Kelly joins Retail Council as executive assistant and office manager
The Retail Council of New York State announced today that Lori Kelly has joined the association as executive assistant and office manager. Ms. Kelly will be the primary administrative assistant to the president and chief executive officer and other Council managers as needed. She will also serve as the staff liaison to the Council’s board ... Read More
Retailers merry about holiday sales
Visions of a successful holiday season danced in many a retailer’s head as consumers rushed to stores the critical week before Christmas to finish lengthy lists. Members of the Retail Council of New York State awarded the season an “A-” letter grade in response to the strong finale. Eighty percent of retailers polled by the ... Read More
Shopping lull short-lived
Holiday shopping momentum continued through mid-December say members of the Retail Council of New York State. Seventy-eight percent of merchants surveyed by the Retail Council on Dec. 12 and 13 indicated sales were better than or the same as their sales for the same period of time last year. Fifty-six percent were pleased with sales ... Read More
Record-breaking Black Friday weekend tonic for retailers
Lingering concerns about the economy and consumer attitudes took a backseat to fantastic bargains propelling New York state retailers to report the strongest Black Friday weekend in years. Eighty five percent of merchants surveyed by the Retail Council of New York State early this week said their sales for the weekend were better than or ... Read More
Retail Council of New York State to launch annual Holiday Sales Watch
The Retail Council of New York State will issue its first Holiday Sales Watch for the 2011 shopping season on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Each year during the holidays, the Retail Council surveys a sample of its members across New York state to collect general information about retail sales and trends. Results of the Holiday Sales ... Read More
Millions returned to Retail Council members
Clint Hegeman (L), Retail Council treasurer and member of the Safety Group 493 Executive Committee, and Retail Council President and CEO Jim Sherin hold the $3.2 million dividend check. More than $3 million in dividend checks is being returned to merchants in the Retail Council of New York State’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Safety Group 493. ... Read More
Retailers’ express realistic expectations for 2011 holiday shopping season
New York retailers are entering the 2011 holiday season with cautious optimism despite lingering economic uncertainties and wavering consumer confidence around the state. That’s according to a recent survey of Retail Council of New York State members where 62 percent of retailers say they expect 2011 holiday season numbers to be the same as or ... Read More
Retailers prevail as Senate votes down delay to swipe fee reform
Retailers small and large prevailed last week in a Washington D.C. showdown against the credit card industry and big banks seeking to delay implementation of swipe fee reform on tap for July. The amendment before the U.S. Senate received 54 supporting votes and 45 against, falling six votes short of the 60 needed to block ... Read More
Retailers, law enforcement, legislators tackle $30-billion-plus organized retail theft
Law enforcement, prosecutors, and retail asset protection professionals from all parts of New York State meet Thursday, April 28, 2011 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany for a day-long conference addressing organized retail crime (ORC) and its $30-billion-plus annual impact on retailers, consumers, and governments throughout the United States. The Retail Council ... Read More
Retailers applaud Senate crackdown on “booster bag” thefts
New York’s retailers today cheered the state Senate’s approval of legislation that would make it a class E felony to use an anti-security device to steal merchandise from a store. Senator Charles Fuschillo, Jr. sponsors the measure (S.527), which seeks to curb the use of the “booster bag” – a favored tool of organized retail ... Read More