WASHINTON D.C., Nov 2, 2010 – When the National Retail Federation’s 100th Annual Convention arrives in New York this January, 100 years of history will come along with it, as well as some of retail’s most exciting and influential speakers, including Macy’s Chairman, President and CEO Terry Lundgren; Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Co-Founder of Moody’s Economy.com and Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN, Inc.
During the three-day event, being held January 9-12, 2011 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, attendees will also hear from world-renowned authors and retailers’ corporate partners on topics including the economy and consumer spending, sustainability and mobile retailing.
Scheduled Super Sessions and highlighted panels at the Convention include:
The Rise of the Individual: Understand and Respond to Smarter Consumers’ Wants and Needs
Sunday, January 9, 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Speakers: Dan Heath, Co-Author, “Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard”; Jill Puleri, Worldwide Retail, Industry Leader, IBM Global Business
At this Super Session, world-renowned author Dan Heath will explore how retailers can predict what smarter consumers will want and nimbly change direction accordingly.
Retail’s Road to Recovery: Status Report on the Global Economy
Monday, January 10, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Speakers: Claudio Del Vecchio, Chairman and CEO, Retail Brand Alliance (parent of Brooks Brothers); Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Co-Founder, Moody’s Economy.com
Moderator: Mark Greene, CEO, FICO
Renowned industry experts will collectively examine the current status of the global economic recovery and provide an outlook for the year to come as well as also discuss how the retail industry will be affected. Experts will also discuss the potential economic impact of a Value Added Tax.
Consumer 2020: What Lies Ahead for the Retail Industry?
Monday, January 10, 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Panelists: Cathy Green, President, Food Lion Family (Food Lion, Bloom, Harveys & Reids); Ira Kalish, Global Director, Deloitte Research; Peter Sachse, CMO, Chairman and CEO, Macys.com, Macy’s Inc.
Moderator: Allison Paul, Vice Chairman and U.S. Retail Leader, Deloitte
Attendees will learn about the major demographic, technological and business trends that will likely dominate the industry in years to come, including the thought that retiring “baby boomers” will spend less and that “Gen Y” will shop primarily via a smartphone or other hand held device.
The Magic of the Disney Store
Tuesday, January 11, 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Speakers: Duncan Angove, GM and Senior Vice President, Global Business Unit, Oracle; Stephen Finney, Senior Vice President, Global Retail, Operations, Disney Store
This Super Session will showcase how Disney brings a comprehensive brand experience to entertain and amaze consumers of all ages, discussing how and why Disney Stores has fully evolved to offer an immersive guest experience while also boosting business efficiency.
The Future is BIG, the Future is NOW!
Wednesday, January 12, 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Moderator: Terry J. Lundgren, Chairman, President and CEO, Macy’s, Inc.
Speakers: Ben Fischman, CEO, Retail Convergence, Inc. (Rue La La and Smartbargains.com) Mindy Grossman, CEO, HSN, Inc.; Bobbie Lenga, Managing Director, Global Consumer Sector Leader, Russell Reynolds Associates.
This panel, moderated by Macy’s Chairman, President and CEO Terry Lundgren, will celebrate “How Far We’ve Come”, NRF’s 100th Annual Convention theme, by exploring past game-changing events in retail innovation and will predict “How Far You’ll Go” by anticipating the next big ideas.
In addition to these Super Sessions and panels, NRF’s Annual Convention and EXPO will feature concurrent sessions throughout the three-day event focusing on store design, merchandising, information technology, supply chain, sustainability, digital retailing and many more areas of retail. Click here to learn more.
NRF’s Annual Convention and EXPO serves as the world’s leading retail event, bringing 18,000 retail executives and vendors from more than 60 countries together for educational and networking opportunities.
NRF’s EXPO floor, open on Monday and Tuesday of the Convention, hosts more than 600 exhibiting companies representing some of the most successful and innovative industry leaders in the world. NRF’s Convention is ranked as one of the Top 200 events in North America, as well as one of the 50 fastest-growing events, according to Tradeshow Week.
