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

 

 

Watch the 2022-2023 Minnesota's Retail Champions video:
https://youtu.be/ot-82kBILrA

 
Join the Minnesota Retailers Association (MnRA) as we recognize eleven leading retailers and industry partners with the announcement of the 2022-2023 Minnesota’s Retail Champions.

Winners will accept their awards during Retail Rally (www.retailrally.com) on Thursday, October 6, 2022, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in Golden Valley. Retail Rally is changing the way retailers and their key business partners engage with today’s consumer. The event features practical, game-changing, cutting-edge retail innovation strategies and ideas, and the insights of Tim Tang, director of enterprise solutions at Hughes and his presentation “Multi-Industry Perspective on Retail Digital Transformation.”

“We are proud to recognize eleven innovative retailers, communities and partners that are leading the way in connecting with consumers and today’s trends following a vigorous process to identify Minnesota’s Retail Champions,” said Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers Association president. “The retail industry has a deep impact on Minnesota communities, and these award recipients are truly representative of what is great about retail across the state, how the industry is changing, and what it takes to attract customers today.”

The following is a complete list of the 2022-2023 Minnesota’s Retail Champion award recipients:

Lifetime Achievement
Paul Ostergaard, retired McDonald’s owner-operator, Eden Prairie, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Retailer of the Year
Victual, Crosby, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Special Achievement: Five Generations
Bachman’s, Twin Cities, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Best Place to Work
Sugar Loaf Ford Lincoln, Winona, MN
*nominated by the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Advocate of the Year
Dan Wolter, Hy-Vee, Upper Midwest and Southern U.S.
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Partner of the Year
Buncha, Minneapolis, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Customer Experience
My Happy Place Boutique, Somerset, WI
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Retail Manager of the Year
Hans Ahlstrom, M&M’S Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Social Responsibility
Waste Wise, a program of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Building Community Through Retail
Urban Growler Brewing Co., St. Paul, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Customer Experience
Kendall’s Ace Hardware, St. Paul, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

MnRA started the awards process by putting out a statewide call for nominations early in the year.  A panel of peer judges reviewed nearly ten dozen nominations and selected the top nominee in each category. Tickets to Retail Rally are $25 online and free for media at www.retailrally.com.

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

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.

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