AARA (Asian American Retailers Association)

What AARA (Asian American Retailers Association) does

AARA (Asian American Retailers Association) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 2005 and headquartered in Piscataway, New Jersey, that represents independent convenience store, gas station, and liquor store retailers across the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania tri-state area. Its core offering is membership-based services delivered through four channels: a Preferred Vendor Program that vets suppliers and negotiates group purchasing terms; a Membership Portal providing regulatory updates, industry news, and member resources; educational content (a 'Current Issues' blog) covering SNAP, tobacco, alcohol, and labor regulations; and an annual flagship trade show that, in 2025, attracted 2,500+ retailers and 160+ vendors at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center. AARA also operates an AARA Jobs Portal to connect retailers with potential employees, and an Event Gallery documenting prior trade shows back to 2019.

AARA generates revenue from four primary streams: recurring retailer and vendor membership dues; one-time trade show attendee tickets priced at $10; exhibitor fees of $50 vendor registration plus $1,800 per booth (with a $2,000 late fee after August 10, 2026); and a layered set of sponsorship and advertising products including lanyards ($1,500), show bags ($2,000), entrance banners ($750), exhibit hall units ($3,000), TV ads ($1,500–$3,000), and directory advertising ($300–$600). The organization is led by Chairman Vipul Patel and President Brijesh Patel, with an executive committee, board of directors, and an advisory committee that includes representatives from NACS, Anheuser-Busch, Altria, Fedway Associates, Allied Beverage, Law Coffee, and The NCD, providing industry validation. As of the input data, AARA has conducted 11 successful annual trade shows and reports over 2,000 member retailers.

Name

AARA (Asian American Retailers Association)

Legal name

Asian American Retailers Association, Inc.

Website

https://aarausa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AARA is a non-profit trade association founded in 2005 that serves independent convenience store, gas station, and liquor store retailers in the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania tri-state area through advocacy, a Preferred Vendor Program, and an annual trade show.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Activation/Experiential Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAO)

Keywords

• Retail trade association
• Convenience store advocacy
• Vendor networking events
• Independent retailer support
• Preferred vendor programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Piscataway

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Revenue generated from retailer and vendor membership subscriptions. The organization operates a membership portal providing access to resources, vendor partnerships, and member-only benefits.
2. Trade Show Revenue: Revenue from attendee registration fees ($10 per ticket), vendor booth fees ($1,800 per booth), and sponsorship opportunities at the annual AARA Trade Show.
3. Sponsorship and Advertising: Revenue from exhibitor sponsorships including lanyards ($1,500), show bags ($2,000), entrance banners ($750), exhibit hall units ($3,000), TV advertisements ($1,500-$3,000), and directory advertising ($300-$600 for half/full page).
4. Vendor Registration: One-time vendor/exhibitor registration fee of $50 for participating in AARA trade shows and accessing the vendor member portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AARA is a non-profit trade association that provides advocacy, networking, and preferred vendor partnership services to independent convenience store, gas station, and liquor store retailers across the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania tri-state area. Its flagship offering is an annual trade show connecting more than 2,500 retailers with 160+ vendors, supplemented by a membership portal, regulatory advocacy, and educational resources for its 2,000+ member retailers.

Product overview

AARA (Asian American Retailers Association) is a non-profit trade association founded in 2005, not a software technology company. It operates as a member organization offering a portfolio of services including its flagship annual Trade Show event, a Membership Portal for accessing industry updates and vendor partnerships, the Preferred Vendor Program connecting vetted suppliers with retailers, a Jobs Portal for the retail community, and informational blog content on regulatory compliance and industry trends. These services are designed to support independent convenience stores, gas stations, and liquor stores across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AARA Trade Show Annual trade show connecting 2,500+ independent convenience store, gas station, and liquor store retailers with 160+ vendors across the tri-state area of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Includes exhibitor booths, networking, product showcases, and exclusive deals.
• AARA Membership Portal

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• CStorePro: Provider of technology and operational services to convenience store operators. Comparable adjacent ecosystem participant serving AARA's convenience store members, though operating as a vendor rather than a peer association.

Direct peers

• NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores): National trade association serving the convenience store and fuel retailing industry. Directly comparable to AARA's convenience store and gas station member base, with overlapping advocacy, networking, and trade show offerings, though operating at national scale versus AARA's regional focus.
• SIGMA (Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America): National trade association representing independent fuel marketers and gas station retailers. Directly comparable to AARA's gas station member segment, with similar advocacy, networking, and supplier connection missions, though focused nationally.
• PCAT (Petroleum Convenience Alliance for Technology): Trade association focused on convenience and fuel retail technology and operations. Comparable to AARA's role supporting independent c-store and gas station retailers with networking, education, and vendor partner programs.

Regional players

• Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey: Regional New Jersey trade association for fuel retailers. Directly comparable to AARA's gas station segment on a more focused geographic basis, with overlapping advocacy and supplier relationships in the same NJ market.
• New Jersey Liquor Licensees Association (NJLLA): New Jersey trade association representing liquor license holders. Directly comparable to AARA's liquor store member segment on regional advocacy, licensing support, and regulatory representation.
• CBPA (California Beer and Beverage Association): Regional trade association representing California beer and beverage retailers and wholesalers. Comparable industry focus and association model to AARA's liquor and convenience segments, though serving a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• PMAA (Petroleum Marketers Association of America): National trade association for petroleum marketers including gas station and convenience store operators. Comparable advocacy, training, and trade show offerings to AARA, though serving a broader multi-state constituency.
• WSWA (Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America): National trade association for wine and spirits distributors. Operates in AARA's liquor retailer ecosystem from the wholesale side, with comparable trade show (WSWA Convention & Expo) and advocacy functions relevant to AARA's liquor store members.
• NGA (National Grocers Association): National trade association representing independent grocers and supermarket operators. Operates in AARA's broader convenience/retail ecosystem with comparable trade show, advocacy, and supplier engagement functions at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aara-asian-american-retailers-association-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AARA (Asian American Retailers Association)