2015 ANNUAL REPORT
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4
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A JOINT MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO
6
2015 BY THE NUMBERS
7
WORKED TO KEEP COMMERCE FLOWING
8
BATTLED GOVERNMENT OVERREACH
10
FOUGHT FOR THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE THAT RETAILERS WANT TO DELIVER
14
PUT RETAIL FRONT AND CENTER
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ESTABLISHED THE NARRATIVE FOR RETAIL’S STORY
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SPOTLIGHTED RETAIL’S IMPORTANCE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ECONOMY
26
SHAPED THE NEXT GENERATION OF RETAIL TALENT
28
HOSTED INDUSTRY LEADERS AT AWARD-WINNING EVENTS
32
CULTIVATED RETAIL INNOVATION
36
PRODUCED RESEARCH AND RESOURCES TO HELP RETAILERS SUCCEED
40
NRF COUNCILS, COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES
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NRF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
5
A JOINT MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO
With dozens of issues on the retail
industry’s agenda, coming up with
accomplishments to highlight in
NRF’s annual report this year was no
challenge. Instead, the difficulty was
in narrowing down the list to those
that had the most impact for you, our
members. From victories on Capitol
Hill to leading the conversation on
the economy to helping support
and encourage the next generation
of talented retail leaders, 2015 was
a year of firsts and unprecedented
growth in the way NRF serves
retailers across the country.
Perhaps the biggest accomplishment
of the year for our import-dependent
industry was enactment of Trade
Promotion Authority, which will
make it easier to complete trade
agreements around the globe. We
also won improvements to the
Affordable Care Act, showed that
government-mandated minimum
wage increases would decrease job
creation and that overtime expansion
would limit career opportunities. We
educated lawmakers that chip-andsignature credit cards provide only
half the security of chip-and-PIN
cards and worked to ensure that
patent reform legislation will truly
protect retailers. And while not all
issues were resolved by year’s end, we
set the stage for robust debate during
the upcoming election year and in the
new Congress.
6
Facts and figures to back up rhetoric
are essential for winning on Capitol
Hill. That is why we launched the new
NRF Retail Research and Analysis
Center, a multimillion-dollar initiative
that has already begun to yield crucial
new data demonstrating that retail
wages are as competitive as those
in any industry, showing the value of
retail on a resume and documenting
the influence retailers have in
shaping our nation’s workforce.
The stage for many of these
accomplishments was set at Retail’s
BIG Show, which once again reached
record attendance with tens of
thousands of retailers from around
the globe. And we celebrated retail
careers by hosting the first-ever
NRF Foundation Gala, which drew
a who’s who of retail executives,
honored the 25 inaugural members
of The List of People Shaping Retail’s
Future and raised nearly $1.2 million
for the foundation’s scholarship
programs and efforts to show the
next generation of workers the wide
range of professional opportunities
available in our industry.
As the growth and progress
in NRF programs demonstrate,
we continue to look for opportunities
to add value for our members. We
would not exist without you, nor
could we do what we do without
your engagement and support.
Kip Tindell
Chairman of the Board
National Retail Federation,
Chairman and CEO
The Container Store
Matthew R. Shay
President and CEO
National Retail Federation
18,000
MEMBERS
41,000+
ATTENDEES AT 22 CONFERENCES
AND NETWORKING DINNERS
2015 BY THE
NUMBERS
95,000+
$500,000+
RETAIL JOBS POSTED
ON THE NRF JOB BOARD
IN SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO MORE THAN
250 STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND CURRENT RETAIL EMPLOYEES
67
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PARTNERS TO HELP
SHAPE THE NEXT GENERATION OF RETAIL LEADERS
$1.18M
RAISED AT THE NRF FOUNDATION
INAUGURAL GALA
1,5OO
MEETINGS ON CAPITOL HILL WITH
450 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
15,OOO
MILES, EIGHT STATES AND MORE
THAN 80 RETAILERS ON THE RETAIL
ACROSS AMERICA ROAD TRIP
7
WORKED TO KEEP
COMMERCE
FLOWING
From the passage of Trade Promotion Authority to
driving the conversation on the impact of the
West Coast ports slowdown, NRF’s efforts in
2015 were paramount to making sure that
retailers could continue to provide
goods and services to
their customers.
