“In 10-15 years the typical U.S. mall, unless reinvented, will be an historical anachronism, a 60-year or so aberration that no longer meets the public’s needs, the retailer’s needs or the community’s needs,” he said during Sunday’s keynote address at Retail’s BIG Show.

That’s the bold statement, but recent history suggests Caruso’s prediction could be right: There hasn’t been a new indoor mall built since 1996, making the mall concept a relic in retail development.

Retail certainly isn’t going anywhere. The “souk,” or traditional Berber market, in Marrakesh, Morocco, might be considered an early example of a mall that has been selling goods for more than 1,000 years. And marketplaces have kept evolving. But the reality is that the U.S. mall concept is only 60 years old. So how can retailers help revive and reimagine the mall formats Caruso says are so doomed?

Caruso was joined on a keynote panel by three trendsetting retailers ready to answer that question. Watch Nordstrom President Blake Nordstrom, Sprinkles Cupcakes founder Candace Nelson and fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff share how their organizations are creatively upending the traditional shopping center experience.

It seems appropriate then, that on the exact day Burberry was releasing their 3rd quarter results, CEO Angela Ahrendts was at NRF’s Annual Convention & EXPO accepting the International Retailer of the Year award. That award is given annually to an individual that has achieved international recognition for excellence in their native country and internationally. You can’t argue with results, and given what Ahrendts has accomplished with Burberry (doubling the group’s revenue since she took over as CEO in 2006), she was an obvious choice.

In the below video find out, in her own words, how Ahrendts has managed to keep a 150+ year old company exceeding customer expectations. That’s not an easy task when you operate in 80 countries. That customer connection, and specifically the work Ahrendts has done, is one of the reasons that Fast Company Magazine put Burberry on the list of The World’s Most Innovative Companies 2011.

That quote doesn’t surprise me given what Walter Robb was doing just two days earlier at Retail’s BIG Show. Robb and John Mackey, Co-founder and CEO, were being honored by the National Retail Federation as Retail Innovator of the Year. Even though Mackey wasn’t able to be there, Robb didn’t accept the award alone. He brought his team to the stage, where he introduced each of them and noted that he was accepting on behalf of the 65,000 Whole Foods team members. Obviously “supporting team member happiness and excellence” isn’t something they simply list as a core value on their website. Watch the video below to see why, in addition to being a great employer, Whole Foods received this year’s award.

During this year’s Annual Retail Industry Luncheon at Retail’s BIG Show, the results were announced for the 2011 NRF Foundation/American Express Customers’ Choice Survey. Over 9,000 consumers were asked which retailer they thought delivers the best customer service overall. Similar to last year’s results, the top ten represent a breadth of the retail industry. From pure-play Amazon.com to 100+ year-old Nordstrom, it’s clear that customer service is important to every kind of retailer. This year’s video reveals the top ten winners and explains why each of them stood out to consumers.

The question coming out of many of those discussions: “Where are the jobs?” That’s not something retailers wonder about because, as Shay explained, the retail industry supports 42 million jobs in the U.S. and knows exactly where the jobs are. Watch Shay’s full remarks as he explains why the retail industry has been “a source of strength during an otherwise sluggish economic recovery,” three trends the retail industry will see in 2012, NRF’s economic forecast for the year, and what messages NRF will be taking to the Hill to ensure that retail has a voice as big as its economic footprint.

While I don’t think anyone is ready to quit their day job to join the NFL, there were a lot of successes on the field. The biggest success was the silent auction, put on by reception co-sponsors Blue Dot Safes and The Zellman Group, which raised money and awareness for the National Law Enforcement Museum. Here’s a video of just some of the highlight’s from last night.

Attendees – Looking for your group pictures on the infamous Star? Click here to view and download the photos.

In the video below, Melissa Mitchell, the Director of Loss Prevention & Inventory Control at LifeWay Christian Stores, aimed her comments at retailers just starting their careers, recommending that they spend some time gaining a holistic understanding of the entire company, not just the division or department they are in. After moderating the thoughtful and engaging panel, How to Effectively Recruit, Retain, and Mentor the 21st Century Woman, Beall’s, Inc.‘s Dan Doyle shared the biggest takeaway from the session. FurstPerson‘s Brent Holland told us, “Getting involved in community activities in an excellent way to really develop one’s skill set.” Click on the video below to hear these executives draw on their experience (and expertise) for some insightful professional development advice.

Kroger’s Corporate Manager, Denny Dansak, explained why new patterns in organized retail crime are presenting new challenges. He also detailed why it’s important for retailers to educate law enforcement on the issue. To Paul Jones, Senior Director, Global Asset Protection for eBay/PayPal, shared that collaboration among retailers is the key to success. Walgreens Director – Organized Retail Crime Division, Jerry Biggs, provided some advice to retailers just starting an organized retail crime program. Watch what these industry leaders had to say.

Watch these experts explore what advertising opportunities await retailers.