1 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend. 2 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: Each and every week right here, we come together, we 3 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: talk about all the topics important to you and the 4 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: place where you live. Well, you had a great Thanksgiving 5 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: with your loved ones. Thanks so much for tuning in. 6 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 1: I'm Nicole Davis. Honestly, for weeks now, it seems like 7 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: before Halloween its started, we've been getting bombarded with lots 8 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: of holiday deals. But this weekend, when it comes to 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: holiday shopping, is the main event. You've got Black Friday, 10 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: Small Business Saturday, National Secondhand Sunday, Cyber Monday, and all 11 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: of that together can be a major boost for local businesses. Unfortunately, 12 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: new data shows that online shopping and big box stores 13 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,319 Speaker 1: are actually getting most of our attention. John Hurst, the 14 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, is back with 15 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: us on the show this week. It's great to have 16 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: you back. 17 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 2: John. 18 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: Give us a bit more detail, I guess if you could, 19 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: about what exactly is happening here. 20 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: Well so far, Nicole, what we're seeing is a really 21 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 2: an extension of what we've seen for the you know, 22 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 2: the ten months leading up to November and the holiday 23 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 2: season of course, which which we define as November and December. 24 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 2: You know, year to date, we're about two percent up 25 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 2: over last year. You know, not great, that's a little 26 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 2: bit below the rate of inflation that you want to 27 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 2: try to to meet that. But still, anytime that you 28 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 2: can beat the prior year, uh, you know, you've got 29 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 2: to be satisfied with that and hope that perhaps you 30 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 2: can do a little bit more. But but yeah, you know, look, 31 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: it's it's it's a situation in which consumers are watching 32 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 2: every dollar they you know, they're they're certainly aware of 33 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 2: things that have affected their own take come pay their 34 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 2: disposable income, you know, whether it's you know, more of 35 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 2: it going to taxes, more going to you know, utilities 36 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 2: or or or health insurance costs, you know, and those 37 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 2: things are are cutting down on the disposable income. So 38 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 2: so they are being cautious and and and that means 39 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 2: they're you know, doing a lot of comparison shopping and 40 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 2: and and looking looking at where they can get the 41 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,959 Speaker 2: best deal for the uh for the for the best 42 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 2: service and best delivery. And you know that's uh, that's 43 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 2: a challenge because the consumer is in charge, right, It's 44 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 2: particularly a challenge for the smaller business because you know, 45 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: their their margins are really tight, and and and and 46 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 2: their marketing efforts are are constrained by by where they 47 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 2: are with those costs of doing business and versus their sales. 48 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was thinking about that with the big box stores. 49 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: Obviously it's a huge time of year for them. How 50 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: can a small business compete when you're trying to get 51 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: a customer in there who is already really, like you said, 52 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: scrimping and counting every dime and every penny here, well, 53 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: whatever pennies are left, how can a small business compete here? 54 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 2: Well, you know, it's all about the experience, right, It's 55 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 2: been that way for decades, Nicole, and it's it's going 56 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,519 Speaker 2: to continue to be that way. You know, You've got 57 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 2: to you you have to show the the the right 58 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 2: level of inventory mix and and uh, you know that 59 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 2: that element of surprise and and and uh, you know 60 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 2: goods that small businesses really excel at, and that it's 61 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 2: the inventory as well as the services that you know, 62 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 2: they they still have that edge versus their their big 63 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 2: box competition and certainly versus the online competition. Uh, you 64 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 2: know that's you know, their challenge, of course, is to 65 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 2: get the consumer through the front door in the first place, 66 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 2: and that's where, uh, you know, reminding the consumer the 67 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: importance of investing some of those dollars locally in events 68 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 2: like small Business Saturday is coming up and other promotion efforts. 69 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 2: You know, it's very important because you know, the consumers 70 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 2: seventy percent of the economy, but you know they can 71 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 2: you know, with the power of the smartphone, they can 72 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 2: send those dollars anywhere around the world without ever leaving 73 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 2: their couch. So small business really needs to get the 74 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 2: consumers through the front door in the first place, and 75 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 2: then you know, really wow them with the goods that 76 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 2: they have, you know, something that they weren't expecting. They 77 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 2: may have gone in there, you know, with the idea 78 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 2: of buying something one one gift, but then you know, 79 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 2: while they're in there, the thing that the brick and 80 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 2: mortar smaller stores still have our impulse buies. Impulse buys 81 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 2: are still about a third of all retail sales, and 82 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 2: you've got to you know, really build upon those those 83 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 2: impulse buys, get the consumer to buy more than what 84 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 2: they planned on, and also get them back through your 85 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 2: front door time and time again, and and and that's 86 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 2: the key. Those repeat sales and those unplanned sales are 87 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: what can make or break your holiday sales season. 88 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: What I love about shopping small and with small businesses 89 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: is that the money is going right back into my neighborhood. 