St. Paul, MN (October 1, 2026) – Minnesota Retailers is proud to recognize Niche Books, with the Emerging Retailer of the Year award as part of the 2026-2027 Minnesota’s Retail Champions program.

After leaving a corporate career to pursue her passion for books and literacy, Ashley Christopherson opened Niche Books in historic downtown Lakeville. The independent bookstore carries new and used books for all ages, along with book-inspired gifts, while offering the carefully curated selections and personal recommendations readers value. Through author appearances, children’s activities and creative events such as a Book Lover’s New Year’s Eve celebration, Christopherson has built a welcoming destination centered on discovery and connection. By bringing an energetic, locally owned retail business to a historic storefront, Christopherson is contributing to downtown Lakeville’s vitality while demonstrating the continued strength and relevance of bookstores.

“Ashley Christopherson took a bold entrepreneurial leap and created something downtown Lakeville was ready to embrace,” said Bruce Nustad, president of Minnesota Retailers. “In a remarkably short time, Niche Books has become more than a bookstore. It is a gathering place, a community destination and an important part of downtown’s continued vitality. Ashley’s creativity and commitment to her customers demonstrate why locally owned retailers remain so essential to Minnesota communities. We are proud to recognize Niche Books as the Emerging Retailer of the Year.”

“Niche Books is a great example of what an emerging leader can bring to a community,” says Krista Jech, president of the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce. “Ashley has taken her vision for an independent bookstore and turned it into more than a retail business. She has created a place where people of all ages can gather, connect and discover something new. Her willingness to try new ideas, build relationships and invest in downtown Lakeville is helping ensure our historic downtown remains a destination where people want to spend their time. She understands that a strong downtown is built by businesses that give people a reason to come back again and again.”

“We are incredibly honored to be recognized as the Emerging Retailer of the Year. Niche Books was created to be a place where people could discover great books, connect with other readers and feel at home in their community,” said Christopherson. “The response from Lakeville and the surrounding area has been more meaningful than I could have imagined. This award belongs to our wonderful team, our customers and everyone who has helped turn the dream of an independent bookstore into such a vibrant gathering place.”

The Niche Books team will accept the award at Retail Rally on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, starting at 2:00 p.m. The event—held at Brookview in Golden Valley—will feature an insightful keynote presentation from University of St. Thomas Associate Professor Seth Ketron, Ph.D., titled “AI in the Customer Journey: Real Insights for Retail Leaders.” For more event details, visit www.retailrally.com.

Click here to see all the 2026-2027 Minnesota's Retail Champions!

Click here to see a video featuring this award winner!

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

St. Paul, MN (October 1, 2026) – Minnesota Retailers is proud to recognize Smith + Trade Mercantile with the Retail Team of the Year award as part of the 2026-2027 Minnesota’s Retail Champions program.

The Smith + Trade Mercantile team demonstrated extraordinary commitment and resilience following a major health event suffered by owner and founder Paul Kaufer in July 2025. As Paul spent 50 days in the hospital and another 30 days in acute rehabilitation, his wife and business partner, Kelli, devoted her attention to supporting his recovery. Employees stepped forward to maintain operations across the company’s Stillwater, Crosby and Red Wing locations, serve customers without interruption and support the local artisans whose products fill the stores. During this challenging period, the team helped Smith + Trade Mercantile surpass $1 million in annual revenue for the first time while successfully navigating the postponement of a planned expansion. Their willingness to embrace additional responsibilities and provide stability demonstrated the strength of the culture Kelli and Paul had built, and the exceptional character of the people who carry it forward.

“The Smith + Trade Mercantile team showed what true teamwork looks like when it mattered the most,” said Bruce Nustad, president of Minnesota Retailers. “Faced with an extraordinary challenge, team members stepped forward, supported one another and kept three locations operating with the care and quality their customers expect. Their resilience protected the future of the business while giving Kelli and Paul the ability to focus on Paul’s recovery. We are proud to recognize this remarkable group as the Retail Team of the Year.”

