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March Retail Roundtables February Retail Roundtable topics include “Are You on the Net Yet?”, “The Ins & Outs of Retail Alliance Co-op’s", “Boom Your Brand”, “Brand Your Biz”, “Interviewing Tips & Techniques”, “Retail Advertising & Marketing Best Practices”
Are you involved?
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eFiling for Retailers The IRS has made it easier for you to conduct business electronically. Any retailer in Virginia can file their sales and use tax online.
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Retail 2 Retail Join Retail Alliance and fellow retailers for an entertaining evening of networking and fun, complete with refreshments on Tuesday, February 2 at the Phoebus Coffee House in Hampton from 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
We hope to see you there!
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Holiday Window Works Winners Announced The Holiday Window Works winners were Alphabet Soup, Franklin; Decorum Furniture, Ghent; The Full Cup, Hilltop; The Queen Bee, Old Town Portsmouth and The Christmas Store, Smithfield (See page 9 for Smith Mountain Lake results). The over-all Holiday Window Works award winner was The Queen Bee in Old Town Portsmouth. The delightful antique & collectables store managed to adhere to the theme, incorporate product, lights, humor and more.
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"Buy Local" Specialty Virginia License Plate As you are aware, Retail Alliance is actively working to promote a "buy local" campaign. You are probably aware of the fact that small businesses employ just over half of the country's private sector workforce. Such enterprises also represent 97.3% of all the exporters of goods and 99.7% of all employer firms.
Furthermore, buying locally helps produce more income, jobs, and tax receipts for local communities than dollars spent with big box stores. Local businesses are more likely to utilize local ads, banks and other services. Local businesses donate more money to nonprofits and are more accountable to their local communities. Supporting local businesses preserves the economic diversity of our communities and the unique character of our neighborhoods. And, supporting local businesses is good for the environment, because it cuts down on fuel consumption. Buying locally produced goods reduces the need to ship goods from thousands of miles away and also cuts down on the distances shoppers travel.
We now have a new opportunity to promote buying locally.
Sen. Yvonne Miller is sponsoring legislation that will create a "buy local" specialty Virginia license plate. In order to secure the plate, Retail Alliance must submit 350 pre-paid applications. Upon presentation of the applications to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, delivery of the plates should be no later than October 1, 2010. If fewer than 350 applications are collected by July 1, 2010, all funds will be returned by July 10, 2010.
Our goal is to promote a "buy local" mentality throughout the year!
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Small Business Survival and Growth in Virginia Funds may soon become more available for small businesses thanks in large part to the efforts of Senator Mark Warner and Retail Alliance. Recognizing that small business is an essential ingredient in a national recovery, unused TARP funds may be allocated to help. Please consider attending "Small Business Survival and Growth in Virginia," a facilitated discussion for Small Businesses and business resource providers on Federal and State small business assistance programs to be held 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM on Tuesday, November 17, at the Richmond Marriott Hotel. The event is organized by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States Small Business Administration.
To register, click here!
Retail Alliance will provide transportation to Richmond. Bus leaves from the Retail Alliance office, 500 East Plume Street, Norfolk, VA 23510 at 7:00 a.m.
Contact: Vice President of Advocacy, Margaret Ballard at 757.455.9395 or email mballard@retaill-alliance.com for more information.
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Obama to Increase Credit to Small Business Today, President Obama is announcing Senator Warner's bill to increase credit to small businesses. A grassroots effort that came straight from Retail Alliance and The Virginia Retail Federation.
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