‘Tis the season for 2017 predictions. Although most retailers are heads down during the busy holiday season, the nagging thought of what’s in store for the industry next year is never far from their minds.

Enter the National Retail Federation’s Big Show. Every year, NRF kicks off the year with their flagship event ” in New York City. The convention offers the industry an amazing look at how some of the world’s most innovative retail brands and solutions providers are reshaping the shopper experience. In addition to showcasing new technologies and innovations, the event sets the tone for what to expect in the upcoming year. Read on to catch a sneak peek of the themes we expect to see at the biggest show in retail.

In 2017, the industry will stop talking about omnichannel

Fortunately, the industry has evolved past the overused buzzword. Retailers know shoppers demand a consistent experience across channels and that the time has come to commit to putting the shopper at the center of their business. Last year at the NRF Big Show, the industry started to discuss what the retail industry will look like post-omnichannel. In 2017, vendors will share their vision of a whole new world in retail.

Visit Salesforce (Level 3, Booth #3431) at the NRF Big Show EXPO to experience the next generation in retail - how to deliver a unified shopping experience. Watch how one of the fastest growing specialty retailers executes a buy-anywhere, fulfill-anywhere, service-anywhere approach to keep their shoppers coming back for more.

In 2017, everything and everyone will be smarter

Today’s shopper is accustomed to smart technologies in their daily routines. From Siri, Amazon product recommendations and Facebook feeds, content is curated and delivered based on the shopper’s unique preferences and context. In 2017, it’s time for the retail industry to catch up to consumer technologies to meet the elevated expectations of today’s shoppers.

At the NRF Big Show next month, expect to experience how IT vendors are working to make retail smarter than ever before. From beacons through predictive intelligence, we anticipate the respective IQs of retail technologies will get a major boost in 2016.

Experience how Salesforce is helping a major retail brand get smarter and more predictive with its shoppers in a special thought leadership session at the NRF Big Show, entitled “Smart is the New Sexy: How Aldo Powers Intelligent Journeys with Salesforce”. SVP of Salesforce Industries, Retail, Shelley Bransten will host Erwin Hinteregger, CMO of Aldo will explore how all retailers can incorporating intelligence into every facet of business operations to deliver connected shopping experiences. January 15, 2017 1:00-1:30 PM Eastern Time, Level 1, Room 1. Register for this thought leadership session today.

In 2017, Retail’s new little black dress will be called “agility”

Retailers know that every moment is an opportunity to connect with shoppers in a meaningful way. In 2017, retailers will finally have the solutions to capitalize on those moments to foster deeper relationships with their shoppers. Although the industry has been discussing the concept of personalization at the NRF Big Show for the last few years, very few brands have been able to deliver effective 1-to-1 marketing at scale. Schedule some time to pass by the Fanatics Shopper Success Experience (Javits Center, Level 2, Hall D) to learn how this licensed sports apparel brand delivers personalization at scale - delivering 1-to-1 marketing offers to fans across the United States, within seconds of the end of a sports game. Learn more.  

In 2017, employees will be the cornerstone of the shopper experience

Even though ecommerce is growing at a rapid clip, the store is still an essential element of the retail experience. According to McKinsey, physical stores will still contribute 85% of total retail sales by 2025.

On the other hand, 48% of shoppers never ask a store associate for assistance. In some cases, it’s because the shopper feels more informed about a product than the store associate. But in 2017, expect many retailers to remedy this situation by supercharging their store staff with the tools they need to understand their shoppers and support the selling process.

At the NRF Big Show next month, visit the Salesforce booth (Level 3, #3431) to see how a leading fashion footwear and accessories retailers empowers its employees to deliver the right offer at the right time and the right place to drive increased shopper engagement and conversions in both the physical and digital realm.  

Experience the future of retail

With over 500 retail technology vendors in the NRF EXPO Hall, there’s something for every retailer looking to catch a glimpse of the future of retail. Take the first step to transforming every shopper experience into a connected one. Leanr more about Salesforce at the 2017 National Retail Federation Big Show in New York City, New York: https://www.salesforce.com/nrf2017

Salesforce also a special surprise for those that are attending NRF. Register here for your access to an exclusive evening with top musical talent, complimentary cocktails, and delicious food. It’s an event you won’t want to miss.