From January 11-14, retail leaders and innovators from across the globe will gather in New York City for NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show. The 2025 event will offer a mix of future-focused sessions, hands-on technology showcases, immersive activations, meaningful networking opportunities, and more. With over 175 sessions, 1,000 exhibitors, 40,000 attendees, and 5,000 brands, NRF is your inside scoop into the future of the retail industry. The 2025 key theme is “game changing,” but what does that mean? Let’s break down some of these key themes so you can understand what to expect at NRF 2025. 

Key Themes to Expect at NRF 2025 

1) Tech and Innovation 

Technological innovations are redefining retail at a rapid pace. Sessions under this umbrella will cover how retailers can leverage the latest tech to future proof their organization. More specifically: 

• How AI and generative AI are fundamentally shifting the way companies create campaigns and content 
• How AI is revolutionizing how consumers find, try, and buy products 
• How first-party and zero-party data is revolutionizing the way businesses are built and operated 
• How AI finds and delivers information that otherwise would never be available through human observation and research 

The Startup Hub may be especially helpful for those interested in learning more about early-stage tech companies pushing boundaries in retail innovation. 

2) Business Models 

Retailers continue to rethink their business models to stay relevant and sustainable. Session topics include: 

• How retailers can evolve their fundamental ways of working to better our planet 
• How to identify the fastest-growing retail white spaces 
• How retail media networks are shifting power and priority inside organizations and across the industry 
• How retailers can take advantage of today’s array of payment models 

Expo Tours (available for purchase and open only to retailers) can provide attendees with a hands-on look at these changes across specific business disciplines. 

3) Brand Marketing 

Brand identity and reputation is always a top priority for retailers. Relevant sessions will cover: 

• How retailers can build a brand identity and sell their story 
• How to define and communicate your brand’s purpose 
• How to create advertising content that actually sells 
• How your brand can become a trusted content creator 
• How retailers can find better ways to communicate their climate efforts 

Consider connecting with our retail experts to discover how we’ve advised retailers on the use of storytelling to drive engagement and loyalty. 

4) Customer Experience 

The focus on customer experience is by no means a new theme, but as customers become increasingly harder to win over, retailers need to shift focus. Sessions on this topic include: 

• How retailers can focus in on enjoyment 
• How retailers are blurring the lines between pop culture and retail 
• How to build in-store trust and security between retailers and consumers 
• How retailers can take advantage of the mall renaissance 
• How retailers can create more meaningful in-person experiences 

Check out the Foodservice Innovation Zone for inspiration, where immersive activations will demonstrate the latest food & beverage technology used to enhance the in-store experience. 

5) Merchandising and Operations 

The retail industry is always changing, so how can you keep up? Merchandising and operations sessions will address how you can keep pace. Sessions will cover: 

• How retail is adjusting and reinventing for a new generation 
• How DPPs will fundamentally shift the product life cycle 
• How retailers are embracing more environmental efforts through upcycling and reverse logistics 
• How retailers can create best-in-class product and visual displays 

If you are a retail executive, consider adding a Retail Store Tour to your registration. These tours will guide attendees through New York’s most innovative stores, highlighting cutting-edge merchandising strategies. 

6) Talent 

The final theme surrounds talent and building equity in your teams. Talent-focused sessions will discuss: 

• How retailers can retain and grow their in-store associates 
• How to balance your organization’s executive voices 
• How to identify if your DE&I initiatives are moving the needle 
• How retailers are leveraging the voices of their most important asset 

If you’re seeking additional guidance on your DEI strategy, consider contacting our DEI experts at Clarkston. 

Let’s Connect at the Show! 

Reach out to our retail consulting team here. (We’ll be at NRF booth #1041).