Introduction
NRF, the biggest retail show of the year, is next week at the Javits Center in NYC. As the world’s largest retail conference and expo, attendees span the entire business universe. Expect to make connections with a diverse group of companies. The conference will allow retail companies to collide, collaborate and create. The hope is that impact happens when we share our story. When different voices come together, new ideas are ignited.
Main Themes
Impact happens across every facet of retail. At this conference the focus will be to perfect, disrupt and create new models. Attendees will hear how retailers are refining industry through social impact and challenging old standards. The conference will hold a variety of different speakers to motivate. These solution providers will share insights into the future of retail and the products that are putting companies one step ahead of the rest. With the Innovation Lab, Networking Hall and Startup Zone, the NRF Retail Show will birth new ideas and advancement in the retail world.
Keynote Speakers
Scott Galloway will discuss the impact of Big Teach. As a marketing professor at NYU Stern, a best-selling author and the founder of companies like Red Envelope and L2 Inc., Galloway will give great insight on how big tech is impacting retail.
Brain Cornell, Board Chairman and CEO of Target Corp. He currently serves as chairman of the Retail Industry Leaders Association. He will be speaking Monday Jan 14th on More in Store: Target invests in its guests and its future.
Joanna Gaines, Co-Founder of Magnolia, a home and lifestyle brand established in 2003. Joanna offers insight into this design philosophy in her New York Times bestselling design book, Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave. Joanna is also the bestselling author of Magnolia Table, a cookbook of recipes for gathering, and editor-in-chief of Magnolia Journal, a lifestyle magazine offering inspiration for your life and home. She will be speaking on Tuesday at 3:45: Balancing business and creativity to make a cultural connection.
Which events not to miss
If you are a lady boss working in retail, be sure not to miss the Girls’ Lounge. It will be powered by The Female Quotient, creates experiential pop-ups at global conferences, corporations and college campuses to empower women to activate change. One of the speakers will be Rebecca Minkoff – founder and creative director of a global lifestyle brand that designs handbags, accessories, footwear as well as men’s clothing under the label Uri Minkoff. She will be speaking on Sunday Jan 13 at 11:30 on the Feature Stage (Hall E, Level 1): Power of the pack – Women alone can be powerful, but together, have tremendous impact.
If your pass allows it, be sure to visit The Innovation Lab – a carefully curated, invite-only showcase of the top retail technologies. It is an immersive experience, centered around customer experience and convenience, that features the latest advances in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, machine learning, facial recognition, data analytics, robotics and more.
How to Attend
Standard rates for conference registration end January 11. Be sure to purchase your pass whether you want to attend the full conference or just the expo. The full conference pass with all you to attend: 14 Keynote Sessions, 9 Feature State Sessions, 18 Concurrent Sessions, 21 Innovation Stage Sessions and 94 Exhibitor Big Idea Sessions. There will be plenty of networking opportunities at the Opening Night Reception and in the NRF Lounge. Passes can be purchased here.