Retail organizations to merge
The National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association intend to merge by the end of the summer.
A name has not been decided for the new organization, which aims to create consistency and strategic value for members, according to the NRF.
In other news, National Retail Federation President Tracy Mullin will retire from her post after more than 30 years at the organization.
Mother’s Day spending expected to dip
Americans will spend an average of $123.89 per person on their moms this year, down more than 10 percent compared to last year’s $138.63. Total Mother’s Day spending is expected to reach $14.10 billion, according to a National Retail Federation survey conducted by BIGresearch.
Of the four in five Americans who will celebrate Mother’s Day, the majority will focus on the women with whom they are closest. More than 62 percent will buy gifts for their mother, stepmother or wife – 21 percent – but scale back on gifts for daughters, friends and godmothers in order to save money.
