Retail Events
NRF 2025!
January 16, 2025 in Retail Events, Retail Events, Retail Trends, Thought Leadership

What a journey! NRF 2025 is officially in the books, and we can say it was the best one yet. The energy, the conversations, the insights – it all made for an unforgettable experience. We’re so pumped to continue helping our community and Specialty Retailers hit their goals in 2025 and beyond.
This year, we decided to shake things up and bring something new to the table. With fresh ideas and exciting initiatives, our NRF experience was taken to the next level. Here are our Top 5 Events and Learnings from the conference:
1) Labor Planning That Improves Your Stores, Every Day
Every year, StoreForce presents a Big Ideas Session, bringing forward new concepts that challenge Specialty Retailers to rethink how they manage their labor. The goal is to ensure Retailers maximize sales or expand their store footprint and product offerings.
This year, we focused on Labor Planning because we heard loud and clear that Retailers are seeking new ways to optimize their labor spend. On stage, we were honored to host Kevin Rogers, Director of Store Operations at KNIX, and Noura Shehabaldin, Director of Retail Operations at Steve Madden. Our very own Sean Bonnell, Client Success Manager, engaged in a lively conversation about the impact of StoreForce’s 50/20 rule, the power of on-demand reporting, and how setting targets for schedules has not only spurred competition but also boosted productivity in their stores.
If you missed the session, no worries at all. You can find the official recording right here.

2) Community Gatherings at NRF 2025
At StoreForce, our community of Specialty Retailers is our top priority. It was a pleasure to see so many friendly faces at Booth #1019, where Retailers stopped by to say “hi!” and learn about StoreForce’s latest offerings. Our amazing clients from Kipling, Lids, Journeys, Group Dynamite, Fabletics, and many others visited us throughout the event.
Before our Big Ideas Session, we welcomed Annie Schmitz, Vice President of Store Operations at Build-A-Bear, to our booth. She shared her experiences of how Build-A-Bear leverages StoreForce to streamline their operations, from scheduling to task management in order to drive conversion rates and customer loyalty.
To learn more about Annie’s StoreForce journey, click here!
We love building strong relationships within our community and having the ability to collaborate with Retailers. These conversations are vital for driving innovation in the industry.

3) 1 Company, 2 Brands
This was the first year StoreForce and sister brand, ThinkTime, teamed up and we were excited to present our new upscale booth at NRF. Together, we showcased the tools and solutions needed to meet in-store operational demands from big box to Specialty Retailers. Two powerhouses. Two solutions. One team that makes Retail work.
ThinkTime, is a world-leading task management, communications, and store audit tool serving Retailers across the grocery, convenience, big box, and pharmaceutical verticals. The tool is designed to ensure that no task goes incomplete. It promotes accountability on the shop floor, and ultimately drives sales.
When your stores aren’t running effectively, the cost on your business weighs a lot more than the benefits. Click here to learn the true cost of poor execution.
Having a combined booth with ThinkTime was a milestone for us, and we’re excited for what’s to come.

4) A Smooth Ride to NRF 2025
We hope you had a smooth ride going to Javits Center, because we know we did! This year, both StoreForce & ThinkTime sponsored the transportation to NRF, and we made sure that we did not leave you on the bus sitting and aimlessly looking out of the window.
If you missed the ride, don’t worry! You can still catch up on all the content we provided on our webpages. From insightful articles to engaging videos, we’ve got you covered.
Visit our site today to see what you missed.
5) The Biggest Problem in Specialty Retail
Back by popular demand was the StoreForce poll! And the results are in…
What is the biggest challenge facing Retailers? The answer: In-the-moment data.
At StoreForce, we solve this problem by providing real-time data. Our KPI Dashboard and reporting tools allow store teams to receive updated performance data every 30 minutes, ensuring that decisions are based on current information. No more waiting for the end of the week to get data from multiple locations — we streamline it all into one easy-to-use tool.
2025 is going to be a big year for Retail, it’s important that we understand why everything we’ve discussed in this blog is so important right now. Flexibility, adaptability, and data are your greatest allies in keeping up with the continually evolving landscape. Build resilient teams, invest in meaningful technology and never stop challenging the status quo. To learn more about the state of retail in 2025, click here.
Ready to chat? Book a 15 minute meeting with us today.
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