Sanford Stein

The NRF Innovation Lab is an invitation only venue showcasing some of the world’s newest tech companies, including small emerging start-ups and international innovators. It exists in stark contrast to the over-the-top trade show presentations by huge, multinational technology companies.

Despite the myriad of challenges facing the retail industry, including supply chains, inflation, shrinkage, the changing consumer, and more; reevaluating the role of the frontline retail worker reverberated through many NRF keynotes, panels, and presentations.

On the heels of the successful rollout of Nike’s direct-to-consumer store triad, a fourth concept store, tailored to Nike’s “Air apparent” Michael Jordan, opened in Shibuya, Japan, on March 25th, apply named World of Flight.

With the secondhand luxury market expected to reach $64 billion by 2025, re-commerce sales leader eBay announced the launch of its new “Certified by Brand” program, to complement its existing Authenticity Guarantee introduced in 2020.

According to my industry shaman, eCommerce software runs the gamut from SMB to complex enterprise software makers. But the rich $20 -$200 million space is fertile turf.

Target, Walmart, and Amazon will gain from the loss of Buy Buy Baby. But beyond the majors there are a slew of independent retailers that will vie for the “baby pie.”

Target just nailed another brand partnership coup, which is likely to pay big dividends heading into the holiday season.

For Macy’s to find its new north star without blowing up the galaxy it will require a unique combination of fresh thinking, fresh money, and even an unlikely partnership.

Beyond the immensity of NRF’s Big Show and Las Vegas’ Shoptalk, this year’s Int’l Retail Design Conference successfully united retail design and the retail bottom line.

Black Friday at Mall of America has been a national and international draw since 1992. This year live entertainment incredible prizes and world class retail will be epic.