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…
Wren Home, LLC was a long time in the making. Dimondale resident Lisa Gnass grew up with a passion for interior design, home décor and a love for small, interesting shops and boutiques. She took a career in corporate communications…
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 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…
Hear from Deidre Weller, owner of thistle, a women's boutique in downtown Charlevoix, as she reminisces on how her long-time dream quickly became a reality as she passed an empty storefront. For more stories like this, visit www.buynearbymi.com/news.