Links
National Retail Associations
- National Retail Federation
The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet, independent stores, chain restaurants, drug stores and grocery stores as well as the industry's key trading partners of retail goods and services.
- Retail Industry Leaders Association
RILA is the home of the world's largest and fastest growing retail and consumer products companies, whose executives participate in RILA for its unique educational forums, its effective public policy advocacy, and its advancement of the retail industry.
Retail Sales
- Maine's Retail Sales Reports
The Economics and Demographics Team conducts ongoing analysis of Maine’s economy to inform planning and policy decisions made throughout the state. The team assists the Governor, Legislature, and other state agencies in monitoring the Maine economy, formulating and evaluating economic initiatives, analyzing policy alternatives, and pursuing sustainable economic growth. The team also staffs the Consensus Economic Forecasting Commission; serves as the State’s official liaison to the Census Bureau; and operates the State Data Center, which provides access to data produced by the US Census Bureau.
This is an excellent look at current and historical data on retail sales.
Legislative and State Agencies
- Visit Maine!
The official website for visitors to the State of Maine. Where to visit; where to stay; where to shop; where to eat.
Federal Agencies and Links
- Consumer Products Safety Council Recalls
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products. You can find information on over 4,000 product recalls and recall alerts using the various searches on this page.
Congress
Small Business
- Office of Women's Business Ownership
The Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) assists women achieve their dreams and improve their communities by helping them start and run successful businesses, regardless of social or financial disadvantage, race, ethnicity or business background. OWBO and the Women’s Business Center Program are integral components of Entrepreneurial Development’s network of training and counseling services.
- Retail Software Advice
Retail Software Advice is a free online resource that helps retailers find software. They review and compare retail management systems, and write best practices articles to help retailers with their research.
Publications
- Mainebiz
Maine's premier statewide business news publication. Every two weeks, we deliver news and opinion from Maine's business community to readers from Fort Kent to Kittery. Smart, informed, engaging, irreverent — that's why more and more readers are turning to Mainebiz to find out what makes the state's business scene tick. At Mainebiz, we make Maine's business our business.
Maine Chambers of Commerce