Earlier this month, we shared five different ways that the Retailers Association can save you money. This week, we’re back with five MORE ways we can enhance your business and save your hard-earned cash.
 
1. Credit Card Processing
The South Dakota Retailers Association has negotiated a very low rate for credit card processing through Worldpay, and we may be able to reduce your fees significantly. Worldpay will securely process all popular payment types and we have various options, including point-of-sale systems, that can accommodate virtually any business. Hundreds of South Dakota businesses already use this popular service.
 
2. Self-funded health plans and 401(k) retirement plans
Hahn Financial Group in Sioux Falls offers options for health or retirement plans at a discount to Retailers Association members. If your business has two or more employees, and you’ve been thinking about health insurance for your staff, you could be eligible to participate in a self-funded Association Health Plan. And starting a 401(k) retirement plan is becoming more popular as a way to retain quality employees. 
 
3. DirecTV discounts
If you use DirecTV in your business, we can get you a discount on your service. Retailers Association members get a guaranteed price for two years, you’ll save $20 per month when you enroll in auto bill pay, and DirecTV will waive some of the initial fees.
 
4. Vision Insurance
Retailers Association members receive a discounted rate though our partner, Optilegra. Optilegra’s vision plan is accepted by 98% of the vision centers in South Dakota and it offers discounts for LASIK procedures at Vance Thompson Vision, the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute, and the Wright Vision Center, among others. This service is growing in popularity as businesses look at new ways to retain employees.
 
5. Information Technology and Data Security
Infotech provides a variety of IT and data security services, and we use their phishing email training service with our staff members to help identify and dispose of the spam emails that are becoming more and more prevalent. Infotech will also conduct a free security assessment for Retailers Association members.
 
To learn more about these and our other money-saving services, call our office at 605-224-5050 or navigate to the Membership tab and click on Member Services.

As workforce challenges, supply chain issues, and inflationary increases continue, many businesses are looking for ways to reduce costs and become more efficient.
 
Here are five ways the Retailers Association can enhance your business and save you money:
 
1. Free human resources attorney
If you’re unsure how to handle a situation with one of your employees, Chris Hoyme with the Jackson Lewis law firm is available for free to answer your basic HR-related questions.  This $565 per hour value is available at no cost to Retailers Association members – be sure to tell them you’re a member! Call Chris at 1-800-729-1441 or email him at hoymec@jacksonlewis.com .
 
2. Reduced cost shipping
Fuel surcharges and higher labor costs have increased shipping costs for many businesses.  Retailers Association members can receive 40% off of shipping costs with FedEx Express and 30% off of FedEx Ground.  Enroll for free at sdra.org and start saving money today!
 
3. Music Licensing
Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, event venues and other businesses that play music for their customers are responsible for purchasing a music license so singers and songwriters receive compensation for their work. Through our relationship with BMI, Retailers Association members receive a 20% discount on their BMI license agreement.
 
4. Dental Insurance
With 1.8% unemployment in South Dakota, many businesses are looking for ways to attract and retain quality employees.  Some businesses are offering enhanced benefits, including dental insurance from Delta Dental. Retailers Association members receive preferred pricing for this cost-effective benefit.
 
5. Social Media Marketing
Advertising your business is more important than ever, and reaching potential customers on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and other forms of social media is a must.  Through our partnership with Black Hills Social Media Marketing, Retailers Association members receive a quality service at a discounted rate.
 
These are just a handful of the money-saving services offered through the South Dakota Retailers Association. To learn more, call our office at 605-224-5050 or navigate to the Membership tab and click on Member Services.

Often, we hear from many of our 4,000 members that finding and retaining a good workforce is an ongoing issue in their businesses. As an association, we've heard many fresh, creative, and inspiring ideas to solve this issue, so we compiled them into a list below.

​For a pdf version of these tips, download the file at the bottom of the page.

