NRF 2026 day one kicked off with the kind of energy that reminds you why this week matters. The floor was buzzing, meetings started early, and every conversation felt like it was happening at full pace.
Retail leaders arrived ready to talk openly about what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change next. There was momentum in the air and a clear sense that this year, the focus is less on theory and more on performance that shows up in stores.
Before the doors opened
On Friday night, the Vendors in Partnership Awards brought together retailers and technology partners to celebrate the work genuinely moving the industry forward. It was a reminder that real innovation in retail doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when strong partnerships are built over time and backed by trust, consistency, and shared goals.
The night was a true celebration of collaboration across the ecosystem. Congratulations to Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions for Best Multi-Vendor Commerce Platform, to Paula Macaggi and OFFbounds for The Retail Voice, to Kendra Scott for Retail Transformation, to Melissa Wong at Zipline for Bridge Builder Person of the Year, and to Quorso for Partner of the Year. It was also great to see well-deserved recognition for outstanding nominee partners, including Verifone and Retail Razor, all of whom continue to push boundaries in meaningful ways.
We were incredibly proud to see TruRating nominated for Best Enterprise Analytics Platform. Being included alongside such an inspiring group of companies was an honour, and a real signal of how far performance intelligence has come in retail. Our founder and CEO, Georgina Nelson, was there to witness it all and celebrate with the community.
A special thank you to Vicki Cantrell, CEO of Vendors in Partnership, for her tireless support, infectious enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment to the vendors and people serving the retail industry. This community exists because of leaders like you.
Strong energy, real conversations
With that momentum behind us, day one at NRF 2026 got straight to the point. The floor was busy, the conversations were focused, and there was a clear appetite for practical solutions that help teams perform better in stores, not just report on what already happened.
We spent the morning getting our soccer-themed booth ready on Level 1, Booth #2229. It quickly became a natural place to talk about coaching, consistency, and execution.
Talking coaching, not just data
From the moment the doors opened, we had a steady stream of retail leaders stopping by to learn more about TruCoaching. The common thread across these conversations was familiar. Teams have plenty of data, but very little direction. Store managers are often handed reports without clear answers on what to coach, where to focus, or how to tell if change is actually working.
TruCoaching resonated because it reframes that problem. Instead of asking managers to interpret charts, it gives them weekly, store-specific guidance rooted in real customer behavior and transaction outcomes. Conversations quickly moved from “what does this show?” to “how would my managers use this on the floor?” That shift mattered.
Global perspectives and good energy on the floor
NRF always brings together retail teams from around the world, and day one was no exception. We met leaders across regions and formats, including a few visitors from Brazil who brought both insight and some impressive fancy footwork to the booth.
The energy stayed high throughout the day, helped along by a few unexpected moments. Even the local police stopped by to learn more about TruRating and have a quick kickaround. It was a reminder that the best conversations often happen when things feel open, human, and a little bit fun.
A meaningful moment with bealls
One of the standout moments of the day was welcoming Tianne Doyle, President of bealls, to the booth. This year marks eight years of partnership between bealls and TruRating, and it was a powerful reflection on what long-term collaboration can look like when both sides stay focused on improvement.
“I’m just so excited to be here today with our partners at TruRating.”
She also shared what has stood out most over the course of that partnership.
“I’ve never worked with a vendor partner that was more authentic and sincere in their desire to support our business and our strategies and really just constantly look for improvement. I’m very excited about what the future holds for Bealls and TruRating working together.”
Tianne Doyle, President, bealls
Looking ahead to day two
As day one wrapped up, a clear pattern emerged across every conversation. Retail leaders are moving away from guesswork. They want to see what’s really happening in their stores, understand which behaviors drive results, and coach with confidence instead of assumptions.
Day two is already underway. The coffee is strong, the goals are set, and the conversations are picking up right where we left off. If you’re at NRF, come see us at Booth #2229. We’d love to keep the conversation going.
