e-NEWS

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

Tuesday, January 23, 2007: Member Power Hour

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

Thursday, January 25, 2007: Richard Holbrooke at Longwood University: "America and the World’s Crisis"

Richard Holbrooke, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, will address “America and the World’s Crisis” on Thursday, January 25 at 7 p.m. in Jarman Auditorium at Longwood University. Holbrooke’s lecture is the keynote address for “America and the World: Sustaining Democracy in the Global Age,” an academic conference that seeks to understand the current state and future of democracy. more info >>

Location: Longwood University
Jarman Auditorium
201 High Street
Farmville, VA 23909
(434) 395-2000
Directions >>

Friday, February 2, 2007: First Friday Forum: "2006 Richmond Retail Market Year End Review/2007 Retail Real Estate Outlook"

Presented by Bill Overman, Senior Director of Retail Brokerage Services; Perry Moss, Regional Research Director; and Shelia Bartosic, Sales and Leasing Associate, GVA Advantis. more info >>

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

Thursday, February 8, 2007: Connect @ Texas de Brazil

Come join us for hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and networking at this premiere restaurant!

Location: Texas de Brazil
1420 N. Parham Rd.
Richmond, VA 23229
(804) 750-2003
Directions >>

Cost: $15 per person, includes hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets (your choice of beer or wine)

RMA News

Renew Your 2007 Membership!

Renew your Retail Merchants Association Membership by Wednesday, January 31, 2007 and 5 members will have a chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate to any member location. Click here to renew your membership.

New Members at the Dec. First Friday Forum

Lynessa Betts, Coastal Vacations; Annie Tobey, V Magazine for Women; Stacey MacAulay, V Magazine for Women; Caitlin Shear, A Sorted Affair (b ack row – l to r) Anthony Long, Global Technology Solutions; Marcie Allen, Cavalier Business Communication; Kathy-Ann Wilkinson, Personal Touch ; Olivia Acree, A Sorted Affair ; Rick Barnett, Carytown Coffee & Tea ; Mark James, The Growth Coach

Bob Dame, Steve Barnett, and Dr. Jim Cross from Longwood University. Longwood University returns for the second year as the Title Sponsor of the Retail Marketing Expo (formerly the Media Trade Show).

Karen Cole, Joshua Cole and Sue Hornstra Kerr from Continuity First, Inc. were the speakers for Jan. 5 First Friday Forum. If you would like more information on their presentation on Crisis Management click here.

Important Information About Ad-vantage for 2007

NEW! Associate members may now earn up to $200 credit on their RMA account for using the RMA logo.

Retail members may earn up to a maximum of $500 (previously $700) in credit on their RMA account when they use the approved RMA logo in advertising in any medium.

Call Preston Perrin at 662-5500 or go to retailmerchants.com for more information.

Feb. 16 is the Deadline for Nominations for the Distinguished Retailer of the Year

All Upcoming Programs/Events Will Be Listed in Retail Partners, the E-News and Online

Retail Partners , RMA’s monthly printed newsletter, is now 16 pages and it includes all of the information on upcoming program/events. There will NOT be separate fliers mailed re: upcoming programs—so be sure to check the newsletter, the Web site, and this monthly e-newsletter and register online at www.retailmerchants.com or call 662-5500.

There are a limited number of advertising spaces in the expanded newsletter. Call Janet Strath (662-5518) or e-mail jstrath@retailmerchants.com for more information.

Member News

Additional management changes announced at the Richmond Times-Dispatch

The Richmond Times-Dispatch announces a series of management changes in marketing, advertising and circulation. These changes, which include five redefined positions, advance the paper’s 2007 strategic initiatives. Read about all five changes here.

Cross Roads Art Center – All Media Gallery Show Benefits CASA

Henrico CASA ,"Court-Appointed Special Advocates", is partnering with Crossroads to host January's Gallery Show & Silent Auction. Featured Artists: The Short Pump Middle School’s Annual Students Show PLUS Hugh Townsend Harris and his show “The Happy Place.” The show continues through Feb. 15.

Second Début Opens in Carytown

Second Début by Goodwill, at 3114 W. Cary St., opens Saturday, February 10, and will feature high quality, designer label fashions and other fabulous finds including accessories and unique home accents and furnishings.

Store purchases support education and career services for individuals with obstacles to employment in our local community.

Martha’s Mixture and House of Lighting Are Closing

Martha’s Mixture and House of Lighting are closing both stores—Carytown and W. Broad St. (Lauderdale & Broad)—as of Jan. 31. The final inventory/store closing sale is now in progress. Owners, Martha and Randy Rollins, will continue the estate-sale side of the business and Martha will continue her work with Boaz & Ruth in the Highland Park neighborhood.

