2018 was an exciting year for retail. Evolving technology, changing consumer preferences, and political shakeups all had a large impact on our industry. Here is Independent Retailer’s roundup of top trends, influencers, buzzwords, and developments that affected retail in 2018. Many of these topics were explored in greater detail throughout the year – those articles […]
legislation
Controversial Overtime Rule About To Become Final – No Refunds and No Exchanges
n March 2014, President Barak Obama sent an executive memorandum directing Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez to “modernize and streamline” the overtime exemption regulations.
State Retail Associations
The existence of state retail associations may be common knowledge, but the importance of being an active member of these associations remains to be thoroughly recognized. While many state retail associations were founded decades ago as a force in fighting and rewriting legislation, today they have added a long list of member benefits to coincide with their lobbying activities.
NRF Praises House’s Swift Passage of Innovation Act
The bipartisan White House-backed Innovation Act (H.R. 3309) passed the House 325 to 91. The bill seeks to cull the numerous patent cases, commonly referred to as troll cases, that have little to no evidence and rely solely on litigation prowess over small companies.
What the New SEC Rules Mean for Small Businesses
A new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) vote lifts the ban on “general solicitation” for entrepreneurs under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act. As a result, it is about to get easier for small businesses to get investment funding. Here is a look at what the new legislation means, presented by Kathryn Hawkins on the […]
Small Businesses Anticipate Obamacare
Following an announcement that the employer mandate will be delayed by a year, there is continued debate about how the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly called Obamacare, will impact small businesses. A recent survey by Sageworks and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that 66 percent of small business owners are wary of hiring in […]
Plastic Bag Legislation Affects Retailers
Plastic bag pollution is a hot topic and, although there are differing opinions as to how plastic bags affect the environment, plastic bag legislation continues to spread. The Plastic Bag Ban Report is an online resource detailing plastic bag bans, legislation and related research across the U.S. and the world. It provides valuable and timely […]
The Marketplace Fairness Act and Shopping Behavior
The long-debated Internet sales tax issue is nearing an end with the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Marketplace Fairness Act by a binding vote of 69 to 27. Now the bill must go before the U.S. House of Representatives for approval. The legislation would allow the 45 states, and the District of Columbia, that currently […]
Online Tax Advocates, Opponents Speak Out
The U.S. Senate has voted 75 to 24 in favor of proposed nationwide Internet sales taxes, a move that several major U.S. retail groups applaud. The law, which exempts businesses with annual out-of-state sales of less than $1 million, “is proof-positive that the federal government’s special treatment of online-only retailers will soon be a thing […]
Small Businesses Strive for E-Fairness
Ask Roberta Bonoff, CEO and president of Creative Kidstuff, a specialty toy store based in Minnesota, how her company has stayed in business for 30 years and she’ll tell you, “First and foremost, it’s about offering your customers and your community an experience and service they won’t find anywhere else. Second, it’s about staying relevant […]
