June 18, 2018
More Than A Store – Retail Invests In People
From the Retail Dive, Evan Armstrong, June 18, 2018

While headlines proclaim the robot takeover is upon us, America’s retailers know different. The retail industry is dependent upon the interaction of people — our workforce and the customers we serve each day. In a fast-changing retail landscape, America’s most recognized brands are using a savvy combination of technology and increasingly skilled labor to ensure consumers get the goods they want, when they need them.

Retail is the largest private sector employer supporting more than 42 million American jobs throughout the supply chain. For many individuals, retail is a first opportunity in the workforce, a second chance or a third act. A place to earn a first paycheck and an opportunity to learn life skills that aren’t always taught in a classroom.

Many who go on to college or careers in other fields take something valuable from that first opportunity to learn and earn a paycheck. For others, retail is a convenient part-time opportunity that provides unique flexibility and work-life balance. For seniors, students, parents and many more, retail is an opportunity to work around classes, around children, grandchildren and around schedules that require something different than a 9-5 job. In short, retail offers individuals the ability to fit a job into around their lives rather than fitting their lives around a job.

What is changing is the 21st century economy and the evolving wants of our customers and our workforce. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows there are over 700,000 retail job openings alone.

As competition within the service sector is becoming more fierce and the surging gig economy is quickly becoming a mainstay in the American workforce, attracting and retaining talent is an ongoing challenge. A recent RILA survey revealed that retailers are actively looking to fill jobs in logistics and transportation roles, and in distribution centers.
Deadline Extended: Minnesota Retail Champions Nominations Open Through Tonight
When innovative retailers and their partners gather, learn and celebrate at Retail Rally in October, we'll roll out the red carpet to recognize 10 Minnesota organizations and individuals for being champions of the industry.

Show your support for Minnesota's retail industry by nominating an employee, employer, business or vendor partner for one or more of these prestigious awards:

  •  Lifetime Achievement/Outstanding Achievement
  •  Vendor Partner of the Year
  •  Retailer of the Year
  •  Retail Community of the Year
  •  Retail Employee of the Year
  •  Social Responsibility
  •  Best Place To Work
  •  Retail Innovation
  •  Customer Experience
  •  Advocate of the Year

Nominations are open through June 18 and can be done at www.retailrally.com/nominate.

Take a moment to nominate a Minnesota Retail Champion today!
Should St. Paul Put A Cap On Tobacco Retailers? City Council Is Considering It
From the Pioneer Press, Fredrick Melo, June 18, 2018

The St. Paul City Council will vote on whether to limit the number of licensed tobacco retailers in the city to existing levels.

The city of St. Paul licenses roughly 240 to 260 tobacco sellers. Under the proposal, tobacco stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, grocers and other retailers would have to wait until an existing license-holder goes out of business, leaves the city or voluntarily gives up its license in order to begin sales.

The seven-member council will hold a public hearing Wednesday, and a final decision could come in early July.

The effort is the latest by the city council to crack down on tobacco sales amid widespread criticism that the industry targets youth and low-income communities of color with fruit flavors, product giveaways, billboard placement and tailored advertising.

In the past, retailers have expressed concern that the general crackdown on tobacco sales could lead to an increase in black-market sales.

“Retailers in the city have a great compliance record when it comes to denying sales to underage youth,” said Bruce Nustad, president of the Minnesota Retailers Association.

“At some point we have to look at who is getting tobacco in the hands of youth, and statistically in St. Paul retailers are doing their job,” he added. “We worry that limiting licenses creates winners and losers in St. Paul, as opposed to accomplishing any goals relating to reducing tobacco use. ”

Retailers have also expressed fear that city government is asking them to do too much at once, cutting into their bottom-line while increasing expenses. In addition to banning menthol and fruit flavors, the city council recently mandated that employers offer workers paid sick leave.

The council has considered but not yet adopted restrictions on non-recyclable takeout food containers. Meanwhile, the mayor has signaled strong support for a $15 minimum wage, which the council could vote on this fall.
Twilight Golfing? Try It Next Week At MnRA's Glow Golf Invitational
Space limited! We can only accommodate 4 more foursomes!
 
Nine holes of par 3 golf meets the darkness broken up by LED lights in MnRA's 2018 Chair's Glow Golf Invitational!
 
MnRA Board Chair Lonnie McQuirter invites you to golf this first-ever event. Experience golf as you never have before. Great for golf pros, amateurs and first-timers!
 
Thursday, June 28. $49/person or $196/foursome.
 
The event starts at 7:30 p.m. with appetizers at Nutmeg Brewhouse, then transitions to golf at dusk at Island Lake Golf.
 
 
Members and invited guests only.
Half Of Consumers Frustrated By Encountering Too Many Ads When Shopping Online
From Fierce Retail, Jacqueline Renfrow, June 18, 2018

The biggest frustration with mobile shopping is too many ads, according to 40% of shoppers, and they have the same fear on desktop, according to 53% of consumers.

It seems consumers have little patience for intrusive ads that pop up during a shopping experience, according to Usabilla's recent Retail Nightmare Report. What else gets under shoppers' skin? Another 34% of desktop shoppers and 31% of mobile shoppers found re-entering shipping and billing info annoying. In fact, 37% of shoppers only create accounts with retailers to avoid having to re-enter such information, versus 13% who create accounts with hopes of personalizing an experience.

Of course, along with efficiency comes easy navigation: 61% of consumers will leave an online store if they don't like the website and 18% said a bad website might keep them from ever returning to the store.

"I think the most shocking finding was how little patience shoppers have for time-consuming shopping experiences," Katie Hickey, marketing manager at Usabilla told FierceRetail.
May Retail Sales Increased 5.6 Percent Over Last Year As Economy Continues To Grow
From the National Retail Federation, June 14, 2018

May retail sales increased 0.7 percent seasonally adjusted over April and 5.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year as a growing economy prompted consumers to continue to spend, the National Retail Federation said today.

The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.“The economy is looking strong and households have a solid financial foundation on which to base their spending,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said, noting increased take-home pay thanks in part to tax cuts, unemployment at a long-time low and good availability of consumer credit.

“We have seen ongoing momentum over the last several months and believe sales growth should remain healthy and consistent with our 2018 outlook. Nonetheless, inflation and rising oil prices are complicating the picture. And new tariffs or a trade war would certainly be negatives that would increase prices and reduce both consumer purchasing power and consumer confidence.”

The three-month moving average was up 4.6 percent over the same period a year ago, topping NRF’s forecast that 2018 retail sales will grow between 3.8 percent and 4.4 percent over 2017.