IL Retail Merchants Association (IRMA)

The Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association (ILORCA) is proud to partner with the The Loss Prevention Foundation to offer scholarships for ILORCA members pursuing professional certification through the LPQ (Loss Prevention Qualified) & LPC (Loss Prevention Certified) certifications. The continued growth of this scholarship program reflects the increasing demand for advanced training to build a highly skilled workforce! Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned leader in the retail loss prevention and asset protection industry, this program is designed to support professionals committed to advancing their education and careers. Learn More and Apply: ow.ly/4HuH50YyOB9

Retail builds community! At Hello Tokyo, located in @VNilesIL, families come for the products and stay for the experience. It’s a destination that brings culture, connection and energy to the community. 🌍 Learn how Hello Tokyo is delivering something different — and why independent retailers matter. weareretail.irma.org/hello-tokyo/ #IRMAWeAreRetail

🗓️ Save the Date for "ILORCA – Rosemont 2026" Join law enforcement, retailers, prosecutors and industry partners for a full day focused on combating organized retail crime. 📌 Tuesday, July 14, 2026 🕘 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (*Registration Required) 📍 Donald E. Stephens Convention Center This collaborative event will bring together stakeholders from across Illinois and beyond to share insights, strengthen partnerships and advance coordinated efforts to address organized retail crime. 📣 Additional details, registration information and speaker announcements coming soon. #ILORCA #ORC

Congratulations to our partners at @CookSheriffIL on this incredible win in the fight against organized retail crime, recovering nearly $3M in stolen merchandise! ttnews.com/articles/stole… 🛡️Illinois now ranks #3 in the nation for cargo theft, underscoring the need for strong partnerships and intelligence sharing. IRMA & the Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association (ILORCA) are proud to be part of the solution, bringing together law enforcement, retailers & the cargo sector to support stronger coordination a& enforcement tools to protect drivers, freight and the supply chain. H/T: @TransportTopics

Small retailers bring big impact. J Squared Aquatics in Clinton, IL, draws customers from hours away, activates downtown and delivers expert, hands-on service you won’t find in big-box stores. It’s proof independent retail strengthens local economies and builds lasting community connections. 🐠Learn more about their story: #IRMAWeAreRetail" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">weareretail.irma.org/j-squared-aqua…

Across Illinois, families and small businesses are navigating the same challenge: how to manage rising costs in an already tight economy. From groceries to rent to utility bills, routine purchases that make up household and business budgets have all become more expensive in recent years. IRMA President and CEO Rob Karr, explains how limiting #SwipeFees will cut hidden costs for Illinois families (via @pjstar): ow.ly/ZCmR50YuYQ7

Illinois’ law banning credit-card swipe fees on taxes and tips will save consumers and small businesses millions. Read more in IRMA President & CEO Rob Karr's recently published commentary by @Suntimes: chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/20… #SwipeFees

@RepMaura Thanks for sharing!

This exciting initiative offers a unique pathway to inspire and support high school seniors who are passionate about business, entrepreneurship, retail, and making a positive impact. For more details please visit: irma.org/illinois-retai…

When RETAIL Succeeds, Illinois Succeeds dlvr.it/TRRwtx

Application deadline is March 30 for statewide retail scholarship competition ibjonline.com/2026/03/10/app… (via @ILBusinessJourn)

Retail builds more than revenue — it builds community. In Roscoe Village, Ethos Training Systems is creating jobs, activating storefronts & fostering real connection through fitness, recovery and care. Learn how Tim Cohen and Cory Lester show the broader impact brick-and-mortar retail has on neighborhood vitality and well-being. 💪Watch: weareretail.irma.org/ethos-training… #IRMAWeAreRetail

Human trafficking, organized retail crime, & contraband smuggling are connected, & they don’t stop at borders. Criminal networks use the same routes to move people and illicit goods, funding dangerous threats. That’s why USA-IT supports the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.

Independent retailers create the experiences that keep downtowns alive. In historic Alton, @oliveoilmktplc draws visitors to taste, learn and discover the difference quality makes — while helping fuel a growing small business community. Learn how owners Tim & Julie Meeks show why retail matters. 🫒Watch their story: weareretail.irma.org/olive-oil-mark… #IRMAWeAreRetail

Thank you @senatorcastro for your leadership to pass one of the largest relief packages for Illinois small businesses in recent history! Support for the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act is support for Main Street businesses across the Land of Lincoln.

Retail is about more than transactions — it’s about people. In @TheCityofJoliet's downtown, Internode Greenery & Home is a place where neighbors gather, local makers shine & visitors can pause for a moment of calm. Discover why owner Michele Arana-Bianchi loves retail — from sharing her knowledge and passion for plants to putting a smile on someone’s face, and how that connection is helping the community grow & thrive. 🌿weareretail.irma.org/internode-gree… #IRMAWeAreRetail

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) released the following statement regarding the governor’s annual Budget and State of the State Address:

Independent retailers do more than open their doors — they preserve history and create places where communities gather. In the small community of Kings in Ogle County, Sweet Revival Antiques has transformed a Civil War-era church into a gathering place filled with antiques, coffee and chocolate. Learn how Laura Fitch is preserving local history, welcoming neighbors and proving that independent retail helps rural Illinois communities thrive. weareretail.irma.org/sweet-revival-… #IRMAWeAreRetail

IRMA released the following statement after banks filed a motion to appeal a ruling by a federal judge that upheld the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, the largest Main Street relief package Illinois has adopted. Under the law, banks and credit card companies would be prohibited from charging swipe fees on the tax and tip portion of transactions when a consumer pays with a credit or debit card:

MPC welcomed today’s ruling by a federal judge in favor of Illinois’ ban on #swipefees on #salestax and tips: “Merchants provide a service by collecting taxes and tips that are turned over to the state and to employees, and it’s unfair to punish them by charging them price-fixed swipe fees for doing that,” MPC Executive Committee member and @NACSonline General Counsel @doug_Kantor says. @ILRetail @GovPritzker #CreditCardCompetitionAct @SenatorDurbin tinyurl.com/mum39mec

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) released the following statement after a judge upheld the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, which prohibits banks and credit card companies from charging swipe fees on the tax and tip portion of transactions when a consumer pays with a credit or debit card: