By Sandra J. Pennecke It’s no secret new businesses face tough odds. Fifty percent of new businesses fail within the first 12 months of operation, said Ray Mattes, president and CEO of the Retail Alliance. Nationwide, he expects more than 8,500 storefronts to close in 2017. The Norfolk-based Retail Alliance launched its Center for Retail… [Read More]
Economy
Retail Alliance works to continue to be a trusted resource for the success of local retailers
July 17, 2017 by Filed Under: Advocacy, Articles from Retail Angles, Buy Local, Economy, News Articles, Retail Careers, Retail Companies, Technology
LOVEVA Voted “Best Of” Local App
July 11, 2017 by Filed Under: Buy Local, Economy, News Articles, Press Releases, Technology
Retail Alliance launched the LOVEVA program in October 2014 with the goal of promoting and supporting local businesses to keep our dollars here in the Hampton Roads community. LOVEVA currently has well over 16,000 users with 342 participating local businesses in the app and growing. We are proud to announce that LOVEVA has been voted… [Read More]
Legislative Update Q3 2017
July 2, 2017 by Filed Under: Advocacy, Articles from Retail Angles, Economy, Public Policy
New Virginia Laws Effective July 1, 2017 Several new laws, which impact the retail industry, came out of the 2017 General Assembly Session. Most of these will go into effect July 1, 2017. Below is a list of new laws that impact our members. Sales Tax Nexus Storage of inventory in the Commonwealth of Virginia… [Read More]
Legislative Update: Retail Alliance Outreach To Local Government Reaps Results
September 10, 2014 by Filed Under: Advocacy, Articles from Retail Angles, Economy, Public Policy
Virginia Beach Retail Alliance government relations staff is in discussions with Commissioner of the Revenue Phil Kellam about BPOL tax on gas retailers. Gas retailers are hit especially hard by the BPOL tax. When the price of gas goes up, these businesses actually lose money on the BPOL tax. Kellam is interested… [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Online retailers continue to exploit an outdated legal loophole to forgo collecting and remitting state and local sales taxes.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]
The Corner Post: Why Can’t the Government Act Like Retailers?
December 4, 2013 by Filed Under: Articles from Retail Angles, Corner Post, Economy, Public Policy
As an independent small retailer, can you imagine… Not having to balance your checking account? Not having to communicate with staff, vendors or landlords? Shutting down your business during the most important quarter of the year? Spending more than you earn? Ignoring the debt as it grows year after year and then wondering; “wow how… [Read More]
Retail Spending in Hampton Roads Remains Flat*
September 1, 2013 by Filed Under: Economy, Marketing, Retail Trends
Retail Spending in Hampton Roads Remains Flat* Hampton Roads retail sales (measured through the 1% local sales tax), remained relatively unchanged between May-2013 and June-2013, at $1.77B per month. Although this is the highest level reached since Feb-2012, it lags 3.8% below the region’s peak sales of $1.83B in February-2007. Hampton Roads has outperformed Virginia’s… [Read More]
Retail Pulse: Local Mother’s Day Retail Sales Fall Short of National Forecasts
June 1, 2013 by Filed Under: Economy, Holiday, Retail Trends
This Retail Pulse Mother’s Day Edition tracked shopping trends in Hampton Roads, which stores benefited from higher sales, and the consumer’s willingness to participate in seasonal purchases. According to the NRF’s Mother’s Day spending survey, consumers were projected to spend an average of $168.94, up 11 percent from last year’s $152.52. Total spending was estimated… [Read More]
The Big Fix: The Retail Angle on Transportation
February 1, 2013 by Filed Under: Advocacy, Economy, Public Policy
The Governor’s new transportation proposal has become THE hot topic in this year’s General Assembly. Is this proposal a Band-Aid solution or will it cure the transportation crisis? The governor is proposing several changes as it relates to funding transportation: Eliminating the current 17.5 fuel tax per gallon. Increasing the sales tax by .08 cents… [Read More]