UTILIZING EXISTING PROGRAMS

1. Build Dakota Scholarship​
Beck Motors in Pierre became an industry partner for the scholarship program created for skilled scholars entering high-demand programs at South Dakota technical colleges. Visit www.builddakotascholarships.com for more information.
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2. $1000 SDRA Workforce Incentive
A $1,000 workforce incentive paid directly to an employee hired from out-of-state to work in a Retailers Association member-business. Fifty members have already used this program. Visit sdra.org/1kworkforce for more information.
Applications no longer be accepted after November 1, 2023.

3. Hiring Employees with Disabilities
​The state Division of Rehabilitation Services offers technical assistance and solutions for recruiting, hiring, retaining, or advancing employees with disabilities. Learn more at https://dhs.sd.gov/rehabservices/ .

4. Internships/Apprenticeships
​South Dakota has programs to help businesses with internships and apprenticeships.  Dakota Seeds is a program of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development that connects students with employers. The Start Today SD Apprenticeship Program helps businesses develop Registered Apprenticeship Programs to develop fully trained employees. For more information visit  https://sdgoed.com/partners/financing-incentives/dakota-seeds/ or www.starttodaysd.com .

SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT

5. Partner with a High School Program​
Schulte Subaru & Harrisburg High School have partnered to help teach students automotive technology by bringing Schulte Subaru cars to the high school to allow students to learn on real cars. Contact your local high school about potential opportunities.

6. Junior Achievement​
Volunteer to teach students in grades 3-12 about work and career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy, while talking about your own business. Exec. Dir. Nathan Sanderson is a state board member and many staff and members teach JA to reach potential future employees. Visit southdakota.ja.org for more information.

7. Week of Work​
South Dakota’s Week of Work introduces middle and high school students to career opportunities in their own communities and across the state through job shadows, industry tours, and other business-classroom connections. Visit weekofwork.sd.gov for more information.

8. ProStart​®​
ProStart® is a two-year, industry-backed culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school students. Operated by the Retailers Association, there are 21 schools in South Dakota utilizing ProStart®. Restaurants find ProStart® students to have many of the skills needed for success in their restaurants. For more information visit sdra.org/prostart .

HIRING & RETAINING LOYAL EMPLOYEES

9. Reward Employees with Experiences
​Dempsey’s Restaurant and Brewery in Watertown and Montgomery’s Furniture provide trips and other “experiences” as incentives, rather than financial bonuses. They’ve found that employees remember those memories longer than bonus money.

10. College Bound Program​
Dairy Queen in Pierre offers the “College Bound” program, where high school students earn money for college in addition to their regular wages while working at the business. Other businesses assist with student loan repayments.  For more information as to how you can set up your business for the College Bound program, visit www.collegeboundinc.com

11. Creative Benefits
​Implement creative, nontraditional benefits for your employees. Some businesses give time off for an employee’s birthday; others offer free food, or massages, or books; some provide flexibility during the day to run errands or pick up children; others offer in-house daycare, or partner with other businesses to provide a central daycare for more than one business. Others allow pets to come to work too. The sky’s the limit!

12. Traditional Financial Benefits
​Many businesses are offering 401(k) retirement benefits, or health, vision, or dental insurance. The South Dakota Retailers Association offers discounted rates for these and a variety of other services that employees appreciate.

13. Hire Customers
​Regular customers already enjoy your business, and they can become valuable members of your team as well. Recruit good customers to share their enjoyment of your business.

14. Hire the Unexpected​
Former prison inmates often appreciate the opportunity to get back on their feet and demonstrate their efforts to become contributing citizens. Lutheran Social Services is one point of contact for connecting with these individuals. lsssd.org/what-we-do/re-entry-services/index.html . Also, individuals at retirement age may be interested in fulfilling part-time work. See www.activegenerations.org for more information about hiring retirement age employees.

15. Job Sharing
​​Have a part-time employee that wants to put in more hours? Partner with another business to have that individual work part-time in both yours and your partner’s businesses.  A winning situation for all!