NRF announces winners of annual retailer awards

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 12/22/2010 1:54:51 PM

Washington -- The National Retail Federation has announced the recipients of its annual retailer awards, and this year's honors will go to Nordstrom, The Container Store, Urban Outfitters and Sir Philip Green of Arcadia Group (which includes Topshop, Wallis and Burton).

Executives from these companies will accept their awards during the NRF's Annual Retail Industry Luncheon on Jan. 11 at the organization's Annual Convention and EXPO. The event is scheduled during NRF's BIG Show, which is scheduled Jan. 9 to 12 at New York City's Jacob Javits Center.

"In this highly competitive industry, it's important for retailers to break away from the mold and push their company to new heights," said Matthew Shay, NRF president and ceo. "Every year we search to find those who continue to do just that. We applaud each of this year's winners and are thrilled to honor them in front of their peers."

The Gold Medal Award will go to Kip Tindell, chairman and ceo of The Container Store. At the helm of this store since it first opened its doors in Dallas in 1978, Tindell is credited with creating the first-ever retailer devoted solely to storage and organization products.

Glen Senk, ceo of Urban Outfitters Inc. will receive the Retail Innovator of the Year award. At his post since May 2007, Senk's career with the company began in April 1994 when he joined Anthropologie as president of what was then a single store prototype.

International Retailer of the Year will go to Sir Philip Green of Arcadia Group.

And the Silver Plaque goes to Sheryl Garland, vp, senior counsel, risk management, Nordstrom.

NRF's Annual Convention and EXPO brings together 18,000 retail executives and vendors from more than 60 countries together for educational and networking opportunities. NRF's EXPO floor, open on Monday and Tuesday of the Convention, hosts more than 600 exhibiting companies and features one-of-a-kind pavilions displaying the latest in retail technology.