NRF honors Rob Karr with 2026 J. Thomas Weyant Award. For immediate release July 15, 2026 "For more than three decades, Rob Karr has been a trusted friend, advocate and voice for retailers and their businesses, employees and the communities they serve." NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay WASHINGTON - The National Retail Federation today presented the 2026 J. Thomas Weyant Award to Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA). Karr was recognized at NRF's Retail Advocates Summit, where retailers, industry leaders and policymakers from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for the retail industry's premier advocacy event. "For more than three decades, Rob Karr has been a trusted friend, advocate and voice for retailers and their businesses, employees and the communities they serve," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. "His work through the years has had a lasting impact on the retail industry in Illinois, and we are proud to recognize him for his remarkable career and all he has accomplished." The award, named for a former president of the Pennsylvania Retailers Association, was created by NRF in 1995 to honor individuals who devote their careers to leading state retail associations and advocating for the retail industry. Karr joined IRMA in 1994 leading the organization's government relations efforts and has served as president and CEO since 2014. During his more than 30-year career with the association, he has played a key role in advocating for retailers in the state and representing their needs before lawmakers. Karr serves on several state advisory boards and committees and served on the Board of the Council of State Retail Associations from 2014 to 2020, including as chairman in 2019. "I am deeply honored to receive this award," Karr said. "This recognition reflects the dedication and hard work of the entire IRMA team and the many Illinois retailers that I've had the privilege of working alongside throughout my career. I remain committed to advocating for these businesses and ensuring they can continue to succeed and serve the many communities that rely on them." Recent recipients of the J. Thomas Weyant Award include Maryland Retailers Alliance President Cailey Locklair, North Carolina Retail Merchants Association President and General Counsel Andy Ellen, Retail Association of Maine President and CEO Curtis Picard, and Nebraska Retail Federation President Jim Otto. NRF's Retail Advocates Summit brings together policymakers and retailers of every size, from small businesses to national brands, to build relationships, discuss key policy issues and celebrate retail's impact on the U.S. economy and local communities. The 2026 Summit theme, "Retail: Powering America's Next 250," honors the nation's 250th anniversary by highlighting the people and businesses driving economic growth and community enrichment through retail. About NRF The National Retail Federation passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation's largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3 trillion to annual GDP and supporting more than one in four U.S. jobs - 55 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com Press Contacts * Alyssa Diess * Coordinator, Media Relations

NRF announces 2026 America's Retail Champions finalists. For immediate release June 25, 2026 "The 2026 class of America's Retail Champions carries forward that proud tradition of entrepreneurship, innovation and community engagement." NRF Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French WASHINGTON - The National Retail Federation today announced five finalists for the 2026 America's Retail Champions program. The program recognizes small business retailers who are outstanding advocates for the retail industry and the communities they serve. "As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, we reflect on the generations of small business owners who have built our nation's economy and strengthened local communities across the country," NRF Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French said. "The 2026 class of America's Retail Champions carries forward that proud tradition of entrepreneurship, innovation and community engagement." Retailers were nominated by state retail associations and industry peers based on their involvement in public policy discussions at the local, state and national level. Fifty U.S. small retailers were selected as America's Retail Champions, with five advancing as finalists. One finalist will be named the 2026 America's Retail Champion on July 15 during a special dinner at NRF's 2026 Retail Advocates Summit in Washington, D.C. The 2026 America's Retail Champions program is sponsored by Affirm, the payment network that empowers consumers and helps merchants drive growth. "Small businesses work hard for the people and places they serve, and they deserve real recognition for it," said Fabiola Cazares, Affirm's senior manager of public affairs and social impact. "At Affirm, we want to help more businesses get the tools they need to compete and grow. We couldn't be prouder to celebrate these finalists, and small businesses everywhere." * Richard Brown, Proof Culture, Cleveland, OH * Angela