38 Business View Magazine - October 2016
The National Retail Federation
The voice of retail
The National Retail Federation (NRF) is the world’s
largest retail trade association. Its members include
grocery, department, specialty, discount, catalog, and
internet stores; independent retailers; and chain res-
taurants in the United States and more than 45 coun-
tries, worldwide. The NRF also represents the interests
of more than 100 other associations of state, national,
and international retailers.
The retail industry is America’s largest private sector
employer with approximately 16 million workers. Non-
direct jobs in the businesses that provide goods and
services to retailers, such as vendors and technol-
ogy providers, account for millions more. In fact, one
in four American jobs is related to retail. The industry
contributes $2.6 trillion to the annual GDP (Gross Na-
tional Product).
The mission of the NRF is to advance the interests of
the retail industry through advocacy, communications,
and education. Vicki Cantrell is the NRF’s Senior Vice
President for Communities and Executive Director of
