The National Retail Federation has formed a Small Business Retail Council to engage and recruit “Main Street merchants” and independent community retailers in advocacy activities while providing a forum to discuss strategies and identify priorities, according to the association.
The council aims to represent and respond to the needs, interests and concerns of local shops while providing a forum for small business members to discuss pertinent issues and coordinate grassroots advocacy.
Independent retailers from around the country will comprise the board, including some that already serve on the NRF Board of Directors, such as Dave Ratner, owner of Dave’s Soda and Pet City (Agawam, Mass.) as well as the owner of Random Harvest Inc. (Washington, D.C.), Beth Aberg.