The North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA), a non-profit trade association, was organized in 1902 to improve the business climate for retailers in North Carolina. Now, more than 100 years later, NCRMA is the voice of the retail industry in North Carolina. NCRMA represents the interests of individual merchants before the General Assembly and serves as a vital link to state government. Our credibility lies in our longevity and our commitment to serving the ever-changing needs of our members.

The Association’s membership includes more than 25,000 stores from across the state whose businesses represent 75 percent of North Carolina’s retail sales volume. NCRMA serves both large and small retailers from multi-state chains to local “Mom and Pops,” and all types of merchants including antique, apparel, art, automotive, book, carpet, department, drug, electronics, floral, furniture, grocery, hardware, jewelry, paint and variety stores.

NCRMA is a tax-exempt organization supported entirely by members’ dues. The Association is governed by a 44-member board of directors who represent the wide variety of retailers who do business in North Carolina; they are also selected to represent the different geographic areas of the state. The board of directors meets three times a year to set Association policy. The full membership meets annually at the NCRMA convention.

The year 2002 marked our 100th anniversary.

What began in Burlington, North Carolina, as a means of protecting retailers from credit and trade abuse has grown into a mature organization that supports retailers across the state. There has been excellent stability within the Association since its inception as there have been only four staff people who have led this organization in its 100-year history. Those leaders have been:

Willard Dowell  1927-1950

Thompson Greenwood  1950-1981

William C. Rustin  1981-1995

Fran E. Preston  1995-present