Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware recently announced president Bruce Phillips has been selected by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a 2026 American Retail Champion. Phillips will join retail leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C., to advocate for policies affecting independent retailers and the communities they serve during NRF’s Retail Advocates Summit.
Phillips is among 50 retailers representing 27 states selected for the 2026 America’s Retail Champions program, which recognizes retailers for their leadership and involvement in public policy advocacy at the local, state and federal levels.
“The NRF brings all types, sizes and forms of retailers together for the benefit of ALL retailers, whether you are a small family-owned business such as Crowder Brothers Hardware, or a large national chain of stores. I am excited for the experience to come from networking with such a diverse group of leaders,” Phillips says.
For Phillips, the recognition reflects generations of commitment to independent retail. A fourth-generation Florida hardware businessman, he officially joined the family business in 1990, working alongside his father, Carroll “Bud” Phillips, until Bud’s passing in 2015. His great-grandfather, Isham Whiaield Phillips, founded the I.W. Phillips & Co. wholesale building materials distribution center in Tampa in 1898. The operation was then sold to Ace Hardware in 1977.
“As we reflect on the last 250 years, we are inspired by the role small businesses have played in providing jobs and economic opportunity and strengthening communities,” says NRF executive vice president of government relations David French. “The 2026 America’s Retail Champion honorees exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the retail industry.”
