Sandy Kennedy Archives - Total Retail

May 15, 2014Top U.S. Retailers to Share Data in Fight on Cybercrime

Some of the nation's largest retailers are banding together in hopes of protecting consumers' personal and financial information from hackers and thieves. The Retail Industry Leaders Association, along with several top retailers, like Gap and Walgreens, on Wednesday opened an intelligence-sharing center focused on the prevention of cybercrimes against retailers. According to the retail group, the center will allow retailers to share

July 2, 2012Online-Only Retailers Begin Texas Sales Tax Collection

Texas joined eight other states in taking legislative action by requiring online-only retailers, notably Amazon.com, to collect state sales tax. Online retailers began collecting sales tax in Texas on July 1. “A true free market is devoid of government preferences and special treatment," said Sandy Kennedy, president, Retail Industry Leaders Association. "Texas has made a powerful statement that it's time to end special treatment for online retailers and close the sales-tax loophole that gives companies like Amazon an artificial leg up on Main Street retailers."

January 24, 2012Target CEO named chairman of RILA board

NAPLES, Fla. — The Retail Industry Leaders Association has appointed new members to its board of directors, including a new board chairman. RILA said Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel was appointed RILA chairman of the board. Steinhafel, who previously served as vice chairman, succeeds Bill Rhodes, who currently serves as chairman, president and CEO of AutoZone. New members also include Dollar General chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling, who will serve as vice chairman; Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson, who will serve as second vice chairman; VF Corp. chairman, president and CEO Eric Wiseman, who will serve

June 30, 2011Federal Reserve Caves to Big Bank Pressure, Undermines Swipe Fee Reform

The Retail Industry Leaders Association criticized a final rule released by the Federal Reserve as failing to honor the intent of the bipartisan reforms passed by Congress. The rule, which guides implementation of the debit swipe fee reforms, is a startling departure from rules that the Federal Reserve proposed in December and will ultimately prevent the intended relief from reaching merchants and consumers.