St. Paul (October 3, 2024) – The Minnesota Retailers Association is thrilled to recognize Latuff Brothers Auto Body with the Customer Experience award as part of the 2024-2025 Minnesota Retail Champions program.

"Latuff Brothers Auto Body embodies what it means to prioritize the customer," said Bruce Nustad, President of Minnesota Retailers. "Their dedication to clear communication, top-quality workmanship, and outstanding customer satisfaction sets a high bar in their industry. Customers expect expertise alongside convenience and transparency, and Latuff Brothers consistently delivers on both, making them a true leader in customer experience across Minnesota."

Robert Latuff, one of the proud owners of Latuff Brothers Auto Body, explained their customer-centric approach: "The reason customers love coming to us is because they trust us. They know that when they bring their vehicle in, we have the expertise and a long history of delivering excellent service, which gives them peace of mind."

“An auto body shop works with people who are under the stress of a damaged vehicle, and sometimes personal injury too,” said Chad Kulas, Executive Director of the Midway Chamber of Commerce. “Having a company like Latuff Brothers who takes care of the customer and makes them feel special is so important and can make a big difference to someone.”

With over 90 years of serving the Twin Cities community, Latuff Brothers Auto Body has earned a reputation for not just fixing vehicles but restoring customers' confidence. Their focus on clear communication, regular updates, and ensuring that every customer feels heard and valued throughout the repair process has set them apart. From the initial estimate to the completed repair, Latuff Brothers ensures the entire experience is seamless and stress-free.

Latuff Brothers Auto Body was nominated by the Midway Chamber of Commerce and is the sole recipient of the Customer Experience award in the Minnesota Retail Champions program. Nine other organizations and individuals will also be honored in categories such as Retailer of the Year, Retail Mentor of the Year, Advocate of the Year, Vendor Partner of the Year, Retail Innovation, Social Responsibility, Retail Community of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Best Place to Work.

The Latuff’s will receive the award at the Retail Rally event on Thursday, October 10, 2024, starting at 2:00 p.m. at Brookview in Golden Valley. The event will include an engaging panel discussion titled “Game Changers: Transforming the Retail Landscape in Minnesota,” featuring speakers like Minny & Paul founder Laura Roos, Nosh Posh founder Tatiana Freeman, and Victual owner and president Paul Kirkman, and Ali Kaplan with Twin Cities Business. For more event details, visit www.retailrally.com.

Click here to watch a video featuing this award winner!

Click here to see all the 2024-2025 Minnesota's Retail Champions.

Click here to see all the photos from Retail Rally.

About Minnesota Retailers: Minnesota Retailers is a non-profit association formed to improve communities through a holistic investment in retail, representing small, regional, and national retailers. Our mission is to ensure collective success across Minnesota by advancing retail for businesses, employees, consumers, and policymakers. Our vision is to be the driving force in the evolution of the state's retail landscape through advocacy, valuable insights, and championing innovation. More at www.mnretail.org.

Contact: Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 227-6631

St. Paul (October 3, 2024) – Minnesota Retailers is excited to announce Cry Baby Craig’s, as the recipient of its Vendor Partner of the Year award, part of the 2024-2025 Minnesota Retail Champions program.

“Cry Baby Craig’s truly embodies what it means to be an outstanding vendor and retail partner,” said Bruce Nustad, President of Minnesota Retailers. “Their commitment to delivering a top-tier product, combined with their proactive approach to working closely with retailers, has not only fueled their own growth but also elevated the businesses they collaborate with. They set the gold standard for what we seek in a vendor partner.”

Craig Kaiser, Founder and co-owner of Cry Baby Craig’s, expressed his gratitude: "Receiving this award is such an incredible honor. We feel fortunate to do what we love, and one of the best parts of it is building relationships with retailers. Creating a bond not only with them but also with their customers, who then become our customers, is really something special.”

Cry Baby Craig’s, renowned for its innovative and locally crafted hot sauces, has garnered a loyal following among both retailers and consumers. Their dedication to quality, creativity, and community has solidified their position as a standout in Minnesota’s dynamic food scene.

