Happy New Year! I hope your 2025 is off to a great start.  

For many in retail, an annual New Year’s tradition is attending the National Retail Federation’s “Big Show” in New York City. NRF is a great organization that advocates for the entire retail industry and works to highlight its massive economic impact and all the opportunities it brings. They call their January conference the “Big Show” because it brings 40,000 attendees together from over 100 countries, to learn about the cutting-edge innovation and technology. There’s nothing like the Big Show, and I’m so excited to join this weekend! 

My first Huddle guest of the year is NRF’s President, Matt Shay. He joins me to talk about the history of the organization, the role it plays today, and what attendees will see at this year’s show. I’ve had the honor of chairing the NRF’s Board of Directors for the past three years, and I’ve learned so much working with some of Walmart’s partners (and competitors!) to make a difference on the issues we all care about. A strong, vibrant retail industry is good for ALL retailers, and we need to continue telling the stories of lives we’ve changed. I hope you enjoy this episode, and once again, Happy New Year!