Celebrating Innovation, Empathy and Excellence among the Retail Solution Provider Community.
The Vendors in Partnership (VIP) Awards is an industry celebration for the solution providers that are powering the retail ecosystem. In addition to celebrating great solutions, the recognized companies are those who are willing to adapt to make more meaningful partnerships with retailers, increasing the success for all.
The Vendors in Partnership (VIP) Awards are an industry celebration for the solution providers that power the retail ecosystem, and the new ways that partnerships were formed and challenges were overcome.
We want to acknowledge service to this industry, and will recognize and celebrate a willingness to transform from within, create deep and perceptive partnerships, and great solutions.
Having established these awards for the solution provider community, we are also giving retailers a formal way to support, influence and recognize those partners who integrate business methodologies based on shared success measures and a service level designed for mutual benefit.
Let’s recognize the brave, the innovators, the teachers, the supporters and the agitators…
The Event took place at the Gotham Hall. Located in the iconic Midtown landmark building that once housed Greenwich Savings Bank. The venue features a 9,000 square-foot Ballroom with 70-foot ceiling and an ornate stained-glass skylight.
The Keynote speaker of the night was: Manley’s love of climbing began in college. Invited by a friend to try out a beginner’s rock climb in the hills of Kentucky, he stepped up into the Vertical and was instantly hooked.
He began climbing anywhere and anytime he could. After each adventure, he would reverse-engineer the experience, evaluating what had (or hadn’t) helped him reach the summit.
The lessons he unpacked didn’t just improve his climbing, but his leadership as he helped Build-A-Bear scale from 42 stores to 425 worldwide and increase revenue from $55 Million to $470 Million.
Join Manley Feinberg as he teases the gravity of high-stakes choices amidst life’s sheer cliffs at the VIP Awards North America.
The 2024 VIP Awards Winners were all well deserving of these great iconic awards, which we saw proudly displayed at the NRF 2024, booths by the winning vendors. To see the 2024 VIP Award winners, click here.
See More Coverage of VIP Awards 2024, in our World Liberty TV, Retail Channels by clicking here.
Celebrating Innovation, Empathy & Excellence among the Retail Solution Provider Community
The Vendors in Partnership (VIP) Awards are an industry celebration for the solution providers that are powering the retail ecosystem.
In addition to celebrating great solutions, the companies that are recognized are those that are willing to make changes that are meaningful in creating a better partnership with the retailers, increasing the success of all.
Vendors in Partnership is a new awards program created to recognize innovative retail solutions providers. Vicki Cantrell, the co-founder of the VIP Awards, told TotalRetail that she helped launch this awards program to recognize solutions providers that “help keep retail evolving, exciting and engaging for customers and industry professionals alike.”
“So many solution providers that support the retail industry not only understand the value of long-term relationships, they consider it part of their mission,” Cantrell said.
“We need to reward those companies, and demonstrate that this is the best future success measure for others that are still struggling to break out of the transactional mind-set.”
I was thrilled to learn that Phil [co-founder of the VIP Awards and founder and CEO of Retail Global Events and the Retail Orphan Initiative (Australia) Ltd.] and Vicki were bringing the Vendors in Partnership Awards to life because the retail industry at large has needed something like this for a long time.
There are so many valuable service providers, experiences, industry leaders and more that help keep retail evolving, exciting and engaging for customers and industry professionals alike to enjoy. Keeping this in mind, the VIP Awards are a fantastic way to bring recognition and respect to the those leading the way in helping to shape both the current landscape and future of retail.
World Liberty TV, was making its 16th Appearance at National Retail Federation (NRF), and covering the Vendors in Partnership (VIP Awards) for the first time. See exclusive interview with Vicki Cantrell, the co-founder of the VIP Awards in our World Liberty TV, Business Channels by clicking here.
Retail’s Big Show is retail’s most important event. With three days of educational programing, an enormous Expo featuring the latest retail solutions, plus an Innovation Lab and Startup Zone featuring breakthrough technology, Retail’s Big Show will introduce you to the ideas, people and partners that will put you on the fast track to success.
The retailers who matter most are at NRF Retail Week. It’s the must-attend gathering where retail’s decision-makers and influencers come together to learn, share, collaborate, network and inspire.
Surrounding NRF 2023: Retail’s Big Show, NRF Retail Week is a week-long celebration of parties, high-profile partner events, innovative store tours, experiential tech, workshops, educational sessions and more. Preview it all here, where NRF curates and promotes New York City’s must-attend events for retailers.
