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Retail's Most Innovative Leaders to Be Honored at NRF Annual Convention
ashington, January 4, 2008 - The National Retail Federation will formally recognize the winners of its prestigious annual awards on Tuesday, January 15 during the Annual Retail Industry Luncheon at NRF’s Annual Convention and EXPO in New York City. NRF will honor John L. Morris, creator and founder of Bass Pro Shops with a Retail Innovator of the Year award; Asian retailer Lane Crawford with the International Retailer of the Year award; and Terry Lundgren, Chairman and CEO of Macy’s, Inc. with the Gold Medal award. Additionally, NRF will distribute two Silver Plaque awards for the first time in its history.
“This year’s retail award winners have continued to keep up with their customers by providing some of the most advanced, innovative ideas around to handle their demands,” said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin. “We are thrilled to honor these visionaries for all they have accomplished in the ever-changing world of retail.”
Retail Innovator of the Year: John Morris, Bass Pro Shops
John Morris, founder and creator of one of the most beloved and recognizable brands in the world, created Bass Pro Shops simply because of his love of bass fishing and the outdoors. After using his own bait and storing it in his father’s liquor stores, John quickly began to recognize sports fishermen’s need for specialized equipment and grew the idea into what has become a major tourist destination in virtually every store location. Three decades later, Bass Pro Shops continues to invoke the fantasy of every outdoor sportsman.
International Retailer of the Year: Lane Crawford (Asia)
As Asia’s premier specialty fashion store company, Lane Crawford combines intimate knowledge of its customer base with leading international designer fashions, lifestyle brands and superb merchandising expertise. President of Lane Crawford, Jennifer Woo, will be accepting the award. Much of the company’s modernization and strategic direction can be attributed to Woo’s commitment to the brand and the company. Lane Crawford was founded in 1850 in Hong Kong as a single department store and has since evolved into an international retail legend.
Gold Medal award: Terry Lundgren, Macy’s
Terry Lundgren, Chairman and CEO of one of the oldest department stores in the country, has seen much success with the repositioning of the Macy’s brand as the premier nameplate of Federated. Beginning his career as a trainee with LA-based Bullocks, a division of Federated, Lundgren was quick to climb the corporate ladder, becoming President and CEO of Bullocks Wilshire just 12 years later. His days prior to running a company whose roots go as deep as the meaning of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade were spent running Neiman Marcus, though it wasn’t long that he ended up back at Federated. By repositioning Bloomingdales with a slightly more upscale focus and acquiring the May Department Stores Company, Macy’s, Inc. has positioned itself as a major force in the heavily competitive department store industry.
Silver awards: Dan Doyle, Beall’s Inc and Elaine Rubin, ekrubin Inc.
NRF will announce two silver award winners this year for the first time in its history.
As Vice President of Loss Prevention and Human Resources and Administration for Beall’s Inc., Dan Doyle has seen his share of action when it comes to keeping criminals out of his stores. As a spokesperson in the retail loss prevention industry and as Chair of the NRF’s Loss Prevention Advisory Council, Dan works day and night to educate the public about retail crime and often speaks at conferences across the country. Dan brings more than 25 years of loss prevention experience to the 550-chain company based in Florida. In his spokesperson role, Dan has been featured in television programs and newspapers such as ABC’s 20/20 and USA Today.
President of ekrubin Inc., Elaine Rubin has provided insight and expertise to online retailers for over 20 years. As a leader in the industry, she has served as Chairwoman of the Shop.org Board of Directors for the past eight years after co-founding the organization. Rubin’s experience includes positions with 1800flowers.com, iVillage.com and Amazon.com. Her multiple industry awards include Internet Retailer Magazine’s “5 Who Made A Difference” and Advertising Age’s “Top 20 Interactive Executives.”
The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet, independent stores, chain restaurants, drug stores and grocery stores as well as the industry's key trading partners of retail goods and services. NRF represents an industry with more than 1.6 million U.S. retail establishments, more than 24 million employees - about one in five American workers - and 2006 sales of $4.7 trillion. As the industry umbrella group, NRF also represents more than 100 state, national and international retail associations. www.nrf.com.
For more information, see the original press release here.
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