USA born Independent Retailer Month is today announcing its UK partner The Retail Champion as the initiative expands globally to celebrate independent retail businesses during the month of July 2011. UK-based retail expert, Clare Rayner, is widely known as The Retail Champion because of her passion and commitment to helping retailers optimise the performance of their business to make it into a scalable and saleable proposition.

Independent Retailer Month is the collaboration of two very different individuals who share a common desire to salute independent retailers around the globe. In 2003, Tom Shay, principal of Profits Plus, created a holiday, 'Independent Retailer Week' to show retailers how they could create celebrations for their communities, industries and own businesses. In 2009 Kerry Bannigan, CEO Nolcha, originally devised a plan to advance the business of independent fashion retailers via a weeklong city wide shopping extravaganza in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.

Discussions began between Bannigan and Shay as they wanted to focus on all independent retailing, regardless of what products they sold. Bannigan and Shay wanted to be inclusive of everyone that had some form of recognition for independent retailing in the hope that Independent Retailer Month would be become the umbrella for all. Hence, what was a week for each of these two individuals and their groups became a month for everyone.

Kerry Bannigan, CEO Nolcha and Co-Creator of Independent Retailer Month, shares: "We are thrilled to have a UK partner who shares our understanding of the economic value add of new business including independent retail and that a buzzing high street with a great mix of both chains and indie is good for all retailers. The next generation of big are today's independents."

Clare Rayner, The Retail Champion, founder and managing director of The Retail Conference and Retail Acumen said "I am delighted to be invited to participate in this exciting campaign and very proud to have been selected as the official UK partner. July 2011 will be an opportunity for everyone with an interest in retailing to celebrate the diversity and creativity that the independents bring to the sector as a whole."

Rayner is encouraging people to simply remind consumers the benefits of shopping local, of exploring what's closest to home; all high street retailers will see an increase in footfall, regardless of their size. She strongly believes believe that the only way to 'save the high street' is to bring back the enjoyable, social side of retailing and hopes that by celebrating and supporting independent retailers a few more will be encouraged to go for growth and open new stores.

Rayner adds "Together we can highlight the part independent retailers play in providing local employment, local community services and in being a route to market for smaller local producers. One thing to stress is that during a time when we are all celebrating the contribution independent retailers make to the sector we are by no means dismissing the value that the multiples add. One by one, step by step, if we all work together to enable their success they will in turn bring back the vibrancy, diversity and excitement that has been lacking on the high street in recent years"

Further information:
Global website www.independentretailermonth.com
UK specific website www.independentretailermonth.co.uk