National Retail Federation

• Author: Mary Lush, Val Hinton
• Pages: 536-537

Page 536

The National Retail Federation (NRF) strives to protect and advance retail industry interests by providing services and conducting programs in government affairs, information technology, education, training, and research. In 2005 NRF members represented more than 1.4 million leading U.S. merchandise, independent, specialty, discount, and mass-merchandise stores; key suppliers to the retail industry; and more than a hundred trade organizations

Page 537

across the globe. NRF's interactive boards and committees, comprised of industry experts in their areas of specialization, are designed to represent and reflect industry's diversity and breadth. These boards and committees formulate and implement policies, standards, guidelines, and strategies that are consistent with retail industry objectives.

The NRF considers itself an advocate for retail organizations across the globe. In December 1997, Fortune magazine, one of the premier publications in the business world, ranked the NRF among the top-thirty lobbying organizations in the nation. Additionally, to assist members financially, NRF's member-discount program pools the membership's buying power to negotiate reductions on a variety of services and products.

NRF's information technology component serves as the retail industry's information technology headquarters. NRF's groups—such as the Information Technology Council and the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS)—help configure the retail technology environment. They analyze existing and upcoming technologies, as well as potential regulatory and legislative initiatives, and educate private and government entities about retail technology concerns and needs.

The CIO Council (comprised of highly prominent chief information officers who serve by invitation only) meets spring, summer, and winter to address promising technologies, common-interest issues, and...