Demonstrating retail’s impact from Main Street to Capitol Hill

In July, the National Retail Federation hosted its highly anticipated premier advocacy event, the Retail Advocates Summit, convening policymakers and retailers to celebrate the power of retail and highlight how the industry supports local communities.

The Retail Advocates Summit is a celebration of the retail industry coming together, featuring major iconic retail brands along with Main Street business owners and technology innovators to demonstrate the depth and breadth of retail. It is also an opportunity to connect with policymakers about issues impacting the industry and recognize those who champion policies that help retail succeed.

The event kicked off with special sessions for small businesses attending as part of the America’s Retail Champions program. Sponsored by Affirm, this program recognizes small retailers for their contributions to advocacy and their communities and featured nearly 50 small retailers from 27 states. Small retailers heard from NRF experts, veteran advocates and Representative Rudy Yakym, R-Ind., who shared the importance of building connections and engaging directly with members of Congress.

The highlight of the Summit was The Retail Experience — an interactive journey through the retail industry with immersive exhibits that demonstrate retail’s role in driving the economy, providing jobs and impacting lives and communities across the country. Leading retail brands presented unique sides of their brand stories, small retailers shared their contributions to their communities in a mini-Main Street display and technology innovators demonstrated how they are driving retail technology transformation.

The Retail Experience also featured exhibits on retail’s key policy priorities including addressing rising organized retail crime, ending the failed Section 301 China tariffs and reforming the broken U.S. payments market.

One hundred and seven bipartisan members of Congress participated in the Retail Advocates Summit by attending The Retail Experience and connecting with retailers in Capitol Hill meetings. NRF presented more than 280 lawmakers with the Champion of Main Street and Hero of Main Street awards for their continued support of the industry through legislative actions on issues like reforming swipe fees and addressing organized retail crime.

Senator Roger Marshall, R-Kan., the lead sponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act, was awarded the Champion of Main Street award and addressed attendees at breakfast on July 25.

The event concluded by celebrating the contributions of retail advocates at a special dinner. Maryland Retail Alliance President Cailey Locklair was honored with the J. Thomas Weyant award, which recognizes an outstanding state retail association executive. Neil Abramson of ECi Stores in Leominster, Mass., was named the 2024 America’s Retail Champion.

NRF is looking forward to continuing the momentum from the Retail Advocates Summit. Learn more about NRF’s work advocating for policies that help retailers and the communities we serve succeed.