Alabama Retail Day
WHEREAS, every day, Alabama retailers sell the quality produce grown in Alabama and the world-class goods made in Alabama as well as those produced and made throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, Alabama has more than 50,000 retail establishments or slightly more than one retail business for every square mile of the state; and
WHEREAS, Alabama retailers employ some 400,000 of our great state’s citizens, making retail Alabama’s largest private employer; and
WHEREAS, retail accounts for one of every four Alabamians employed in the private sector. Alabama retailers’ annual payroll exceeds $5.6 billion and, when combined with the payroll at Alabama food service and drinking establishments, exceeds $7.6 billion; and
WHEREAS, retail trade accounts for at least 8 percent of the state’s gross domestic product, making retail the state’s third highest producing industry; and
WHEREAS, our state’s retail sales, which exceed $76 billion annually, account for 1.5 percent of all retail sales nationally. Alabama retailers each year collect $2 billion in sales taxes on behalf of Alabama’s state government; and
WHEREAS, Alabama’s retailers also supply vital income and property taxes to the state of Alabama, supporting this state as its economic backbone; and
WHEREAS, such national and regional retail chains as Books A Million, Hibbett Sports, Simply Fashion, Jack’s, Shoe Station, Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Chicken Salad Chick, Factory Connection, Moe’s Original Bar B Que, Private Gallery and 32° are based in Alabama; and
WHEREAS, other major retailers have divisional headquarters or distribution centers in Alabama, including Belk, Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated, CVS Caremark Corporation, Target, Home Depot, Kmart, ACE Hardware and Dollar General; and
WHEREAS, the Retail Excellence Initiative in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Collat School of Business promotes the study and practice of retailing in Alabama and the pursuit of careers in retailing by UAB students; and
WHEREAS, the 4,000-member Alabama Retail Association and Firestone Complete Auto Care join the Retail Excellence Initiative in this mission; and
WHEREAS, these three organizations graciously will be the hosts for the 33rd Annual Alabama Retail Day on Tuesday, September 23, 2014:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim September 23, 2014, as
Alabama Retail Day
in the state of Alabama.
Provided by the Office of the Governor of Alabama | governor.alabama.gov