“Small businesses are at the heart of every Main Street across the United States and are the ultimate embodiment of the American dream.”
WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today announced nominations for the 2026 America’s Retail Champions program are now open. Sponsored by Affirm, America’s Retail Champions recognizes small retailers for their exemplary efforts to support customers, serve local communities and make their voices heard on issues that matter most to the retail industry.
“Small businesses are at the heart of every Main Street across the United States and are the ultimate embodiment of the American dream,” NRF Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French said. “We look forward to celebrating these outstanding small business owners and showcasing retail’s role in driving job growth, sparking innovation and strengthening local economies.”
Small businesses are nominated by state retail association executives, industry peers and representatives from national retail brands. From this group of 50 honorees, five finalists will be selected with one ultimately being named the 2026 America’s Retail Champion during NRF’s premier advocacy event, the Retail Advocates Summit, July 14-15 in Washington, D.C.
“We are proud to partner with NRF to recognize small businesses that power their communities,” Affirm Senior Manager of Public Affairs and Social Impact Fabiola Cazares said. “Small businesses are core to Affirm’s network, and we’re honored to celebrate retailers who are driving sustainable growth, while creating lasting impact for the customers and communities they serve.”
For more information, or to nominate a small business for the America’s Retail Champions program, visit 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.
