Associations

Few people in the food industry know the name Denzel McGuire, but that’s about to change as she just became the industry’s best friend in the nation’s capital.

McGuire has been named EVP of government relations at the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which is a big deal considering the food industry is under relentless pressure and regulatory scrutiny. GMA needs a strong voice and a connected presence in the nation’s capital to represent the interests of its members and McGuire fits the bill on both fronts, according to GMA President and CEO Pam Bailey.

Washington, D.C. - The Alliance for Main Street Fairness (AMSF) launched a television advertising campaign to educate lawmakers on what is says is the imminent threat posed by China's online mega-retailer Alibaba as it enters the U.S. retail market. Retailers are asking the U.S. House of Representatives to join the U.S. Senate by passing e-fairness legislation that closes the online sales tax loophole this year.    

Arlington, Va. - An estimated 51.2 million American adults (45% of all shoppers) bought or planned to buy consumer technology products during the 2014 Thanksgiving shopping weekend. According to a new survey released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), while overall shopping traffic was down slightly this holiday weekend compared to the prior year, several areas saw notable growth, including reported spending per person and tech purchases.  

American Girl is pledging to give away 1,000 dolls a day, or $3 million in retail value, to children in hospitals across the country this holiday season.

Now through Dec. 18, American Girl will match any doll purchase made online, in-store or via phone with an 18-inch doll donation (up to 1,000 dolls each day) as part of its 2014 “Share the Wonder of the Holidays” giving campaign.

American Girl is pledging to give away 1,000 dolls a day, or $3 million in retail value, to children in hospitals across the country this holiday season.  

Now through Dec. 18, American Girl will match any doll purchase made online, in-store or via phone with an 18-inch doll donation (up to 1,000 dolls each day) as part of its 2014 “Share the Wonder of the Holidays” giving campaign.

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation  asking President Obama to step into continuing labor unrest at the nation’s West Coast ports. The NRF has issued a statement its president and CEO, Matthew Shay, following reports that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association are taking a break from contract negotiations.  

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation (NRF) supports immigration reform, but does not think President Obama’s executive action on immigration regulations is the right approach.   The NRF has issued a statement from president and CEO Matthew Shay on the announcement that President Obama will issue a series of executive actions on immigration:  

Boston - X Team International, an international alliance of retail real estate advisors with expertise in more than 45 major markets throughout the U.S. and Canada, released third quarter transactional volumes totaling $746 million, bringing its year-to-date transactional volume to more than $2.24 billion.   

Walmart customers shopping for a traditional Thanksgiving meal can plan a 10-person dinner for $32.64, or 34 percent less than average, according to the nation’s largest farm group.

Washington, D.C. –- During the 2014 holiday season, spending on tiny plastic or digital gift cards will top all previous records. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) Gift Card Spending Survey, the average person buying gift cards will spend $172.74, up from $163.16 in 2013. Total spending is expected to reach $31.74 billion.