Editor’s Note: Retail’s Big Show – Chapter 2 has been cancelled, but NRF will be launching a new virtual event in June that will combine elements from all of the association’s summer events into one large offering. The new event will include the topics and speakers from Retail’s Big Show – Chapter 2 as well as NRF Protect, Cyber and Supply Chain Workshops and the NRFtech event.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has cancelled Chapter 2 of its 2021 Big Show and will replace it with an online event. The decision was made because the Javits Center, which hosts the annual Big Show, will be unavailable during the first week of June. The facility is currently being used as a vaccine distribution venue for New York City residents, an evolution of its earlier role as a field hospital.
“Vaccinations and the overall state of our nation’s response to the pandemic were always a primary consideration for an in-person gathering this year,” said Matthew Shay, President and CEO of NRF in a statement. “And while we were optimistic about the prospects of a quick timeline for vaccine distribution, the reality is that it is taking longer than we had all hoped, and experts believe the process could extend through the summer.”
The NRF plans to release additional details regarding its plans for its upcoming summer event, which will include more content, networking and entertainment, in the coming weeks. The organization also is preparing to return to the Javits Center in January 2022 for an in-person show.
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