MONTGOMERY/BIRMINGHAM – The governor signed a proclamation declaring Tuesday, Oct. 18, as “Alabama Retail Day.” The day celebrates the retail industry in our state and the impact it has on Alabama’s economy and its communities. Retail, including food and beverage establishments, is Alabama’s top private sector employer, supporting more than a quarter of jobs in our state.

Rick Brown, president of the Alabama Retail Association, said, “Alabama’s retailers supply vital income and property taxes to the state of Alabama, supporting this state as its economic backbone. The Alabama Retail Association is proud to support our member retailers’ efforts to create an economic climate conducive to growing their businesses and adding even more jobs.”

RETAIL BY THE NUMBERS:

• Alabama retailers employ some 400,000 of our state’s citizens, making retail Alabama’s largest private sector employer.
• Retail accounts for one of every four Alabamians employed in the private sector.
• Retail plus food and drinking establishments account for more than $19 billion, or almost 10 percent of Alabama’s gross domestic product, placing retail in the state’s top four highest-producing industries outside of government.
• Payroll at Alabama’s retail, food and drinking establishments exceeds $8 billion.
• Our state’s retail sales, which exceed $78 billion annually, account for 1.5 percent of all retail sales nationally.
• Alabama retailers each year collect more than $2 billion in sales taxes on behalf of Alabama’s state government.

The Alabama Retail Association and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Collat School of Business will celebrate Alabama Retail Day during the 35th Annual Retail Day observance at a Birmingham luncheon Tuesday honoring the 2016 Alabama Retailers of the Year and featuring Terry Finley, president and CEO of Alabama-based Books-A-Million as the keynote speaker.

The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Through sales of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and more, our 4,100 independent merchant and national company members touch almost every aspect of daily living. Since 1943, we’ve worked to promote what’s best for the retail industry in Alabama. Whether voicing the retail view when public policy is made, educating members about issues that impact them, negotiating rates for benefits and services or communicating the retail story, the Alabama Retail Association and its members are better together.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Melissa Johnson Warnke | 334.551.0631 | 256.338.0621