“Smith + Trade is such a special part of the heart of downtown Stillwater, and we couldn’t be more proud to see Kelli and Paul receive this recognition,” says Robin Anthony-Evenson, president of the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. “I have personally watched Kelli show incredible strength, determination, and grace while standing beside Paul through his health challenges, and I know so many of us in this community were cheering them on every step of the way. Through it all, they have continued to pour their hearts into Smith + Trade, supporting local artists and makers, creating meaningful partnerships, and continually finding new and creative ways to showcase their business and our downtown. Kelli and Paul truly embody what it means to be community-minded business leaders. Their resilience, passion, and genuine love for Stillwater shine through in everything they do, and I am so grateful for their friendship, their leadership, and all they bring to our community.”

“Having Smith + Trade in downtown Red Wing brings something special to our retail community,” said Michelle Larson, president and CEO of the Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce. “Their commitment to showcasing local makers and creating a unique shopping experience is something we value, and this recognition gives us one more reason to celebrate them.”

“This award belongs entirely to our incredible team. During the most difficult chapter our family and business have faced, they stepped forward without hesitation, took on new responsibilities and cared for Smith + Trade as if it were their own,” said Kelli and Paul Kaufer. “Their dedication gave us the space to focus on Paul’s recovery while knowing our customers, local makers and stores were in capable and caring hands. We will never be able to fully express what their support has meant to us, and we could not be prouder to see them recognized as Retail Team of the Year.”

The Smith + Trade Mercantile team will accept the award at Retail Rally on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, starting at 2:00 p.m. The event—held at Brookview in Golden Valley—will feature an insightful keynote presentation from University of St. Thomas Associate Professor Seth Ketron, Ph.D., titled “AI in the Customer Journey: Real Insights for Retail Leaders.” For more event details, visit www.retailrally.com.

Click here to see all the 2026-2027 Minnesota's Retail Champions!

Click here to see a video featuring this award winner!

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.

St. Paul, MN (October 1, 2026) – Minnesota Retailers is proud to recognize Detective Josh Pirkola with the Advocate of the Year award, part of the 2026-2027 Minnesota's Retail Champions program.

Pirkola has been one of Minnesota’s most credible and effective voices in the fight against organized retail crime. As a detective with the Coon Rapids Police Department and vice president of the Minnesota Organized Retail Crime Association, Pirkola drew on his firsthand investigative experience to help lawmakers understand how sophisticated criminal enterprises manipulate gift cards and target consumers. During the 2026 legislative session, he testified before legislative committees, participated in a Capitol press conference, and served as a trusted resource for lawmakers. His compelling advocacy and commitment to collaboration played an instrumental role in the passage of Minnesota’s gift card fraud law, strengthening protections for consumers and giving law enforcement additional tools to hold organized criminals accountable and protect consumers.

"Some advocates speak from theory. Josh Pirkola speaks from experience. His firsthand knowledge, credibility and ability to explain complex criminal activity in real-world terms made him an extraordinarily effective voice at the Capitol,” said Bruce Nustad, president of Minnesota Retailers. "Josh’s advocacy was instrumental in passing Minnesota’s gift card fraud legislation and strengthening protections for consumers, retailers and communities across our state. We are proud to recognize him as the Advocate of the Year."

“I am honored to receive the Advocate of the Year Award. The passage of Minnesota’s gift card fraud legislation shows what can be accomplished when law enforcement, retailers, prosecutors, investigators and policymakers work together and listen to the experiences of victims. This recognition belongs to everyone who helped bring attention to these crimes and strengthen our ability to protect consumers and hold organized criminals accountable,” said Pirkola.

Pirkola will accept the award at Retail Rally on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, starting at 2:00 p.m. The event—held at Brookview in Golden Valley—will feature an insightful keynote presentation from University of St. Thomas Associate Professor Seth Ketron, Ph.D., titled “AI in the Customer Journey: Real Insights for Retail Leaders.” For more event details, visit www.retailrally.com.

Click here to see all the 2026-2027 Minnesota's Retail Champions!

Click here to see a video featuring this award winner!

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