BECOMING A MEMBER OF RAM IS ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS YOU CAN MAKE FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
By joining you gain access to exclusive, money saving discounts on services and programs, legislative updates and advocacy as well as valuable educational opportunities. We aim to help you grow and protect your business, promote the retail industry and save your business money.
Advocacy
As the active voice of the retailing community, RAM represents members and their interests before all branches of state government in an effort to protect, preserve and promote the thriving retail sector of the Massachusetts economy. RAM's staff of registered lobbyists remains keenly engaged in the debate and discussion on both the legislative and regulatory fronts with regard to all issues that impact the retail community. RAM breaks down the issues so you can clearly see the potential impact they could have on your business.
How to Help Massachusetts Retailers
Globe Editorial, April 22, 2017
RETAIL STORES HAVE taken a real hit in the last several years. Just last month, the national retail sector shed 30,000 jobs. Last year, the retail sector job loss was almost 90,000.
That shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, hardly a month goes by without news of another retail chain closing stores
Can't Wait for Beacon Hill Anymore
Small businesses are the backbone of the Massachusetts economy. Unfortunately, the concerns of these businesses have recently been ignored by Beacon Hill.
Over the past several years, our members have become increasingly frustrated with the lack of urgency in addressing the very real challenges they face over unfair competition from online sellers and tax-free New Hampshire stores.
As a result, RAM will file four different ballot initiatives with the Attorney General’s office for certification - the first step in the process to have the question appear on the November 2018 ballot. The ballot initiatives propose to:
Free e-Training for Members
RAM is pleased to offer social media and e-commerce training to retailers throughout the state of Massachusetts. The training is free for employers and employees whose organization pays into the state Workforce Development Fund. All for-profit employers with payroll employees in Massachusetts contribute to the Workforce Training Fund. Some nonprofit organizations with payroll employees in Massachusetts contribute to the Workforce Training Fund, but others do not.
Nominate an outstanding business!
All Massachusetts retailers and restaurants are eligible, and winners are chosen due to their creativity, enthusiasm, and commitment. RAM membership is not necessary to nominate or to be nominated. We encourage entries from all segments of the retail community and all parts of the state. Self nominations are also welcome.
No Sales Tax Holiday in 2017
The Massachusetts House and Senate left for the summer recess without taking any action on legislation to authorize a Sales Tax Holiday for this August, marking the second year in a row without the tax free event. RAM and our members lobbied the issue aggressively in June and July, but lawmakers repeatedly pointed to disappointing state revenue collections that saw the state end the 2017 fiscal year with a revenue gap of $431 million.
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