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 of directors, executive committee and other internal committees and will oversee the general management of the Council’s facility and service providers.

Previously, Ms. Kelly held the position of director and supervisor with the Capital District YMCA – Schenectady/Guilderland. She has also served as senior claims examiner for RMSCO, Inc. in Albany, N.Y.

“Lori has more than 10 years of hands on experience in customer service and administration which makes her a perfect fit to provide Retail Council members with the highest level of service every day,” said Retail Council President and Chief Executive Officer James R. Sherin. “Her exceptional organizational skills will allow other Council staff members to focus on enhancing the already impressive programs and benefits we offer our members.”

Ms. Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in art education from The College of St. Rose and a master’s degree in instructional technology from American Intercontinental University Online. She lives in Rotterdam, N.Y. with her husband and two sons.

About the Retail Council of New York State

The “Voice of Retailing” in New York state, the Retail Council represents thousands of member stores of all size and variety, and offers money-saving group benefit programs and government relations advocacyto its members. For more information about the Council, visit retailcouncilnys.com.

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Eighty percent of retailers polled by the Retail Council of New York State said their week-before-Christmas sales were better than or the same as their sales during the same week in 2010. Armed with gift cards, shoppers hit stores again on Monday, Dec. 26 buoying after-Christmas sales. Sixty-five percent of participating merchants said their after-Christmas sales to date have been better than or the same as their sales for the same time period in 2010.

Retailers throughout the state reported the results through the Retail Council’s annual “Holiday Sales Watch,” a periodic snapshot of sales activity in stores small and large. This third Holiday Sales Watch was conducted Dec. 28 and 29 and gauged retailers’ perceptions of sales activity the week before and just after Christmas. This report concludes the Council’s assessment of the holiday season.

“The average shopper had completed less than 50 percent of his gift buying by mid-December so we had a hunch retailers would have a robust week before Christmas,” said Retail Council President and Chief Executive Officer James R. Sherin. “Couple this news with the start of Hanukkah on Dec. 20, extra shopping time with Christmas Eve falling on a Saturday and cold, but clear weather and you have the makings for great sales in the crucial days leading up to Christmas.”

Retail sales have flourished all season long, reflecting improved consumer confidence. Eighty-five percent of merchants surveyed by the Retail Council reported solid sales activity following a record-breaking Black Friday weekend. The momentum continued through mid-December, exciting many retailers who anticipated a lull in sales before gift buying ramped up again the week before Christmas. Seventy-eight percent of surveyed merchants reported sales were the same as or better than 2010 sales through mid-December.

“Another long New Year’s weekend should further boost sales,” said Sherin. “In this post-recession economy it’s hard to predict with any certainty how willing consumers are to spend. Shoppers surprised us once again with their buying power.”

Hot Sellers - 2011 Holiday Season

For Girls:        Barbie, dolls (generic), Disney Princess and Monster High Dolls, Leapfrog, American Girl, video games, Elmo and Lalaloopsy, Dora the Explorer, Nintendo DS

For Boys:        Video Games, LEGO, Cars (generic), Transformers, Hot Wheels, Disney Cars, Xbox 360, Elmo, Nintendo DS, Trucks (generic)

For Adults:     Gift cards/certificates, electronics (televisions, mobile devices and e-readers), clothing, jewelry, books and home goods (small home appliances and décor)

About the Retail Council of New York State:

The “Voice of Retailing” in New York state, the Retail Council represents thousands of member stores of all size and variety. The Retail Council offers money-saving group benefit programs and government relations expertise to its members. For more information, please visit www.retailcouncilnys.com.

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Retailers throughout the state reported the results through the Retail Council’s annual “Holiday Sales Watch,” a periodic snapshot of sales activity in stores small and large. This second Holiday Sales Watch gauged retailers’ perceptions of sales activity since Black Friday weekend.

“Retailers reported decreased foot traffic in stores the past two weeks as part of the typical post-Black Friday lull, but that didn’t dampen sales for many when they compared numbers to 2010,” said Retail Council President and Chief Executive Officer James R. Sherin. “Merchants have done a great job of encouraging shoppers to remain in the marketplace with attractive prices, unique merchandise and good service.”