Hawkins, Bamblu, Atlanta, GA * Alfred Mai, ASM Games, San Francisco, CA * Darcy Michalek, Garbo's Salon & Spa, Omaha, NE * Danny Reynolds, Stephenson's of Elkhart, Elkhart, IN About NRF The National Retail Federation passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation's largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3 trillion to annual GDP and supporting more than one in four U.S. jobs - 55 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com About Affirm Affirm's mission is to deliver honest financial products that improve lives. By building a new kind of payment network - one based on trust, transparency and putting people first - we empower millions of consumers to spend and save responsibly, and give thousands of businesses the tools to fuel growth. Unlike most credit cards and other pay-over-time options, we never charge any late or hidden fees. Follow Affirm on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X. Press Contacts * Alyssa Diess * Coordinator, Media Relations

Top 5 takeaways from NRF PROTECT 2026. June 16, 2026 News, tactics, career guidance, and technological developments for retail loss prevention professionals. The National Retail Federation's (NRF) annual PROTECT Conference took place in Grapevine, Texas last week, June 8-10. One of the biggest events in the loss prevention industry, I always look forward to the opportunity to attend and learn about the issues sitting heavy on the minds of LP leaders. Walking through the Expo Hall, listening in on educational sessions, and speaking with attendees, there were certain points that felt especially pressing. Here are my five biggest takeaways reflecting on NRF PROTECT 2026: 1. LP teams are having to do more with less. Loss prevention teams have long been the unsung heroes of retail organizations, but as the economy stumbles and budgets shrink, LP professionals are forced to figure out how to do even more - with even less. One session I attended featuring J.Crew's small but mighty LP team provided guidance for those facing this challenge. Some advice they shared was to limit friction, simplify directions as much as possible, and to leverage technology that's easy for everyone to use. - Digital Partner - 2. Resiliency is key in 2026 and beyond. If there's one thing that all LP professionals must have in their toolbox in 2026, it's resiliency. So many things at this year's show - from the Ring of Excellence awardees to the closing keynote session from Richard Picciotto, the highest ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center Collapse - drove this point home. The industry has evolved drastically in recent years, and as AI further fuels LP forward, it's difficult to even predict what will be expected of LP leaders five years from now. Stay resilient, and you'll have a better chance of staying employed. 3. AI can either help you sink or swim. Artificial intelligence has been the biggest buzzword for years, but now the conversations are less about promises and more about realities. Multiple educational sessions and demonstrations in the Expo Hall showed that AI has the ability to transform the way loss prevention functions. And if you aren't already looking for ways the technology can help you and your team, you risk being left behind. However, it's also important to tread with caution. One session at the show that explored this tightrope featured WZ CEO David Thompson, CFI and Florida Institute of Technology Assistant Professor of Forensic Psychology Brandon May, PhD. They discussed concerns including AI emphasizing the bias of its user, data privacy, not exercising critical thinking skills, inaccuracies that are hard to notice, and the technology's synthetic memory. 4. We're all stronger when we work together. The LP industry as a whole has done an amazing job of coming together and joining forces to fight against issues like organized retail crime. One recent example of this is the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) passing the US House of Representatives and advancing to the Senate in May. This was a result of organizations such as the NRF bringing retailers, solution providers, and lawmakers together with a common goal. At PROTECT, the importance of creating strong partnerships was emphasized in educational sessions, and on display in the Expo Hall's Fusion Center, a place for retailers to forge and strengthen public-private partnerships with law enforcement agencies, mall security, and organized retail crime associations. 5. Never stop learning. While the decision to spend time and resources attending an event like NRF PROTECT can be difficult, doing so shows a true commitment to learning and growing that is crucial. Whether engaging in conversations with fellow attendees during the many networking opportunities, learning about new technologies in the Expo Hall, or taking notes in the educational sessions, the possibilities for anyone in the LP industry to expand their knowledge were limitless. I certainly learned a lot (yes, far beyond the five takeaways I shared here) which I am looking forward to exploring further in content for LPM! News, tactics, career guidance, and technological developments for retail loss prevention professionals.