Public Voting Advances Monkee’s to Top 10 in NRF’s “This is Retail” Video Contest

For Immediate Release
Kathy Grannis (202) 783-7971 or grannisk@nrf.com
www.retailmeansjobs.com/contest

NRF Announces Top 10 Finalists for “This is Retail” Video Contest
-Top 20 finalists generated over 245,000 votes in six days-

Washington, April 9, 2012 – The National Retail Federation today announced the top 10 finalists of its “This is Retail” video contest, determined after a week of public voting through NRF’s Retail Means Jobs website. Over 245,000 votes were cast for the Top 20 finalists between Tuesday April 3 and midnight Sunday, April 8.

“The level of enthusiasm and support for our contest finalists has come from every corner of the country, including Congressional representatives, governors and mayors,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “The sheer number of votes for these retailers from their customers, business partners, family, friends and communities demonstrates the power of the retail industry and shows how our industry touches every single American.”

Public viewing of and voting for the top 10 videos begin April 10 at retailmeansjobs.com/vote.

The top 10 finalists in alphabetical order are as follows:

• Jim Adams, Falls Road Running Store, Baltimore, MD
• Tanna Dang, Eden in Love, Honolulu, HI
• Carina Donoso, Alex and Ani, Brookline, RI
• Robert Houston, Anna and Eve, Oak Brook, IL
• Susan Kaufman, Market Alley Wines, Monmouth, IL
• Harrison Kressler, Bookmans, Tucson, AZ
• Mark Plessinger, Frame of Mind, Columbia, SC
• Deirdre Shaw, Monkee’s, Wilmington, NC
• Kim Williams, The Polka Dot Press, Tallahassee, FL
• Julie Wurr, Heart ‘n Home, Laurens, IA

The selection process will continue through April as the top 10 videos go head-to-head this week in a bracket-style tournament, with the top five contestants announced Monday, April 16. From April 17-22, the top five videos will compete against each other, and the top three finalists will be announced on May 1. The contest’s top three finalists will be flown to NRF’s Washington Leadership Conference for the announcement of the contest rankings on May 16. The first place winner will receive $25,000 with $15,000 for second place and $10,000 for third place.

NRF’s “This is Retail” video contest is a part of the association’s multi-faceted Retail Means Jobs campaign. The contest, officially announced in January at Retail’s BIG Show, was designed to promote retail as a career and demonstrate the multitude of career choices available within the retail industry.

As the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF represents retailers of all types and sizes, including chain restaurants and industry partners, from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad. Retailers operate more than 3.6 million U.S. establishments that support one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s Retail Means Jobs campaign emphasizes the economic importance of retail and encourages policymakers to support a Jobs, Innovation and Consumer Value Agenda aimed at boosting economic growth and job creation. www.nrf.com.