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Brought to you by:
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Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka shares his perspective on the
2017 legislative session at a December MnRA member event.
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Remembering...
Martin Luther King Jr.: A Biography
From biography.com
"Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. King, both a Baptist minister and civil-rights activist, had a seismic impact on race relations in the United States, beginning in the mid-1950s. Among many efforts, King headed the SCLC.
Through his activism, he played a pivotal role in ending the legal segregation of African-American citizens in the South and other areas of the nation, as well as the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among several other honors. King was assassinated in April 1968, and continues to be remembered as one of the most lauded African-American leaders in history, often referenced by his 1963 speech, "I Have a Dream."
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Sales Tax Collection
Vendor Collection Allowance Introduced In The House; Hearing Called For This Thursday
A measure to help retailers offset the cost of collecting, accounting, and remitting state sales tax was introduced last week at the Legislature. Representative Jim Nash (47A; Waconia) drafted a bill providing a tiered approach to the vendor collection allowance. The measure effectively allows retailers to retain a small portion of the sales taxes they collect to offset related costs. National studies show collection and remittance can cost a small retailer over 12 percent of what is collected.
The full bill can be reviewed here: H.F. 186.
MnRA staff worked with Representative Nash to reintroduce this legislation from last biennium establishing the following allowances:
1. Vendors with a sales and use tax liability less than $60,000 (in the previous State fiscal year ending June 30) would receive a 2.0 percent allowance;
2. Vendors with a sales and use tax liability between $60,000 and $600,000 (in the previous State fiscal year ending June 30) would receive a 1 percent allowance;
3. Vendors with a sales and use tax liability greater than $600,000 (in the previous State fiscal year ending June 30) would receive a .75 percent allowance.
A hearing for this bill has been scheduled for this Thursday, 10:00 a.m. Retailers interested in testifying should contact Brian Carr at (651) 227-6631, or via e-mail at [email protected].
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Consumer Trends
Despite Living A Digital Life, 98 Percent Of Generation Z Still Shop In-Store
From the National Retail Federation, Ana Serafin Smith, January 12, 2017
"Despite expectations that the first "digitally native" generation would want to shop online, a new study released today by IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the National Retail Federation found that almost all members of Generation Z prefer to shop in bricks-and-mortar stores. With the global Gen Z population set to reach 2.6 billion by 2020, retailers need to create more interactive engagement around their brands to serve the "always on," mobile-focused, high-spending demographic, according to the study.
"Generation Z expects technology to be intuitive, relevant and engaging - their last great experience is their new expectation," IBM General Manager of Global Consumer Industries Steve Laughlin said. "This presents a significant challenge for retailers and brands to create a personalized, interactive experience with the latest digital advances or risk falling behind. This kind of innovation is not linear or a one-time project - it is a new way of thinking, operating and behaving."
"Just as Millennials overtook Gen X, there's another big buying group retailers need to plan for, and it's even larger: Generation Z," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. "They appreciate the hands-on experience of shopping in a store. With technology constantly evolving but some shopping habits remaining the same, retailers need to be agile enough to serve both needs. Retailers are constantly focused on experimenting with new innovations both online and in-store to remain relevant to evolving consumer demand."
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Consumer Trends
Generation Z: IBM/NRF Study Tells All About These Shoppers
From IBM and the National Retail Federation, January, 2017
A new kind of shopper is on the rise. Relentless technological innovations, challenging economic conditions and complicated global politics strongly influence Gen Zers habits, behaviors and expectations.
Despite their young ages, members of Generation Z (Gen Zers) already hold unprecedented influence over family purchasing decisions and wield enormous economic power. Retail and consumer products (CP) brands must engage the upcoming Gen Zers now to prosper tomorrow.
According to the study:
1. 60 percent of Gen Zers will not use and app or website that is slow to load.
2. 70 percent said they influence family buying decisions.
3. Less than 30 percent are willing to share health, location and payment information online.
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National Events
Superbowl May Mean Overtime For Area Bars
From MPR News, Brian Bakst, January 12, 2017
"Football fans who flock to Minnesota for next year's Super Bowl could get a bar-time bonus.
A bill introduced Thursday in the Legislature would allow Hennepin and Ramsey Counties to push bar closing time to 4 a.m. instead of the regular 2 a.m. It's similar to the extended service hours enacted when the Republicans held their national convention in St. Paul in 2008.
The bill's sponsor Rep. Ray Dehn, DFL-Minneapolis, said events the size of the Super Bowl move to their own clock.
"Often times there will be other events and activities that people will be to in the evening, so they may actually be arriving at a bar later than they normally would," Dehn said. "The question isn't what does an extra two hours get you. The question is what kind of time will they have in a bar in the end."
If approved, the special 2018 closing hours would be in effect from Feb. 2 to Feb. 5. The game will be played on Feb. 4, 2018.
Local regulators would be allowed to collect an extra licensing fee for establishments that want the extra time.Dehn said some city establishments are hoping for the opportunity.
"Bars make their revenues from selling liquor to people and if they have the ability for an extended period of time I'm sure it will help their revenues as well," he said.
Dehn said he's not aware of any other requests from Super Bowl organizers or the NFL for the current legislative session."At the same time, it's the NFL, it's a huge event. I wouldn't be surprised if they come for other asks here at the Capitol," he said.
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Legislative Session
Update Calls Every Monday During The Legislative Session
MnRA's members-only Retail At The Capitol update calls take place each Monday at 10:00 a.m. through May 22. Register now to receive the dial-in information.
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Issues Close To Home
Take Our Local Issue Survey Now
Following MnRA's 2016 Annual meeting, we received feedback from members surrounding the importance of the Association being more proactive on local issues impacting retailers and consumers.
Please help us tailor our local education and engagement efforts on your behalf by completing our local issues survey (
www.mnretail.org/local) now.
Your responses will influence MnRA's local issue engagement and communication with members.
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Minnesota Retailers Associaiton
400 Robert Street North, suite 1540
St. Paul, MN 55101
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