News & Resources

Times Union, March 2, 2020 — Christmas was just days away, but the Macy's department store at Colonie Center was pleasantly uncrowded. The busiest area seemed to be at the counter where customers could retrieve their online orders. So it was no surprise last week when...

WXXI News, January 4, 2021 —In the latest WXXI Business Report, find out about a new grant program from the city of Rochester designed to help small businesses. Also, the new leader of the Retail Council of New York state says the organization is trying to help its...

Capitol Pressroom, December 14, 2020 — Retail businesses have played a major role during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. We talked with the new head of the Retail Council of New York State, Melissa O’Connor about the group’s priorities heading into the 2021...

Times Union, December 3, 2020 — Merchants told us to shop early. Health officials told us to stay home. The result? An avalanche of online purchases that is burying parcel delivery trucks and postal carriers. "More than half of holiday shoppers took advantage" of the...

WAMC Northeast Public Radio, November 27, 2020 — The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: Democrats win a supermajority in the state senate, our political observer Alan Chartock his thoughts on...

NEWS10 ABC, November 24, 2020 — Black Friday is only a few days away. The pandemic has been hard on everyone, and it’s also been tough for small businesses. Melissa O’Connor, President & CEO of the Retail Council of New York State told NEWS10 that retail...

Times Union, November 24, 2020 — Local merchants are taking a larger share of online purchases, thanks in part to a portal that went live last April, just three weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic. RetailNewYork.com opened up to the state's small independent retailers...

Times Union, November 22, 2020 — Advertisements for Black Friday sales began appearing even before Halloween, as retail groups pressed consumers to get their Christmas shopping done early. "More than 40 percent of consumers started holiday shopping earlier this year,"...

Times Union, November 18, 2020 — The Retail Council of New York State has appointed Melissa O'Connor as its next CEO, replacing Ted Potrikus, who retired recently after 31 years with the nonprofit business advocacy group. O'Connor was previously executive vice...

Albany Business Review, November 18, 2020 — Melissa O’Connor is the new president and CEO of the Retail Council of New York State. The council's board of directors voted unanimously to select O'Connor. She's the first woman to serve in this role since the organization...