After working part-time for minimum wage at a local restaurant, Blake Tuttle did the math: work for an hour for minimum wage, or cut grass for an hour and make at least triple that. The choice was clear, he wanted…
Four grants of $7,500 each to be awarded to communities looking to promote downtown retail Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) announced today it has created a new grant program to support local communities and the vibrant retail businesses that anchor those…
MLive's Eric Hultgren sits down with MRA's Customer Service team: Penny Sierakowski, Manager Customer Service Dept., Tamara Baker, Senior Customer Service Rep., Mari Aguilar, Customer Service Rep., and Kate Fabi, Customer Service Rep. The group recently reached a full year…
Mary Cambruzzi of Found, an art, home decor, and jewelry gallery located in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown district, speaks with MLive's Eric Hultgren about how her business started and grew to what it is now. This podcast is sponsored by the…
‘Tis the season of giving, but English Gardens, with six locations in the southeastern portion of the state, donates year-round. With goals of helping out local causes and organizations, John Darin, President of English Gardens, explains why giving back is…
MLive’s Eric Hultgren talks with Brian Saha of the Pinconning Cheese Company. Saha shares how Pinconning became the "Cheese Capital of Michigan," how his business became a part of the journey, and discusses the holiday offerings and specials available for…
MLive's Eric Hultgren chats with Chad Ayers, Michigan Retailers Services, Inc. board member, and owner of Allendale True Value. Ayers shares how much appreciation he has for his staff and the company culture and talks about how his community came…
Michigan Retailers Association awards prize in #buynearbymi photo contest. Robin DeHaan’s trip to Grand Rapids over Buy Nearby Weekend won her a $500 gift card from the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) for buying nearby. DeHaan visited Mokaya, an artisan chocolate…
When you walk into The Cheese Lady, owned and operated by Heather Zinn, in the Midtown neighborhood of Grand Rapids, you’ll feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door. With the eight location opening soon, The Cheese Lady’s…
If Michigan consumers changed just one in 10 of their out-of-state purchases to a Michigan store, our economy would get a $1.9 billion boost and add nearly 14,000 jobs. With 122,000 stores, Michigan’s retail industry employs about 758,000 workers and…