(PRESS RELEASE) WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation announced the five finalists of the 2024 America’s Retail Champions program. The program celebrates small business retailers who are exceptional advocates for the retail industry and the communities they serve.
“Small businesses play an essential role within communities across America, fostering local economies, creating jobs and bringing unique products and services to Main Street,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “NRF is honored to recognize the 2024 America’s Retail Champions finalists and celebrate the significant contributions these small business owners make in their local communities every day.”
Retailers were nominated by state retail associations and their peers based on engagement in public policy discussions at the local, state and national level. Forty-four U.S. small retailers were selected as champions for the program and five have been named as finalists. One small retailer will be named the 2024 America’s Retail Champion on July 25 at a special dinner during NRF’s 2024 Retail Advocates Summit in Washington, D.C.
This year’s America’s Retail Champions program is sponsored by Affirm, the payment network that empowers consumers and helps merchants drive growth.
“Small businesses make up the vast majority of our merchant base and are often the first destination for consumers to find the items they want and need,” Affirm Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Public Policy and Social Impact Ulrico Izaguirre said. “Affirm is proud to sponsor NRF’s 2024 America’s Retail Champions program, and we are honored to celebrate these exceptional small businesses and their dedication to retail and their communities.”
The five finalists for the 2024 America’s Retail Champions program are:
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- Neil Abramson of ECi Stores, a group of consignment stores in Leominster, Mass.
- Blake Garfield of Bedrooms and More, a mattress and furniture retailer in Seattle, Wash.
- Joseph Kimray of B & W Hardware Co., a local hardware store in Wake Forest, N.C.
- Hamilton Perkins of Hamilton Perkins Collection, a socially conscious retailer that crafts upcycled bags and accessories in Los Angeles, Calif.
- Patti Riordan of The Smoke Stack Hobby Shop, a hobby shop in Lancaster, Ohio
Learn more about the 2024 America’s Retail Champions finalists here.
Honoring a Legacy: How Smith & Son Jewelers Exceeded Every Goal With Wilkerson
When Andrew Smith decided to close the Springfield, Massachusetts location of Smith & Son Jewelers, the decision came down to family. His father was retiring after 72 years in the business, and Andrew wanted to spend more time with his children and soon-to-arrive grandchildren.
For this fourth-generation jeweler whose great-grandfather founded the company in 1918, closing the 107-year-old Springfield location required the right partner. Smith chose Wilkerson, and the experience exceeded expectations from start to finish.
"Everything they told me was 100% true," Smith says. "The ease and use of all their tools was wonderful."
The consultants' knowledge and expertise proved invaluable. Smith and his father set their own financial goal, but Wilkerson proposed three more ambitious targets. "We thought we would never make it," Smith explains. "We were dead wrong. We hit our first goal, second goal and third goal. It was amazing."
Smith's recommendation is emphatic: "I would never be able to do what they did by myself."
