home as well as increase shelter capacity so that we can save more lives throughout our community.

Meet the FostersTM volunteers are equipped with the skills, supplies and access to around-the-clock veterinary care needed to successfully and safely care for foster pets.  www.richmondspca.org

Saxon Shoes' Stroller Stories Rocks!

Stroller Stories—Summer 2010 Series

  • June 12th—Kate Hall of Richmondmom.com
  • July 10th—Dr. Seuss Celebration with Converse
  • August 14th—Richmond’s Flying Squirrels and Nutzy

Locally owned and operated retailer Saxon Shoes will host Stroller Stories, a  free family event. Kate Hall of Richmondmom.com will read her new book “Richmond Rocks!” and one of her childhood favorites, “Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea” by Jan Peck.  All ages are invited to enjoy story time as well as make a fun craft.

Saxon Shoes Stroller Stories is in partnership with Read Aloud Virginia (RAV), a non-profit organization that works to develop a love for reading in children by educating and inspiring parents and teachers to read aloud to them. In support of RAV’s literacy efforts Saxon Shoes will conduct a book drive as a part of Stroller Stories from now through the end of the summer series. Attendees should bring their gently used children’s books (appropriate for ages 0–12) to donate to Read Aloud Virginia for distribution to deserving children in our area. 

Saxon Shoes, along with partners Q-94, Lite 98 and Chick-fil-A, will combine story time with a craft and each child who attends will receive a coupon for a free Chick-fil-A kids meal.  For more information, e-mail info@saxonshoes.com, visit www.SaxonShoes.com or call Saxon Shoes at 804.285.3473

Perfect Start to the Ultimate Summer at the Science Museum of Virginia

Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Summer is right around the corner and all you can think about is celebrating your vacation. You’re ready to kick back with some great music, good friends, lazy days at the beach and good times swimming, surfing, playing volleyball or building sand castles. This summer, you don’t even have to leave Richmond to go the beach, because the Beach has come to you at the Science Museum of Virginia. Join us for the Ultimate Summer Kickoff,.

"Ultimate Summer Kickoff is a giant party for the whole family and this year we’re taking you to the beach," says Science Museum of Virginia Director and CEO Richard Conti. "There is no better place to have a fun time and learn something at the same time in our cool new exhibit Beach Science: It’s a Shore Thing, along with two new IMAX® films about surf and the sea. And if that isn’t enough, we have a contest that will send one lucky family to Hawaii!"

Neptune points the way to Beach Science: It’s a Shore Thing where a working lighthouse takes center stage. The revolving light at the top will catch your eye before you reach the exhibit. If the lighthouse looks familiar, it’s because it is modeled after one of Virginia’s lighthouses — the Old Point Comfort lighthouse near Fort Monroe. Check out sand from different beaches and a live critter tank. Visit the lifeguard station for the latest in beach weather and rip currents. Stroll along the boardwalk where you find out how to pick the sunscreen with the right SPF for you. Giggle at the revealing history of swimsuits and uncover new activities for the entire family to enjoy at the beach.

Outside at Ultimate Summer Kickoff, zoom down a giant inflated slide. Catch a wave without water on an outdoor surf simulator ($). Make a mini-greenhouse with seedlings to grow at home. There are more than 25 activities to experience so everywhere you look there is something fun to see and do. Cool down with an ice cream cone or frozen fruit treat on a stick.

Join the search for the perfect wave in the IMAX film The Ultimate Wave Tahiti. Meet nine-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater on a surfing quest in the island paradise of Tahiti and French Polynesia, home to some of the world’s most challenging surfing and to astounding coral reef ecosystems. For an underwater perspective, dive into Deep Sea. You’re in for an up-close encounter with some of the most strange and exotic creatures on the planet.

Still dreaming of a perfect Hawaii vacation or another cool beach getaway? Solve a Sudoku puzzle in the current issue of Quest or the Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 7-11. Look for clues on Facebook, via Twitter or in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 7-11. Enter your completed puzzle at the Ultimate Summer Kickoff before 2 p.m. The drawing is at 3.

Ultimate Summer Kickoff admission is $12 or free for museum members. Tickets to Ultimate Summer Kickoff and a film in the IMAX®DOME are $15. For information call (804) 864-1400 or 1-800-659-1727 or visit www.smv.org.

RichTech’s SMB Forum—Save, Grow, Innovate

Wednesday, June 23rd 7:30–9:00 a.m.

RichTech invites area small to medium size business (SMB) owners to the first of a three part series: “Save, Grow, Innovate”.  This series is presented by RichTech’s SMB Forum which is for local small and mid-sized businesses that are beyond the start-up phase and are becoming more reliant on technology to operate.  Participants are business owners and executives that are not “technical people”.   This practical, thought provoking session will be presented from a business perspective.

Our panel of business owners will share some of their insights on which technologies they've used to improve sales, lessons learned on which technologies are overhyped and how to launch technology solutions quickly.

Moderator: Steve Kimball, President, Tuscan Advisors

Panelists:

  • Ashton Harrison, Founder/CEO, Shades of Light
  • Jim Fitzgerald, Founder/CEO, Taradel
  • Dave Gallagher, Founder/CEO, Dominion Payroll Services

$30.00 - Light breakfast will be served

Richmond Marriott West, 4240 Dominion Boulevard, Glen Allen, VA 23060,  www.marriott.com/ricmw

Richmond's first-ever Dragon Boat Festival

July 31st at Rocketts Landing

WhatIfCreditUnions.com is the new title sponsor of Richmond's first-ever Dragon Boat Festival. Social groups and businesses alike embrace the sport of dragon boating because it builds camaraderie and a sense of “team” through participation in the sport. 

The ancient Chinese sport of dragon boating has been gaining popularity in North America over the past twenty years and has become the world’s fastest growing water sport. Dragon boats are 40-foot human-powered canoes decorated with ornate Chinese dragon heads. Led by the rhythmic beat of a drum, teams consisting of 20 synchronized paddlers, one drummer, and one steersperson race the canoes 500m down the river. All teams are guaranteed at least three races.

The WhatIfCreditUnions.com Richmond International Dragon Boat Festival will be the sixth event of the Major League Dragon Boat Series. Not only is the event expected to draw in experienced participants from across the continent and overseas, but it should also attract first-time racers from right here in Richmond.

The Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation is the official charity of the Richmond International Dragon Boat Festival. For more information or to register a team, visit www.gwndragonboat.com.

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