NRF Announces 2026 America’s Retail Champions Finalists

WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today announced five finalists for the 2026 America’s Retail Champions program. The program recognizes small business retailers who are outstanding advocates for the retail industry and the communities they serve.

“As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, we reflect on the generations of small business owners who have built our nation's economy and strengthened local communities across the country,” NRF Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French said. “The 2026 class of America's Retail Champions carries forward that proud tradition of entrepreneurship, innovation and community engagement.”

Retailers were nominated by state retail associations and industry peers based on their involvement in public policy discussions at the local, state and national level. Fifty U.S. small retailers were selected as America’s Retail Champions, with five advancing as finalists. One finalist will be named the 2026 America’s Retail Champion on July 15 during a special dinner at NRF’s 2026 Retail Advocates Summit in Washington, D.C.

The 2026 America’s Retail Champions program is sponsored by Affirm, the payment network that empowers consumers and helps merchants drive growth.

“Small businesses work hard for the people and places they serve, and they deserve real recognition for it," said Fabiola Cazares, Affirm’s senior manager of public affairs and social impact. "At Affirm, we want to help more businesses get the tools they need to compete and grow. We couldn't be prouder to celebrate these finalists, and small businesses everywhere.”

The five finalists for the 2026 America’s Retail Champions program are:

• Richard Brown, Proof Culture, Cleveland, OH

• Angela Hawkins, Bamblu, Atlanta, GA

• Alfred Mai, ASM Games, San Francisco, CA

• Darcy Michalek, Garbo’s Salon & Spa, Omaha, NE

• Danny Reynolds, Stephenson’s of Elkhart, Elkhart, IN

Learn more about the 2026 America’s Retail Champions finalists here.

About NRF
The National Retail Federation passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3 trillion to annual GDP and supporting more than one in four U.S. jobs — 55 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com

About Affirm
Affirm’s mission is to deliver honest financial products that improve lives. By building a new kind of payment network — one based on trust, transparency and putting people first — we empower millions of consumers to spend and save responsibly, and give thousands of businesses the tools to fuel growth. Unlike most credit cards and other pay-over-time options, we never charge any late or hidden fees. Follow Affirm on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X.