Retail Industry Leaders Association | 5 This very contentious issue deals with fees merchants pay when customers use debit and credit cards at the point of sale. “We were trying to preserve economic freedom and consumer choice while fighting to rein in out-of-control fees and bring competition to the broken electronic payments market,” Chroust says. Another one of RILA’s many focus areas is promoting e-fairness, which eliminates the tax advantage online retailers have over stores with physical presences. In-store retailers are required to collect sales taxes, while many online catalog retailers are not. “In our opinion, it is simply unfair that brick and mortar retailers, which create jobs in local communities, face a tax code that puts them at a significant disadvantage to their online competitors,” Chroust says. “Government just shouldn’t be picking winners and losers.” Consensus has formed around a solution to the challenge – federal legislation that gives states the authority to require most retailers to collect sales taxes while respecting individual states’ rights. “Making these changes levels the playing field for all retail merchants,” Chroust says. RETAIL TRENDS RILA works on environmental issues and business practices, since sustainability has been an emerging trend over the last several years in the retail industry. Retailers have discovered the triple benefit of pursuing sustainability initiatives. By operating in an environmentally-conscious way, retailers can reduce costs, improve their brand image, and help the environment. “Our retailers are leaders in the sus
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