The eighth annual NRF Foundation Honors took place Sunday night at the New York Marriott Marquis to recognize the outstanding leadership of retail executives, award student scholarships and highlight retail as an industry of opportunity. The event raised nearly $3 million to fund the NRF Foundation’s career development programs and resources.
Some of the Speakers included: Simone Bile’s decorated athlete and advocate and the power of perseverance, Chobani ; CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, hiring refugees is a no-brainer, Whole Foods Market, CEO Jason Buechel, LVMH and Louis Vuitton Inc, North America Chairman and CEO Anish Melwani on the luxury company’s enduring success, Kroger, CEO Rodney McMullen on evolving the customer experience, Walmart’s Chairman and CEO, John Furner on the importance of a long-term perspective.
Food Service Tech Pavilion: Tech that’s hot off the grill. The Food Service Technology Pavilion is specifically curated for those who operate within the retail food service sector. It’s a specialized area of the Expo where professionals from IT, finance, marketing and digital technology explore new solutions to help accelerate their business.
The Pavilion showcases systems that address the needs of food service operations including point-of-sale and back-office systems, digital signage and menu boards, loyalty and data, online ordering and more. Exhibitors in the Pavilion offer services to build a more efficient technology stack in retail or standalone foodservice operations.
Innovation Lab: Breakthrough tech that breaks expectations. The NRF Innovation Lab showcases the latest applications in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, machine learning, facial recognition, robotics and more. This immersive exhibit tracks the latest developments in retail’s transformation and what retail can be now and in the future.
Startup Zone: Break out of the old and get in with the new. The Startup Zone is where you’ll get to meet the newest companies in retail and see their biggest, standout ideas.
Here, you’ll be the first to hear about the breakthrough technology and radical thinking that everyone will be talking about tomorrow.
Consumer Product Showcase: Included close to 50 Companies showcasing many products and services, huge diversity of people involved in all kinds of retail business’s Sponsored by Amazon, American Express, SAP, first Prize was a $15,000 Prize Second prize winner got $10,000 towards their business.
About NRF: The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies.
About NRF Foundation: The NRF Foundation provides the skills and resources needed for a life-changing career. As NRF’s nonprofit 501(c)(3), we connect people to an industry that’s a great place to start and a great place to grow. Together, we help people build better lives and stronger communities.
It was World Liberty TV’s 20th Annual Appearance at NRF 2023, yes we have been covering it in our World Liberty TV, Business and Retail Channels, Blogs that long. This year was special because of the COVID, for the last few years. Things have changed drastically, but this year we saw many people in attendance, more companies coming back, Networking events, Night parties, Dinners and many VIP Events taking place. It reminds us on the good old days, which I believe are back and going forward. Also NRF in 2024, will be doing NRF Asia in Singapore, if you are a retailer looking to have a foot print in Asia, this show might be a right fit for you to attend.
See much more about NRF 2023, in our World Liberty TV, Retail, Business and Finance Channels and Blogs by clicking here.
Barbie and CFDA partnered up during New York Fashion Week to inspire girls of all ages. CFDA’s own CEO, Steve Kolb stop by the Meatpacking District in New York City, where the lounge event was being held to take pictures and talk about the reason behind the collaboration between the toy company, Matel Barbie and CFDA, founded by Eleanor Lambert.
CEO Steve Kolb manages the CFDA’s membership, trade association activities, and longstanding philanthropic initiatives such as Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, which raises public awareness and funds for breast cancer research in the U.S and internationally. Kolb works directly with President Diane von Furstenberg and the Board of Directors, which composed of America’s foremost designers, such as Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren, and new additions Ashley Olsen, Prabal Gurung, and Deborah Lloyd.
One of Kolb’s largest contributions to American fashion has been his leadership role in cultivating the next wave of emerging American fashion talent through programs such as the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and the CFDA Fashion Incubator. In addition, under Kolb’s guidance, the annual CFDA Fashion Awards has become the preeminent spotlight on American fashion, even being called the Oscars of Fashion.
Kolb’s previous background was also in the non-profit sector, but focused on raising funds for HIV and AIDS and cancer. He began his career at the American Cancer Society in New Jersey. While working as the Deputy Director at the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS DIFFA he managed a network of chapter affiliates and raised millions of dollars through events like Dining by Design and caused related marketing programs like the Gift of Hope.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association whose membership consists of more than 400 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry and accessory designers.
The CFDA foundation, Inc. is a separate not-for-profit organization, which was created to raise funds for charity and industry activities.
World Liberty TV fashion team had the pleasure of interviewing CEO Steve Kolb at the Barbie VIP Lounge Event.
