The good news from the National Retail Federation is that a growing number of retailers are not only cracking the door to see what opportunities are out there for the New Year, but that they’re flinging it wide and welcoming innovation, change and new technology with open arms. As a result, the NRF believes 2011 will be the start of an upward inflection point for U.S. retailers.
Part of the reason for this tailwind is shifting demographics, the NRF says. Gen X is moving into its peak spending years, and Gen Y is following closely on its heels. They are an optimistic and self-confident bunch — enormously savvy about how things work and what things cost. They don’t want to repeat the mistakes their parents made or be burdened by financial stress, but they are shopping.