Lee Peterson, executive vice president, thought leadership and marketing at WD Partners, speaks at NRF 2024: Retail's Big Show.
Big things are coming at NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show, taking place in New York City Jan. 12-14. The annual conference and expo gives you the opportunity to explore cutting-edge technologies and forge strategic partnerships that will drive the future of your business.
With about 450 speakers and 200 sessions, there’s a lot to look forward to. Jill Dvorak, NRF senior vice president of content, joins us to preview the show. She shares key themes and exciting speakers, tips for attendees, plus her favorite show memories.
This year’s theme is game changer, and Dvorak thinks it’s particularly relevant with the major changes sweeping the retail industry.
“With what's going on — both macroeconomic and microeconomic in different communities and so much turbulence in retail — this is a really good year for a theme like this,” she says.
“It's shaking everything up, but at the same point, when it settles out, that's where people want to know where it is settling. How is it settling? And that's really how we're planning the content. It's, how are you reacting to these changes? What have you done with similar changes, and what can we all learn collectively?”
Another important theme for the show is doubling down on the basics and setting strong foundations for your business. “This year, everyone's talking Gen AI and all these things,” Dvorak says. “That's wonderful, but you have to take care of your house first. If you don't have a clean email list, data hygiene, and all your privacy rules in place, all of those really fancy add-ons aren't as valuable as they could be. A lot of it is getting back to basics and really excelling at that.”
To make the most of your time and have the best experience at the show, Dvorak suggests practical tips:
Wear comfortable shoes — you’ll easily be walking 20,000 steps a day!
Bring your own water bottle — the convention will be equipped with water stations.
Pack a portable charger for your cell phone.
Download the app to help you make an agenda for each day.
Dvorak highlights exciting sessions with keynote speakers from companies like:
Foot Locker
New Balance
Walmart
Target
Sephora
Best Buy
And many more
More than anything, Dvorak is looking forward to witnessing how Big Show changes the lives and businesses of its attendees.
“There's nothing better than when you put together content and you see people connecting with the speaker and nodding and empathizing,” she says. “That tells us we did a good job, and we hit some of the right marks. And there's no better feeling than people saying, ‘I met this partner at your show, and they've changed my business.’ Those matchmaking stories, it's real people doing real business.”
Listen to the full episode to hear more about what to expect at Big Show and learn more here.
(00:01:54) Dvorak’s best Big Show memories
Dvorak’s experience attending the show as a retailer
Networking and connecting at Big Show
(00:04:42) Industry game changers
How NRF chose this year’s game changer theme
What we can learn from big changes in the industry
(00:06:18) What attendees need to know about Big Show
How big is Big Show?
Must-have essentials to bring
How to make the most of your time at the show
(00:09:32) Previewing themes and speakers
Strategies to scale
Doubling down on the basics
Leadership through challenging times
Exciting keynote speakers
(00:17:21) What Dvorak's looking forward to
Big Show’s impact on people and businesses
Key takeaways ahead of the show
Resources:
Get ready for Retail’s Big Show in NYC
Become an NRF member and join the world’s largest retail trade association
Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.com