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NRF announces 2011 award recipients

December 20, 2010

The National Retail Federation has announced that executives from Nordstrom, The Container Store, Urban Outfitters and Sir Philip Green of Arcadia Group, which includes Topshop, Wallis and Burton, are the recipients of its prestigious annual awards. The recipients will accept their awards during the Annual Retail Industry Luncheon at NRF's Annual Convention and EXPO on Tuesday, January 11, 2011. NRF's BIG Show will be held at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, January 9-12, 2011.

"In this highly competitive industry, it's important for retailers to break away from the mold and push their company to new heights," said NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay. "Every year we search to find those who continue to do just that. We applaud each of this years' winners and are thrilled to honor them in front of their peers."

Gold Medal Award: Kip Tindell, Chairman and CEO, The Container Store

The Gold Medal is the most coveted award in retail, given to individuals who have served the industry with distinction and achieved a national reputation for excellence. The recipients have also displayed creative genius and inspirational leadership and have won the respect of fellow merchants for devotion to the retail craft.

Kip Tindell has been at the helm of The Container Store since it first opened its doors in Dallas in 1978 — creating the first ever store devoted solely to storage and organization products. With 49 stores nationwide, a thriving Web site and 2010 sales projected at $560 million, Tindell continues his commitment to being a trailblazing retailer. But for Tindell, the goal never has been growth for growth's sake. Rather, it's to adhere to a fundamental set of corporate values, centered around an intense employee commitment, strict merchandising and superior customer service. Success has been the natural and inevitable result. Tindell continues to embody the unique corporate culture he created, and has nurtured a fierce employee loyalty that has landed the company at the top of FORTUNE magazine's list of "100 Best Companies to Work For" the past 11 years. In 2006, along with wife Sharon Tindell, the company's chief marketing officer, Tindell was inducted into the Retailing Hall of Fame.

Retail Innovator of the Year: Glen T. Senk, CEO, URBN Inc. Urban Outfitters, Inc.

Recipients of this award have successfully distinguished themselves as retail pioneers through the use of new, innovative or imaginative techniques, formats or service. Furthermore, they have demonstrated an ability to sustain and build this concept in the face of challenges.

Glen T. Senk was named CEO of Philadelphia-based Urban Outfitters, Inc. in May 2007. Senk's career with the company began in April 1994 when he joined Anthropologie as president of what was then a single store prototype. Senk was named executive vice president of Urban Outfitters, Inc. in May 2002 and elected to the company's board of directors in June 2004. Prior to Anthropologie, Senk served as senior vice president and general merchandise manager of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. where he oversaw the retail and mail order operations for Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Hold Everything, Chambers and Gardener's Eden. During his tenure at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Senk developed the strategy and laid the groundwork for Pottery Barn's rapid expansion and sales growth.

Senk holds a BA degree, magna cum laude, in psychology, computer science and mathematics from New York University and a MBA degree in marketing and finance from the University of Chicago Graduate School Of Business. The University of Chicago named Senk its 2010 Distinguished Alumni. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In addition to serving as a director of URBN Inc., parent company of Urban Outfitters, Senk is a board member of Tory Burch Inc., David Yurman Inc., and the Vetri Foundation.

International Retailer of the Year: Sir Philip Green, Arcadia Group

This award is given annually to an individual who has achieved international recognition for excellence in their native country and internationally.

Sir Philip Green was born in 1952, and left school at 16 years old. He helped his mother with her businesses from his teenage years, and taught himself many different aspects of retailing. Sir Philip opened his first shop in 1979 on Conduit Street, in central London, selling discounted designer brands. Over the next twenty years, he purchased, managed, turned around and sold many retail businesses including Sears which he bought and sold in 1999. In 2000 and 2002 he bought British Home Stores and Arcadia Group respectively which his family owns and he runs to date.

With eight well-known British high street brands BHS, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topshop, Topman and Wallis — his companies have a significant presence on UK High Streets, with more than 2,500 outlets. The retailer controls more than a 10 percent share of the UK clothing market.

Their international presence is ever expanding and to date there are nearly 600 international franchise stores in 37 countries, and wholesale operations in a further 16. The brands are available on-line in more than 115 countries.

Both the BHS and Arcadia businesses have grown considerably under Sir Philip's family ownership. The businesses were integrated into one group in 2009; the companies now employ more than 45,000 workers. In the latest financial year, the Arcadia Group generated cash of £386 million on sales of £2.8 billion.