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Retailers take risks. Eric Williams, founder of Hyde Park’s The Silver Room, wants politicians and policymakers to know most retailers open their stores out of passion and to fill a creative need, not to become wealthy. Located on Chicago’s South Side, the Silver Room is part clothing boutique, part music venue, part community hub, and part artists’ studio. The Silver Room is as diverse as the community it serves.

Findings of a recent economic study are clear: the retail sector is a cornerstone of the state’s economy and crucial to our everyday lives. Retail in Illinois directly contributes more than $112 billion in economic investment annually – more than 10 percent of the state’s total Gross Domestic Product.

Policies that support small businesses help communities thrive as retailers like Eric are better equipped to meet local needs. We Are Retail and IRMA are showcasing the retailers who make Illinois work.