DB: WHERE ARE YOU?
BW: I’m in Cleveland with the Midwest Independent Retailers Association, which is affiliated with the Michigan Independent Retailers Association.
DB: WHAT’S GOING ON?
BW: I’m learning about some of the local issues that have popped up in Ohio, such as the potential ban by some local communities of different products our members sell. We understand any concerns, but we’d like to have them addressed at the state level so everyone’s on board.
DB: WHAT’S NEW IN MICHIGAN?
BW: Our organization was founded in 1910, (and today) we have more than 1,200 members. We’re the voice of the food, beverage, and petroleum industries — so (we work with) retailers, suppliers, and vendors. We have a full-time government affairs office, and we represent legislative issues in Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. We also interact with government agencies, and we offer our members a suite of services such as discount programs and group rates for insurance, workers’ comp, and payroll.
DB: WHAT ISSUES ARE BEING ADDRESSED?
BW: There’s a fairly new business called Gopuff that provides a platform where people can order liquor online and have it delivered to their home by a vehicle delivery company. We’re addressing that as it relates to Michigan’s liquor laws.
DB: WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
BW: We’re working on increasing the discount retailers receive for purchasing liquor, increasing the commissions on lottery sales, and looking at the bottle return program. It was originally developed some 50 years ago to clean up highways and reduce litter, but with the returns, it can be a messy operation when a store is selling food and beverages.
