St. Paul (October 2, 2023) – The Minnesota Retailers Association is pleased to recognize Sheletta Brundidge and ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com, a podcast and multimedia company, with its Vendor Partner of the Year award as part of the 2023-2024 Minnesota’s Retail Champions program.

Bruce Nustad, president of the Minnesota Retailers Association, applauded ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com owner Sheletta Brundidge’s dedication to promoting diversity and collaboration within the retail sector. "Sheletta and her team at ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com exemplify the spirit of partnership and community engagement that we value with partners within the retail industry. Their commitment to spotlighting BIPOC-owned businesses and communities and fostering positive change is truly commendable."

“It's great to work with our partners to do positive work in our community," Brundidge remarked. Reflecting on this honor, Sheletta expressed her gratitude, "It's so nice when someone else comes and shines a light on my work. As a black woman in business, oftentimes I have to come into the room with my own light."

In partnership with numerous retailers, ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com has undertaken various community initiatives, including a notable collaboration with Hy-Vee to provide Thanksgiving meals to families in north Minneapolis. Brundidge's work not only showcases the positive impact that retailers can have on their communities but also underscores the importance of working in collaboration with great community partners.

ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com is the sole recipient of the Minnesota’s Retail Champions Vendor Partner of the Year award. Eleven other organizations and individuals will be recognized in other categories such as Retail Entrepreneur of the Year, Retail Mentor of the Year, Family Business of the Year, Advocate of the Year, Advocate Partner of the Year, Advocacy Leadership, Community Partner of the Year, Retail Collaboration, Customer Experience, Social Responsibility, and Retail Community of the Year.

Brundidge will accept the award during the Retail Rally event on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in Bloomington. 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 2023-2024 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

We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you. After years of efforts and collaboration, we are proud to announce that our organized retail crime (ORC) definition bill has passed through the legislative process and was signed by the Governor this past Friday. This significant development marks a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to address the growing issue of organized retail crime in Minnesota.

The passage of this bill has been a collective achievement, made possible through the strong partnership between the Minnesota Retailers Association (MnRA) and the bill's authors, Representative Zack Stephenson and Senator Ron Latz. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for their unwavering commitment to tackling this pressing issue and their dedication to ensuring the safety of consumers, workers, and retailers across our great state.

Our success in advancing this legislation was bolstered by the invaluable support we received from the Minnesota Organized Retail Crime Association, including its leaders Cody Johnson and Taylor Wiechert, and other key stakeholder organizations. Through their expertise and guidance, we were able to deliver a strong message during the legislative process. We extend our sincere appreciation to all those who lent their support and contributed to this issue, including our contract lobbyist Tom Freeman with Faegre Drinker, who worked tirelessly on this bill. In addition, we are most grateful to Charlie Anderson who shared his passion for people and expertise in law enforcement in countless conversations with us, elected officials and other stakeholders.

Addressing organized retail crime has been a long-time priority for Minnesota’s retailers, and for good reason. These criminal activities pose a significant threat to the integrity of our businesses, the safety of our employees and customers, and the overall economic health of our communities. By passing this bill into law, we take a crucial step forward in equipping law enforcement agencies, financial investigators, and prosecutors with the necessary tools to combat and deter these criminal enterprises.

The ORC definition bill will provide a clear and comprehensive framework to identify and prosecute organized retail crime. It will define ORC, establish consequences for offenders, and enable law enforcement agencies to collaborate more effectively with retailers in investigating and preventing these crimes. Furthermore, it will serve as a strong deterrent by sending a powerful message to potential criminals that their actions will not be welcome in our state.

While we celebrate the new law, we recognize that our work is far from over. The implementation and enforcement of this legislation will require ongoing cooperation and coordination among retailers, law enforcement agencies, and the judicial system. MnRA remains committed to actively engaging with our members and partners to ensure the effective implementation of this law and to continue our efforts in combating organized retail crime in Minnesota.

Last and most important, thank you to members for your unwavering support throughout this process. Together, we are making a significant impact on fostering a better retail environment for all of Minnesota.

To celebrate this achievement and express our gratitude for your continued support, we invite retailers and key business partners to join us for a legislative wrap-up event. The event will take place on June 8 at the Minneapolis Cider Company and feature your chance to try or show off your pickleball skills. It will be an excellent opportunity to network, reflect on the session's outcomes, and discuss the implications for our industry moving forward.

Please plan to join us. We appreciate your unwavering support throughout this session, and we invite you to join us in commemorating our achievements and acknowledging the challenges together.

>> CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW ORC LAW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Marisa Kinney, Red Wing Shoe Company, Selected As Minnesota Retailers Association Board Chair

January 2, 2023 – Marisa Kinney has been selected as chair of the Board for the Minnesota Retailers Association (MnRA), a trade association representing 1,200 retail stores across Minnesota. The volunteer leadership role encompasses leading a group of two dozen Board members and a staff focused on growing Minnesota’s retail economy and jobs.

Kinney is known as Red Wing Shoe Company’s retail champion and serves as senior director of global retail, working with corporate and dealer/distributor-owned stores in the areas of market development and analytics, real estate, construction and store operations. Kinney—a Red Wing native--has worked for Red Wing Shoe Company since 2004, holding leadership positions in the areas of real estate and store development. Red Wing Shoe Company is an iconic footwear and accessories brand that has been making a difference in people’s lives since 1905. The manufacturer and retailer employs 2,100 people including 1,000 in Minnesota, and distributes its purpose-built products at over 700 retail stores in 110 countries. Red Wing Shoe Company was named a MnRA Minnesota Retail Champion as a Best Place To Work in 2019.

“We are so pleased to have Marisa’s leadership at MnRA, where she shares her expertise around the transformation of today’s customer experience as well as love of people and processes,” said MnRA President Bruce Nustad. “Marisa also brings a strong background in bringing organizations together to better our communities, with previous work experience at the Red Wing Area and St. Paul Area chambers of commerce. MnRA looks forward to a strong 2023 under Marisa’s leadership.”

“I’m honored to be selected Board chair and look forward to working with our members to continue to tell the story of the importance of retail across Minnesota,” Kinney said. “The closer we work together, the better the opportunities are for each and every retail worker, retailer, and community. Our work at the Minnesota Retailers Association has never been more vital and we will be laser focused on shared goals including workforce development as we do our part to advance Minnesota’s retail economy.”

Kinney succeeds David Ring with Kwik Trip, who chaired the Board for 2021 and 2022.

“As an organization we were fortunate to have Dave’s leadership at a critical time in the industry’s economic recovery,” said Nustad. “We thank Dave for his collaboration on important legislative issues as well as his sense of humor. Dave brought important Kwik Trip insights and his community-focused servant leadership style to his role as Board chair, and we are so grateful.”

The Minnesota Retailers Association supports retailers to the benefit of their customers, their communities, their employees, and our state economy. Retail impacts one in five Minnesota jobs. Learn more at www.mnretail.org.

Contact:
Bruce Nustad
Minnesota Retailers Association
380 St. Peter Street, Suite 1050, St. Paul, MN 55102
Tel. (651) 227-6631, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.