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The Retail EmployerDecember 2008
First Friday Forum
Retailer of the Year and Retail Achievement of the Year Awards
Watch for the Awards Photo Album in next week's email blast!
Annual Industry Award Winners William Baxter and Lisa McSherry.
(Click photo to enlarge.)
Upcoming...
Friday, January 9, 2009—"Marketing Smarter in Tough Economic Times" with Tom Blue, RMA Marketing Guru
Click here for more information >>
No one said it would be easy…but leave it to Tom Blue to come up with “5 Steps Every Retailer Should Take to Succeed in 2009”. His insightful (and entertaining) perspective on making the most of your marketing dollar is a theme that applies to all small to medium retail businesses—as well as the services and suppliers to those businesses.
Get your year going in the right direction! Put savvy marketing advice and networking with business leaders at the top of your 2009 “to do” list!
7:45–9:15 a.m.
New Location!: Crowne Plaza Richmond West
6531 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230
(804) 285-9951
Directions >>
Cost: Members, $25; Non-members, $30
Local Issues
City of Richmond's Proposed Burglar Alarm Ordinance
On Monday December 8th City Council postponed the public hearing for changes to the Cities’ Burglar Alarm Ordinance. The hearing will be in January. To view the proposed changes click on the link below.
The RMA and other organizations have worked with the Richmond Police Chief’s representatives to develop the proposed changes. To view the proposed changes click here.
City of Richmond's Proposed Pan Handling Ordinance (Ord. 2008-195)
City Council held a public hearing regarding pan handing from motor vehicles on December 8th and the proposed ordinance was continued until January 26th. To view the ordinance click here. Back to topState Issues
Health Care Mandate Commission
The Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Care Benefits meet on November 19, 2008 to consider six proposed health care mandates and vote on each to either recommend or not to recommend the mandate for legislative consideration. As every mandate is important to the group affected, as business owners the affect is devastating to those who provide health care to their employees. Mandates drive the cost of premiums up and the outcome is more businesses can’t afford to offer health care. The mandate that was recommended for legislative consideration was the coverage for Autism. This bill will be considered during the 2009 session.
Back to topPlastic Bag Coalition
The Plastic Bag Coalition continues to meet on a regular basis to seek funding for a pilot program for recycling in Isle of Wight County. This program once implemented could become a statewide program.
Back to topStorm Water Run-off
Click here to view bullet points detailing the issue of Storm Water Run off.
Back to topPre-filed Legislation
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp508.exe?091+upc+000072
Back to topFederal Issues*
Card Check
One of the most detrimental pieces of legislation introduced in recent memory that would have a disastrous effect on how retailers and service organization operate will be back before Congress in 2009. The Employee Freedom of Choice Act or Card Check provides the opportunity for Unions to approach employees and ask them to sign a card indicating they want to be unionized. When 51% agree to be unionized the company has 90 days to complete negotiations for a Union contract. This takes away the secret ballot now required to create a Union Shop and cuts across the very core of living in a democracy where elections are done by secret ballot.
Retailers and Service providers that oppose this legislation should email Senator-elect Mark Warner and express opposition. Senator-elect Warner’s email is mark.warner@markwarner08.com.
Back to topLinks
State Government Links
RMA Government Links
AmeliaAshlandCharles CityChesterfield
Colonial HeightsDinwiddieFredericksburgGoochlandHanover |
Henrico
HopewellLouisaNew KentPetersburgPowhatanPrince GeorgeRichmondSpotsylvania |
Back to top
Retail Partners Advertising
Retail Partners newsletter goes quarterly in 2009!
Just 4 annual opportunities to reach the whole RMA membership!
Limited issues, limited space, lower annual advertising costs, new space opportunities, reserve your advertising now! Have an idea for a story or article? Please let us know!
If you have any questions, please contact Pat Vitsky, patricia@retailmerchants.com or call 804-662-5500.
Back to topPR Opportunities
Below are new travel media leads we’ve just received. If you have a story or destination that fits the writers’ requests, please respond directly using the emails below. Please remember to not send images in your initial emails to journalists and update your listings and events on Virginia.org regularly.
Destination Spas: Small Market Meetings, a monthly national newspaper with a focus on second-tier and smaller cities as meeting destinations, seeks information from destination spas (at hotels and resorts) that have developed spa evenings or other events aimed at meeting groups. Send detailed descriptions of events, along with contact information, to Editor Vickie Mitchell by email at vmitchell@smallmarketmeetings.com. Deadline: December 19
Meeting Related News from Smaller Markets: Small Market Meetings, a monthly national newspaper with a focus on second-tier and smaller cities as meeting destinations, seeks meeting-related news from second-tier and smaller cities. Possibilities include new or renovated hotels, convention facilities, new marketing programs aimed at meetings, transportation improvements or changes. Send information for the February issue to Editor Vickie Mitchell by email at vmitchell@smallmarketmeetings.com. Deadline: December 22
Ellen Albanese (albaneseellen@aol.com) seeks information about new and upcoming luxury spas, in the United States and worldwide. Focus is on spas that opened in the last half of 2008 or are scheduled to open in the first half of 2009. For each she needs two or three paragraphs about what makes them distinctive -- location, treatments, products, etc. No images at this time. Deadline Dec. 13.
Randy Mink (randy@ptmgroups.com), managing editor of Leisure Group Travel magazine, needs info on outlet shopping malls and individual factory outlet stores for an article on outlet shopping in the Northeast (Maryland to Maine).
