BFMW In the News

By the Editorial Board
St. Louis Post Dispatch, Aug 4, 2018

St. Louis hourly workers benefited briefly last year from an ordinance raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour within the city, well above Missouri’s then-statewide level of $7.70. ... It took just four months for the Republican-led Legislature to step in and override the city ordinance with a state law forcing St. Louis’ minimum wage back down to the lower state standard. ...

By Will Schmitt
Springfield News-Leader, Aug. 3, 2018

A proposal increasing Missouri's minimum wage by roughly 50 percent by 2023 has gained the support of a coalition of small businesses across the state. Currently, the state's minimum wage is $7.85 per hour. A proposal raising that rate to $12 per hour over five years was certified Thursday by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, and advocates announced the support of more than 300 business people in the state via a coalition called Missouri Business for a Fair Minimum Wage.

By Ray Scherer 
St. Joseph News Press (MO), Aug 3, 2018

Two Downtown businesses are among those already staking out their positions in support of a minimum wage hike that will be placed before Missouri voters this fall. ...

Proponents hail the idea as necessary to aid small businesses and families. A small number of St. Joseph businesses have signed on as members of Business For a Fair Minimum Wage ...

Dana Massin, owner of Manic Snail, is among those on the list in favor of raising the wage.

By Christopher Rugaber
Associated Press (AP), Aug 3, 2018

With the U.S. unemployment rate near a five-decade low, companies are looking harder for employees, and in some cases finding them right at their own workplaces. ...

By Kurt Erickson
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aug 2, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY • Missouri voters will get a chance to weigh in on legalizing medical marijuana, tightening government ethics laws and raising the minimum wage in November, after state officials approved five ballot initiatives Thursday. ... Also on the ballot will be a question on whether to raise Missouri's minimum wage to $12 by 2023. The current minimum wage is $7.85 an hour.

Supporters say phasing in the increase will give businesses adequate time to adjust to the higher costs.

By Rudi Keller
Columbia Daily Tribune, Aug 2, 2018

... Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft on Thursday certified five ballot measures for the Nov. 6 election. ...

The two other initiatives approved Thursday have strong campaigns backing their efforts. Missouri’s minimum wage is currently $7.85 an hour, a level 60 cents higher than the federal minimum thanks to an inflation adjustment included in a 2006 ballot measure. If passed, the minimum would increase to $8.60 on Jan. 1 and go up 85 cents a year until it reaches $12.

By Allison Kite
Kansas City Star, Aug 2, 2018

... Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft on Thursday certified five initiative petitions to appear on November’s general election ballot. ... The fifth petition would raise the minimum wage to $8.65 per hour next year and boost it by $0.85 each year until it reaches $12 per hour in 2023. ...

By Rudi Keller
Mexico Ledger (MO), Aug 2, 2018

... Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft on Thursday certified five ballot measures for the Nov. 6 election. The medical marijuana proposals will appear alongside two other measures proposed by petition: Amendment 1, which would strengthen ethics laws and revise how election districts are decided, and Proposition B, which would raise the minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2023. ...

Op-Ed By Chris Lu, former Dep Labor Secretary
This week marks the ninth anniversary of the last time the federal minimum wage was raised on July 24, 2009. ... employers around the country agree that higher wages are good for the bottom line. ...

Rick Smith Show, July 23, 2018
Michael O'Connor, Owner of La Barberia in Philadelphia and Jenkintown, PA and member of the group Business for a Fair Minimum Wage joins Rick to explain why he supports raising the minimum wage...

Op-Ed By Michael Kanter, Owner, Cambridge Naturals
...My daughter Emily and I give a seminar called “Stand Out Or Watch Out: How to Be Extraordinary in a Competitive Retail Environment.” One of the key points we make is how vital it is to create a business culture that motivates your staff and keeps customers coming in your doors. ...

By Shira Schoenberg
Springfield Republican/MassLive, June 27, 2018

BOSTON -- Gov. Charlie Baker plans to sign a bill on Thursday that will reshape Massachusetts' workplaces, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and instituting a paid family leave program. ...

Holly Sklar, CEO of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a group of businesses that advocated in favor of the minimum wage increase, called the boost to a $15 an hour wage a "win-win" for businesses. 

By Dan Brenikov
Ogilvy, May 24, 2018

Last week in New York, PSFK held a conference that brought together influential thinkers in branding, technology, retail, marketing and more to discuss the latest in how these spaces continue to intersect, and how consumer behavior affects all of it. We came out of the conference with some key takeaways, trends that appear to be crucial for those in marketing—particularly brand strategists—to keep top of mind. ...

5. Brands Need A Purpose, And Need To Live It

Forbes Small Giants
Forbes, May 2018

The third annual Small Giants list celebrates 25 standout businesses that favor greatness over growth... The companies are all privately owned, profitable, at least ten years old and were selected based on factors including community involvement, commitment to staff and industry excellence. ...

Op-Ed By Mary Faucett, Owner, Bambino's Cafe
... When Missouri raises the minimum wage, and all businesses, including the large chains, have to pay a decent wage, it will level the playing field for us little guys and help us grow our business. ...