It was Small Business Saturday, and the store was empty. Four experienced staff were on hand waiting for the customers to arrive. The store’s owner and manager, Eric Stern, wasn’t worried. He said, “It was busier earlier, but ‘Cyber Week’ seems to have combined what used to be several distinct days: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday. We appreciate the support of our customers locally and nationally (and internationally!) who see the holiday shopping season not just as a time for great deals, but as an opportunity to come by the store to catch up with our staff, often sharing stories of their recent adventures and upcoming journeys. Many of our former staff from over the decades also stop by to reminisce, meet our current employees, and find old photos from their time here.“

“The timing and flow has certainly changed over the years, and it is more difficult to anticipate how much staff to bring in to accommodate busy and slow times of day. Sometimes it's slow for an hour, and other times we get crushed with jubilant customers for a few hours. That is all part of the planning process, which, like many other plans around the holidays, can sometimes get thrown out the window. The ability to adapt and overcome is imperative in this day and age,” said Stern. “In the end, we work on getting base hits everyday, and getting the homeruns when and where we can. During cyber week, we are grateful for everyone who stopped by in store and those who shopped online nationwide.”

Casual Adventure Outfitters was named a 2024 America’s Retail Champion by the National Retail Federation (NRF) in July, 2024. Now in its seventh year, the program honors small retailers from across the country who speak out on public policy debates affecting the retail industry at the national, state and local levels. 

“We are honored and humbled to be recognized on a national level among so many of our amazing peers in the retail sector,” said Stern. “This summit provides a platform for our voices to be heard on practices, policy, and future potential in our ever-changing industry. 

“As the fourth-generation representative of a local, family-owned business, I’m constantly amazed that our small footprint can have such a large impact.” 

Retailers were nominated by state retail associations and their peers based on engagement in public policy discussions. Forty-four retailers from 27 different states were selected as champions for the program and five were named as finalists. One small retailer, Neil Abramson of ECi Stores in Leominster, Mass. was ultimately named the 2024 "America's Retail Champion" by the National Retail Federation, during the Retail Advocates Summit, the retail industry’s premier advocacy event, on July 25 in Washington, D.C.

Stern said of the event, “This was an amazing weekend celebrating retailers big and small nationwide. We were able to share our story, triumphs and tribulations, ideas and observations with leaders within our industry to continue to make a difference on a national level. While honoring those who actively advocate for other small businesses in the retail sector, the event also acted as a catalyst for discussions, networking, promotion, and engagement with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. We were proud to display representations of the many facets that make up our business, including a mini replica of Mountain 25 Tent from the North Face 1990 Trans-Antarctica Expedition and a Rawlings baseball autographed by Arlington Little League and Arlington Babe Ruth customers who purchased baseball bats from us that year. These items were on display for members of Congress and their staff. Casual Adventure was also nominated for several other national awards in 2024 for its continued success and community involvement. 

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy and are at the heart of every Main Street throughout the country,” National Retail Federation Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French said. “The 2024 America’s Retail Champion honorees represent the breadth and depth that the retail industry offers to millions of customers on a daily basis.”

The overwhelming majority of retailers are small businesses, with more than 98 percent of all retail companies employing fewer than 50 people. 

Casual Adventure almost closed a few years ago, but Stern’s adaptability paid off; the store was nominated for several awards in 2024. Devotees of the store, many of whom have been coming for decades, know it for its great selection, personalized and expert service, but also for its sponsorship of events, athletes, scouts, fundraisers, and environmental causes. On any given day, the customers will riff about great hikes they did over the weekend, international adventure travel, or … sock liners. 

For more about Casual Adventures, see their website, instagram, and facebook page at https://casualadventure.com, @casual__adventure, https://www.facebook.com/casualadventure/

For more about the NRF, see: https://nrf.com