NRF DEBUTS NEXT PHASE OF AD CAMPAIGN AGAINST BORDER ADJUSTMENT TAX

The National Retail Federation is launching the next phase of its television and digital ad campaign against House Republicans’ proposed border adjustment tax, beginning with a two-week buy in the congressional districts of several Republican members of the House. The new ads will direct viewers to go to stopthebat.tax and tell their members of Congress to oppose the BAT.

In the new campaign, three small actual retailers –– Erin Calvo-Bacci, the owner of CB Stuffer, a specialty chocolate manufacturer and retailer in Swampscott, Massachusetts; Vivian Sayward, owner of Vivacity Sportswear in San Diego, and Dave Ratner, owner of Dave’s Soda and Pet City in Agawam, Massachusetts; will tell their own stories and convey their fears that the BAT would put them out of business.

The NRF is concerned that the proposed BAT could cause many retailers to see tax bills three to five times the amount of their profits, threatening to drive some of these merchants out of business. “Small business owners are already struggling to survive in an over-regulated marketplace, and the border adjustment tax would push many of them under water,” said David French, NRF’s SVP for Government Relations. “Erin, Vivian and Dave represent the millions of Americans who have made enormous sacrifices to build their businesses and now are at risk of being taxed out of existence. Their stories are powerful not just because they are real, but because their fears transcend regional and partisan politics.”