Holiday retail sales are increasing. Consumer confidence is climbing. Yet all is not nirvana in the rocky world of the retail economy. According to Forbes, Cyber Monday 2016 was the biggest day in the history of U.S. e-commerce. Sales surpassed initial expectations by hitting a record $3.9 billion during this online-focused day of the holiday… [Read More]
E-Commerce
Brick-and-Mortar Survival Depends on Level Playing Field
January 17, 2017 by Filed Under: Advocacy, E-Commerce, News Articles
Hurting Local Businesses … With Each Mouse Click
July 11, 2014 by Filed Under: Advocacy, Articles from Retail Angles, E-Commerce, Public Policy
Op/Ed Published in Virginia Pilot June 15, 2014 Co-authored by Virginia Retail Federation representatives, Ray Mattes, President/CEO of Retail Alliance and Nancy Thomas, President/CEO of Retail Merchants Association. Some have proposed a revenue collection system requiring online shoppers to pay taxes to the state and locality where the product is housed, not where the shopper… [Read More]
e-Fairness – Origin Sourcing: Bad for Business, Bad for Virginia
June 6, 2014 by Filed Under: Advocacy, E-Commerce, Economy, Press Releases, Public Policy
Online retailers continue to exploit an outdated legal loophole to forgo collecting and remitting state and local sales taxes. This puts local businesses like our members at a distinct competitive disadvantage in the marketplace, robbing local communities of economic growth, jobs, and civic engagement. Imagine you are a consumer: you are looking to buy a… [Read More]
Legislative Update: House Judiciary Committee Releases Principles of Internet Sales Tax
October 1, 2013 by Filed Under: Advocacy, Articles from Retail Angles, E-Commerce, News Articles, Public Policy
The Virginia Retail Federation has worked on the issue of leveling the playing field for brick-and-mortar and Internet retailers for many years. We have held many meetings with both Federal and State legislators on the issue. This September the Amazon Sales Tax Loophole was closed in Virginia and now the Marketplace Fairness Act, a federal… [Read More]