ENDED WEST COAST PORTS SHUTDOWN
NRF’s repeated demands for the
White House to become involved in
a lengthy labor dispute that slowed
down West Coast ports succeeded
when President Obama sent Labor
Secretary Thomas Perez to join
dockworkers and port management
at the negotiating table, resulting in
a five-year contract that ended the
slowdown and restored stability to
retail supply chains. NRF continued
its efforts by pushing Congress to
pass legislation that would help keep
ports — and the supply of retail
merchandise — running smoothly
in the future.
NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay spoke
DEMONSTRATED
THE IMPACT OF
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
ON THE ECONOMY
about the impact the West Coast ports
shutdown had on the retail industry at an
event hosted by The Journal of Commerce.
NRF commissioned the “Trade Matters”
study, which shows that 6.9 million retail jobs
are related to international trade and provides a
state-by-state breakdown of the economic benefits.
Many members of Congress, including former House
Speaker John Boehner, cited NRF’s study as part of their
support for the U.S. trade agenda.
PASSED TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY
NRF helped coordinate a major
grassroots and lobbying campaign
that led to passage and enactment
of Trade Promotion Authority, which
gives Congress input on trade deals
in return for a yes-or-no vote on
final approval rather than allowing
amendments that could amount to
renegotiation. TPA cleared the way for
President Obama to finalize important
trade talks with key partners around
the Pacific as well as Europe. The
legislation was a critical step toward
new free trade agreements that will
ensure that U.S. retailers remain
competitive in the global economy
while providing benefits to U.S.
workers and consumers.
1 IN 4
U.S. JOBS ARE SUPPORTED
BY THE U.S. RETAIL INDUSTRY
IN 2013 U.S. TRADE
SUPPORTED NEARLY
6.9 MILLION
U.S. RETAIL AND
RESTAURANT JOBS
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BATTLED
GOVERNMENT
OVERREACH
NRF was retail’s voice in countless conversations
about the role of government in business,
providing real-time and real-world data and
stories about the impact of regulations
on retailers and their employees.
CONFIRMED THAT
PROPOSED OVERTIME
REGULATIONS THREATEN RETAIL
MANAGERS’ CAREERS AND CUSTOMERS
In 2015 the U.S. Department of Labor planned to redefine
existing provisions of federal overtime rules. To better
understand the impact of these changes, NRF commissioned the
“Rethinking Overtime” study, which analyzed the effect they would
have on the retail industry, as well as a survey of American retail and
restaurant managers that found most believed the new regulations would
have a negative impact on both their customers and careers.
81%
86%
$8.4 BILLION
Retail and restaurant managers who fear
the proposed regulations would have a
negative impact on customer service.
Retail and restaurant managers who believe if
they were limited in their contribution to store
operations, they would be less fulfilled in their jobs.
Cost to retailers and restaurants
to comply if the overtime
threshold were set to $970.
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“
NRF HAS PUT PERHAPS THE MOST ENERGY
OF ANYONE INTO THE OVERTIME FIGHT.
“
- Washington Post
OPPOSED NEW
OVERTIME REGULATIONS
NRF took Alabama small business owner Terry Shea to
Capitol Hill to testify on how overtime expansion would
harm her gift shop, Wrapsody, and its employees.
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NRF led the business community’s
efforts against the Obama
Administration’s plan to expand
overtime and helped rein in proposed
regulations issued by the Labor
Department that could have gone
even further. Studies commissioned
by NRF found that the proposal
would drive up employers’ costs
while resulting in little if any increase
in take-home pay for most workers,
that the majority of retail managers
and assistant managers oppose the
plan because it would limit career
opportunities and that low-wage
areas around the country would be
disproportionately affected by the
one-size-fits-all salary levels. The
numbers were so convincing that
the Small Business Administration
highlighted NRF’s research in its
response to the plan. NRF worked
closely with members of Congress in
efforts to block the proposal from
going into effect.
BATTLED GOVERNMENT OVERREACH ON MULTIPLE FRONTS
Backed legislation to overturn
a National Labor Relations
Board ruling that would
make unionization easier by
considering large companies
“joint employers” with
subcontractors and franchisees.
Showed that an increase in the
federal minimum wage would
harm job creation, and that many
retail workers like the flexibility
of “predictive scheduling”
despite criticism from Big Labor.
NCCR, NRF’s chain restaurant
division, hosted two industry
fly-ins and coordinated
and co-sponsored several
new ad campaigns aimed
at key federal lawmakers to
highlight the negative impact
of the Renewable Fuel
Standard on food costs.
Won repeal of two key provisions
of the onerous Affordable
Care Act, one that would have
required companies to enroll
workers in health insurance
plans whether workers wanted
them or not, and one that
would have forced mid-sized
employers into the expensive
small-size insurance market.
“
NRF SVP for Government Relations David French
testified at the House Oversight Committee.
RETAILERS BELIEVE IN CREATING BETTER
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES. BUT
THEY BELIEVE THAT CAREERS, NOT TIME CLOCKS,
- NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay,
ARE THE ANSWER.
Sun Sentinel
“
HEAD OF NRF
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
RECOGNIZED AS TOP LOBBYIST
The Hill newspaper once again named NRF Senior Vice
President for Government Relations David French one of the
top trade association lobbyists in Washington, D.C. The paper
said French is among those who have “climbed to the top of their
profession” and cited his work in leading NRF’s public policy team on
credit card swipe fee reform, fixing the Affordable Care Act and addressing
the way clothing imports are treated under international trade agreements.
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FOUGHT FOR THE CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE THAT
RETAILERS WANT
TO DELIVER
From data security and EMV
implementation to predatory
patent trolls, NRF worked to
ensure that retailers can
provide safe, seamless
transactions and
experiences.
PROVED THAT
CONSUMERS WANT
CHIP-AND-PIN CARDS
NRF and the retail industry have called for
chip-and-PIN cards, which store customer
data on a computer microchip embedded in the
card and require use of a secret number rather than
a fraud-prone signature.
62%
63%
83%
Consumers who would prefer to
use chip-and-PIN cards rather
than chip-and-signature cards.
Consumers who believe chip-and-PIN cards
provide more data security than chipand-signature technology.
Consumers who, believing chip-and-PIN is more
secure, also say it would be worthwhile even if they
had to have a different PIN for every card.
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LED THE CHARGE FOR CHIP-AND-PIN
NRF has said for years that fraudprone credit cards using easy-to-copy
magnetic stripes and easy-to-forge
signatures should be replaced with
cards that store data on computer
microchips and require a secure,
secret PIN instead of a signature.
But when U.S. banks began rolling
out “EMV” cards in the United
States in 2015, they were chip-and-
signature cards rather than the
chip-and-PIN cards used almost
universally around the world. NRF
responded with research and a
massive communications campaign
showing that chip-without-PIN is only
a partial step toward improving credit
card security and that U.S. shoppers
deserve the same level of protection
seen by consumers in other nations.
In October the FBI issued a warning
that new chip cards are only partially
protective and should be used with
a PIN, rather than a signature, in
order to really reduce fraud, only to
have the original strongly worded
document retracted and replaced with
a more general statement after heavy
lobbying by the financial services
industry. NRF Senior Vice President
and General Counsel Mallory Duncan
responded to the turnaround, calling
it a “watered-down public service
announcement that was scarcely a
public service.” Shortly afterward,
FBI Director James Comey testified
before Congress that the agency
does believe consumers and retailers
are best served with credit cards
protected by both a chip and a PIN.
NRF Board member Keith Lipert testified before the House
16
NRF SVP and General Counsel Mallory Duncan testified
Small Business Committee on how small businesses like his are
before the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on data
being pressured into buying expensive new card readers without
security and data breach notification.
receiving the level of security that could be provided.
Capstone Photography Owner Michael Skelps and
J.C. Penney Senior Managing Counsel of Litigation Diane
Lettelleir at the United for Patent Reform fly-in event.
CONTINUED FIGHT AGAINST PATENT TROLLS
NRF formed and led United for
Patent Reform, a new multi-industry
coalition ranging from retailers
to technology companies to fight
against frivolous lawsuits filed by
“patent trolls.” NRF and the coalition
held two major Capitol Hill fly-ins,
conducted scores of lobbying visits
and worked closely with the sponsors
of both House and Senate patent
reform legislation to ensure that it
would truly protect retailers and
not be diluted by patent attorneys.
Patent “trolls” were sent to Capitol Hill to help draw
attention to this issue that plagues retailers.
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PUT RETAIL
FRONT AND
CENTER
NRF ensured that retail, the nation’s largest
private-sector employer, is recognized as
an industry powerhouse and a major
player in Washington, D.C.
SHOWCASED RETAIL’S ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
In May NRF celebrated retail’s
entrepreneurial spirit with the
inaugural Retail’s Night Out event.
Nearly 2,000 people came to shop
at the one-night-only pop-up event
in downtown Washington, D.C.,
which featured 25 local merchants
and national brands. The event
also included a VIP reception at
NRF headquarters with more
than 200 D.C. influencers.
NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay, Mi Golondrina Owner Cristina Lynch,
The Container Store Vice President of Cultural Programs and Community
Relations Audrey Robertson and The Container Store Chairman and CEO
and NRF Chairman of the Board Kip Tindell at Retail’s Night Out.
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RETAILERS TOOK TO THE HILL
In July NRF hosted the Retail
Advocates Summit, which brought
150 top retail advocates to Capitol
Hill for meetings with lawmakers on
critical issues like overtime, Internet
sales tax collection and data security.
In addition to advancing NRF’s policy
objectives, this annual meeting
celebrates activism by local retailers,
builds strong relationships with
key state associations and helps to
remind lawmakers that one in four
jobs are tied to retail. The related
press outreach by NRF and state
associations generated valuable
earned media opportunities for NRF
and the local retailers involved.
NRF SVP for Government Relations David French
presented the NRF Legislator of the Year award to
Representative Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio.
Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C., was presented with an NRF Hero of
Main Street Award by NRF SVP and General Counsel Mallory
Duncan and NRF VP and Senior Policy Counsel Paul Martino.
Retailers from 37 states participated in
NRF’s Retail Advocates Summit.
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“
America’s Retail Champions finalists are joined
IF YOU DON’T TELL YOUR STORY AND TELL THEM
HOW IT’S LIKE AT THE REAL-WORLD LEVEL,
THEY’RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE INFORMATION
TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION.
“
- Royal River Natural Foods Owner and America’s
Retail Champions recipient Tina Wilcoxson’s
interview in the Portland Press Herald
by Dave’s Soda and Pet City Owner and NRF
Board member Dave Ratner.
LEVERAGED SOCIAL
MEDIA DURING STATE
OF THE UNION ADDRESS
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,
R-Ky., met with retailers on Capitol Hill.
In January NRF took to Twitter for
real-time commentary on what
retailers were buying — and returning
— from the President’s agenda for
the nation, receiving accolades for
its creative use of social media.
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NRF President and CEO Matthew
Shay spoke at Tractor Supply
Company’s annual vendor conference.
Representative Marsha Blackburn, R.-Tenn., and
Representative Peter Welch, D-Vt., with Matthew
Shay and NRF SVP for Government Relations David
French at Retail’s BIG Show.
Los Angeles Mayor
Eric Garcetti and NRF VP for Supply Chain
and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold.
Dunkin’ Brands CEO Nigel Travis and NCCR Executive Director
Rob Green met with Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez at the
NCCR Chain Restaurant CEO Policy Summit.
NRF SVP and General Counsel Mallory
Duncan, Matthew Shay and Senator
Robert Portman, R-Ohio.
NRF VP of Government Relations Beth Provenzano
and Representative Gwen Graham, D-Fla.
The Container Store Chairman and CEO Kip Tindell, NRF President and CEO
Matthew Shay and Retired Air Force General Michael Hayden, former director
of the Central Intelligence Agency, at the NRF Board meeting.
Matthew Shay and Senator Richard Durbin, D-Ill., who was named
to the NRF Foundation’s The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future.
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ESTABLISHED THE
NARRATIVE FOR
RETAIL’S STORY
ENGAGED WITH
RETAILERS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY
In 2015 NRF’s Retail Across America
road trip traveled nearly 15,000 miles,
making stops in eight states and
visiting more than 80 retailers to find
the most powerful stories on how
retail provides jobs, drives innovation
and gives back to communities.
No one tells the industry’s story
better than the people who
work in retail — NRF
provided the platform.
TEXAS
“The harder you work, the
better your luck is — one
comes with the other.”
- Neiman Marcus President
and CEO Karen Katz
KENTUCKY
Texas Roadhouse Senior
Director of Public Relations
Travis Doster credits Kentucky’s
booming retail industry to the
state’s friendly hospitality.
NEVADA
Behind the “seams” of Las
Vegas-based fashion design
studio Stitch Factory.
MASSACHUSETTS
Michelson’s Shoes Owner
Eric Michelson shows his
pride in retail outside his
store in Lexington.