90 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: It's essentially fueling our local economy, which I feel can 91 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: only do good. I mean, yeah, of course, sometimes you 92 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: have to go to the big supermarkets and you have 93 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: to go to the big box stores. But anytime that 94 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: we can infuse that money back into our own neighborhoods, 95 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: I mean that's a good thing, right. 96 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 2: Well, absolutely, and it's very important that people like you 97 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 2: and I, you know, drill that that message home over 98 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 2: and over again, because you know, sometimes convenience wins out 99 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:50,159 Speaker 2: over what's right, and you know, we're frankly, you know, 100 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 2: the challenge, Nicole, is that we're seeing a trend that 101 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 2: that's a little bit troubling for this some of these 102 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 2: small businesses we've seen, you know, particularly since since COVID. 103 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 2: You know, look think about what happened five years ago 104 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:06,679 Speaker 2: with the shutdowns and restrictions, but also messaging that drove 105 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: that drove more sales to the smartphone than anything that 106 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 2: has happened since the invention of the iPhone. Uh and 107 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 2: and to some extent those habits, you know, the habits 108 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 2: that we created five years ago and three and four 109 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 2: years ago, and even things like like our work habits, 110 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: how we're where we're working, how we're working, and so forth, 111 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 2: that has has changed our philosophies a lot of us 112 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 2: as consumers on the spending, and you know, it is 113 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: very important that we we step back and we take 114 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 2: a look at what percentage of our own spending as 115 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 2: as individual consumers, are we spending on main streets? Are 116 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 2: we spending with these these local businesses versus we all 117 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 2: you know, we all spend some online. I do as well, 118 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 2: but but you know, the dramatic change and shifts are 119 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 2: getting a little worrisome. You know, I look at pre 120 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 2: covid that the holiday sales season of twenty nineteen was 121 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 2: under twenty percent online sales. There are projections for this 122 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: holiday season that it will exceed forty percent. 123 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: Wow. 124 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 2: So those are dramatic changes. And yes, small businesses are 125 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 2: doing what they can to get online and sell a 126 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 2: certain percentage of their transactions online, but they're still not there. 127 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 2: On a ratio of brick and mortar to online sales. 128 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 2: As the big national chains are the big national companies. 129 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: They don't have as much of a buffer against tariffs 130 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: and other major economic headwinds that they're probably facing right now. 131 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: What are you hearing from business owners here in Massachusetts 132 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: about the economic side of this, not necessarily just the 133 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: customer side, but trying to stay afloat in general. How 134 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: are they doing? 135 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 2: Well? They're very concerned about costs. You know, we've we've 136 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 2: done we've done a lot of surveyings of of these 137 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 2: small businesses and and and look there there they're they're 138 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 2: concerned that the fact that their their sales really are 139 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 2: relatively flat over the last recent years, yet their their costs, 140 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 2: the costs of employing people, the cost of running that 141 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 2: brick and mortar store are up extensively. Uh, you know, 142 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 2: we've we've we've seen that over and over again. We've seen, uh, 143 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 2: you know, some stores, you know, they're really complaining about 144 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 2: their the cost of their health insurance, the cost of 145 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 2: their energy, their their utility bills, you know, payroll taxes 146 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 2: and the like. All these all these costs have gone 147 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 2: up far faster than what their sales have. And and 148 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 2: and that's that's a that's an issue that really puts 149 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 2: a lot of pressure on the profitability and and you know, 150 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 2: we've seen them, Nicole, You've seen it. I've seen it, 151 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,199 Speaker 2: the dark storefronts, and I were concerned whether we're to 152 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 2: see more of those. A recent study that we did 153 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 2: with the UMS Donahue Institute projected that these small businesses 154 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 2: that responded to that study back in the spring, fifty 155 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 2: one percent expected to sell or close their business within 156 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 2: five years. That's on top of what we've already seen. 157 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 2: So we really need to double down and give these 158 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:26,679 Speaker 2: small businesses the future and make it a real objective 159 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 2: that you know, if we're going to if we're going 160 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 2: to spend as a family one thousand dollars for holiday gifts, 161 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 2: you know, we need all of us individually to really 162 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 2: plan on doing half of that to small businesses on 163 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 2: our main streets. Just just really make a conscious effort 164 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 2: to invest in these small businesses because there are neighbors, 165 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 2: there are there are friends and family, and they employ 166 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 2: people that we know, and they populate our main streets 167 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 2: and and if they go, they're not going to come back. 168 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 2: And you know, we have a long history of vibrant 169 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 2: main streets here in Massachusetts and across New England. The 170 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 2: main street was invented here, yeah, about four hundred years ago, 171 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 2: and we've got to you know, it's never been harder. 172 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 2: We just have to work collectively harder to make sure 173 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 2: that that they have a good, solid holiday sales season 174 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,079 Speaker 2: and they and hope for the future. 