NRF ‘Big Show’ Spotlights Innovation, Technology and Putting Consumers First

Never mind all the retail attrition, anxiety over world affairs, the women’s apparel drought and tariffs. Top of mind for the 40,000 retailers, suppliers, industry analysts and consultants at the NRF’s “Big Show” which concluded Wednesday — it’s the world’s largest retail trade event — was innovation, brick-and-mortar viability within a multichannel platform, tech intensity and the healthy economy. Compared with a year ago, bankruptcy banter was subdued and optimism prevailed at the convention, which was held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. On Thursday, a day after the convention concluded, the NRF reported that 2019 holiday retail sales grew 4.1 percent over 2018 to $730.2 billion. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants. Online and other non-store sales were up 14.6 percent over the year before at $167.8 billion and were included in the total. “Having spent the last week with top retail leaders from around the world at our annual convention, and spending time at the White House yesterday with government policymakers and economists, these numbers validate continued optimism for increased investment and opportunity in the retail industry,” NRF president and chief executive officer Matthew Shay said. “This is a consumer-driven economy, and

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