CONNECTICUT
The Retail Across America
crew found out what’s
brewing at sustainable
lifestyle coffee brand A
Happy Life in New Haven.
MAINE
MINNESOTA
“Retail is sort of like the
air we breathe — you
take it for granted, but it’s
really important.”
- Senator Angus King, I-Maine
Senior Vice President of
Business Development
and Marketing Jill Renslow
inside the Mall of America
Enhanced Service Portal.
NRF’s “Retail’s Value on a Resume” study
surveyed retail employees and hiring managers
across multiple sectors and found that retail helps
prepare a large part of the workforce for long-term success.
VERMONT
“There is a place in retail
for every passion.”
- Orvis CEO
Perk Perkins
HIGHLIGHTED
THAT RETAIL
EMPLOYEES HAVE
THE SKILLS HIRING
MANAGERS WANT
78%
80%
71%
Current retail employees who are satisfied
with their job; nearly eight in 10 describe
themselves as happy working in retail.
Hiring managers who state that the skills and traits that are
most important to them are the same skills and traits that more
than eight in 10 current retail employees say they use regularly.
Hiring managers who say that retail provides its employees foundational
skills and experience that are transferable to other industries and
recommend that employees include retail experience on their resumes.
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SPOTLIGHTED RETAIL’S
IMPORTANCE TO THE
SUCCESS OF THE
ECONOMY
NRF remained the go-to source
for industry and consumer
data, providing real-time
commentary on some
of the nation’s
top economic
conversations.
CONSUMER SPENDING SURVEYS
$4.6 BILLION
St. Patrick’s Day
$16.4 BILLION
Easter
$18.9 BILLION
Valentine’s Day
$14.3 BILLION
Super Bowl
$6.9 BILLION
Halloween
$21.2 BILLION
Mother’s Day
$12.7 BILLION
Father’s Day
$68 BILLION
Back to School and College
ANNUAL
RETAIL FORECAST
HOLIDAY
RETAIL FORECAST
3.5%
3.7%
6 - 8%
6 - 8%
ESTIMATED GROWTH
IN RETAIL SALES
ESTIMATED GROWTH IN
ONLINE RETAIL SALES
ESTIMATED GROWTH
IN HOLIDAY SALES
ESTIMATED GROWTH IN
ONLINE HOLIDAY SALES
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SHAPED THE NEXT
GENERATION OF
RETAIL TALENT
The NRF Foundation created opportunities
for current and aspiring retail employees
to advance their education, grow their
careers and highlight their successes.
The Container Store Chairman and CEO Kip Tindell, HSNi CEO and
NRF Board Second Vice Chair and NRF Foundation Board Secretary
and Chair Mindy Grossman and NRF President and CEO Matthew
Shay are joined by the NRF Foundation 2015 scholarship finalists.
CELEBRATED THE IMAGINATION OF RETAIL
In January the NRF Foundation hosted
their inaugural gala in New York City.
The evening was a celebration of the
imagination, inspiration and innovation
at work in the retail industry today,
as well as a recognition of the
Foundation’s scholarship recipients
— the retail leaders of tomorrow.
Thanks to the generous support of
the industry, the Foundation raised
nearly $1.2 million to support their
initiatives and programs. The event
also recognized The List of People
Shaping Retail’s Future. Broken out
into five categories (Disruptors,
Dreamers, Givers, Influencers and
Power Players), The List honored
25 people who are making a true
impact on the retail industry.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Founder and Chief
Creative Officer Martha Stewart, who served on the Gala
Host Committee, with Matthew Shay and Mindy Grossman.
29
HOSTED FIRST RETAIL’S ACADEMIC SYMPOSIUM
In August 2015 more than 90
undergraduate business professors
from 65 schools across the country
gathered in New York City for the NRF
Foundation’s first Retail’s Academic
Symposium. Attendees heard from
leading retail executives about
the rapidly changing nature of the
industry and the urgent need
for graduates who understand the
evolving and data-driven world of
retail. Professors received travel and
accommodation stipends to attend
the event, made possible with funding
from the NRF Foundation Gala.
Macy’s Chief Omnichannel
Officer R.B. Harrison presented
at Retail’s Academic Symposium.
WALMART
FOUNDATION
AWARDS GRANT TO
THE NRF FOUNDATION
In June the Walmart Foundation awarded an
$800,000 grant to the NRF Foundation, enabling
them to conduct analysis of the retail industry’s learning
and development needs, fund three research projects
and create a community of leaders in retail learning and
development from NRF member companies.