CMoR Presenting “Growing Up Green” Children’s Area at Maymont Flower and Garden Show – Feb. 22-25

The Children’s Museum of Richmond will present a “magical backyard” for children at the 18th annual Maymont Flower and Garden Show at the Greater Richmond Convention Center February 22-25. The interactive exhibit, called “Growing Up Green,” is the first offered by the museum at the show. It was created as a preview of the CMoR Backyard, a new permanent exhibit scheduled to open at the museum in June 2007.

VMFA will celebrate Black History Month in Feb. with tributes to the Modern Jazz Quartet and playwright August Wilson.

The Russell Wilson Jazz Ensemble will present a concert, "Modes for Milt: Exploring the Music of Milt Jackson and the MJQ," Saturday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. in the Virginia Museum’s Marble Hall.

Richmond actor-poet d.l. Hopkins will present a literary reading, "An Afternoon Celebrating the Art of Playwright August Wilson," Sunday, Feb. 25, at 3 p.m. in VMFA's Pauley Center. For more information, www.vmfa.museum.

Blades Day Spa Introduces Cutting Edge Concept

Blades Day Spa, located in the newly refurbished Willow Lawn Shopping Center, has introduced a new cutting edged concept, unique to the area— a luxurious Spa Suite. The Suite is a large multipurpose treatment room, catering to couples. There is no moving from treatment room to treatment room. Technicians come into the Suite to provide each of the services, such as a couples massage, pedicures, etc. There is also a cozy Bistro area tucked into a corner, so a couple could share a famous Blades candlelit French Picnic—Great idea for a Valentine’s Spa Day! More information at 285-2363.

Peoples Tax Offers Low-Cost Alternative to Tax Refund Loans

Richmond, VA-based Peoples Income Tax, Inc. announced that it will participate in a pilot program offered by Western Union to offer a low-cost alternative to high-priced Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs).

Charles E. McCabe, President and CEO, said, “Our clients who obtain RALs through a bank pay total RAL fees and interest charges ranging from $97 to $174 depending on the size of their tax refunds, and many clients then pay a fee of up to 2% of the refund or more to cash their checks. (Peoples Tax has arranged for their clients to have their checks cashed at SunTrust for a fee of $15.) Through the Western Union pilot program (exclusive to Peoples Income Tax in central-Virginia) our tax preparation clients will pay only $10 to $20 ($10 for the IRS refund and $10 for the State Tax Refund), and the check cashing fee is eliminated! We are happy to forgo our RAL application and Service Bureau fees totaling $53 to help our clients obtain their tax refund money fast for a much lower cost.” Read more >>

FYI

13th Annual International Business Forum: "VCU, Central Virginia and the Global Business Environment: Sustaining Our Competitiveness in a Flat World"

February 27, 3:00-5:30 p.m. with reception to follow. VCU Student Commons, Commonwealth Ballroom (907 Floyd Ave, Richmond, Va. 23284). Sponsored annually by Universal Corporation. Attendance is free. No RSVP necessary. Read more >>

Want to Know What Richmonders Had to Say about Shopping and Non-Profits?

Read the Executive Summary of a Metro Richmond Survey from Richmond.com and Your Market Research LLC. Click here >>

Israeli Wine Fests—Jan. 27

The Israeli Wine Fest on Jan. 27 from 6 – 9 p.m. will benefit the Jewish Family Services. It is being held in the Troutman Sanders Building at 1001 Haxall Point. Some of Richmond’s top chefs will offer special cuisine, including some kosher items paired with Israeli wines. Tickets are $75 in advance. Call 282-5644 or go to www.jfsrichmond.org for more information.

AETA Expo Comes to Richmond for the First Time – Jan. 26-28

The American Equestrian Trade Association (AETA) will hold an Expo in Richmond from January 26 - 28 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The AETA brings together retailers, sales reps and manufacturers of equestrian related products. Approximately 600 booths representing 100+ manufacturers will be on hand. In addition to traditional equestrian products you would expect, you will also find related products—apparel, fashion accessories, home decor, giftware, jewelry and leather.

There will be college-level business management seminars presented by Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Fashion & Merchandising.

Visit the ”Perfect Store,” an innovative merchandising layout model. The 2,000-square-foot, hands-on display will be built on the exhibition floor for retailers to browse and study. Get ideas for your own merchandising makeover.

There will be special events for networking and entertainment and four Fashion Show presentations.

Market to MBL Conference Attendees

The Metropolitan Business League of Richmond, Virginia (MBL), is planning its annual Virginia Business Empowerment Conference for Feb. 9-10, 2007 at the Richmond Marriott downtown. The MBL represents small and minority business owners and will be hosting several workshops throughout the day on Feb. 9th, and hearing from noted national speakers during our opening plenary and luncheon that day.

MBL will be assembling 250 conference bags for our attendees. If you are interested in promoting your products, you are invited to provide give away items to go in the conference bags. Coupons to restaurants can also be included.

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