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Friday Facts – September 27, 2019

by | Sep 27, 2019 | friday_facts

Two Exceptional Retailers to be Honored at CRMA’s Big Day

CRMA Legislator of the Year

Sign up Today for the CRMA Big Day

Ask the Governor

Retail News and Notes

  • Today we are pleased and proud to announce that CRMA will honor two exceptional retailers at our annual Awards Luncheon on October 16, 2019 at the Bushnell in Hartford, CT.
  • This year, we are extremely proud to announce that our 2019 Retailer of the Year award will go to Pilgrim Furniture & Mattress City.
  • Pilgrim has been in business serving customers in the greater Hartford area since 1961 – they are a “locally owned, Connecticut grown” company.
  • Pilgrim Furniture represents all that is good about a successful retailer. They have exceptional customer service, community service and employee relations.
  • Pilgrim has stores throughout CT, including Danbury, Manchester, Milford and Southington and their approach to business is simply: “our customers aren’t numbers, they’re neighbors”
  • We are thrilled to honor Pilgrim this year and proud to call them our 2019 Retailer of the Year.
  • We are also honoring and new entry into the retail marketplace in CT with a special award, the CRMA Emerging Retailer of the Year – “Your CBD Store”
  • This exciting and successful retailer, while relatively new to CT has established eight retail locations throughout the state and has quickly caught our eye as a strong growing retailer.
  • Your CBD Store has retail business locations in 35 states, and we are also excited that they have establish a CT presence and look forward to honoring them this year.
  • Tom Wholley, Chairman of the CRMA Board of Directors said it perfectly when he stated: “we are extremely excited and proud to recognize these leading retailers. They achieve success by constantly working and providing their customers with first rate customer service”

CRMA Legislator of the Year

  • In addition to honoring these great retailers, we will also be presenting our CRMA Legislator of the Year award to Rep. Jason Rojas (D) East Hartford, Manchester.
  • Rep Rojas is the House Chair of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. Rep. Rojas is an exceptional legislator, who’s door is always open to us and his willingness to listen make working with him a pleasure.

Sign up Today for the CRMA’s Big Day

  • We are heading towards the big day so don’t wait to sign up to ensure your space for the luncheon.
  • We hope you can join us this year!

Ask the Governor 

  • In addition to our honorees, we are excited to have Governor Ned Lamont as our guest speaker this year.
  • The Governor will address our group at noon, and this is your chance to ask the Governor a question.
  • Submit your question to us and if it’s selected you will receive two free tickets to the luncheon and will get the chance to ask your question directly to the Governor. 

Retail News and Notes

  • How Best Buy is coping with tariffs
  • About 60% of the goods sold at Best Buy are subject to US tariffs, but the retailer expects that to drop to about 40% next year amid supply chain adjustments, CEO Corie Barry said. “We’re working closely with our vendors. We’re bringing product in early. We’re talking about mitigation strategies,” she said.
  • CNBC (9/25)
  •  NRF survey: Social media to inspire Halloween purchases
  • About 172 million US consumers plan to celebrate Halloween this year, spending an average of $86.27 per person on candy, costumes, cards and decorations for a total of $8.8 billion, according to a survey from NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics. “Spending hasn’t changed much over the past few years, but we are seeing a noticeable increase in consumers whose Halloween purchases are inspired by their friends, neighbors and even celebrities on social media,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said.
  • USA Today (9/25),  MediaPost Communications (9/25)