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AWARDED MORE THAN $500,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS
In 2015 the NRF Foundation awarded
over $500,000 to more than 250
students, educators and current
retail employees through the Ray
Greenly, Next Generation, Student
Challenge, Rising Stars and Dream
BIG scholarships as well as educator
stipends for Retail’s Academic
Symposium. The newest addition
to the roster — the Rising Stars
Scholarship — was created in order
to introduce younger students to
the variety of career opportunities
available in the retail industry and
to encourage them to attend NRF
Foundation Student Programs early
on in their academic careers.
Student Challenge Scholarship contenders
pitched their retail product ideas to
executives at Retail’s BIG Show.
HSN President and HSNi CMO Bill Brand, Former NRF Chairman
of the Board Stephen Sadove, Neiman Marcus President and
CEO Karen Katz and Julep Beauty Founder and CEO Jane Park.
CONNECTED TOMORROW’S RETAIL LEADERS
WITH THE C-SUITE
The NRF Foundation hosted
special learning events at Retail’s
BIG Show and the Shop.org Digital
Summit for college students to
receive career advice directly
from the C-suite through personal
interactions with retail executives
and the chance to take advantage
of career opportunities at top retail
companies. There was tremendous
growth across both programs in
2015, with more than 350 students
and educators in attendance at each,
and new sessions that centered on
professional development. Retail’s
BIG Show Student Program had a
record six retail CEOs participate
and give career advice.
NRF SVP of Research and Strategic Initiatives and
Executive Director of the NRF Foundation Ellen Davis
at Retail’s BIG Show Student Program.
31
HOSTED INDUSTRY LEADERS
AT AWARD-WINNING
EVENTS
From Retail’s BIG Show to regional networking
dinners, NRF events brought together the best
and the brightest to share ideas, experience
the latest retail technology and learn
from industry experts.
CONTINUED TO GROW RETAIL’S BIG SHOW
More than 33,000 retail professionals
from 86 countries came to Retail’s BIG
Show in New York City in January to
collaborate, find solutions and learn
about the trends shaping the industry;
more than 600 solution providers
showcased their technology across
220,000 square feet in the EXPO Hall.
In 2015 Retail’s BIG Show earned
a spot on Trade Show Executive’s
Fastest 50 in 2014 by Net Square Feet
of Exhibit Space, Number of Exhibiting
Companies and Total Attendance, and
was also named to Trade Show News
Network’s fastest-growing shows list.
Brooks Brothers Chairman and CEO and NRF Board
member Claudio Del Vecchio presented the Retail
Innovator of the Year award to Warby Parker Co-founders
and Co-CEOs Neil Blumenthal and David Gilboa.
Former NRF Chairman of the Board Stephen Sadove
sat down with former Chairman of the Federal
Reserve System Ben Bernanke at Retail’s BIG Show.
The Home Depot Chairman Frank Blake
(retired) was the recipient of the Gold Medal
Award for his leadership in the retail industry.
33
LAUNCHED THE NEW NRF PROTECT
NRF completely rebranded,
reinvigorated and reinvented its
loss prevention conference in 2015,
creating NRF PROTECT. The new
approach speaks to the core mission
of all loss prevention professionals:
to protect people, assets and brands.
NRF PROTECT 2015, which took
place in June in Long Beach, Calif.,
offered new experiences such as
an Emerging Leaders Boot Camp,
a Tactical Training Workshop and
a Cybersecurity Pavilion. There
were 342 retail companies in
attendance at the event, 22 percent
more than in 2014; EXPO Hall
attendance grew nearly 75 percent
from 2014. NRF received ASAE’s
Gold Circle Award for the NRF
PROTECT rebranding campaign,
underscoring it as the premier loss
prevention event in North America.
Hudson’s Bay Corporation SVP of Asset Protection and NRF LP Council
Chairwoman Rosamaria Sostilio spoke with former NYPD Commissioner
and national security expert Raymond Kelly at NRF PROTECT.
34
Stitch Fix COO Julie Bornstein presented at
the Shop.org Digital Summit.
