St. Paul (October 4, 2022) – The Minnesota Retailers Association is pleased to award Buncha with our Partner of the Year award as part of the 2022-2023 Minnesota’s Retail Champions program.

“Buncha has a mission to reinvent the last mile to the customer through scheduled, weekly deliveries, with a focus on neighborhoods, lowering costs, and cutting carbon emissions. And Buncha’s retail partners are loving it,” said Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers Association president. “Based in Minneapolis, Buncha is one of the fastest growing social commerce platform in the U.S., with plans to expand to 12+ markets in the next 12 months. As a key partner to Minnesota retailers of all sizes, Buncha has changed the way customers look at delivery and its value.  We are honored to celebrate the entrepreneurial team at Buncha with our Partner of the Year award and we look forward to their continue success.”

Buncha is the sole recipient of the Minnesota’s Retail Champions Partner of the Year award. Twelve other organizations will be recognized in other categories such as Lifetime Achievement, Retailer of the Year, Retail Manager of the Year, Best Place To Work, Advocate of the Year, Social Responsibility, Special Achievement, Customer Experience, and Building Community Through Retail.

The team at Buncha will accept the award during the Retail Rally event on Thursday, October 6, 2022, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in Golden Valley. The event features practical, game-changing, cutting-edge retail innovations strategies and ideas. Retail Rally event information can be found at www.retailrally.com.

Click here to see all the 2022-2023 Minnesota's Retail Champions award winners.

About the Minnesota Retailers Association: The Minnesota Retailers Association promotes, preserves and enhances the retail industry in Minnesota by taking a leadership position in development of public policy and regulatory measures that impact members. MnRA also works to enhance the public image of the retail industry by providing information, services and support that adds value to its members. www.mnretail.org.

Contact: Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers Association, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 227-6631

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St. Paul (October 4, 2022) – The Minnesota Retailers Association is pleased to recognize My Happy Place Boutique with its Customer Experience award as part of the 2022-2023 Minnesota’s Retail Champions program.

“Located in Somerset, Wisconsin, shoppers–many of them from Minnesota–discover more than just a store when they visit,” said Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers Association president. “My Happy Place Boutique lives up to its’ name and is so popular, customers travel hundreds of miles to enjoy the latest in women’s fashion, accessories, décor, gifts, and furniture. Cherie and the entire team kick the customer experience up a notch in-store, but also have incredible live shopping shows twice a week on their app, website, Facebook, and Instagram. It’s easy to see why the customer experience is one of the best around and we are honored to recognize My Happy Place Boutique with our Customer Experience award.”

Cherie Link stated “We are honored to receive this award. Our entire team strives to create a memorable experience that keeps our customers coming back time and time again. We have new inventory arriving daily, so our customers find fabulous treasures every visit. Our highlight of the year is our Winter Wonderland event that is always the first Friday in November. The entire store transforms into a magical wonderland and our customers love finding Christmas décor and gifts for everyone on their list.”

My Happy Place Boutique is one of the recipients of the Minnesota’s Retail Champions Customer Experience award. Ten other organizations will be recognized in other categories such as Retail Manager of the Year, Social Responsibility, Best Place To Work, Advocate of the Year, Building Community Through Retail, Partner of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Special Achievement and Retailer of the Year.

The Team at My Happy Place Boutique will accept the award during the Retail Rally event on Thursday, October 6, 2022, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in Golden Valley. The event features practical, game-changing, cutting-edge retail innovations strategies and ideas. Retail Rally event information can be found at www.retailrally.com.

Click here to see all the 2022-2023 Minnesota's Retail Champions award winners.

About the Minnesota Retailers Association: The Minnesota Retailers Association promotes, preserves and enhances the retail industry in Minnesota by taking a leadership position in development of public policy and regulatory measures that impact members. MnRA also works to enhance the public image of the retail industry by providing information, services and support that adds value to its members. www.mnretail.org.

Contact: Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers Association, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 227-6631

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St. Paul (October 4, 2022) – The Minnesota Retailers Association is pleased to recognize Hans Ahlstrom with M&M’S Mall of America® as Retail Manager of the Year as part of the 2022-2023 Minnesota’s Retail Champions program.

“Hans is a tremendous leader and puts people at the heart of all of his decisions,” said Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers Association president. “Not only does Hans create a strong sense of belonging among his team and employees, but he also drives engagement and shows full commitment to the development of his peers. You will never see Hans without a smile and his personality is so infectious that those around him can’t help but smile as well. We congratulate Hans on being named Retail Manager of the Year and thank him for the example he sets for others.”

 “I’m extremely grateful to be named Retail Manager of the Year by the Minnesota Retailers Association,” said Hans Ahlstrom, Store Director – M&M’S Mall of America. “M&M’S believes in championing the power of fun to create a world where everyone feels they belong and M&M’S fans and store guests alike can feel this sense of belonging in the immersive experiences only the M&M’S Mall of America store offers. This achievement is reflective of my passion for retail and I truly love what I do including, investing in our Associates and bringing smiles to our store guests every day.”

Hans is the sole recipient of the Minnesota’s Retail Champions Retail Manager of the Year award. Ten other organizations will be recognized in other categories such as Lifetime Achievement, Social Responsibility, Best Place To Work, Advocate of the Year, Building Community Through Retail, Partner of the Year, Customer Experience, Special Achievement and Retailer of the Year.

Hans will accept the award during the Retail Rally event on Thursday, October 6, 2022, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in Golden Valley. The event features practical, game-changing, cutting-edge retail innovation strategies and ideas. Retail Rally event information can be found at www.retailrally.com.

Click here to see all the 2022-2023 Minnesota's Retail Champions award winners.

About M&M’S Mall of America: Opening on May 1, 2021, M&M’S Mall of America is located on Level 1, East near the Rotunda of Mall of America, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America. The 24,000 square foot store is an immersive M&M’S experience paying homage to the Minnesota culture through the store design, experiences and merchandise, allowing guests to leave with memories and digital downloads to share with friends and family. Guests have countless ways to express themselves, from customizing their own M&M’S with our one-of-a-kind personalized printer, to showcasing their personality through sounds and movement at M&M’S Sweet Moves, where fans can express their personality through color, sound and movement. Store goers can also visit “Peanut Peak,” a rooftop celebration of the local landscape inspired by the gorgeous Minnesota views. Learn more at mms.com.

About the Minnesota Retailers Association: The Minnesota Retailers Association promotes, preserves and enhances the retail industry in Minnesota by taking a leadership position in development of public policy and regulatory measures that impact members. MnRA also works to enhance the public image of the retail industry by providing information, services and support that adds value to its members. www.mnretail.org.

Contact: Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers Association, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 227-6631

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