Cry Baby Craig’s is the sole recipient of the Vendor Partner of the Year award within the Minnesota Retail Champions program. Nine other organizations and individuals will also be honored in categories such as Retailer of the Year, Retail Mentor of the Year, Advocate of the Year, Retail Innovation, Customer Experience, Social Responsibility, Retail Community of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Best Place to Work.

Kaiser and his co-owner Sam Bonin will receive the award at the Retail Rally event on Thursday, October 10, 2024, starting at 2:00 p.m. at Brookview in Golden Valley. The event will include an engaging panel discussion titled “Game Changers: Transforming the Retail Landscape in Minnesota,” featuring speakers like Minny & Paul founder Laura Roos, Nosh Posh founder Tatiana Freeman, and Victual owner and president Paul Kirkman, and Ali Kaplan with Twin Cities Business. For more event details, visit www.retailrally.com.

Click here to watch a video featuing this award winner!

Click here to see award winner photos.

Click here to see all the 2024-2025 Minnesota's Retail Champions.

Click here to see all the photos from Retail Rally.

About Minnesota Retailers: Minnesota Retailers is a non-profit association formed to improve communities through a holistic investment in retail, representing small, regional, and national retailers. Our mission is to ensure collective success across Minnesota by advancing retail for businesses, employees, consumers, and policymakers. Our vision is to be the driving force in the evolution of the state's retail landscape through advocacy, valuable insights, and championing innovation. More at www.mnretail.org.

Contact: Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 227-6631

At Minnesota Retailers, our mission is to ensure collective success across the state by continually advancing retail—encompassing retailers, partners, employees, consumers, and policymakers.

Retail businesses are the backbone of our communities. They drive economic activity, create jobs, contribute to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods, and serve as vital links in the supply chain that connects Minnesota to the world. Your presence here today underscores the crucial role you play in shaping the policies that impact this dynamic industry.

We invite you to review our six proposed policy priorities, which are key to ensuring that communities in Minnesota thrive. Your feedback is invaluable to us as we strive to craft policies that support workforce development, encourage innovation, and remove barriers to growth. By working together, we can sustain and enhance the economic vitality of the state.

Proposed Priorities

• Cultivate a Competitive Retail Landscape for Minnesotans
  
  Minnesota retailers operate in an increasingly hyper-competitive environment, where success hinges on the state's ability to balance critical factors such as taxes, regulations, environmental stewardship, and overall competitiveness. By balancing these prioritizes, the state can better support consumers, workers, and the retail economy, which plays a vital role in contributing to Minnesota's prosperity.
  
  
• Support Retailers & Communities with a Vendor Collection Allowance
  
  Retailers bear the full cost of collecting and remitting sales taxes to the state. A state task force on local sales taxes recommends investing in our retail partners by offering an allowance to offset these collection costs.
  
  
• Modernize Alcohol Regulations to Reflect Consumer Preferences
  
  Minnesota is unique in its restriction of beer and wine sales primarily to liquor stores and we are the last state to license 3.2 beer. Minnesotans should have the option, clarity, and convenience of buying full-strength beer, including local brews, in grocery and convenience stores.
  
  
• Combat Organized Retail Crime with Dedicated Resources & Coordination
  
  Following the passage of a bill defining organized retail crime (ORC) in 2023, our next step is to establish and fund a state ORC workgroup. This group, modeled after successful collaborations in other states, would use a coordinated, cross-agency approach to quickly identify and shut down organized crime rings.
  
  
• Enhance Healthcare Accessibility at Retail Pharmacies
  
  Community pharmacies play a vital role in providing healthcare services to Minnesotans. Updating laws and regulations is essential to ensure these services continue to be accessible across the state.
  
  
• Promote Workforce Participation & Development with Affordable Childcare
  
  A strong and resilient workforce is essential for Minnesota's economy. The Department of Employment and Economic Development projects that there will be 125,000 retail sales and supervisor openings over the next decade. Addressing the childcare shortage will help more Minnesotans enter and stay in the workforce.

>> Click here to weigh-in on these priorities and tell us about yours!