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Thousands of people from around the world gathered in New York this weekend at the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual industry event to focus on the ever-changing retail landscape and how retailers can keep up.
The trade association’s 107th annual conference and exhibits, NRF 2018: Retail’s Big Show kicked off on Sunday at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Hardware Retailing editor Renee Changnon is at the show to take notes on the latest trends and what you can expect to see in the future. In addition to walking the show floor, Changnon is attending speaker sessions, which include keynote speakers from companies like Walmart, Instagram, Home Depot and more.
The show, which runs Jan. 14-16, is expected to attract 36,000 attendees from 90 countries. The event agenda includes 36 keynote speakers, eight feature-stage sessions and more than 700 exhibitors, according to NRF.
With technology becoming a major player in both large and small companies, NRF 2018 highlights current and future innovations retailers can utilize in its Innovation Lab. This area is separate from the show floor, allowing attendees to scope out all the latest retail technology in one place. Plus, the Innovation Lab Stage offers a full lineup of speakers highlighting various products and technology that improve the customer experience and business operations.
The speaker sessions address one of four key elements: technology; business performance and growth; innovation; and partnerships and collaborations.
On the first day of the show, attendees had the chance to hear from leaders and executives of large corporations, including Macy’s, Levi’s Brand, QVC, Orangetheory Fitness, FabFitFun, Neiman Marcus, Adidas, Starbucks, Walmart and Instagram.
Additionally, attendees were able to explore hundreds of exhibitor booths and network on- and off-site.
Stay tuned for more coverage and takeaways from the show on the Hardware Retailing website.