175 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 1: How are you over, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, what 176 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: are you able to do to help prop these businesses up? 177 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 2: Well, we're trying to do the best that we can 178 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 2: can to promote them. We're doing ad campaigns, you know, 179 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 2: to you know, to remind folks to spend local, you 180 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 2: know where you know. I think it's a two pronged approach. 181 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 2: We've got to remind the consumer to shop like jobs 182 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 2: depend on it, because they do. And we also need 183 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 2: to remind our elected officials, the public policy leaders that 184 00:10:57,880 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 2: they need to do take a look in the mirror, 185 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 2: engage in a bit of introspection. Are there state laws 186 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 2: and and and public policy uh at at local, state 187 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 2: and federal levels that that whether whether it's whether they're 188 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 2: well intended or not, UH could disproportionately hurt the small businesses. Uh. 189 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 2: You know, the cost of of of employing people, of 190 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 2: renting a storefront, of of obtaining uh inventory, you know, 191 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 2: and and all that gets back to things including uh, 192 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 2: you know, from property taxes to sales taxes, to to 193 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 2: payroll taxes, to tariffs to UH heating heating bills, electricity bills, 194 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:48,119 Speaker 2: to health insurance premiums UH to employ uh a workforce 195 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 2: you know, for a small business. Some of those some 196 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 2: of those costs are self inflicted by government policies, and 197 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 2: and and government can do a better job to make 198 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 2: sure that these small businesses, you know, are not put 199 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 2: at a competitive disadvantage by you know, large businesses that 200 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 2: are better equipped to cover the costs of these mandates. 201 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 1: What is your advice to small business owners who are 202 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: trying to pivot, trying to you know, make sure that 203 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: they can get as many shoppers in the door as possible. 204 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:20,199 Speaker 1: And then I guess secondly, what's your advice to shoppers. 205 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: We've talked about it a couple of times, but let's 206 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: just kind of get it home again and tell people 207 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: what they need to know. 208 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 2: Well, for the seller, look, work cooperatively with with the 209 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 2: other small businesses in your shopping and dining district, you know, 210 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 2: market together, you know, try to get the consumers to 211 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 2: come in and visit your storefront, your restaurant and and uh, 212 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 2: you know, cross promote while you're there, while you're shopping 213 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,680 Speaker 2: for some holiday gifts, drop into this to the restaurant 214 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 2: next door, and and and have dinner or lunch and 215 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,559 Speaker 2: and and keep some dollars local. And you know, give 216 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 2: them a great, great experience that brings them back time 217 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 2: and time again. Uh. And you know it's it's consumers 218 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 2: will come back, you know if if they find something 219 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 2: that is a great value and great service and they 220 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 2: really have a good entertainment type of experience and and 221 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 2: shopping still is is entertainment, right. You know, that's something 222 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 2: that that the big internet sellers cannot replicate, you know, 223 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 2: versus the the the smaller sellers that are actually employing people. 224 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 2: You know, differentiate yourself from uh, from those big sellers 225 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 2: through an experience and great selection and great service and 226 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 2: great promotion. And you know that's that's for the seller 227 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 2: and and for the the consumer. You know, just remember that. Yeah, 228 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 2: convenience is important. We all we all have convenience and 229 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 2: sometimes it's you know, so easy just to pick up 230 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 2: the smartphone and use AI and all the other tools 231 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 2: that are available to us to have something delivered to 232 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,319 Speaker 2: your front doorstep the next morning. But keep in mind 233 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 2: those dollars. When we do that, it goes into somebody 234 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 2: else's economy. So you know, I'm not saying you've got 235 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 2: to totally avoid those options. We need to spread dollars around, 236 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 2: but make sure that we all have goals to keep 237 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 2: a certain percentage of our spending right here where we 238 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 2: live and work. 239 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: All right, Well, where can small businesses find you online? 240 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: How can they connect? They want to join the association? 241 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 1: How can they do that? 242 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 2: Well, you can find us at RETAILERSIMA dot org. We 243 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 2: have four thousand members across the Commonwealth. They're primarily small businesses. 244 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 2: We provide a lot of group buying type of services 245 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 2: nicole that help them on their bottom line. These costs 246 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 2: that we talked about, whether there's a group buying a 247 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 2: health insurance, workers compensation. Credit card processing is a huge 248 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 2: thing now. Every time people come in and swipe a 249 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 2: credit card, it costs that small business a lot of money, 250 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 2: you know, And these are the types of services we're 251 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 2: trying to deliver to these small businesses to level the 252 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 2: playing field with their big competition, lower the cost of 253 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 2: employing people, lower the cost of serving consumers, so they 254 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 2: can have a chance at competing and a chance to 255 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 2: having a good, strong, viable future in our communities. 256 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: All Right, RETAILERSMA dot Org. John Hurst from the Retailers 257 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 1: Association of Massachusetts. I always get so much insight talking 258 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: to you. Thank you for standing up for our small businesses, 259 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: and I hope they have a much busier holiday season 260 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: than they ever imagined. 261 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Nicole, have a safe. 262 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: And healthy weekend. Join us again next week for another 263 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: edition of the show. I'm Nicole Davis from WBZ News 264 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: Radio on iHeartRadio.