about indieretail

Independent Retailer Month encourages consumers to shop local and celebrate indie retailers, creating more sustainable cities, towns and communities.

What it is...

Independent Retailer Month is a shop local event that runs annually throughout July encouraging consumers to shop at independent retailers; highlighting their positive social and economic impact – locally, nationally and globally.

We encourage people to shop independent retail year round and to use July as a time to celebrate the independent retailers that help build our economy; creating more sustainable cities, towns and communities.

Independent retailing can be many types of businesses. As an example, a franchise store is often a local independent retail business. As an example, a Chick-Fil-A restaurant or Hallmark store can be a locally owned business.

Another example is a store that is part of a co-op, such as an Ace Hardware, can be a locally owned business. The same can be said for a local independent retailer having an Internet presence, or even a local independent retailer is exclusively online. The lines of definition of a local independent retailer have been blurred from what it was years ago.

This is where a consumer doing their research can determine what businesses they will support as a locally owned independent retailer.

By engaging independent retailer associations, small business organizations and retail thought leaders we aim to demonstrate the importance of shopping independent.

Where it began...

Independent Retailer Month was born from the collaboration of two very different individuals who share a common desire to celebrate independent retailers around the globe.

In 2003, Tom Shay, principal of Profits Plus Solutions, created a holiday, “National Independent Retailer Week”, to show retailers how they could create celebrations for their communities, industries and own businesses.

In 2009 social entrepreneur Kerry Bannigan launched “Independent Retail Week”, a week-long, city-wide experience in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and New Jersey advancing the business of independent fashion retailers. This initiative worked with over 400 retailers, garnered support from the city’s tourism boards, chambers of commerce and Mayor’s offices; with features on NBC, Fox, ABC and CBS.

In 2011 discussions began between Bannigan and Shay as they wanted to be inclusive of everyone that had some form of recognition for independent retailing. July 2011 Independent Retailer Month was born highlighting the important role local merchant’s play in the community, economy and overall retail sector.

Today Independent Retailer Month encourages consumers to celebrate the independent retailers that are the backbone of our communities and engages independent retailer associations and local officials to promote shop local campaigns.