ABOUT NRF 2027
Agenda
Monday, January 11
9:15am - 9:45am
For more than three decades, Jay Schottenstein has driven the evolution of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) from a single-brand retailer into a multi-brand, global powerhouse. As CEO and NRF’s 2027 Visionary Award recipient, Jay’s legacy is defined by bold brand-building, disciplined execution and a sharp focus on long-term profitable growth. Under his leadership, AEO launched industry-defining brands like Aerie and OFFLINE, and scaled American Eagle’s denim franchise into a multibillion-dollar business while consistently creating authentic connections with each new generation of consumers.
In this Main Stage conversation with NRF president and CEO, Matt Shay, Jay will reflect on his leadership principles, growth strategies and customer-first mindset that continue to fuel AEO’s success through changing retail cycles. From brand relevance and marketing innovation to operational agility and shareholder value, hear how one of retail’s most influential leaders continues to fast-forward his business—and the timeless lessons every retailer can leverage to build an enduring enterprise.
10:00am - 10:45am
Email
Lands’ End has spent more than 60 years earning the trust of customers through quality, service, and consistency. So how do you honor that legacy while evolving for the next generation?
Join Charlie Cole, CEO of Lands’ End, for a fireside chat on the opportunities ahead for one of America's most recognizable brands. What does best in class look like for a brand founded in 1963? Where is technology an enabler to the customer experience - or present an opportunity for reinvention? How do you introduce the change needed at a pace that the internal culture and customer can not only tolerate - but appreciate?
From modern marketing and brand storytelling to technology, personalization, and the customer experience, hear how Lands’ End is leveraging its heritage as a competitive advantage, not a constraint, as it builds the next era of sustainable growth.
12:15pm - 12:45pm
EmailGouvêa and the Ebeltoft Group will unveil the 2027 edition of the Global Retail Innovations report. This session provides a fast-paced, high-impact deep dive into the most significant retail case studies from around the world, curated by local experts across five continents. The global trends report will be followed by an exclusive onstage presentation with a senior executive from one of the year's standout companies.
1:00pm - 1:30pm
EmailNRF and Kantar have been partners on research for more than a decade, reporting on the Top 100 Retailers and the Hot 25 Retailers. While most can guess the companies leading the Top 100 list, discerning which retailers are “hot” and which are moving the growth needle with sales, store expansion and trend savvy assortments calls for a closer look at the data. Meet two of the quiet giants shaping the future of retail.
Tuesday, January 12
8:45am - 9:15am
EmailJavits North, Level 5
Under Libby Wadle’s leadership, J.Crew Group is building on the heritage of some of American retail’s most recognizable brands while positioning them for their next chapter of growth.The conversation will also explore how heritage can serve as a source of inspiration rather than constraint, how Wadle approaches long-term growth across product, technology and customer experience, and the leadership principles that have shaped her career and the next chapter of J.Crew Group. Recent investments in brand leadership and digital capabilities reflect a broader focus on building a portfolio positioned for long-term growth across J.Crew, Madewell and J.Crew Factory. In this Main Stage conversation, Wadle will share how she balances what makes an iconic brand special with the need to continually evolve its product, talent, technology and customer experience – and how she thinks about building brands that can remain relevant for generations to come.
9:15am - 9:45am
EmailJavits North, Level 5
Zara needs little introduction. Over five decades, the brand has continuously evolved its products, stores and digital experiences while staying true to what has always been at the heart of its business model: listening to customers, being responsive and adapting to their needs. Today, the Zara brand reaches customers around the world by drawing them in with thoughtfully crafted fashions reflective of their unique styles and aspirations.
Zara is the foundation and driving force behind Inditex, but the Group is also home to Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Lefties and Zara Home. Each brand has its own distinct identity and customer but shares in the same customer first approach to doing business.
In this Main Stage conversation, Inditex CEO Óscar García Maceiras will share the Group’s path forward, guided by the principles at the heart of its model and by its commitments to brand and design bringing together the beauty of fashion to millions of people around the world through creativity, quality products and adaptability.
10:45am - 11:15am
EmailInternational expansion has never been more accessible and yet also more complex. Digital commerce means consumers can discover brands from anywhere in the world long before those brands have a physical presence, but awareness does not automatically translate into trust, loyalty or commercial success. This panel brings together retail leaders who have successfully expanded into international markets to discuss what it really takes to grow globally while winning locally. From entering entirely new countries as an unknown brand to adapting product ranges, marketing, customer experience and store formats for different consumer expectations, the session explores the practical realities behind international growth. Hear how brands balance global consistency with local relevance, use data and experimentation to understand new audiences, and align physical stores and digital channels to create seamless customer experiences. From choosing the right locations and merchandise mix to building awareness, creating demand and responding to cultural differences, the discussion will reveal the strategies that separate successful international expansion from costly mistakes.
