Washington Retail Association

Washington Retail Association Mission: Advocate for the retail industry to the public and at all levels of government and provide members programs of value.

To represent the legislative, regulatory and political interests of the retailing industry in the State of Washington at the local, state and national level; to promote the orderly development and economic advancement of Washington retailing and the state as a whole; to stimulate and enhance competitive enterprise with community responsibility; to provide programs of service and action in promotin

g the common interests of members; and to secure cooperation with and among other organizations in the furtherance of those objectives.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is facing growing criticism after the departure of Police Chief Shon Barnes, with concerns ra...
08/13/2026

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is facing growing criticism after the departure of Police Chief Shon Barnes, with concerns raised by City Councilmembers, community leaders, and The Seattle Times editorial board.

Within a few days of the tragic mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival on the Seattle Center campus, Mayor Katie Wilson gave Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes a choice – quit or be terminated. Upon receiving his resignation, the Mayor named Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as the interim Police Chi...

Vancouver has changed how police handle certain misdemeanor offenses, including shoplifting, as the city responds to an ...
08/13/2026

Vancouver has changed how police handle certain misdemeanor offenses, including shoplifting, as the city responds to an ongoing shortage of public defenders and new statewide caseload standards.

Read more about what’s changing and the concerns being raised:

Image: Clark County The City of Vancouver has changed how police handle certain misdemeanor offenses, including shoplifting, after ongoing shortages of public defenders created challenges in meeting legal requirements for timely representation. Under the new process, officers will no longer routinel...

Washington Retail Association members are showing up for Spokane.Gap Inc., Lowe’s, and Walmart are supporting families a...
08/12/2026

Washington Retail Association members are showing up for Spokane.

Gap Inc., Lowe’s, and Walmart are supporting families and communities impacted by the wildfires through discounts, emergency supplies, charitable giving, and other recovery efforts.

We’re proud to see WR members helping meet immediate needs and supporting the Spokane region as recovery continues.

WR members Gap, Lowe’s and Walmart are stepping up to support Spokane wildfire recovery with discounts, emergency supplies, donations and other assistance for impacted families.

Image: Spokane Valley Fire Department Wildfires continue to impact communities across the Spokane area in what officials have described as the largest natural disaster in the city’s history. The Spokane Complex Fire, which includes the Old Trails, Fairview, and Autumn Lane fires, has forced the ev...

At a time when Seattle is becoming less affordable, Seattle LatinoMetropolitan Chamber of Commerce Founder and CEO Marco...
08/12/2026

At a time when Seattle is becoming less affordable, Seattle LatinoMetropolitan Chamber of Commerce Founder and CEO Marcos Wanless warned the Seattle City Council that their new pricing ordinance would do more to raise prices than lower them for consumers.

"This new pricing ordinance would have serious economic consequences for consumers and grocery retailers in Seattle. It would eliminate the discounts, reward programs and other cost-saving measures Seattle consumers rely on to keep grocery costs down. This ordinance would drive them up."

Read the full release here:

Email from Latino Chamber of Commerce View as Webpage Responsible/Contact: Mary Paz, 206 690 9421 email: [email protected] For Immediate Release Seattle Latino Chamber Calls out Economics of Sea

Spokane County voters will decide this August whether to renew a transit sales tax that helps fund the Spokane Transit A...
08/07/2026

Spokane County voters will decide this August whether to renew a transit sales tax that helps fund the Spokane Transit Authority.

Here's a look at what's at stake and the arguments from both supporters and opponents.

Spokane County voters will decide in the August primary whether to renew a 0.2% sales tax that supports the Spokane Transit Authority (STA). If approved, the measure would extend the tax for another 20 years, maintaining a rate first approved by voters in 2016. The tax is scheduled to expire in 2028...

Washington's first automatic gas tax increase is now in effect, with future increases scheduled annually under a 2025 la...
08/06/2026

Washington's first automatic gas tax increase is now in effect, with future increases scheduled annually under a 2025 law that indexes the tax to inflation.

Learn what changed and why it matters for drivers and businesses:

Image: Washington Policy Center Washington drivers are paying more at the pump following the state's first automatic fuel tax increase, which took effect July 1. The increase stems from legislation approved in 2025 that indexes the state gas tax to inflation, allowing it to rise by 2 percent annuall...

Pasco is investing in future growth. A proposed $3.8 million road project would improve access, reduce future congestion...
08/05/2026

Pasco is investing in future growth. A proposed $3.8 million road project would improve access, reduce future congestion, and support continued development in the Broadmoor area.

The City of Pasco is moving forward with a $3.8 million road project designed to support future growth in the Broadmoor development area while helping prevent the traffic congestion experienced along Road 68. The proposed project would realign Old Harris Road, disconnecting it from Broadmoor Bouleva...

Organized retail theft remains a challenge for businesses across Washington. The Seattle Police Department recently arre...
08/04/2026

Organized retail theft remains a challenge for businesses across Washington. The Seattle Police Department recently arrested 13 people during a targeted retail theft operation at a Capitol Hill Walgreens, recovering stolen merchandise and working alongside store loss prevention staff.

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) reported 13 arrests following a retail theft operation at the Walgreens location on 15th Avenue East in Capitol Hill. The operation, conducted Friday, involved undercover SPD officers working with store loss prevention staff to identify individuals suspected of th...

Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke is raising concerns about Washington's long term business climate, pointing to state spen...
08/04/2026

Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke is raising concerns about Washington's long term business climate, pointing to state spending, fiscal management, and economic competitiveness as key issues discussed during a recent business summit.

Image: Jennifer Buchanan / The Seattle Times Seattle Kraken President and CEO Tod Leiweke expressed concerns about Washington's fiscal direction during the Economic Future Solutions Summit hosted by the Association of Washington Business Institute and the Washington Roundtable. Speaking on a panel w...

Organized retail crime is evolving beyond traditional theft, with fraud networks increasingly using digital tools, stole...
08/03/2026

Organized retail crime is evolving beyond traditional theft, with fraud networks increasingly using digital tools, stolen payment information and retail platforms to target businesses. New tap-to-pay schemes and compromised digital wallets are creating additional challenges for retailers and law enforcement.

Learn more about how these digital fraud rings are impacting retailers:

Organized retail crime is increasingly moving beyond traditional theft, with criminal networks using digital tools, stolen payment information and retail platforms to commit large-scale fraud, according to a recent CNBC investigation. Law enforcement officials say some organized groups are using sto...

Address

618 Quince Street SE
Olympia, WA
98501

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13609439198

Website

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