The National Flea Market Association (NFMA) held its fourth annual “Day on the Hill” in Washington, DC, October 2-3. During the event, NFMA members had 15 meetings with different Congress people and Senators, and also presented its Legislator of the Year award.
The Day on the Hill went very well, “in spite of the government shutdown,” says John Chism, GM of Quakertown Farmers Market and Flea Market in Bucks County, PA. Chism is also a NFMA past president, board member and co-chairman of the association’s legislative committee. “We were able to spread the word that the NFMA is around, and that we have people available to the legislators if they have questions about legislation that may involve our industry. We discussed in general terms a couple of the bills that are out there now like the ORC (Organized Retail Crime) and the Mainstreet Fairness Act.”
The NFMA’s position is that all types of retail should be treated the same. “We do not object to any particular legislation, but we do object to legislation that singles out flea markets or that specifically names flea markets. Our mantra is that all forms of retail be treated equally and that no one be taxed unfairly. We do not want other forms of retail being taxed differently than the flea market industry,” Chism explains.
During the October event, the NFMA named Congressman James Gerlach (R-PA) Legislator of the Year. “We chose Jim based on his record and history of work on small business issues,” Chism continues. “The Congressman has a strong background in promoting and protecting small business along the lines of assisting small businesses with taxes, training programs and funding. He is very active in those areas.”
The 2014 NFMA Annual Conference will be held February 12-13, 2014, at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. For more information on the NFMA, visit www.fleamarkets.org, and to learn more about the conference, click on the More / Conference tab at the top of the page.