Alabama more than doubled its projected sales growth for the 2014 holiday buying season, thanks to record sales in December. Taxed holiday sales in our state exceeded $10 billion in November and December, a jump of 5 percent over 2013 holiday sales. The…
Since its passage in 2010, the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, has changed the health care landscape for insurers, individuals, and, especially, employers. President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) into law Tuesday, March 23,…
Once again, the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama expects modest growth in Alabama’s economy. The projected economic expansion in 2015 is 2.3 percent, about the same level of growth our state has seen for…
By Whitney R. Brown, Esq. According to al.com, 2014 saw a 288 percent increase in one type of lawsuit: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access lawsuits. Retailers and restaurateurs have been hit particularly hard by these lawsuits, in which disabled individuals claim to have been denied similar access and enjoyment in places…
Both FedEx and UPS have increased their annual small package rate. The UPS rate increases took effect Dec. 29, 2014, while the FedEx rate increases took effect Jan. 5, 2015. As always, how much more expensive your particular small package shipments will…
MONTGOMERY – Raymond E. Cohen, founder and co-president of Cohens Electronics and Appliances Inc. in Montgomery, recently was elected to the Alabama Retail Association’s board of directors. Cohen’s term began Jan. 1 and his business has been an Alabama Retail member…
Alabama consumers will make $9.15 billion in taxed purchases during the 2014 holiday shopping season, the Alabama Retail Association projects. Our state experienced an almost 2.7 percent increase in retail sales through October of this year and has averaged 2.6 percent growth…
The Alabama Department of Revenue now has an online sales tax rate database on its website. Retailers can put a delivery address in the online lookup and get the sales tax rate for the various jurisdictions that apply to that address. Since the first day of 2014, a seller using…
During the Tuesday, Nov. 4, General Election, Alabama retailers can make their united voice heard. To make the retail vote count, be certain you and your employees have a valid ID and are prepared to go to the polls. Find your polling place…
In September of 2014, Gov. Robert Bentley created the Small Business Commission (Executive Order #47) to advise him on policies related to small business. The goal is to remove obstacles to the progress of small business in the state. “Small businesses are the engines of job…