EXPLORED THE LATEST TRENDS AT
SHOP.ORG DIGITAL SUMMIT
More than 5,000 digital and
multichannel professionals and
280 solution providers gathered in
Philadelphia in October to explore
new digital trends, technologies
and strategies at the Shop.org
Digital Summit. The event was
named to Trade Show Executive’s
Fastest 50 in 2014 by Net Square
Feet of Exhibit Space and Number
of Exhibiting Companies, as well
as to Trade Show News Network’s
fastest-growing shows list.
QVC Inc. President and CEO Mike George offered
his view on how retailers need to think and work
differently for future success and growth.
35
CULTIVATED
RETAIL
INNOVATION
Recognizing the critical role innovation plays in
retailers’ success, NRF provided industry forums
for demonstrations of and discussions on
emerging technologies and trends.
During the NRFtech Innovation Afternoon
interactive workshop, participants used Design
Thinking concepts to solve a retail problem.
The Tour of the Possible took attendees to a tech
incubator in San Francisco to hear from startups,
entrepreneurs, programmers and data scientists
who showcased their most recent innovations.
REINVENTED NRFTECH
With a fresh format and focus on
innovation, the July NRFtech event in
Half Moon Bay, Calif., gave retail CIOs,
CMOs and digital executives a unique
opportunity to discover and explore
the latest retail technology while
networking with peers in the industry.
For the first time, CMOs and chief
digital officers learned alongside CIOs
at NRFtech, bringing together the
roles responsible for retail innovation.
John Lewis Partnership IT Director Paul Coby, GameStop Technology Institute SVP Jeff
Donaldson, Zappos Labs Director Will Young and Westfield Labs COO Antony Ritch
took part in a panel discussion on how retail labs are fostering innovation.
37
HONORED RETAIL’S HOTTEST STARTUPS
In January Shop.org hosted the first
Startup of the Year competition at
Retail’s BIG Show to find the most
promising rising stars in retail. More
than 60 startup retail and technology
companies competed in a “Shark
Tank”-style session, with Symphony
Commerce emerging as the
winner. The Shop.org Digital
Commerce Startup of the Year
competition at October’s Shop.org
Digital Summit received dozens of
entries, with technology company
Reflektion taking home the top prize.
NRF SVP of Communities and Executive Director of Shop.org
Vicki Cantrell presented Symphony Commerce with the winning
prize at the inaugural Startup of the Year competition.
38
CREATED THE NRF DIGITAL COUNCIL
In October NRF announced the development of the
new members-only Digital Council, powered by
Shop.org, to serve as the premier e-commerce
voice by supporting and promoting collaboration
in efforts such as the exchange of information
on digital retail trends and strategies
and educational events and advocacy
opportunities in Washington, D.C.
SHOWCASED INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS IN RETAIL
Retail’s BIG Show iLab gave
attendees a chance to see, touch
and experience some of the
most interesting and innovative
products finding their way into the
marketplace including 3D printing,
virtual reality and a crowd-sourced
app developed during the show.
39
PRODUCED RESEARCH AND
RESOURCES TO
HELP RETAILERS
SUCCEED
OMNICHANNEL RETAIL INDEX
OCTOBER 2015
NRF delivered dozens of cuttingedge research reports,
industry surveys and white
papers to give members
the tools they need
to grow their
business.
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME SURVEY
SEPTEMBER 2015
2015 RETAIL HOLIDAY PLANNING
PLAYBOOK
RETHINKING OVERTIME
HOW INCREASING OVERTIME EXEMPTION THRESHOLDS WILL AFFECT THE
RETAIL AND RESTAURANT INDUSTRIES
JULY 2015
COMMISSIONED BY
THE STATE OF RETAILING ONLINE 2015:
MARKETING AND MERCHANDISING
JULY 2015
NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION
2016-2018 RETAIL SALES REPORTING and
4-5-4 MERCHANDISING CALENDAR
SPRING SEASON
2017
2016
September 2015
S
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S
COMMISSIONED BY
M
30 31
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B G 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
10 A
in partnership with the
T
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
7 R 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
HOW JOBS IN RETAIL PREPARE AMERICA’S WORKFORCE FOR SUCCESS
JUNE 2015
M
3 B 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
S
RETAIL’S VALUE ON A RESUME
S
29 30 31
1
2
3
4
5
January 2019
F
S
5
6
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6
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7
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8
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F
S
9 10 11 12 J 49
9 10 11 12 13
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 A 50
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 N 51
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
27 28 29 30 31
28 29 30 31
1
2
1
2
52
3
*
Fiscal Year 2017 is a 53 week year. Many retailers will restate 2017 for comparability to 2018.
