ABOUT NRF 2027
Agenda
Sunday, January 10
8:30am - 9:15am
Email
Javits North, Level 5
Session details are to come.
9:15am - 9:45am
EmailJavits North, Level 5
Session details are to come.
9:45am - 10:15am
Javits North, Level 5
In this fireside chat, Anna Marrs, Group President, Global Merchant & Network Services at American Express, will share perspective on the forces shaping today’s retail landscape. Drawing on American Express’ unique view of both consumer and retail trends, Anna will discuss spending patterns and priorities for today’s consumer and how retailers can prepare for the new technologies that are transforming how people search for, compare and choose products. The conversation will explore what agentic commerce means for retailers, as the biggest shift to shopping and purchasing since the rise of e-commerce.
10:30am - 11:00am
EmailAI Stage by Klaviyo, Expo, Level 1
10:45am - 11:15am
EmailA 75-minute session that will bring together influential retail DTC founders for an honest, three-part exploration of what it takes to build a company from idea to impact. The series follows the founder's journey through the initial bet, the inevitable pressure tests, and the long view required to create an enduring business. Through candid conversations, panelists will share pivotal decisions, hard lessons, and outlooks on the future of retail and consumer brands. Moderated by veteran retail executive, investor and advisor, Ken Pilot, this first of its kind Big Show session is not to be missed.
By 2035, Generation X are projected to command $23 trillion in spending power. Yet, most brand strategies prioritize the sheer volume of Gen Z. The core reality is Gen X is not a footnote, they are the load-bearing generation: balancing families and workplaces and holding decades of institutional expertise while quietly driving economic velocity. From the multi-generational spending power to the untapped loyalty, what would your company do differently if it stopped treating Gen X as a bridge between other generations?
11:15am - 11:45am
EmailAI Stage by Klaviyo, Expo, Level 1
12:15pm - 12:45pm
EmailMichaels and Stanley 1913 come from different corners of retail, but their recent growth stories reveal a shared truth: enduring brands never stop evolving. Through strategic acquisitions, unexpected collaborations, product innovation, and a deep understanding of changing consumer expectations, both organizations have successfully introduced their brands to new audiences while remaining true to their heritage. In this two-part conversation, leaders from Michaels and Stanley 1913 will share how they are balancing legacy with innovation, building relevance across generations, and creating sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
1:00pm - 1:30pm
EmailH&M operates at a truly global scale, but its success is built on creating meaningful connections in local communities and culture. In this fireside chat, Vogue Business Executive Editor Hilary Milnes sits down with Kate Rogowski, Head of Marketing, H&M U.S., to explore how one of the world's largest fashion retailers balances global brand consistency with locally relevant marketing that resonates with customers across America. From high-profile collaborations and culturally driven campaigns to community investments and market-specific activations, Rogowski will discuss how H&M brings its brand to life in ways that reflect the unique needs and interests of U.S. consumers. The conversation will highlight recent examples including the H&M&NY campaign, the Nordstrom Marketplace launch, major partnership moments, local community investments, and expansion. Attendees will gain insights into how H&M leverages the influence of its U.S. business to shape marketing strategy, build brand relevance, and create customer experiences that strengthen loyalty while driving growth in an increasingly competitive retail landscape.
2:45pm - 3:15pm
EmailJavits North, Level 5
Session details are to come.
3:15pm - 3:45pm
Javits North, Level 5
Session details are to come.
3:45pm - 4:15pm
EmailJavits North, Level 5
As retailers navigate a complex and fast-evolving landscape, Target is putting a fresh strategy behind one of the industry's most distinctive brands. Throughout his first year as CEO, Michael Fiddelke has focused the company on a clear set of choices – leading with merchandising authority, elevating the guest experience, accelerating technology and strengthening team and community – designed to meet the needs of busy families and drive growth over time. Michael will join CNBC’s Sara Eisen for a conversation about what those choices look like in practice and where Target sees the greatest opportunities to create a more relevant and delightful guest experience. The discussion will offer a window into how one of retail’s largest players is approaching many of the questions facing the industry today and what it will take to turn strategy into sustained growth.
Monday, January 11
8:30am - 9:15am
Javits North, Level 5
Session details are to come.
9:15am - 9:45am
For more than three decades, Jay Schottenstein has driven the evolution of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) from a single-brand retailer into a multi-brand, global powerhouse. As CEO and NRF’s 2027 Visionary Award recipient, Jay’s legacy is defined by bold brand-building, disciplined execution and a sharp focus on long-term profitable growth. Under his leadership, AEO launched industry-defining brands like Aerie and OFFLINE, and scaled American Eagle’s denim franchise into a multibillion-dollar business while consistently creating authentic connections with each new generation of consumers.
In this Main Stage conversation with NRF president and CEO, Matt Shay, Jay will reflect on his leadership principles, growth strategies and customer-first mindset that continue to fuel AEO’s success through changing retail cycles. From brand relevance and marketing innovation to operational agility and shareholder value, hear how one of retail’s most influential leaders continues to fast-forward his business—and the timeless lessons every retailer can leverage to build an enduring enterprise.