Member Events & More
Cavalier Films presents—"FAMILIAR STRANGERS"
Extended! Exclusive in Richmond at Regal Virginia Center 20, Glen Allen
Against all odds, this film was extended for another week into this Holiday Season.
The first Theatrical Release from Cavalier Films Inc, this is a “family affirming” film. Produced by a Virginia based production company. Filmed by Virginia based crew. Distributed by Virginia based production company. Shooting location was Staunton. The ensemble cast includes ten year old new comer, Georgia Mae Lively from Fairfax, Virginia. FAMILIAR STRANGERS is an off-beat, funny, and heartfelt film about the Worthington family and their reunion over one Thanksgiving weekend in their rural hometown in southern Virginia.
Jan. 13 “Tax Talk Today” Program Gives Small Businesses a Head Start on the Upcoming Tax Filing Season
The 2009 filing season is right around the corner. The Internal Revenue Service’s January Tax Talk Today (TTT) program, “Getting Ready for Filing Season 2009”, on Tuesday, January 13, 2008 at 2 p.m. E.S.T. gives small business people a head start with a special, 100 minute program.
Tune in to this extended program to hear TTT panelists discuss updates to forms, the latest tax law changes, common error to avoid, and IRS processing issues that will assist you in preparing your 2008 business returns.
Sponsored by the IRS, Tax Talk Today is a free, live, monthly interactive Web cast aimed at educating tax professionals and their business clients on the most contemporary and complex tax issues. You are encouraged to watch and submit questions.
To access the Web cast at no charge, you can register online at Tax Talk Today: Welcome at http://www.taxtalktoday.com/. You can view Tax Talk Today with Windows Media Player and Real Player. Both players are free software that may already be installed on your computer. If not, click the link for Installing System Software to view Internet Broadcast under “How to View” at http://www.taxtalktoday.tv/index.cfm?page=8.2114.
The next show, “Surviving an IRS Audit”, scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2009, might also be of interest.
To learn about the availability of IRS products and services, subscribe to IRS’s e-News for Small Businesses. To see a representative sample and to start a free subscription to e-News, just go to IRS.gov, type in your e-mail address and submit.
The Annual Powhatan Christmas Parade
December 13, 2008, Powhatan Courthouse
A Village Christmas! Festivities get started around 2:00 pm with Old Powhatan Baptist Church Handbells, Coalition of Churches Choir, Powhatan Vendors and much more!
A Pint for A Pint = Pint of Salsa for Pint of Blood!
Wednesday, December 24, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Please call Kara Plasket @ 239-3484 to sign-up. You’ll also receive a Virginia Blood Services T-shirt!
Nacho Mama’s, 7160 Left Flank Rd., Mechanicsville. Visit www.vablood.org for eligibility questions.
Holiday Glitter Walking Tour of Monument Avenue
December 26 & 27, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Enjoy the lights and glitter of Monument Avenue decked out for the holidays. This early evening stroll combines history with a touch of glitz. Offered only twice a year! CALL FOR RESERVATIONS: (804) 649-0711 ext. 301. $10 (pay your guide on day of tour) Meet your guide at the Lee Monument at Allen and Monument Avenues. Dress comfortably, and please bring a flashlight.
"Art After Hours" Starts January 8
When it’s cold outside, you can add some heat to your weekend’s kickoff at Art After Hours at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Tickets are on sale now for the series, which is presented every Thursday night from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 8 through Feb. 19. “Art After Hours is one of our most popular events, with live blues, art tours, dancing, poetry readings, wine tastings, gourmet pizza and specialty food and drinks, and a silent auction of art by regional and national artists” says the event’s organizer, Patricia Jagoda. Series tickets to all seven events are $60 (members $48). Single tickets are $10 (members $8). Single tickets may be purchased on-line at tickets.vmfa.museum. Series and single tickets are available at VMFA Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by telephoning (804) 340-1405. (Members’ tickets are available only at VMFA; limit two per event; members must show VMFA membership card when making purchase.) Art After Hours tickets are not refundable or exchangeable. An Art After Hours ticket includes free parking in the museum’s deck. Complete parking information is on-line at http://www.vmfa.museum/campus.html.
Two New Richmond-Related Books
From Wayne Dementi:
Events this year have offered me the opportunity to co-author, and publish, two new hard-back books. They are:
- Facts and Legends of the Hills of Richmond, co-authored by local NPR Public Radio commentator, Brooks Smith, with a Foreword by Dr. Charles Bryan.
- The Byrd Theatre, co-authored by George Bruner and Jayne Hushen, with a Foreword by David Baldacci.
Proceeds from the Hills book benefit WCVE Public Radio, and proceeds of the Byrd Theatre book benefit the Byrd Theatre Foundation.
I am happy to offer the Hills book to you for $15 (including sales tax, shipping & handling). The book retails for $14.95. I am happy to offer the Byrd Theatre book to you for $30 (including sales tax, shipping and handling). This book retails for $29.95. I will include an invoice with the mailing. So, you may simply reply to dementi@aol.com with your interest, and your mailing address. I am happy to salute and sign, if you like.
Wayne Dementi
Dementi Milestone Publishing
1530 Oak Grove Drive
Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103
home office: (804) 784-5151
cell: (804) 363-0160
Upcoming Events
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The Retail Advocate is published the second week each month and whenever important issues affecting RMA members arise. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
Contact:
George Peyton
(804) 662-5500
Fax: (804) 662-5507
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