**
Green shaded boxes indicate a Sales Release Date. Black shaded boxes indicate the following Holidays: Valentine's Day, Presidents Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day,
Father's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Columbus Day, Halloween, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, and Martin Luther King Day.
Holiday forecasts, consumer trends
and historical retail sales data from
the National Retail Federation
Holiday Trends
and Expectations
NRF
5
’s 201
SUR
nr f.com/holidays
L KIT
VIVA
LAUNCHED
RETAIL RESEARCH
AND ANALYSIS CENTER
NRF announced the creation of a
new research department that will
centralize all existing research within the
organization and expand upon the wide range
of issue areas and trends already studied, with a
focus on four main areas: the economy, legislative
and regulatory policy, the retail industry and consumers.
41
NRF COUNCILS, COMMITTEES
AND TASK FORCES
NRF offers members the opportunity to benchmark business
practices, form policy, drive technology standards and map the
course of NRF’s research efforts and priorities by joining one
of more than 60 councils, committees and task forces.
These communities’ contribution is an essential part
of the work that NRF does in addressing issues
such as regulatory compliance, employment
law and employee benefits, finance,
information technology, international
trade, loss prevention, payments,
privacy, supply chain and tax.
NRF offers more than 60 councils,
committees and task forces, including:
ARTS Board of Directors
NCCR Board of Directors
NRF CIO Council
NRF General Counsels Forum
NRF Government Affairs
Policy Council
NRF LP Council
NRF IT Security Council
NRF Retail
Communicators Network
NRF Associate Member Council
NRF Small Business Retail Council
NRF CMO Council
NRF State Association Council
NRF Digital Council
NRF Strategic Supply
Chain Council
NRF Financial Executives Council
NRF Foundation Board
of Directors
NRF Talent Acquisition Group
Shop.org Board of Directors
Beth Aberg
President
Random Harvest Inc.
Marla Beck
Co-Founder and CEO
Bluemercury Inc.
Thomas M. Belk
Chairman and CEO
Belk Inc.
Gunther Bright
Executive Vice President
American Express, Merchant
Services - US
Pauline Brown
Chairman
LVMH Moet Hennessy
Louis Vuitton Inc.
Mindy F. Grossman
CEO
HSNi
David R. Jaffe
President and CEO
Ascena Retail Group Inc.
M. Farooq Kathwari
Chairman, President and CEO
Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.
Karen W. Katz
President and CEO
Neiman Marcus Group
Steve Knopik
CEO
Beall’s Inc.
Lori Mitchell-Keller
EVP and Global GM,
Consumer Industries
SAP
NRF BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Mitchell B. Modell
CEO
Modell’s Sporting Goods
Bob Myers
Former President and CEO
Sheplers Inc.
Greg Sandfort
President and CEO
Tractor Supply Company
Rick Caruso
Founder and CEO
Caruso Affiliated
Kay Lawther Krill
Former President and CEO
ANN INC.
Alison Paul
Vice Chairman, U.S. Retail and
Distribution Leader
Deloitte Consulting LLP
David M. Davis
President
Utah Retail Merchants Associaton
Craig L. Levra
Former CEO
Sport Chalet Inc.
Curtis Picard
Executive Director
Retail Association of Maine
Matthew Shay
President and CEO
National Retail Federation
Claudio Del Vecchio
Chairman and CEO
Brooks Brothers Group Inc.
Keith Lipert
President
Keith Lipert Gallery
David Ratner
President
Dave’s Soda and Pet City
Edward W. Stack
Chairman and CEO
Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc.
Brian K. Devine
Chairman
PETCO Animal Supplies Inc.
Karen Lowe
GM, Global Retail Industry
IBM Corporation
Ron Sacino
President and CEO
Sacino’s
Kip Tindell
Chairman and CEO
The Container Store Inc.
Joe Flannery
President
Weaver’s Inc.
Terry J. Lundgren
Chairman and CEO
Macy’s Inc.
Stephen I. Sadove
Principal
Stephen Sadove and Associates
Myron Ullman
Executive Chairman
J.C. Penney Company Inc.
Laura J. Sen
President and CEO
BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc.
43
NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores,
home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants
and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s
largest private-sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans.
Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy.
NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how
retailers strengthen communities and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation.
nrf.com/annualreport2015
44