Bisnow's NY reporters were on hand at a jammed Javits Center Sunday and snapped retail king Rick Caruso as he keynoted the National Retail Federation's giant 2014 conference. After his speech, he told us the ability of retail sales staff to help and connect with the customer remains brick-and-mortar’s big advantage. So what does this Californian connect with in NYC? He always makes sure to grab dinner at 21 and to walk Madison Avenue to see the retail, and SoHo for the "great architecture," too. Sometimes he'll even walk from there to the St. Regis. (Try to picture walking from the LA Arts District to the Beverly Wilshire.)

Rick spoke on a panel with CNBC Power Lunch’s Sue Herera, Nordstrom president Blake Nordstrom (whose store will enter NYC in 2018), Cupcake Wars’ Candace Nelson, and fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff. Rick's focus has shifted from getting customers to enter a store, buy, and leave to getting them to stay as long as possible. That includes, perhaps, keeping the husband and kids happy so the woman of the house (understood to be the primary shopper) can proceed uninterrupted. Meanwhile, Rebecca’s playing with brick-and-mortar experiences, and looking into nighttime parties with drinks and shopping, stocking fitting rooms according to a shopper’s online preferences, and pop-up stores. Of course, anyone looking for proven techniques only has to visit the Grove.