Illinois Retail Merchants Association

New data from Circana reveals that 76% of holiday shoppers say product review videos are likely to sway their buying decisions. Retail Dive explores the data and how social media is shaping the holiday shopping season below:

Happy Halloween! Thank you to all our members and retailers across Illinois for supplying our favorite #Halloween must-haves to celebrate the spooky season. 👻

As American Pharmacists Month comes to a close, we're proud to highlight Edwin Muldrow, the owner and pharmacist at Del-Kar Pharmacy in Chicago. Edwin has been serving his community with care and dedication for over three decades, continuing the legacy his father began in 1960 when he opened Del-Kar in the city's North Lawndale neighborhood. Learn more about Edwin and Del-Kar Pharmacy's rich history in our "We Are Retail" campaign at https://ow.ly/otjJ50Ra3h6. #IRMAWeAreRetail

As part of our Partner Connection series, IRMA President & CEO Rob Karr discusses the importance of optimizing your business’ healthcare options on behalf of IRMA Mission Partner Guy Viti Insurance & Viti Financial | The Viti Companies. Want to dive deeper into the topic? Viti Companies’ recently recorded webinar explores strategies for enhancing benefits and navigating the complexities of today’s market. Watch it here: https://ow.ly/OxJG50TWm9G.

Almost half of households boosting their plant-based spend cited health as a primary motivator, according to a new report from 84.51˚. Get more insight into consumer spending on plant-based foods via Progressive Grocer:

Dana Gordon’s love for jewelry began early, spending days off from school at her father’s factory on Jewelers Row in the Chicago Loop, where she dreamed up designs and learned the trade alongside her siblings. “I feel like I have diamonds in my DNA, and it is just running through my blood” said Dana, the founder and CEO of Dana Rebecca Designs. “I’m a third-generation jewelry designer, and I take so much pride in what I do, following in the footsteps of the great men before me – my grandfather and my father.” This week, we’re thrilled to feature Dana Rebecca Designs in IRMA's “We Are Retail” campaign showcasing the retailers who make Illinois work. With two showrooms in Chicago and one in New York City, Dana’s designs blend luxury and accessibility, attracting Hollywood A-listers like Oprah Winfrey and Taylor Swift. While Dana Rebecca Designs brings a fresh perspective to the jewelry world, it still honors her family’s time-tested techniques. Many of the same artists who worked with her father now craft jewelry for her and her siblings, Jen Wainstein and Noah Levy, who help lead the brand as partners. Watch Dana’s inspiring retail story and discover how she’s uplifting women through her “Female Founded Friday” initiative: https://ow.ly/j8Pi50TUWrX. #IRMAWeAreRetail

Halloween spending has grown over 250% in the last 20 years, according to the National Retail Federation. Examine the factors behind the holiday's popularity and how retailers are meeting rising consumer demand via Retail Dive:

New data from PYMNTS reveals consumers still overwhelmingly prefer in-person grocery shopping. Dive into the data and discover how consumers' payment preferences differ depending on whether they're shopping in-store or online:

As part of our Partner Connection series, IRMA President & CEO Rob Karr discusses the crucial role pharmacists play in our communities on behalf of our trusted Mission Partner Bamboo Health.   Visit IRMA’s website at www.irma.org and click on the “Partners” tab to contact Bamboo Health today and learn how its PMP Gateway solution is helping pharmacists make safer, more informed decisions.

More than a third of consumers will purchase an artificial Christmas tree this year, according to a new survey from the National Tree Company. Chain Store Age breaks down the data and explores consumer sentiments on holiday décor below: