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10 tips for NRF 2013

12 January 2013

As retail experts across the globe gear up for this year’s National Retail Federation (NRF) Big Show, NRF releases a guide on the top ten things attendees should do before the show, which will be held 13-16 January at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.

The industry’s main event is due to attract more than 25,000 people this year – a record breaking number. Many of its attendees have been going to the event for years, but NRF has released details of a few things they should know before heading off to the show.

1. Download the mobile app. Attendees can find the precise location of an exhibitor, check details of sessions and even keep up with the NRF Twitter feed with the mobile app. There’s also a web-based version too.

2. Review the Quick Guide. For those who prefer a hard copy of the schedule, attendees can download the quick guide and get up to speed on all the happenings at the show.

3. Avoid lines at the Convention Center with satellite registration. Nobody likes to wait in line, so this year, NRF is offering satellite registration at its two biggest hotels – the Marriott Marquis and the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers. If attendees are staying nearby, they can pick up their badge there first and skip the lines at the show.

4. Two EXPO halls and the new EXPO Level 1 preview reception. The enormous EXPO is the heart of the action at NRF’s Retail’s BIG Show, and this year NRF is kicking it off early, celebrating the opening of the new EXPO hall (EXPO Level 1) with a preview reception on Sunday night. Both EXPO Level 3 and Level 1 will be open for business Monday–Tuesday, featuring nearly 500 solution providers.

5. Tweet. Follow the show on Twitter at @NRFnews, @RetailsBIGShow and with the hashtag #nrf13 for all the latest updates.

6. Keynotes. NRF will be live-streaming three keynotes from the show meaning even people that can’t attend the show can keep up to date and feel like they’re there. The three sessions feature some top retail leaders including a senior executive from Mango on Sunday; a Monday keynote with CEOs from Starbucks, The Container Store and Whole Foods Market; and the Walmart US CEO on Tuesday.

7. NRF Members Coca-Cola Happiness Lounge. New this year, NRF, Shop.org, NCCR and ARTS members have a special place to relax, recharge their mobile devices, check in with the office or enjoy a bite to eat. You’ll find the NRF Members Coca-Cola Happiness Lounge on Level 4 of the Convention Center.

8. Behind-the-scenes tour. The store tours at NRF’s Big Show are now self-guided audio tours that attendees can do on their own schedule. Purchase the audio guide and map to get an inside look at innovative retail environments like Eataly, Nike Running Flatiron, Ralph Lauren and more.

9. First-hand insight from retailers on Main Street. New this year, the Main Street Retailing Forum is a full day of programming designed specifically for small-business retailers. The Forum is included in a full-conference retailer registration, and open to Retail EXPO Only attendees for a nominal fee.

10. Bookmark the resource centre. If anyone has a question, they can check the NRF Big Show Resource Centre where they can find links to shuttle schedules, onsite registration hours, EXPO floor plans, registered companies and the International Resource Centre.

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