Small businesses that exemplify the importance of advocacy
As the voice of retail for over a century, the National Retail Federation has a long history of convening retailers. The annual Retail Advocates Summit, the industry’s premiere advocacy event, returned to Washington, D.C., July 27-28, giving retailers a chance to connect with lawmakers to share their stories and celebrating the contributions retailers make to communities across the country.
Ravenox CEO, Sean Brownlee, in front of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Those celebrations include recognition of small businesses that go above and beyond to advocate for the retail industry year-round. The America’s Retail Champions program features 34 small businesses, of which five have been named as finalists. On July 28, one small retailer was named the 2022 America’s Retail Champion. Congratulations to Margaret Barrows, owner of It's Nola Snacks.
2022 America's Retail Champion Margaret Barrows, owner of It's Nola Snacks, with VP of Supply Chain and Customs Policy at NRF, John Gold
Ravenox CEO, Sean Brownlee, was named as a 2022 honoree and participated in the Retail Advocates Summit, the retail industry’s premier advocacy event. This event gives retailers a seat at the table to directly connect with policymakers, tells retail’s story and celebrates contributions to advocacy.
The 2022 Retail Advocates Summit featured The Retail Experience, which gave retailers the opportunity to show Capitol Hill who we are as an industry.
2022's Retail Experience featured:
- Opportunities for retailers to directly connect with leading lawmakers and their staff to share retail’s story
- Demonstrations of retail’s tech transformation with retail technology innovators
- Immersive exhibition of retail’s impact and contributions to workforce development and job creation
- Displays from Main Street retailers and NRF industry partners
- NRF 2023: Retail’s Big Show preview
- Remarks from members of Congress and presentations of Hero of Main Street and Champion of Main Street awards to lawmakers who support retail
Ravenox CEO Sean Brownlee with Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash) and the Hero of Main Street Award
Congratulations to the NRF's 2022 finalists
A special congratulations to the other four finalists for the 2022 Retail Champion Award. They were:
- Jessica Bettencourt - Klem's - Spencer, MA
- Bobby Djavaheri - Yedi Houseware - Los Angeles, CA
- April McClung - Emily's Heirloom Pound Cakes - Homewood, AL
- Danny Reynolds - Stephenson's of Elkhart, Inc. - Elkhart, IN
Take Action - Advocate Today!
You are the best advocate for your business and your employees. No one knows better than you what’s needed to improve the business climate for retailing or how proposed legislation will affect your business and community. Legislators take your concerns as a constituent and local employer very seriously.
Grassroots political action is vital to retail’s success in the legislative arena. Your personal involvement helps bring progress on issues affecting retailers and other businesses.
Ravenox CEO, Sean Brownlee, and Senator Ted Budd (R-NC-13) with the Hero of Main Street Award
Get involved today
- Learn who your legislators are and their views on retail issues.
- Stay informed by reading updates on legislative and regulatory activity.
- Keep informed of the challenges you’re facing and what’s happening in your community.
- Invite legislators to tour your business and to attend community meetings and events.
- Call or write to lawmakers when important issues arise.
- Consider testifying before legislative committees on issues that affect your business.
- Share your views on retail issues with the media and on social media channels by tagging and interacting with elected officials.
- Provide your employees and colleagues with information on key issues, new laws, and regulations.
- Support pro-retail candidates
Ravenox CEO, Sean Brownlee, at the Retail Experience Showcase with Ravenox products
