NRF Releases Crowd Management Guidelines as Black Friday Nears

View NRF’s Crowd Management Guidelines and Special Events Checklist

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

NRF Releases Crowd Management Guidelines as Black Friday Nears 

Washington, November 5, 2010 – With preparations for the holiday season already set in motion, retailers’ attention now turns to preparing their staff and store for what is expected to be the busiest day of the year – Black Friday.  In collaboration with retail loss prevention executives, NRF has updated its crowd management guidelines for the 2010 holiday season, looking at the expected and even the unexpected when it comes to managing large crowds.  

“Shopping on Black Friday is a tradition for many Americans, and planning for these crowds is something retailers spend a lot of time perfecting,” said Joe LaRocca, Senior Asset Protection Advisor, NRF. “Planning for large crowds, especially those of Black Friday proportions, involves many dress rehearsals, a well-trained staff, and a solid and comprehensive list of priorities for all parties involved.”  

The guidelines outline the following essential components of a crowd control and/or emergency plan, including:

• Promotional/holiday sales and special events
• Sales and events versus emergency management crowd controls
• Mall-based retailers versus non mall-based retailers
• Crowd management guidelines, references and contingency plans.

In addition to the outlined assessments, the guidelines also offer specific checklists for retailers to use when working on a crowd control plan. Event type, staffing and training, communication, physical and environmental considerations and line formations are among a few of the factors that retailers should take into account for their emergency and crowd control plans.

For more information about the 2010 holiday season and NRF’s holiday forecast, visit NRF’s Holiday Headquarters.

PRESS AND ANALYSTS: NRF will host a special media briefing to address crowd control and other holiday loss prevention topics on Thursday, November 11 at 1:00 p.m. EST. If you would like to join the call, please click here to register or contact Kathy Grannis. The call is reserved for members of the press and analysts only.

As the world's largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, the National Retail Federation's global membership includes retailers of all sizes, formats and channels of distribution as well as chain restaurants and industry partners from the U.S. and more than 45 countries abroad. In the U.S., NRF represents the breadth and diversity of an industry with more than 1.6 million American companies that employ nearly 25 million workers and generated 2009 sales of $2.3 trillion. www.nrf.com

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