The Virginia Retail Merchants Association, a trade association
that represents retailers and other businesses, is organized to
educate, inform, and serve as a resource for our members. The VRMA
supports reasonable and proper laws protecting the interests of
our members. Special emphasis is directed towards fostering understanding
of retailing, free trade, and free enterprise systems.
May 6, 2005 marks the 100th anniversary of the Virginia Retail Merchants Association. The Virginia Retail Merchants Association and its retail member associations represent more than 5,400 retailers and other associated businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
It was formed in 1905 by a group of retail business owners to encourage, stimulate, extend and promote the business of retail merchants in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to promote the social, moral and financial welfare of those engaged in the business of retail merchandising. It has tirelessly worked toward abatement of trade abuses in the retail industry and any other injurious and unbusinesslike practices and to secure the cooperation of consumers, retail merchants, and retail suppliers in producing a healthy condition of retail trade.
The Virginia Retail Merchants Association has sought, with measured success, to secure the enactment of reasonable and proper laws that protect the consumer public and the retail and services trade. It continues to encourage proper and businesslike methods in the conduct of business affairs and to advance by legitimate and fair means the interest of retail merchants and the free enterprise system.
The VRMA shares much in common with local merchants associations and chambers of commerce. But, there is one important difference - while these local organizations focus on issues and events at the local level, the VRMA is able to focus its work on the state and national levels. In this way, we are able to compliment the work of local groups and provide a full range of service to those members who join both the VRMA and the local retail merchants association in their area.
Our members come from across the commonwealth of Virginia and are as diverse as the products they sell — convenience, department, drug, grocery, hardware, apparel, building supply, automobile, sports — are all examples of the variety of stores that compose our membership. The VRMA is financed by dues paid directly by our members. Dues to the VRMA are nearly 90% tax deductible as a necessary business expense.
The Association, over the years, charted many local retail merchants associations. Some of the more active ones today are: The Lynchburg Retail Merchants Association, the Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond, the Petersburg Retail Merchants Association, the Danville Retail Merchants Association, the Franklin County Retail Merchants Association, the South Boston Retail Merchants Association and the Charlottesville Retail Merchants Association. The Association formed the Virginia Retail Political Action Committee (VARPAC) in 1978. It has been the voice of the free enterprise system these last 100 years.
Location
The Virginia Retail Merchants Association's offices are strategically located near Capital Square, so that our staff can interact daily with legislators.
Virginia Retail Merchants Association
701 E. Franklin Street
Suite 809
Richmond, VA 23219
1-800-232-VRMA (8762) vrma@virginiaretail.org
