September  topics include Business Networking in Social Settings, Energizing and Motivating Employees, Free and Affordable Branding - How to Market your Business on a Shoestring Budget, The Value of Search in a Down Economy and more!

Are you involved?

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Retail Alliance is launching a six-month seminar series for retailers that will explore best practices in a variety of retail topics, provide one-on-one consultation and encourage peer review.  The program, dubbed “Retail Institute,” will be facilitated by world-class entrepreneur, author and educator, Warren Tyler.

Class to begin September 14, 2010. Spaces are limited! Click here to learn more.

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Join Retail Alliance and fellow retailers for an entertaining evening of networking and fun, complete with refreshments on Wednesday, September 7 at Langley Speedway in Hampton from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

We hope to see you there!

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Retail Alliance has partnered with the Virginia Crime Prevention Association to provide your business the best means of addressing retail crime and most current and effective programs and practices at the 9th Annual Virginia Retail Loss Prevention Conference.

“Loss Prevention Through Partnership”
When: October 21, 2010
Where: Sheraton Norfolk Waterside

This conference offers a compendium of best practices on all aspects of loss prevention.  The event increases awareness of the problem and opens a dialogue between merchants and law enforcement on how to combat the problem.

Click here for information on seminars, speakers, pricing and more; or contact Ray Mattes at 757.455.9321 or AJ Fagan at 757.455.9305.

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Keep up with what's new with Retail Alliance with event & meeting reminders, photos and more! 

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Retail Alliance is actively working to promote a "buy local" campaign. 

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.

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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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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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Participants of the 2009 Holiday Window Works were asked to submit photos of their windows for you to vote on. Please take a moment to vote for your favorite window.

Winner will receive a one-year membership to Retail Alliance. Voting Ends December 13 at 11:59 p.m.

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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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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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If there were a topic more popular than the economy right now, it would likely be the debate over health care reform.  Whatever the outcome, small businesses will be impacted.

Several of you took this survey and the responses were shared with elected officials.

Click here for the results

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If you do not see a benefit at the end of your anniversary year, your dues will be refunded*  Click here to learn more!

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Norfolk Admirals Locker Room ♦ Tuesday, September 8 ♦  6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Join fellow retailers for an entertaining evening of networking and fun complate with refreshments.

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H.R. 1166 To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for more effective enforcement of the Federal prohibition on the interstate shipment of stolen property, and for other purposes.

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Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

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If you have a business in the Hampton Roads area and want to communicate via radio and the web, you will want to look into a new Retail Alliance program with four radio stations operated by Entercom (95.7 R&B, 94.9 The Point, Z104 The 757 Party Station and 2WD 101.3 Continuous Soft Rock).  For just $650, members can get 10 10-second spots on one station plus 25 web stream commercials with a synched banner.

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Shop Back-to-School tax-free this weekend, August 7-9, 2009.

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Join Retail Alliance at the Be Green Plastic Bag Recycling Program Kick-off Event on August 5, 2009 at Smithfield Square Shopping Center from 9 a.m. to Noon

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Be sure to check out Retail Alliance's newest archives. You can now view past monthly newsletters, e-newsletters and press releases that include important retail updates, articles and information.

Newsletter Archive        E-newletter Archive        Press Release Archive

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Beginning July 1, Retail Alliance will run a campaign educating consumers about the imporant role small independent businesses play in our economy  and encouraging them to make a choice to spend their money where it will do the most good -  with their friends and neighbors. The Campaign, "Go Where the Locals Shop," will launch in conjunction with National Independents Week (July 1-7) and continue throughout the year.

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Photos from this fabulous night are now available for viewing in our Photo Gallery!

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Prospect lists are a perfect way to get names and addresses of prospective customers that are to be targeted for a direct mail campaign.

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Are you getting the best credit card rates?  You should check out the offer from First National available to all Retail Alliance members!

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