WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today announced Trudy Trombley, owner of Truly Trudy’s Boutique in Stowe, Vt., as the 2017 America’s Retail Champion of the Year. The award was presented Tuesday night at NRF’s annual Retail Advocates Summit as small retailers from across the country were honored for their advocacy on behalf of the industry. Retailers are in Washington this week to meet with members of Congress on a variety of public policy issues.
“NRF is proud to host hardworking small business owners in Washington this week to recognize our industry’s most engaged retail advocates,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said.
“Trudy is a strong grassroots advocate and a leader in the retail industry who ensures that retail’s voice is heard on a wide range of policy discussions," Shay said. “By being involved at all levels of government, she helps advance the public policy agenda for retailers, their employees and customers in her community.”
"Trudy is a strong grassroots advocate and a leader in the retail industry who ensures that retail’s voice is heard on a wide range of policy discussions."
Trombley was selected from a group of five finalists who included Amber Gustafson of Amber’s Designs Fine Jewelry in Katy, Texas; Ken Keiran of Union Farm Equipment in Union, Maine; Jeff Erb of Saneholtz-McKarnsbin in Montpelier, Ohio, and Bill Golden of Golden Shoes in Traverse, Mich.
The America’s Retail Champions program, now in its fourth year, honors retailers who make their mark on public policy debates affecting the industry. More than 75 retailers across the nation — from online sellers to mid-size and small retail store owners — were nominated this year by state retail associations, small business retailers and their peers based on their engagement in public policy discussions on the local, state and national level.
Participants will meet with members of the House and Senate on Capitol Hill today to discuss the retail industry’s public policy agenda and priorities.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation is the world’s largest retail trade association. Based in Washington, D.C., NRF represents 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.com