By Okon Ekpenyong

The 2025 National Retail Federation Foundation’s Retail Big Show will begin on Sunday, January 12 to Tuesday, January 14 in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The event aims to bolster the retail industry through education, research, and philanthropy.

Per many retail experts, NRF, the world’s largest retail trade association, plays a crucial role in the industry, emphasizing compliance with state and federal regulations while helping retailers thrive as vital community businesses.

Retailers connecting with their state agencies or other associations in their home State to address challenges and access resources that can enhance their businesses is one of the ways it can underscore the value of these partnerships in promoting retail success.

An example is the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, which reports that 1 out of 4 Ohio’s workforce is employed in the retail industry, highlighting the sector’s importance to the state’s economy. To support retailers, many states, including Ohio, have organizations such as this one, which offer a range of services, such as healthcare coverage, HR support, unemployment services, talent recruitment, shipping services, and workers’ compensation group rating programs.

The Big Show will have over 1000 exhibitors like FedEx, UPS, Amazon, and some of the world’s largest names in the retail sector. It will also feature over 175 sessions focusing on future industry trends, innovative technologies, and business strategies.

For many retailers, big or small, this platform is also a way for others to support newcomers in establishing their livelihoods, amplifying the voices of first and second-generation entrepreneurs. The retail industry, a critical economic driver, contributes nearly $5.3 trillion to the U.S. economy and is a key employment source, particularly for young professionals.

According to the November 2024 Retail Monitor by CNBC/NRF, retail sales across various sectors (excluding cars and gasoline) increased. Therefore, seeing such growth indicates resilience in the industry despite facing challenges. Many local businesses are adapting by reaching global markets through e-commerce, enhancing their ability to remain operational.

The company may create more jobs to meet essential consumer needs when sales goals increase. For example, it is how most youth get their first start, which later on fosters work ethic and commitment among first-time workers.

Another way that the NRF Foundation helps the retail industry grow is through Education. Their recognized credentials programs for high school students and aids have helped many college students launch retail careers through its Rise Up program. These programs boast impressive success rates in job application confidence and career opportunities for so many. Essential Retail Foundation and Customer Service and Sales Knowledge are some programs that eventually help the students become valuable resources for aspiring retail professionals.

The NRF Foundation will also host a range of other events throughout the year, catering to the diverse needs of its members. These events include the NRF Retail Law Summit, which covers legal, compliance, and HR topics, and NRF PROTECT, focused on preventing retail crime, scheduled for June 23-25 in Grapevine, TX.

Additionally, the foundation organizes international events like NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show Asia Pacific in Singapore and NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show Europe in Paris. The NRF Nexus event, on July 14-16 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, brings together retail technology, marketing, and digital leaders to share ideas on meeting consumer needs. For a comprehensive list of NRF events, please visit their official website.

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