Flat screen televisions and other home electronics continue to move quickly, said Council survey participants. Other traditional holiday staples like gift cards, clothing, jewelry, accessories, books and toys also sold well.

When asked if weather had affected holiday business to date, half of respondents indicated “Yes” either because warm weather hindered the sale of coats, boots and other winter outerwear earlier in the month or because unseasonable temperatures and clear roads made it easier for shoppers to visit.

Retailers are now gearing up for the critical weekend before Christmas, typically the busiest shopping period of the year.

“Early weather forecasts around the state predict plenty of dry weather and cold temperatures, which will be part of the equation that helps to deliver a strong finale for most retailers,” Sherin said.

Hot Sellers for Kids – 2011 Holiday Season

For Girls:  Barbie, dolls (generic), Disney Princess and Monster High Dolls, American Girl, video games, Elmo and Lalaloopsy, Dora the Explorer, Nintendo DS, Leapfrog

For Boys:  Video Games, LEGO, Cars (generic), Transformers, Hot Wheels, Disney Cars, Xbox 360, Elmo, Nintendo DS, Trucks (generic)

About the Retail Council of New York State:

The “Voice of Retailing” in New York state, the Retail Council represents thousands of member stores of all size and variety. The Retail Council offers money-saving group benefit programs and government relations expertise to its members. For more information, please visit www.retailcouncilnys.com.

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“We were impressed by consumer buying power over Black Friday weekend in 2010, but are immensely encouraged by the turnout this year,” said Retail Council President and Chief Executive Officer James R. Sherin. “Retailers had the right mix of merchandise at the right price to get shoppers to open those long-locked wallets.”

Sixty-five percent of merchants were pleased with the sales activity in their stores over Black Friday weekend, although apparel retailers said unseasonably warm weather stalled shopper interest in coats, boots, sweaters and other winter wear.

Others thought the balmy temperatures aided sales. “It was a terrific day for us – best Friday after Thanksgiving ever. I attribute it to many things, but can’t discount the weather factor,” one member near Buffalo reported.

Electronics – particularly attractively priced televisions – was a top seller for the weekend. Other traditional holiday staples like gift cards, clothing, jewelry, accessories, books and toys were also popular. Some merchants noted shoppers buying for themselves in addition to friends and family.

Retailers throughout the state reported on their Black Friday weekend sales through the Retail Council of New York State’s annual “Holiday Sales Watch,” a periodic snapshot of sales activity in stores small and large between late November and early January.

“Merchants are anticipating the post-Black Friday hiatus normally taken by shoppers, but seem confident about the momentum created by this past weekend and what it foreshadows for the season overall,” said Sherin. “Retailers will build on this very strong launch and continue to offer consumers good value throughout the season.”

The Retail Council’s next Holiday Sales Watch will gauge mid-season sales activity. The results of this survey will be released Dec. 14, 2011.

Hot Sellers for Kids – 2011 Holiday Season

For Girls: Barbie, dolls (generic), Disney Princess and Monster High Dolls, American Girl, video games, Elmo and Lalaloopsy, Dora the Explorer, Nintendo DS, Leapfrog

For Boys: Video Games, LEGO, Cars (generic), Transformers, Hot Wheels, Disney Cars, Xbox 360, Elmo, Nintendo DS, Trucks (generic)

About the Retail Council of New York State:

The “Voice of Retailing” in New York state, the Retail Council represents thousands of member stores of all sort and size. The Retail Council offers money-saving group benefit programs and government relations expertise to its members. For more information, please visit www.retailcouncilnys.com.

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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 Watch survey process for 2011 will be released on the following dates:

For members of the media interested in background information on the upcoming holiday shopping season, the Council issued the results of an informal forecast survey of a cross-section of its members on Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. The survey gauged participating retailers’ expectations of the season and gathered other useful information.

Please note the Retail Council’s office will be CLOSED on Thanksgiving, “Black Friday,” Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Please call in advance with any media requests.

