NRF

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation (NRF) has hired Paul G. Martino as VP and senior policy counsel, and promoted Beth Provenzano to VP for federal government relations. Martino and Provenzano will work with the NRF Government Relations Department and focus on emerging public policy priorities, including data security, payments, mobile and e-commerce, privacy and patent reform.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has hired Paul G. Martino as VP and senior policy counsel, and has promoted Beth Provenzano to VP for federal government relations.

Martino and Provenzano will work with the NRF government relations department and focus on emerging public policy priorities, including data security, payments, mobile and e-commerce, privacy and patent reform.

Executive authority suffered a blow this week when the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Pepsi distributor Noel Canning in a dispute over president Barack Obama’s use of an arcane “recess appointments” clause to load the National Labor Relations Board with pro-union choices.

Washington, D.C. — The National Retail Federation (NRF) presented its annual Ring of Excellence, Law Enforcement Retail Partnership and Retail Case of the Year awards during the NRF Loss Prevention Conference and Expo on Thursday, June 12.

New York — Steve Sadove, former chairman and CEO of Saks Inc., has asked consulting firm Marvin Traub Associates to launch a new division focused on  innovative technologies, concepts and platforms in the retail and consumer industries. Sadove is heading up the new Traub Accelerator division as co-founder, and will also advise Traub’s traditional clients and join the board of directors.

Retail sales rose ever so slightly in April, putting a damper on hopes of a sharp uptick in economic growth in the second quarter. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, retail sales, which include categories such as automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants, rose 0.1% in April, following a revised 1.5% increase in March that ranked as the biggest since March 2010.

Those of us who’ve been around retail for a while remember the shutdown that brought West Coast port operations to a halt in the fall of 2002.

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation (NRF) was recognized on Earth Day, April 22, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with its 2014 SmartWay Affiliate Challenge award. The EPA recognized NRF for supporting policies and practices that reduce truck emissions and enhance freight efficiency.

The SmartWay Affiliate Challenge is a national challenge developed by the EPA to acknowledge organizations that do an exceptional job supporting the partnership’s freight sustainability goals.