Providing the support and guidance small brands and retailers need to thrive and grow.

Mentorship and practical support for small and independent brands

Retailers United is a San Diego–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps small and independent U.S. brands and retailers build durable, profitable businesses.

Small brands face the same pressures as large retailers, including rising costs, tariffs, shifting supply chains and competition from global platforms, without the executive bench to work through them. Retailers United closes that gap by giving founders direct access to experienced retail, sourcing, finance and technology leaders.

Founders of small and independent brands and retailers across the United States. We give priority to:

• Founders from underrepresented backgrounds, including women, founders of color, immigrants and first-time entrepreneurs.
• Sustainable and domestically made brands, including circular, low-waste and reshored manufacturing.

One-on-one executive mentorship

A founder tells us about their business and the challenge in front of them. We match them with a board member whose experience fits. Common topics: pricing and margins, sourcing and supply chain, sustainable and domestic manufacturing, wholesale and e-commerce channels, and preparing to raise capital.

Workshops and office hours

Small-group virtual workshops led by board members on the practical questions small brands face, and open office hours where a founder can bring one specific problem and get direct advice.

Request a mentor or join a session

Our Executive and Advisory Boards include current and former leaders from Coresight Research, LF Americas, Li & Fung, Gerber Technology, Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Soles4Souls, RevTech Ventures, Greenberg Traurig, CohnReznick and Walmart. Together they cover retail strategy, global sourcing, manufacturing technology, circular retail, venture investing, law and finance. Meet our boards.

• 2020 Retailers United forms in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, first redirecting supply chains to get protective equipment where it was needed most, then funding retailers through a relief fund.
• 2020–2022 Pitch competitions award $33,500 in cash grants to seven small retailers, including Rubin Singer, ASTOURI, Tubesies, Mighty Kind, Turn Compost and FABRIC Tempe. The inaugural competition was covered by WWD and the Associated Press.
• 2020–2022 Three annual 10.10 livestream Shopping Festivals with Coresight Research help small brands trial livestream commerce at no cost.
• September 2022 Retailers United for Ukraine brings six Ukrainian designers affected by the war to New York Fashion Week.
• Today Retailers United focuses on one-on-one executive mentorship and workshops for small and independent brands, with priority for underrepresented founders and sustainable, domestically made brands.

Legal name	Retailers United
Legal status	501(c)(3) public charity
EIN	85-0604201
Address	4955 Maynard Street, San Diego, CA 92122
Leadership	Five-member Executive Board and a 13-member Advisory Board. Meet our boards.
Filings	Annual IRS filings are public and searchable by EIN on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
Contact	info@retailersunited.org