NRF unveils small business retail council

The National Retail Federation has formed the Small Business Retail Council to organize, recruit and engage Main Street merchants and independent community retailers in grassroots advocacy activities.



The council will represent and be responsive to the needs, concerns and interests of local shops and provide the association’s small business members a forum to discuss the most pressing public policy issues and priorities.



“We are bringing together some of the retail sector’s best small business leaders to build upon their integral role in drafting and shaping public policy,” NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Working with our state retail association partners, we hope to amplify the voice of small retailers in advancing the retail community’s agenda. The Small Business Retail Council will enhance and strengthen the partnership between small business owners and NRF, and optimize industry engagement on our common goals.”



The Small Business Retail Council will consist of two co-chairs that will lead a five-to-seven member steering committee that will identify priorities, propose strategies and solutions and participate in the coordination of grassroots advocacy. Membership on the council will be made up of independent retailers from around the country as well as small retailers that currently serve on the NRF board of directors, including Dave Ratner owner of Dave’s Soda and Pet City of Agawam, Massachusetts and Beth Aberg, owner of Random Harvest of Washington, D.C.



NRF made the announcement during this week’s Retail Advocates Summit, its annual congressional fly-in. More than 150 large and small retailers and state retail association executives are in Washington to advocate on the retail industry’s public policy priorities. Issues discussed include the need to level the sales tax playing field between brick-and-mortar retailers and online sellers, effective patent reform legislation and continued reforms to the swipe fees structure.