Hillary Feder, Hillary’s Recognized as Advocate of the Year

St. Paul (October 3, 2024) – Minnesota Retailers is proud to honor Hillary Feder, owner of Hillary’s in Hopkins, with the Advocate of the Year award as part of the 2024-2025 Minnesota’s Retail Champions program.

"Hillary’s unwavering leadership and advocacy for Minnesota retailers have been key in raising awareness of important local, state and federal legislative issues," said Bruce Nustad, president of Minnesota Retailers. "As just one example, her relentless efforts around the vendor collection allowance have been crucial in helping lawmakers grasp the financial and operational challenges retailers face in collecting and remitting sales tax. Thanks to Hillary’s work and passion, small business owners’ voices are being heard, respected, and acted upon."

When asked about what it takes to become an advocate, Feder shared, “The most important thing a person can do is simply start.” On being recognized with this award, she added, "I love working with others to advocate for important issues impacting our communities, and it’s truly gift to inspire or help someone else learn how to advocate and to see the positive impact they can have."

As a vocal advocate for modernizing Minnesota’s policies to better serve today’s retail landscape, Feder understands the unique challenges facing retailers. As the owner of Hillary’s, she has firsthand experience with the complexities of running a retail business. Through her lifelong advocacy, Feder has shown a deep commitment to fostering a more competitive retail environment across the state.

Feder is the sole recipient of the Advocate of the Year award within the Minnesota’s Retail Champions program. Nine other organizations and individuals will be recognized in various categories, including Retailer of the Year, Retail Mentor of the Year, Vendor Partner of the Year, Retail Innovation, Customer Experience, Social Responsibility, Retail Community of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Best Place to Work.

Feder will receive the award at the Retail Rally event on Thursday, October 10, 2024, starting at 2:00 p.m. at Brookview in Golden Valley. The event will include an engaging panel discussion titled “Game Changers: Transforming the Retail Landscape in Minnesota,” featuring speakers like Minny & Paul founder Laura Roos, Nosh Posh founder Tatiana Freeman, and Victual owner and president Paul Kirkman, and Ali Kaplan with Twin Cities Business. For more event details, visit www.retailrally.com.

Click here to watch a video featuing this award winner!

Click here to see award winner photos.

Click here to see all the 2024-2025 Minnesota's Retail Champions.

Click here to see all the photos from Retail Rally.

About Minnesota Retailers: Minnesota Retailers is a non-profit association formed to improve communities through a holistic investment in retail, representing small, regional, and national retailers. Our mission is to ensure collective success across Minnesota by advancing retail for businesses, employees, consumers, and policymakers. Our vision is to be the driving force in the evolution of the state's retail landscape through advocacy, valuable insights, and championing innovation. More at www.mnretail.org.

Contact: Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 227-6631