About the Retail Council of New York State:
The “Voice of Retailing” in New York state, the Retail Council represents thousands of member stores of all size and variety, and offers money-saving group benefit programs and government relations advocacy to its members.

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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. The money represents 32.5 percent of the insurance premium paid last year by the nearly 1,200 retailers who get their workers’ comp insurance through the Council.

The New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF), underwriter of the Council’s Safety Group, recently approved the 32.5 percent dividend request made by the Retail Council. The Council has averaged a workers’ comp dividend of nearly 40 percent to participating members for the past 33 years returning more than $97 million to safety-conscious retailers. The steady dividend history makes the Retail Council’s Safety Group, one of the oldest in New York state, also one of the most successful and secure.

“The mission of the Retail Council is to advocate for and help improve the bottom line of our members,” said Retail Council President and Chief Executive Officer James R. Sherin. “Maintaining a benefit program that consistently saves merchants 50 percent or more on their state-mandated workers’ compensation insurance premiums certainly underscores that mission.”

“I appreciate being rewarded for my efforts to maintain a safe workplace,” said Retail Council member Clint Hegeman, owner of the Silver Parrot, a women’s jewelry and clothing boutique in Albany and Clifton Park, N.Y. “The Retail Council’s Safety Group offers one of the best deals available on workers’ compensation insurance for merchants in New York state.”

Members of the Retail Council’s Safety Group 493 also pay a lower New York state assessment than do customers of all other private insurance carriers. NYSIF imposes an assessment of only 10.1 percent on 2012 renewals while other carriers charge 20.2 percent. In addition, the Council’s Safety Group offers an up-front policy discount of 25 percent.

“The Retail Council’s careful management of Safety Group 493 is evident in the great track record of strong dividends and up-front policy discounts,” Sherin said. “Retailers can feel confident placing their workers’ comp policies with the Council.”

About the Retail Council:

The “Voice of Retailing” in New York state, the Retail Council represents thousands of member stores of all size and variety, and offers money-saving group benefit programs and government relations advocacy to its members. For more information about the Council or Safety Group 493 visit www.retailcouncilnys.com.

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The Retail Council, the state’s largest retail trade association, representing stores of all size and variety from national chains to independent Main Street merchants, conducts a Holiday Sales Watch survey each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas to track retail sales and trends. To kick off the 2011 assessment, the Council conducted this Holiday Season Forecast survey to get a sampling of what members believe the season holds in store for New York state retailers. The survey was mailed to Retail Council members in mid-September and results were collected through Oct. 27.

Not surprisingly, the majority of respondents indicated the economy will have the greatest effect on their 2011 holiday sales. Consumer confidence surveys this year seem to rival the stock market for their volatility, adding to retailers’ challenges to emerge from the 2011 holiday season profitably.

In keeping with their concerns about the economy, 49 percent of survey participants believe the biggest deciding factor for their customers when selecting gifts will be price. This is followed by 27 percent of retailers who believe good quality merchandise is a deciding factor, and 17 percent who say shoppers will be buying practical gifts.

Retailers are also attuned to how much inventory they should stock and the level of seasonal employees they may hire in the uncertain economic climate. When asked how much inventory they planned to purchase for the 2011 holiday season compared to previous years, 59 percent said they planned to purchase the same as or more inventory. A majority of participants (71 percent) indicated they would hire the same as or more employees compared to last year to assist them in the upcoming weeks.

“New York retailers will be balancing a well thought-out inventory with appropriately-priced items and are hoping a little holiday spirit will influence their customers’ shopping behaviors this year,” said James R. Sherin, president and chief executive officer of the Retail Council. “Merchants continue to adapt to their customers’ needs and expectations each holiday season, and that is never more apparent than this year.”

In addition to this forecast survey, the Retail Council will poll members three additional times via telephone between Black Friday and the week after Christmas to gauge retail sales and trends. Visit www.retailcouncilnys.com for the latest updates to the Holiday Sales Watch.

About the Retail Council of New York State:

The “Voice of Retailing” in New York state, the Retail Council offers money-saving group benefit programs and government relations advocacy to thousands of retailers and other service providers. Learn more by visiting www.retailcouncilnys.com.