Day 2 of NRF is in the books! It was an even bigger day full of amazing conference sessions, incredible conversations, and catching up with our industry friends.

Here were our favorite takeaways:

It takes a village

“For me, team is the most important,” says Simone Biles, decorated gymnast at the keynote session to kick off the day. “When everyone does their part, everyone succeeds together.” 

On the second day of NRF 2023, store teams were front and center. Retail leaders have just emerged from some of the most tumultuous years of their careers. The industry is undergoing massive, rapid transformations at breakneck speed. The only way for retail leadership to get past a neverending pandemic, ongoing supply chain breakdowns, all in the midst of gloomy economic forecast…. Is through. And the only way through has been together. That’s why the frontlines are top-of-mind for leaders. 

“Kroger gets the recognition,” says Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen. “But it’s our 435,000 associates doing the work every day.” 

Bursting with pride, McMullen shared how Kroger store teams are integral to the communities that they serve, and how HQ is investing in those associates every day. “We’re thinking about it every day when we wake up… how do I support the associates?” 

And Kroger isn’t alone. “These moments don’t just happen by chance,” says Cara Sylvester, Executive Vice President and Chief Guest Experience Officer, Target Corp. “They happen because our culture runs deep, and that shows up in all of us- and by all of us, I mean all 400,000 of us.”

Target knows that the most special way the brand comes to life is the way that they develop their store teams. “How do you show care for your team?” asks Sylvester. “First of all, you invest in your team. Second, you listen to your team. Last, I would say, actively look for ways to make your teams’ jobs easier. We are always actively looking to lessen friction for our team.”

Engagement, Engagement, Engagement

Satish Malhotra, President & CEO of The Container Store, has some very big ideas. Between new locations, small format stores, in-home services, and custom spaces, TCS is on a massive growth trajectory. In today’s Big Ideas session, Malhotra shared how the company empowers frontline teams to accomplish big goals.

After all, The Container Store doesn’t just offer unique products. They offer engaging, tactile, in-store experiences. While specialists on the frontlines create authentic experiences that make customers feel elevated, motivated, and organized, the brand is simultaneously innovating at the speed of light. In a world where retailers are faced with endless complexities, TCS is focused on reducing the noise and keeping store teams connected to the brand.

“By quickly utilizing Zipline as the way our stores communicate, it facilitates an effective way to get us back on track,” says Satish Malhotra, President & CEO of The Container Store. “It has had a demonstrative impact on the way we operate in 3 distinct ways: through productivity, knowledge, and connection… By eliminating and removing all the obstacles, we can truly engage with our customers.”

Coming up tomorrow…

If you’re at NRF, don’t miss Zipline’s CEO and Co-founder on the Big Ideas Stage with Retail Exec Karen Peters, Head of Global Retail and store development at Alo, from 10:15am – 11:00am EST NRF (Expo, Level 3, Expo Stage 3).

Afterward, come by the Zipline booth (#6229) to chat with Rob Coultrip, Manager of Store Operations at American Signature Inc., to learn how ASI successfully transformed their store communications and engagement.

Find out why over 75 best-in-class brands in 67 countries use Zipline to keep today on track. Connect with us at NRF!

Stop by booth 6229 before the big show is over and say hey 👋