Take a second look. Best of 2011.

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December 20, 2011 Sign up Forward Archive Advertise How I See It NRF CEO predicts expansion, greater use of technology for 2012 The retail business uses technology for everything from inventory to pricing, and the new year is bound to bring more ways to use these innovations to improve the industry, especially when it comes to expanding on mobile technology, National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay predicted. "From my perspective, the best ways to stay on top of technology are to network with peers and immerse yourself in learning as much as you can about the latest trends and developments," he said. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership (12/19)      How You See It What are you most excited about for Retail's BIG Show? 49%   Speakers including President Bill Clinton, The Container Store CEO Kip Tindell and Saks CEO Stephen Sadove 28%   The cutting-edge technology on the EXPO floor 15%   The opportunity to network with international and domestic attendees 9%   Shop.org's First Look Track 0%   Independents' Day        What will be the most important 2012 election issue for the retail industry? 59%   The economy 26%   Jobs 8%   Health care 7%   Corporate tax reform 3%   Swipe fee reform        What are your expectations for the holiday season? 55%   Time will tell 46%   I'm optimistic        Which technology should retailers be investing the most in for 2012? 41%   Mobile retail and marketing 28%   In-store technology 24%   E-commerce 8%   Social media        NRF Resources Retail's BIG Blog News and features all about the latest trends and issues in retail      Retail Means Jobs NRF's headquarters promoting a jobs, innovation and consumer value agenda to the nation's leaders      Holiday Headquarters A one-stop-shop for holiday data, consumer trends information and sales forecasts      Retail's BIG Show 2012 Retail's most influential annual gathering, attracting over 22,000 industry leaders      Learn more about NRF membership NRF Events NRF 101st Annual Convention Jan. 15 to 18, 2012 New York City NRF Global Supply Chain Summit May 6 to 8, 2012 Atlanta NRF 77th Washington Leadership Conference May 15 to 17, 2012 National Harbor, Md. NRF Loss Prevention Conference & EXPO June 20 to 22, 2012 New Orleans NRFtech 2012: IT Leadership Summit Aug. 12 to 14, 2012 San Diego Shop.org Annual Summit Sept. 10 to 12, 2012 Denver        Product announcements appearing in SmartBrief are paid advertisements and do not reflect actual NRF endorsements. The news reported in SmartBrief does not necessarily reflect the official position of NRF. Most Popular Stories These are the most clicked and shared stories in NRF SmartBrief in the past year. Recession changed U.S. consumer spending The Economist/Daily Chart blog (10/25), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (10/25) Wal-Mart, Kroger, Target top NRF's Top 100 list STORES magazine (7/2011) The CEO who revitalized Ann Taylor, Gap and J. Crew The Business Insider (6/9) Nordstrom to arm salespeople with mobile devices The Seattle Times (5/11) Top 10 holiday shopping trends Retail's BIG Blog (11/1) College student creates new J.C. Penney logo American City Business Journals/Albuquerque, N.M. (3/25) Target sees overwhelming response to Missoni collection The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (9/13), The Washington Post/Faster Forward blog (9/13) STORES Hot 100 Retailers list includes Ascena Retail Group, Amazon STORES magazine (8/2011) J.C. Penney rolls out new logo and slogan Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (2/22) Target to open on Thanksgiving night The Business Insider (10/29) Amazon, Apple and Costco chiefs make list of top 30 CEOs Barron's (special access for SmartBrief readers) (3/28)      Smartest Quotes These are the most clicked and shared SmartQuotes in NRF SmartBrief in the past year. Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye. -- Helen Keller, American author and political activist A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road. -- Henry Ward Beecher, American clergyman and lecturer To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization. -- Harriet Beecher Stowe, American writer      Who’s your guru? The Venda eBusiness Strategy team provides our clients with strategic advisory services from the moment of initiation, to infinity and beyond. Deep eCommerce expertise, coupled with true P&L experience deliver insight, innovation and financial performance. Visit to learn more. This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com   Subscriber Tools       Update account information | Change e-mail address | Unsubscribe | Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Grab our News Widget Publish your Press Release   Advertise Associate Publisher:  Dena Malouf (202) 407-7838 Download Media Kit Job Board:  Jackie Basso (202) 407-7871       Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: Monday, December 19, 2011 Friday, December 16, 2011 Thursday, December 15, 2011 Wednesday, December 14, 2011 Tuesday, December 13, 2011     Lead Editor:  Megan Conniff       Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004     © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information