Vermont Business MagazineThree Vermont-based business owners have been named America’s Retail Champions by the National Retail Federation and are in the running to be chosen as one of five national finalists as well as America’s Retail Champion of the Year.State champions, nominated by the Vermont Retail & Grocers Association, include Andrew Brewer, owner of Onion River Sports in Montpelier, Marc Sherman, owner of Stowe Mercantile in Stowe, and Todd Keyworth, owner of Harborside Market in North Hero. The Vermont-based champions werechosen from a pool of nationwide nominees for the 2015 America’s Retail Champions awards.Retail Champions are Main Street business owners who are strong industry advocates at all levels of government.
“We are proud to have three businesses from Vermont recognized at the national level for their exemplary advocacy in moving forward the retail industry in the State,” said VRGA Vice President Erin Sigrist. “Andrew, Marc, and Todd all are active within their communities, have demonstrated their willingness to serve as the voice for fellow retailers, and have sincerely shown their dedication to making a difference. VRGA is excited for the three business owners to be recognized in Washington, D.C. next week.”
Brewer, Sherman, and Keyworth will be attending the National Retail Federation Retail Advocates Summit in Washington, DCJuly 28-29. The finalists and Retail Champion of the Year will be named at an event onTuesday, July 28. The Champions will also attend meetings with their elected representatives to discuss impacts on the retail industry at the state and national level.
The pool of nominees was reviewed by their peers among leading small retailer advocates, state retail association executives and National Retail Federation staff. The Champions hail from dozens of states across the country and were selected based on their active engagement in their communities and advocacy on behalf of the retail industry and the industry’s priorities, which include issues such as data security, labor policy, and online sales tax.
The Vermont Retail & Grocers Association represents approximately 800 Vermont retail stores and 250 suppliers to the industry, including members of the Vermont Specialty Food Association. VRGA is an association of merchants and trade partners united to promote the sustainable growth of the industry through the Educational, Economic and Public Policy needs of members.
NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries.Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’sThis is Retailcampaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation.www.nrf.com.