ARA

Silver Retailer of the Year Cited for Adaptability

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Photos from award ceremony available upon request

BIRMINGHAM, AL – The Alabama Retail Association (ARA) in cooperation with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) today recognized nine outstanding Alabama retailers as “Retailers of the Year.” The presentations were made at The Club in Birmingham during the UAB School of Business’ 2009 Retail Day Luncheon. This marked the 10th presentation of the Retailer of the Year Awards since 1999.

Mazer Photo Mazerlogo Michael Mazer , president of MAZER DI$COUNT $UPER$TORE, a Homewood home building, remodeling and decorating store, received the Silver Award in the “Annual Sales More Than $5 Million” category. Tricia Ford, executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce, nominated Mazer for this prestigious award.           

Mazer has spent the past year “coping with the most difficult economic times since my grandfather founded this company during the Depression,” he said in his Retailer of the Year entry. That has meant closing one location and eliminating the building supply side of the third-generation family business. All of the company’s operations and its 150 employees have been consolidated into the 260,000-square-foot Homewood store.  Dropping the depressed segment of the business and slashing operational costs allowed the Homewood store to actually see increased sales over last year.

The Retailer of the Year judges cited Mazer for being able to adapt to the changing market.

Ford recommended Mazer for this award because he is “very customer- and civic-oriented.” David Fleming, executive director of Main Street Birmingham, noted in a letter supporting the nomination that MAZER DI$COUNT $UPER$TORE is “recognized for its innovation and creativity in order to save the customer money.”

“While our locations and products have changed through the years,” the company’s history states, “we continue to offer the best prices and best service anywhere for our valued customers.”

Dedication to the customer even influences technology decisions such as use of a state-of-the-art GPS and routing system for more timely deliveries and an Internet-hosted reward program for frequent buyers.

Fleming credits Mazer for helping secure a $3 million grant to renovate historic Avondale Park, the original site of the Birmingham Zoo, home of the 1953 Little League World Champions and location of a 70-year-old, 1,000-seat amphitheater. Mazer, through his position as president of the Avondale Business Association, along with other neighborhood nonprofit organizations, lobbied the city of Birmingham to fund the renovation. “This much needed park revitalization would not have been possible without Mazer’s leadership,” Fleming said.

While Mazer worked hard for the restoration of a neighborhood jewel to its former glory, he also looks
to the future of retailing through sponsorship of Junior Achievement programs at Homewood High School.

“Michael Mazer is a retailer of the year EVERY year to his employees and the Homewood area,” said ARA President Rick Brown.

 

>>Previous Retailers of the Year

 

Media Contact:  Michael Mazer | MAZER DI$COUNT $UPER$TORE | mmazer@mazer.com

Media Contact: Nancy Dennis | 334.263.5757 EXT.101