The National Retail Federation is a 2,500 member organization of national chains, restaurants and retailers that works to “advance and protect the interests of the retail industry.” NRF is the largest retail trade association in the world.

Retail Industry Leaders Association is the trade association for executives in retail providing educational forums and public policy advocacy.

Surely the merger of the two organizations would have been a consolidation of all the powers that be in retail to be a force on Capitol Hill and superior source of industry information. Tracy Mullin, president and CEO of NRF wrote an open letter to members today discussing the end of the merger.  Click here to read the letter.