In the News

Businesses, sick of policing mask use to prevent coronavirus, ask government to step in - CNBC

The letter Monday from the Retail Industry Leaders Association comes amid a huge surge in coronavirus cases — with total cases in the U.S. doubling since mid-May — and an increasingly hostile backlash against facial coverings.

7/7/2020

Retail Group Fights Back Against Anti-Maskers - PYMNTS

The letter, from RILA President Brian Dodge, was addressed to National Governor’s Association Chair Lawrence Hogan (MD) and Vice Chair Andrew Cuomo (NY), asking them to push for specific and consistent mask mandates.

7/7/2020

A coronavirus reopening request: Help retail workers help you, please wear a mask - FOX Business

Fox Business ran an op-ed from RILA President Brian Dodge on the importance of wearing masks while shopping.

6/18/2020

Retailers eager to reopen, and states are slowly letting them

Some of the largest U.S. retailers are itching to reopen after being forced to close for weeks by state mandates curbing the coronavirus pandemic.

4/28/2020

Curbside pickup at retail stores surges 208% during coronavirus pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is making curbside pickup much more valuable to customers and more beneficial to retailers, as many stores remain shut to try to curb the spread of Covid-19.

4/27/2020

Retailers lay out phased-out approach to reopening stores

Increased sanitization measures and social distancing protocols for customers as well as employees play key roles in a plan for re-opening stores that builds on the examples of retailers that have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

4/27/2020

Trade groups outline path to retail recovery

Retail Industry Leaders Association and National Retail Federation propose three-phase strategy for restarting the economy

4/27/2020

Retail trade groups urge states to adopt 'uniform' reopening practices

Two leading trade groups for retailers on Monday released a reopening blueprint that calls for governors to create “uniform” standards on sanitation and social distancing to give businesses clarity as more states start to roll back coronavirus-imposed restrictions.

4/27/2020

The Finance 202: Joe Biden blasts big banks, corporate America over coronavirus response

The presumptive Democratic nominee accused major financial institutions of favoring their big corporate clients in handing out taxpayer-backed loans intended to save small businesses from the coronavirus shock

4/27/2020

Major Retailers Call on States to Adopt Uniform Reopening Plans

The top two trade groups representing major retailers such as Walmart Inc., Target Corp. and Best Buy Co. are calling on governors to adopt uniform reopening standards as the pandemic subsides, including allowing warehouses and distribution centers nationwide to reopen all at once, rather than state-by-state.

4/27/2020

Nat'l Law Review: EPA Coordinates with Retailers and Third-Party Marketplace Platforms to Discuss Steps to Protect American

On April 3, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted an interactive telephone call with U.S. retailers and third-party marketplace platforms to discuss imposter disinfectant products and those that falsely claim to be effective ...

4/8/2020

Gray DC News: Are online sales helping stores that closed their doors?

WASHINGTON (GRAY DC) -- The shops on this typically busy Washington, D.C. street are empty, and it is not because of the rain. The dreary weather only adds to the current mood of the retail industry. Are online sales helping stores that closed their ...

4/8/2020

Conflicting Local Orders Creating Mass Confusion for Retailers, Law Enforcement, Public

Retailers are committed to working with elected leaders and law enforcement to keep our communities safe through the current COVID-19 crisis, but well-intentioned local directives are creating mass confusion and inconsistent guidelines across communities, forcing retailers to shift valuable resources and time away from existing efforts to safeguard employees and customers.

4/2/2020

Retail Spending Down Across the Board As More Companies Announce Furloughs and Layoffs

Brian Dodge, President of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, joined Cheddar to discuss status of the retail industry.

4/2/2020

U.S. Bets Furloughs Top Being Fired for 600,000 and Counting

“This is obviously a difficult position for both the businesses and employees to be in,” said Brian Dodge, president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, a trade group that counts major chains such as Gap Inc. as members. “However, the actions by government will preserve health benefits and ensure that workers can get back to work the moment the crisis passes.”

3/31/2020

A Guide to Who’s Seeking Stimulus, From Manufacturers to Casinos

President Donald Trump’s signature has barely dried on the historic $2 trillion stimulus bill and a broad range of U.S. industries are scrambling to get access to much needed cash and other assistance.

3/29/2020

American Staffing Association, retail trade group partner to fill emergency store worker demand

The COVID-19 epidemic has created disparate situations for U.S. retailers. On one hand, many have been forced to close at what some have called an unprecedented pace.

3/27/2020

Virus Tax Breaks Could Boost Walmart, Vodka Distillers, Students

Large retailers like Walmart Inc. and Target Corp., as well as student loan borrowers, are on a long list of potential winners from tax breaks included in a $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill approved by the Senate.

3/26/2020

Recovery requires getting all retailers back to work – The Hill

Brian Dodge, president of RILA, Op-ed in The Hill.

3/23/2020

Winners and Losers in Congress’s $2 Trillion Virus Rescue Plan

Days of negotiations between the Trump administration and Congress -- and fierce lobbying by industries eager for assistance dealing with the coronavirus outbreak -- has yielded a rescue package worth more than $2 trillion in spending and tax breaks. It was passed by the U.S. Senate late Wednesday night.

3/22/2020

Retail group calls for ‘bold’ economic COVID-19 solutions, suspension of tariffs – Chain Store Age

The Retail Industry Leaders Association detailed several economic measures that should be a part of a larger stimulus package to aid the broader U.S. economy in response to COVID-19.

3/19/2020

Retailers brace for the impact of coronavirus – Retail Dive

While consumers' appetite for discretionary shopping has decreased substantially, mass merchants and grocery stores grapple with new demands.

3/18/2020

What is essential? Retailers face confusion over government rules on store closings – Reuters

As the United States moves to quickly curb the spread of the coronavirus, the question of which retailers can stay open - and where - depends on what government officials deem to be essential.

3/18/2020

Plight of Retail Workers – New York Times

“Ultimately, the retailers are in the best position to understand whether their store is deemed to be essential,” said the association’s president, Brian Dodge. “It is changing. What is true today might not be true tomorrow.”