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Brought to you by:
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Retailers gathered last Thursday for a conversation with legislative leaders and
elected officials at MnRA's 6th Annual "I Am RETAIL Day At The Capitol".
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Retailers Connect With Legislators At 6th Annual Retail Day At The Capitol
The Minnesota Retailers Association (MnRA) appreciated retailers from across the state for their participation in last Thursday's I Am RETAIL Day At The Capitol. Retailers connected with legislators through hundreds of interactions throughout the event beginning with a breakfast at the Doubletree Hotel - St. Paul followed by visits at the State Capitol.
Special thanks to legislative leaders Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Susan Kent and Rep. Debra Hilstrom for sharing their perspective on the legislative session at the morning breakfast. Also, thank you to House Speaker Kurt Daudt for visting with a group of retailers at the State Office Building.
If you missed the event but would like to connect with your legislators on issues vital to the 788,000 Minnesota jobs dependent on the success of our industry, contact MnRA's Government Relations Director & Legal Counsel Brian Carr at [email protected].
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U
pcoming
The Transportation Puzzle: Piecing It Together
J
oin us on Friday, April 7 for a Legislative Breakfast discussion on one of the most important issues facing Minnesota-- transportation modes, funding, and mechanisms-- and piecing the puzzle all together.
We'll discuss long-term funding solutions, project priorities, Counties Transit Improvement Board, regional governance, and more.
Legislative Breakfast
Friday, April 7, 2017
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
The Commons on Marice, Egan
Investment: $30, includes breakfast
Panelists:
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Rep. Linda Runbeck, Minnesota House Transportation and Regional Governance Policy Committee Chair
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Adam Duininck, Chair, Metropolitan Council
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Mary Liz Holberg, Dakota County Commissioner (invited)
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Sean Kersaw, Executive Director, Citizens League
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Consumer Spending
Americans Spent Slightly More At Retail Stores Last Month
From CNBC, March 15 9, 2017
"Americans spent only slightly more last month at retail stores compared with January, a sign of consumer caution despite rising optimism about the economy.
The Commerce Department says retail sales ticked up a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent in February, after a much bigger gain of 0.6 percent the previous month. January's gain was revised higher.
The figures suggest that strong job gains this year, near record-high stock prices and decent pay gains haven't yet lifted spending. But last month's sluggish pace could prove temporary.
Economists note that spending was likely held back by delays in tax refund payments. A new law has required tougher scrutiny of a tax credit claimed by lower-income taxpayers."
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Trends
Survey: Consumers Want More Integration Between In-Store, Mobile Capabilities
From the RetailDIVE, Dan O'Shea, March 13, 2017
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Consumers are seeking more in-store technology capabilities and deeper, more personalized integration between their brick-and-mortar shopping experience and their mobile devices and applications, according to a new survey from International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
Survey respondents had a number of capabilities on their wish lists that they would like retailers to provide them with in the next few years. For example, 62% said they would like to have access to products/sizes available in-store without having to talk to a salesperson; 55% said they want to virtually view how home furnishings and how accessories fit in a home before they make a purchase; and 54% want to be able to create a shopping list on a store app, and receive floor maps to help them locate products while in stores.
On the personalization front, about 43% of consumers are receptive to the idea of retailers personalizing prices based on their shopping patterns and demographics, and 39% would visit a mall or shopping center more often if they received alerts from stores that are selling products they are interested in purchasing. Meanwhile, 44% of respondents want to receive access to apps or screens that make it easy to get information such as ingredients in products for reasons of allergies and dietary needs."
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Minnesota Retailers Associaiton
400 Robert Street North, suite 1540
St. Paul, MN 55101
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