9:45am - 10:15am
EmailJavits North, Level 5
Session details are to come.
10:00am - 10:45am
EmailLands’ End has spent more than 60 years earning the trust of customers through quality, service, and consistency. So how do you honor that legacy while evolving for the next generation?
Join Charlie Cole, CEO of Lands’ End, for a fireside chat on the opportunities ahead for one of America's most recognizable brands. What does best in class look like for a brand founded in 1963? Where is technology an enabler to the customer experience - or present an opportunity for reinvention? How do you introduce the change needed at a pace that the internal culture and customer can not only tolerate - but appreciate?
From modern marketing and brand storytelling to technology, personalization, and the customer experience, hear how Lands’ End is leveraging its heritage as a competitive advantage, not a constraint, as it builds the next era of sustainable growth.
11:15am - 11:45am
EmailAI Stage by Klaviyo, Expo, Level 1
11:30am - 12:00pm
EmailThe market has spent years chasing growth at the extremes, trading up with affluent consumers and defending value at the bottom. But in between sits the largest, and most overlooked, opportunity: the middle. An increasingly ‘E’ shaped economy means today’s middle-income consumer isn’t collapsing, they’re cautious, selective and unpredictable. Spending hasn’t disappeared; it’s become harder to unlock. In this session, we’ll unpack how the E‑shaped economy is reshaping demand across categories and channels. Why the middle is becoming more cautious, more deliberate, and harder to influence and where spending is still being released—and the signals that trigger conversion.
EmailConsumer behavior is shaped as much by emotion as by economics, with shoppers seeking joy, reassurance, and a sense of connection – not just efficiency – in their purchasing experiences. Every purchase must “earn its place,” which means retailers need to build trust, personalization, and emotional connections rather than relying solely on convenience-driven tactics. And with AI reshaping the journey and shopper expectations shifting rapidly, retailers that prioritize meaningful, human-centered moments over transactional speed will differentiate themselves – and hopefully build loyalty. Ultimately, consumers want to feel a sense of belonging, community and identity.
Gen Z and Gen Alpha don't consume media the way previous generations did. They discover products and brands through a fluid mix of creators, social platforms, haul content, peer influence, experiential events, and in-person shopping experiences. The path to purchase is increasingly shaped by authentic moments rather than traditional advertising. For retailers, adapting to this reality is essential. Success requires showing up in the moments that influence consideration and purchase, from creator partnerships and social content to pop-up activations, experiential retail, and even the resurgence of the mall as a destination for shopping, entertainment, and social connection. Above all, brands must earn attention rather than demand it, integrating naturally into the environments and experiences that matter most to these generations, where authenticity is a prerequisite for engagement.
12:15pm - 12:45pm
EmailAI Stage by Klaviyo, Expo, Level 1
12:15pm - 12:45pm
EmailGouvêa and the Ebeltoft Group will unveil the 2027 edition of the Global Retail Innovations report. This session provides a fast-paced, high-impact deep dive into the most significant retail case studies from around the world, curated by local experts across five continents. The global trends report will be followed by an exclusive onstage presentation with a senior executive from one of the year's standout companies.
EmailGap Inc. EVP and Chief Technology Officer Sven Gerjets joins us to unpack how the retailer is embedding AI and agentic technology into every layer of the business – from product design and supply chain to marketing and the customer experience. He’ll share what it takes to move fast without losing the brand's human core, including lessons from Gap’s multiyear Google Cloud partnership and its early bet on agentic commerce.
1:00pm - 1:30pm
EmailHow did ALDI turn shoppers into fans, lining up around the block for the opening of a new store and convert its uncompromising operating model into a powerful consumer proposition? The session explores how simplicity creates value and trust, and how discovery and exclusivity turn everyday grocery shopping into something customers want to talk about and share. Discover why stripping complexity out of retail can actually create a richer brand experience and turn customers into advocates.
EmailNRF and Kantar have been partners on research for more than a decade, reporting on the Top 100 Retailers and the Hot 25 Retailers. While most can guess the companies leading the Top 100 list, discerning which retailers are “hot” and which are moving the growth needle with sales, store expansion and trend savvy assortments calls for a closer look at the data. Meet two of the quiet giants shaping the future of retail.
1:45pm - 2:15pm
Session details are to come.
2:15pm - 2:45pm
EmailAI Stage by Klaviyo, Expo, Level 1
3:15pm - 3:45pm
EmailVictoria's Secret & Co. is one of the most recognizable names in retail, but sustaining relevance requires continually evolving with the customer. Since becoming CEO, Hillary Super has focused on strengthening Victoria's Secret, reigniting PINK, and deepening customer connection across the portfolio. In this conversation, she'll share how culture, talent, community, and a relentless focus on the customer are helping power the company's next phase of growth. From building high-performing teams to balancing what customers love with what needs to evolve, Hillary will discuss the leadership principles shaping the company's transformation.
