This is Retail: Ohio Initiative Highlights Value of Retail Industry

The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants and National Retail Federation today announced the Ohio launch of a statewide industry campaign, This is Retail: Ohio. The initiative is an extension of NRF’s national This is Retail campaign, which launched in 2012 to enhance perceptions of the retail industry by showcasing retail’s positive impact on local communities and the critical role retail plays in driving technological innovation and the economy.

“Retail is a sophisticated industry that impacts every segment of the economy, including technology, utilities, logistics, finance, energy and manufacturing,” OCRM President and CEO Gordon Gough said. “While retail supports millions of jobs, it also provides countless opportunities for lifelong careers. We hope this initiative is successful in creating a more realistic understanding of the value of retail.”

This Is Retail: Ohio showcases four videos centered on careers, community and innovation, sourced from retailers across the state. The stories go behind-the-scenes with Macy’s store design team, showcases Kroger’s integration of heat-sensing technology, reveals Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores’ use of digital and social communications and highlights Barnes & Noble’s school spirit at The Ohio State University.

“As a native Ohioan who started my career working for the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, I know the important role the state has played in revolutionizing the retail industry,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “This campaign is testament to that legacy and highlights four innovative companies that continue to demonstrate the versatility and diversity of the retail industry.”

Nationally, retail supports 42 million American jobs. In Ohio, the industry employs one in four workers or 1.6 million jobs. The state has more than 3.7 million retail establishments and is home to many renowned retailers, such as Kroger, L Brands and Macy’s.

Founded in 1922, the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, www.ocrm.net is Ohio’s leading trade association for the retail industry which supports 1 in 4 of all Ohio jobs. The Council boasts more than 6,400 members statewide who serve millions of Ohioans daily.

NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. www.nrf.com.