July is Independent Retailer Month!
Nova is celebrating this Independent Retailer Month with a monthlong Bonus Buck program! For every $10 spent, you'll receive $1 off your next purchase in August.
The goal of Independent Retailer Month is to encourage consumers to shop locally owned and operated retailers. Organizers emphasize that shopping local, independent businesses can help build and support local communities. In fact, according to organizers, if every family in the U.S. spent an extra $10 a month at a locally owned, independent business instead of at a national chain, more than $9.3 billion would find its way back to local economies.
Small businesses can be considered as one of the backbones of not only America’s economy, but the world economy at large, and according to Census Bureau and Small Business Administration, approximately 51% of the US workforce is employed by independent retailers.
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 who is exclusively online (hey, that's us!). 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.
How it started...
Independent Retailer Month was born from the collaboration of two very different individuals who shared a common desire to recognize 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. In July 2011, Independent Retailer Month was born, highlighting the important role local merchants 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.
Many small businesses will be hosting special events and celebrations in honor of Independent Retailer Month, so be sure to attend and participate in these to show support.
What can you do?
Shop local
Of course, the best way to get involved with Independent Retailer Month is getting out there and shopping at local stores and farmers markets. For example, instead of buying honey from some distant hive, it is possible to pick it up from a local beekeeper and know that it’s all been born and bred in the nearby community! You know that when you buy from a local store, all of that money stays in the community helping to keep the local flavor alive, so make it a priority to shop from your local stores and businesses throughout this month, and shop less or not at all from the big box stores.
Promote independent retail
Another great way to show your support is by promoting the local stores around you. Shine a spotlight on your favorite local store by shopping and sharing your purchase on social media using the hashtag #IndependentRetailerMonth. If you own a small business yourself, give yourself some much-deserved limelight by promoting your business and the Shop Local concept all through the month.
Patronize a trusted local online business
Independent retailers are not only limited to the physical stores in our communities but also those online. A lot of businesses start online before owning a physical store, and they should not be left out because they are still small independently-owned businesses. Find out local businesses in your community with online stores and shop from them within this month.
#IndependentRetailerMonth #ShopLocal #SupportSmallBusiness #LoveYourLocal #IndieRetailers2025