Chicago’s Art Potash Named America’s Retail Champion of the Year during Retail Advocates Summit
WASHINGTON, 2014-7-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of the National Retail Federation’s Retail Advocates Summit and congressional fly-in, NRF today acknowledged outstanding small business retail owners and community leaders for their grassroots advocacy and engagement on federal, state and local issues. As part of the event, NRF named Art Potash, owner of Potash Markets in Chicago, for his exceptional advocacy and leadership on behalf of the retail industry.
“We are committed to advancing the retail industry’s public policy priorities on Capitol Hill and beyond,”NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “As we gather retailers from across the nation in Washington this week, it is only fitting to recognize one of our industry’s most-engaged retail advocates.”
“On behalf of the entire retail industry, I want to thank Art for his commitment to advancing the retail agenda,” Shay said. “Art exemplifies what it means to be an active and effective grassroots advocate, and has demonstrated time and time again an unabashed willingness to step-up, raise his voice and lead in the sincere hope of making a difference.”
NRF established the America’s Retail Champions program this year to honor retailers who make their mark on public policy debates and decisions. A total of 44 retailers ranging from mid-size store owners to online sellers were nominated for the national recognition based on their willingness to speak up on the retail industry’s priorities, be it online sales tax collection, credit and debit card swipe fees or patent reform.
Potash was chosen from among five finalists who include Wogan Badcock III of Badcock Home Furniture & More in Mulberry, Florida; Ruthena Fink of Grand Jeté in St. Paul, Minnesota; Teresa Miller of Treats Unleashed in Chesterfield, Missouri; and Ann Wingrove of Completely Kentucky in Frankfort, Kentucky.
“While Art is focused day-to-day on his family grocery stores, he is passionate about the broader retail industry,” Illinois Retail Merchants Association President & CEO Rob Karr said. “As generously as Art gives of his time and resources to those in need, he does the same for his fellow retailers. It doesn’t matter if the issue is in the city of Chicago or Springfield, Illinois or Washington, D.C.; Art is a passionate advocate on any issue confronting retail.”
To recognize Art and his fellow Illinois retailers, NRF will add the state as a stop on its “Retail Across America” road trip, as part of the organization’s This is Retail industry perception campaign. NRF will partner with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association in early October to produce a content-filled campaign designed to drive awareness of the retail industry’s positive impact on careers, communities and innovation. Additional states featured in the series include North Carolina, South Dakota, Washington State, Ohio and California.
NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing 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 $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. www.nrf.com
Stephen E Schatz
202-626-8119
press@nrf.com
(855) NRF-Press
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