As NRF Show commences, Matt Shay advises industry not to do 'something stupid'

The post-holiday news is a mixed bag. Big e-commerce saw gangbuster results, but other segments — most notably department stores — that spent heavily on promotion and online fulfillment took big hits. Add to that the uncertainty retailers and consumers are feeling from news of tariffs and government gridlock, and you might imagine attendees of NRF's Big Show in NYC this week are looking for signs of optimism. Matt Shay, president and CEO of NRF, told WWD, that industry execs should keep a level head. “Consumers remain very confident. Interest rates are incredibly low. Wages are growing. Unemployment is strong. Our view is let’s not murder this economic expansion by doing something stupid."