3:30pm - 4:00pm
AI Stage by Klaviyo, Expo, Level 1
3:45pm - 4:15pm
Javits North, Level 5
Session details are to come.
Tuesday, January 12
8:45am - 9:15am
EmailJavits North, Level 5
Under Libby Wadle’s leadership, J.Crew Group is building on the heritage of some of American retail’s most recognizable brands while positioning them for their next chapter of growth.The conversation will also explore how heritage can serve as a source of inspiration rather than constraint, how Wadle approaches long-term growth across product, technology and customer experience, and the leadership principles that have shaped her career and the next chapter of J.Crew Group. Recent investments in brand leadership and digital capabilities reflect a broader focus on building a portfolio positioned for long-term growth across J.Crew, Madewell and J.Crew Factory. In this Main Stage conversation, Wadle will share how she balances what makes an iconic brand special with the need to continually evolve its product, talent, technology and customer experience – and how she thinks about building brands that can remain relevant for generations to come.
9:15am - 9:45am
EmailJavits North, Level 5
Zara needs little introduction. Over five decades, the brand has continuously evolved its products, stores and digital experiences while staying true to what has always been at the heart of its business model: listening to customers, being responsive and adapting to their needs. Today, the Zara brand reaches customers around the world by drawing them in with thoughtfully crafted fashions reflective of their unique styles and aspirations.
Zara is the foundation and driving force behind Inditex, but the Group is also home to Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Lefties and Zara Home. Each brand has its own distinct identity and customer but shares in the same customer first approach to doing business.
In this Main Stage conversation, Inditex CEO Óscar García Maceiras will share the Group’s path forward, guided by the principles at the heart of its model and by its commitments to brand and design bringing together the beauty of fashion to millions of people around the world through creativity, quality products and adaptability.
9:45am - 10:15am
EmailJavits North, Level 5
What happens when you stop thinking about retail as stores, websites or marketplaces – and start with the consumer and work backward? That is what Marc Lore is building with Wonder. Leveraging his experience disrupting e-commerce at Jet.com and Walmart, Marc is creating a new kind of consumer platform to make great food more accessible. From recipe development to kitchen robotics and autonomous drone delivery, Wonder owns mealtime from end to end, bringing a level of consistency, quality and speed to new geographies and at price points unattainable by traditional restaurants and delivery platforms. On the Main Stage, Lore will share what he sees coming next, and why the biggest retail opportunities may belong to companies willing to rethink the entire consumer journey.
10:30am - 11:00am
EmailAI Stage by Klaviyo, Expo, Level 1
10:45am - 11:15am
EmailInternational expansion has never been more accessible and yet also more complex. Digital commerce means consumers can discover brands from anywhere in the world long before those brands have a physical presence, but awareness does not automatically translate into trust, loyalty or commercial success. This panel brings together retail leaders who have successfully expanded into international markets to discuss what it really takes to grow globally while winning locally. From entering entirely new countries as an unknown brand to adapting product ranges, marketing, customer experience and store formats for different consumer expectations, the session explores the practical realities behind international growth. Hear how brands balance global consistency with local relevance, use data and experimentation to understand new audiences, and align physical stores and digital channels to create seamless customer experiences. From choosing the right locations and merchandise mix to building awareness, creating demand and responding to cultural differences, the discussion will reveal the strategies that separate successful international expansion from costly mistakes.
12:15pm - 12:45pm
EmailRetailers are moving beyond AI pilots toward agentic merchandising—intelligent systems that augment decisions, streamline execution, and enable merchants to focus on strategy. Yet disconnected platforms, legacy technology, manual workflows, and limited real-time visibility can slow progress. This session will explore how agentic capabilities can advance omnichannel planning and forecasting, pricing and revenue growth, and AI-powered commerce—and the data, technology, and operating model changes required to scale value across the enterprise. Hear from industry leaders as they share practical lessons on what is working, what must evolve, and the actions retailers can take to unlock the full potential of agentic merchandising.
2:00pm - 2:30pm
EmailJavits North, Level 5
Geoffroy van Raemdonck has spent his career transforming luxury businesses, and now he is leading one of the industry’s most consequential reinventions. As CEO of Exemplar Luxury Group (ELG), the luxury collective comprising Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, Geoffroy is doubling down on his belief that the future of luxury retail will be defined not by the products sold, but by the strength of relationships and the quality of experiences. This discussion will explore how, with data-rich insights and technology to enhance the power of human-touch, ELG is able to deliver a personalized journey and exceptional service at scale. As the company looks to the future, it is building on the collective strength of ELG, while preserving the heritage and distinctiveness of each of its iconic banners. Learn how ELG is working to realize its full potential with a stronger and more stable financial foundation, unlocking the power of its footprint, relationships, people and capabilities to drive profitable and sustainable growth. Hear how, in doing so, the company is building a more resilient business model, designed to create lasting value for its owners, customers, brand partners and the broader luxury ecosystem.
2:30pm - 3:00pm
EmailTBD - VusionGroup Theatre, Javits North
Session details are to come.
